The Best Bike Pump Review

Criteria for Evaluation
Ease of Use
This was our heaviest weighted category for testing the pumps, and encompasses all the factors that will make you think positively, or better yet, not think at all, about using your pump. How stable is the base? How easy is it to read the gauge? Does it seal well onto the tire valve? All of these factors fall under ease of use, and all ultimately contribute to how quickly and easily the pump will inflate.
The winner in this category was the Topeak Joe Blow Sport II, with the Lezyne Alloy, Lezyne Sport, Serfas FP-200, Serfas TCPG, and Pedro’s Prestige also scoring well. The Joe Blow Sport has a double head to accommodate both presta and schraeder valves, and a firm locking lever that holds the head securely on the valve. It was rare that we didn’t get a good seal right away. Also, the pressure gauge was easy to read and the base is very heavy and stable. The Joe Blow’s hose was not as long as most of the others, which was unfortunate, but ultimately overshadowed by its other attributes. The other five pumps listed above all had great aspects, but just not quite the total package. For instance, the Lezynes have awesomely long hoses, making it so convenient to reach valves almost anywhere, but we found it difficult at times to thread the chuck on the valve perfectly. Or the Serfas TCPG, which has an easy to read gauge, but is so short that you have to bend over quite a bit while pumping – not very comfortable. Overall, the Topeak Joe Blow is a straightforward, easy to use pump for virtually every situation.

The lower scoring pumps in this category are the Park Tool Home Mechanic and the Blackburn Air Tower. The Air Tower is a decently good pump, but we had trouble at times getting a good seal on the presta valves. Also, the gauge is quite small and on the ground, making it difficult to read. The Park Tool was the most hit-or-miss in terms of good seals with the valves, and also has one of the harder-to-read gauges.

Durability
Thankfully, you’ve got some choices here in the group that we tested, with most scoring pretty well in durability. Some standouts are, again, the Topeak Joe Blow and both of the Lezyne models – Sport and Alloy. All three of these stood up to inflation after inflation, getting thrown in and out of our cars for road trips, and some minor bumps and spills. Their gauge needles remained accurate, the hoses supple, and the bodies ding-free. Other top performers are the Blackburn Air Tower and the Serfas FP-200.

Unfortunately, the Pedro’s prestige and the Park Tool Home Mechanic both lost some accuracy with their gauge needles over time, making it difficult to pinpoint your exact psi. They still inflated, but for something like a road bike tire, you want to be sure the reading is accurate, and these two pumps came up a bit short, with the Home Mechanic the more durable of the two.

Comfort
Two pumps scored perfect 10’s here – the Topeak Joe Blow Sport II and the Blackburn Air Tower 2. Both of these pumps have oversized, molded plastic handles that really made such a difference when we used them repeatedly.

Harder on the hands and wrists were the wooden handles of the Lezyne pumps and the curved handle of the Park Tool.

Comfort also comes into play when you consider a pump’s height, as we saw with the Serfas TCPG. While the TCPG has nice handles, it is a relatively short floor pump, which meant that we were bent over more when using it. Great for travel, but not as nice as say, the taller Pedro’s Prestige or the Joe Blow.

Looks/Design
Coming in with a perfect score in this department is, no surprise, the Lezyne Alloy floor pump. The team at Lezyne always gives clean, modern design a priority when creating their beautiful equipment, and the Alloy is no exception. It is minimal simplicity at its best. The polished wooden handles are unusual and even though the hose is quite long, it fastens into place in a way that keeps it neatly flush with the body of the pump, making the Alloy the most streamlined of the group.

Also scoring well in this category are the Serfas FP-200 and the Topeak Joe Blow. Both are totally different from the Alloy in there colorful, sporty designs. The Joe Blow has that eternally “cool”, rugged yellow color and a gauge that is reminiscent of something like a dive watch or a GPS unit. And the Serfas definitely has the most dramatic base design that really stands out. And what’s not to love about bright red? Maybe neither is as sophisticated or subtle as the Lezyne Alloy, but they are good looking in a totally different way.
Portability
The smallest and one of the lightest pumps we tested was the Serfas TCPG and it was awesome for travel. It tucks conveniently into cars, tents, and even luggage. Along with its unassuming size, it is tough enough to handle all this travel. While not one of the smallest or lightest pumps, the Lezyne Sport Drive is also good for travel because of its streamlined, self-contained design. The hose stays firmly in place, and the gauge dial is strong enough to withstand getting tossed into a car with all your other equipment.

Unfortunately, because it does not have a way to keep the inner piston in place, the Pedro’s Prestige is not one that we would recommend for portability. The piston can always slide out, effectively doubling the pump’s length, and makes for cumbersome loading and unloading.

And The Winners Are…

Editors' Choice Award: Topeak Joe Blow Sport 2
We give the Topeak Joe Blow Sport 2 our top honor because it is, overall, the most straightforward, easy-to-use, reliable and comfortable pump of the bunch. It is what a floor pump should be. We found that it was easy to get a solid seal on both presta and schrader valves, that it held up over time, and that it’s stable base and comfortable handles make it easy and quick to use. It has bright, rugged good looks and an easy to read gauge. It is on the heavier side, so if you’re looking for a travel pump, try the Serfas TCPG or the Lezyne Sport. But because more often than not, a floor pump stays at home, the Joe Blow’s other attributes still keep it on top.

Best Buy Award: Serfas TCPG
We found the Serfas TCPG the best value because it combined a very high score with one of the lowest price tags. The TCPG was the only floor pump to score a perfect ten in the portability category, making it a versatile pump for those that want to travel with it easily. In a way, you're getting two pumps for one very reasonable price - a stay at home, old reliable pump, and a portable, adventure pump. Add to that some of the most comfortable handles, good durability, and one of the lowest price tags, and the Serfas TCPG wins our Best Buy Award.