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Lezyne Pressure Drive Review

Awesome mini pump for high pressure, low volume tires
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Price:  $50 List | $49.99 at Competitive Cyclist
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Durable, user friendly, pumping performance
Cons:  Lack of versatility
Manufacturer:   Lezyne
By Curtis Smith ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 17, 2016
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74
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#4 of 16
  • Pumping Performance - 30% 7
  • Ease of Use - 30% 8
  • Portability - 20% 8
  • Looks and Design - 10% 6
  • Durability - 10% 7

Our Verdict

The Lezyne Pressure Drive could be considered a heritage model at this point. It has been available for eight years, an eternity in the world of cycling products. It is a top-of-the-line mini pump that excels at high-pressure pumping. The flex hose design is a staff favorite, with an air bleed button and both Presta and Schrader valve compatibility. We love this little pump, but its performance has been eclipsed by another Lezyne product, the Road Drive.

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Our Analysis and Test Results

Our previous Editor's Choice, the Pressure Drive is a compact aluminum mini pump with excellent pumping performance and an awesome design. TheLezyne Road Drive offers better pumping performance, but the Pressure Drive is no slouch and will not leave you disappointed.

Performance Comparison


The Pressure Drive is a great high-pressure mini pump in a very sleek compact package.
The Pressure Drive is a great high-pressure mini pump, in a very sleek compact package.

Pumping Performance


The Pressure Drive has great pumping performance, particularly for road tires. We hit 60psi in our road tire test at 200 pump strokes. However, the Road Drive and the Pro Bike Tool High Pressure Pump both out-perform the Pressure Drive, hitting 70psi and 66psi respectively.

The Pressure Drive only hit 17psi in the mountain bike tire test, compared to the 37psi reached by the Lezyne Gauge Drive. Pumping effort is similar to the Road Drive and slightly easier than the Pro Bike Tool. The Pressure Drive is a great pump, but it does not quite compete with our top performing products.

The Pressure Drive has a reversible flex hose for both Presta and Schrader valves and an ABS bleed button to allow easy valve removal and minimize air loss.
The Pressure Drive has a reversible flex hose for both Presta and Schrader valves, and an ABS bleed button to allow easy valve removal and minimize air loss.

Ease of Use


Lezyne pumps as a group are some of the most user-friendly pumps available. The Pressure Drive features a flex hose, like the Road Drive, but it does not have the slip fit Presta valve connection that the Road Drive does. We like the slip fit connection when we need to add a few psi to a low tire. The Road Drive threads onto the valve stem for a secure connection without worrying about lateral pressure on the valve stem. It also has an ABS button that allows you to release pressure from the hose before removing the valve, reducing air pressure loss. Pumping is smooth and easy, with only a moderate increase in effort as pressure increases.

Looks and Design


This contender has a similar design to other Lezyne pumps we tested, such as the Lezyne Road Drive and Lezyne Gauge Drive. The flex fill hose is stored in the handle of the pump. When you need it, simply unthread, remove and thread it onto the pump discharge. The hose is similar to the Road Drive hose, but it omits the Presta slip-fit connection for a Schrader valve connection.

The ABS valve allows the user to release pressure in the hose to aid in removal of the thread on chuck from the valve. We love the ABS feature and wish that every pump had one. The look of the pump is clean and refined. It is all aluminum, with black sections on each end and raw aluminum in the middle of the pump. The rubber caps on both ends are vital features that prevent contamination of the pump discharge and hose.

Portability


The Pressure Drive is very portable. It weighs 90g and is only 19cm in length. The Topeak Race Rocket HP is slightly shorter in length and a bit smaller in diameter. The Pressure Drive fits well in a jersey and does not stick out of the pocket as much as the Road Drive. A frame mount bracket is also included.

The Pressure Drive comes with a frame mount designed to prevent the pump from extending while stored on the bike.
The Pressure Drive comes with a frame mount designed to prevent the pump from extending while stored on the bike.

Durability


Like all of the Lezyne pumps we tested, the Pressure Drive is very durable. The aluminum construction shrugs off corrosion, and the rubber caps prevent internal contamination. The thread-on valve connections do not have rubber bushings that can deteriorate with use, so they maintain an airtight seal almost indefinitely. Similar in durability is the Lezyne Road Drive, Topeak RaceRocket, and Silca Impero Ultimate.

Value


This pump is a great value. However, the Lezyne Road Drive will also do a phenomenal job of inflating road bike tires.

Conclusion


The Pressure Drive is a great mini pump with intense high pressure pumping performance. It has been apart of the Lezyne lineup for a long time for good reason. If you want a longer pump, the Pressure Drive is also available in a medium length.

The Pressure Drive...not much bigger than your water bottle cage!
The Pressure Drive...not much bigger than your water bottle cage!

— Curtis Smith