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Whether you're bouncing down the trail on a mountain bike or sprinting on a racing bicycle, without proper tire inflation, you'll have a bad ride. Fortunately, there are a lot of great bike pumps out there that can fill those tires fast. The Vibrelli Performance Floor Pump is our top pick, thanks to its high 160-PSI pressure capacity and low price.
The first device that looked like the modern bicycle was developed in the early 1800s. It was known as a velocipede, and it had as many disparities as shared traits with modern bikes. Early pedal-driven cycles used steel bands or solid wooden wheels instead of pneumatic (air-filled) tires, so its little wonder that one variety of early bike was known as the boneshaker. Pneumatic tires were developed in the 1880s, and cyclists have been enjoying fewer headaches ever since.
But even the latest greatest modern pneumatic bicycle tire is useless without a good pump to fill it with air. If you have a bike manufactured any time after the late 19th Century, you also need a good bike pump to keep the tires ready to roll. But how to choose the right bike pump?
First, you need to think about the most basic consideration: What type of bicycle will the pump serve? Road bikes with narrow tires require a fair amount of pressure, generally between 80 and 130 pounds per square inch (PSI). Mountain bikes with large, thick tires use much lower pressures, generally down around 30 PSI. A general-purpose bike, commonly called a hybrid, will, not surprisingly, fall in the middle, with an average range of 50 to 70 PSI.
It logically follows, then, that the racing bike enthusiast needs a pump capable of creating plenty of pressure and ideally that can do so quickly, while the mountain biker will be served just fine by a pump with a lower output capacity.
Beyond basic PSI capacity, next think about pump size and design. Do you need to carry the pump along with you during a multi-day bike camping trip? Or during an all-day road race that will take you far away from the nearest support infrastructure? Then a lightweight and portable pump is a must. Or are your rides mostly around town for commuting and recreation? If so, a larger floor pump stored in the closet or in a shed is just fine.
And finally, how serious of a cyclist are you? If you have to dust off your bike before each ride, a lower cost pump of midrange quality will suit you fine. If you ride every morning and afternoon, then, by all means, invest in a professional-grade pump that fills the tires fast and that will last for years of regular use. Don't worry about the budget too much, as even an excellent pump can be yours for less than fifty bucks.
Read on in the slides below to learn why the Vibrelli Performance Floor Pump is our top pick and why you might also like the Lumintrail Mini Bike Pump, the EPAuto Portable Air Compressor Pump, the Bell Windstorm 400 Floor Pump, and the Topeak Sport II Floor Pump.
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The best bike pump overall
Why you'll love it: The Vibrelli Performance Floor Pump has a strong, smoothly-operating steel barrel that inflates up to 160 PSI with minimal effort.
For about $30, the Vibrelli Performance Floor Pump is a bargain for a quality tool. With a maximum output rating of 160 PSI, this pump can inflate just about any bike tires you will ever come across, and it does so rapidly with minimal effort thanks to its efficient and reliable design. Its nozzle can rapidly convert to accept Schrader, Presta, and Dunlop valves.
The Vibrelli has an extra long barrel that makes each pump productive, saving you time and effort as compared to shorter options. Its wide nylon foot base and broad ergonomic handle work in tandem to keep the unit stable even during vigorous operation.
The highly accurate gauge, which displays air pressure both in pounds per square inch and bar units (a metric system measurement; one bar is equal to 14.5 PSI) makes it easy to know just when you've hit the optimal pressurization for your bike's tires.
In case the high quality and low price weren't enough for you, the Vibrelli Performance Floor Pump also comes with an inflation needle for balls as well as with a puncture repair kit.
With more than 2,600 reviews posted on Amazon, the Vibrelli has a shining 4.7-star average rating. An owner named Yan calls it "amazing," saying it makes "pumping so much easier and more efficient" than other units he had used. A cyclist named Jeffrey called it a "fantastic pump" with a gauge that is "accurate and responds quickly."
A writer with PedalSwift called the Vibrelli a "high performance" option at a reasonable price and noted its "all steel barrel design." A BuytheBest10 review called it "affordable" and "durable" and praised its "multipurpose T-valve."
Pros: High efficiency pumping, good price point, durable barrel, accurate pressure gauge
Cons: Proper nozzle attachment takes practice
Buy the Vibrelli Performance Floor Pump on Amazon for $32.96
The best portable bike pump
Why you'll love it: The Lumintrail Mini Bike Pump is less than a foot long and weighs less than a half pound, so it can tuck away in any backpack or be strapped to a bike's frame.
If you manage a busy bike shop and spend all day inflating tires, then the Lumintrail Mini Bike Pump is probably not an ideal choice as your primary pump. If, however, you are a mountain biker who ventures well out into the wilderness, a touring cyclist who spends days on the road, or a racer who needs to ensure your bike tires are at the optimal inflation at all times during hours of cycling, then this is the perfect pump for you.
At just 7.4 ounces of weight and 11 inches of length, this pump can tuck away in a backpack, a pannier, or it can be strapped right onto the bike's frame using a frame mount that comes included.
Don't let the Lumintrail's small size fool you. This pump can create up to 120 PSI, enough air pressure for most bike tires even including high-performance racing tubes. The rotating nozzle accommodates both Schrader and Presta valves and is held in place by a locking lever. A small gauge set just beneath the nozzle lets you keep track of the pressure.
Granted, if you need to inflate a stack of flat tires, you will spend a lot more time using the Lumintrail mini than you would with a floor pump. But as a backup unit, a portable pump, or as the only bike pump for the seldom-used bike, the Lumintrail Mini Bike Pump is a fine choice. Also, it costs $12.
Amazon buyers have given this plucky little pump a solid 4.2 out of five-star average rating. One cyclist calls it "well made" and reports that it has "held up through drops onto concrete." Another owner calls it "perfect for keeping in the backpack."
A product reviewer with NoPlaceCalledHome called the Lumintrail mini "easy to use" and "durable," noting how its rotating head made it easy to select the proper nozzle for a tire's valve.
Pros: Compact and lightweight, great low price, easy to switch valve types
Cons: Pumping gets difficult at higher PSI
Buy the Lumintrail Mini Bike Pump on Amazon for $11.99 (originally $22.99)
The best electric air pump
Why you'll love it: The EPAuto Portable Air Compressor Pump does all the hard work for you, effortlessly inflating tires to an exact pre-set pressure goal with the tap of a few buttons.
When used to inflate bicycle tires, there are three issues with the EPAuto Portable Air Compressor Pump that we should deal with at the outset. First, it requires a 12-volt DC power outlet, AKA the cigarette lighter port you found in an automobile. Second, it has a maximum pressure output of 100 PSI, which is too low for some road bike tires. And third, to inflate a tire with a Presta valve, you will need to purchase a separate adapter.
Those drawbacks aside, for most cyclists who also own a car, the electric EPAuto Portable Air Compressor Pump will make inflating bike tires easier than ever. Once the nozzle is screwed in place onto a tire's valve, all you need to do to achieve the exact level of inflation desired is pre-program the target PSI using the Plus or Minus buttons, then start the unit up.
The compressor's LCD screen displays pressure in PSI, BAR, or KPA measurements, and the unit features a built-in flashlight for use after dark. This compressor is also more than suitable for use with auto tires. That, after all, is the EPAuto Portable Air Compressor Pump's primary purpose.
With more than 2,750 reviews posted online, this compressor scores an admirable 4.4-star average rating. One owner said its "gauge is accurate" and appreciated that it was relatively "quiet for a compressor." Another said that despite its small size it "packs a punch" or pumping power.
A review from WoodWorkingToolKit appreciated the fact that this compact compressor has an "auto shutoff feature that shut[s] down the unit when the desired pressure is achieved "that can "prevent over inflation."
Pros: Fast inflation time, pre-set air pressure target, built-in flashlight
Cons: Requires access to auto battery, maxes out at 100 PSI
Buy the EPAuto Portable Air Compressor Pump on Amazon for $25
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