A good floor pump is an essential element to any garage bike maintenance kit. It’ll save you time, money and endless hours of frustration. With that in mind we put six to the test for you.
FloorPumpReview Procedure
Using a Schwalbe digital pressure gauge we pre-set a tubeless tyre to 1 bar, took an initial pressure measure with each floor pump and then pumped the tubeless tyre to 2 bar, counting the number of strokes to reach the required pressure, using the pump’s pressure gauge as a guide. Once we reached 2 bar we rechecked the pressure with the Schwalbe gauge to establish the accuracy of the floor pump’s gauge.
Ryder Airplus Floor Pump
RRP: R? | Capacity: 160psi | www.omnico.co.za
The Ryder Airplus Floor Pump is a well-designed tool; the action is smooth and quieter than most of the pumps in the test. It took a test high 21 pumps to go from 1 to 2 bar – but it made up for the one extra pump with the accuracy of its gauge only over-reading by 0.06 of a bar. The top-mounted pressure gauge is easy to read, an essential feature unless you ride with prescription sunglasses. The tube and head lock securely into place so they won’t damage the 6063 alloy barrel, but unfortunately the slightly rubberised handle isn’t held down when not in use. The Airplus Floor Pump is backed by Ryder’s lifetime guarantee.
Birzman Maha-Apogee
RRP: R660 | Capacity: 120psi | www.intltrade.co.za
While all the pumps we tested were at least Presta/Schrader compatible the Birzman Maha-Apogee took it to a whole new level with its super clever snap-it head. The snap-it head also seemed to lose less air than the rest when fitting and removing it from the Presta valve on the test tyre. It’s a MTB specific pump sacrificing psi capacity for volume, and taking the tyre from 1 to 2 bar in just 17 pumps. The bottom-mounted pressure gauge is clear and easy to read, even though it measures in an anti-clockwise direction, but over reads by around 0.15 bar. The CNC machined barrel is pretty cool too.
Specialized Air Tool Comp
RRP: R799 | Capacity: 150psi | www.specialized.com/za
With its super sturdy base Specialized’s Air Tool Comp is a pump that’s more at home in the garage than in the back of your car. Its feels very solid and seems to be made to last with an aluminium barrel and a large and clear pressure gauge. The pressure gauge features a handy indicator, which moves on a bezel like a diving watch. The pump has a smooth feel to the action and goes from 1 to 2 bar in 18 (and a half) pumps. The gauge under-read slightly, by 0.08 bar, but that might have been down to us not giving that last bracketed half a pump.
Park Tool PFP-7
RRP: R750 | Capacity: 160psi | www.capecycles.co.za
The Park Tool PFP-7 is billed as a professional mechanic’s floor pump, and given it features folding foot pads, we’re guessing Park Tool designed it with race day mechanics in mind. The rubberised ergonomic handle is very comfortable but the locking mechanism of the head takes some getting used to as down is locked rather than unlocked as with most pumps. It also features an oversized head to accommodate Presta, Shrader and Dunlop valve compatibility, plus the pressure gauge is very big and easy to read. 1. The PFP-7 is both high volume and accurate taking the test tyre from 1 to 2 bar in 16 strokes and only under-reading by 0.04 bar. It has a super smooth action and will serve you well when adjusting your tyre pressure between stages of a multi-day race.
Giant Control Tower 1
RRP: R499 | Capacity: 160psi | www.giant-bicycles.com/en-za
The Control Tower 1 is a classy piece of equipment, which Giant have really put a lot of thought into. The head features a pressure release button, which allows you to let air out of your tyre without disconnecting the pump head from the tyre valve, and the handles feature stow compartments for inflator nozzles and needles. The small gauge is simple so despite its size it’s easy to read and it was the most accurate of the pumps we tested. Taking 20 strokes to go from 1 to 2 bars it’s lower volume than some of the others, but the price and accuracy make up for the little more effort required to get the tyre inflated.
Serfas FP-200
RRP: R549 | Capacity: 160psi | www.serfas.com
Don’t let the unimaginative name put you off. The Serfas FP-200 is silky smooth and with its simple black on white top-mounted gauge it’s easy to read and use. Travel is easy with the Serfas too as the handle locks down with a rubber tab that joins the barrel to the handle to transit. Ergonomically the handle might be a bit thin for some, but the finger cut-outs are a nice touch. Like the Giant it took 20 strokes to take the test tyre from 1 to 2 bar, while it under-read by a nearly negligible 0.03 bar.
