MINI PUMPS
£20 20 – £30 Frame-mounted tyre inflators
01 TOPE AK POCKET ROCKET £19.99 99
WEIGHT (INC BRACKET): KET): 119g LENGTH (STOWED): 225mm STROKE: 148mm
A solid-feeling pump that took 257 strokes to get to 70psi i despite being the thinnest body on test. est. This pump isn’t the lightest, or the fastest to hit the target pressure, but it’s well ell designed and it didn’t increase in resistance, or get hot. Both Presta and Schrader valves can be used by reversing the head. It comes with an unobtrusive mount and the locking grip stops the handle rattling when stowed. As joint cheapest here, this is our winner.
02 PARK TOOL PMP 4.2 £19.99
WEIGHT (INC BRACKET): 145g LENGTH (STOWED): 265mm STROKE: 132mm
The PMP 4.2 laid down a stunning performance, hitting 70psi in just 138 strokes, but it got very hot doing so. It ramped up in resistance drastically over 60psi, and became unstable above 40psi because the lockring holding it all together came loose, raising durability questions. It’s the widest on test with a folding handle. The mounting is small but secure, and the lock onto the valve is positive.
03 BL ACKBURN AIRSTIK ANY VALVE £24.99
WEIGHT (INC BRACKET): 168g LENGTH (STOWED): 284mm STROKE: 124mm
Despite being the longest pump on test – and inflating on both compression and extension – the AirStik took a disappointing 568 strokes to achieve 70psi. Increasing pressure makes it difficult to fully extend the large folding handle, although the grip helps. The Anyvalve head accepts both Schrader and Presta fittings, but we found it didn’t fit Presta securely. Also, the direct-mount design means that the valve moves in the head during inflation.
04 BONTRAGER AIR SUPPORT HP PRO £24.99 WEIGHT (INC BRACKET): 121g LENGTH (STOWED): 191mm STROKE: 110mm
The Air Support reached 70psi in 352 strokes. Well-built and solid feeling, the HP Pro only has a Presta valve, but this shouldn’t be an issue for road or gravel riders. The small but solid mounting bracket will fit any bottle-cage eyelets. We like the retractable hose design, separating the pump action from the wheel valve and maintaining a secure connection. Being small, it has the shortest stroke, heat built up quickly, and resistance gradually increased over 50psi.
05 BIRZMAN SCOPE APOGEE £27 WEIGHT (INC BRACKET): 118g LENGTH (STOWED): 219mm STROKE: 153mm
An intriguing attachment with no locking system gives a surprisingly efficient performance. The ‘Unlocked’ head fits any style of valve using a simple press-fit system, which is more secure than it initially seems but never feels completely engaged. The Birzman achieved 70psi in just 240 strokes, there was a gradual increase in resistance from 35psi, but no obvious increase in heat. The mounting bracket has extra grips to hold the various parts of the pump.
06 LEZYNE LITE DRIVE £29.99 WEIGHT (INC BRACKET): 88g LENGTH (STOWED): 198mm STROKE: 122mm
The Lite Drive has Presta and Schrader heads either end of a hose and a bleed valve built in. The hose threads into the aluminium body with reassuring ease and the pump reached 70psi in 269 strokes with no apparent increase in resistance, although the body did begin building heat above 55psi. Lezyne has fixed a previous issue of the hose unwinding the valve core on removal.
All pumps were tested to 70psi using a 700x28mm tyre. Pressure was checked via a Topeak in-line gauge