Favorite floor and portable pump?

It's been a long time since I've traveled with the equipment necessary to deal with a sudden-airloss-event, but recently I've made a few longer late night trips with no CTA safety net so should probably get a basic kit together....  historically mini-pumps kind of sucked and it's been years since I've bought one-- just wondering if there's one very small pump out there that folks are excited about, that gets you to a decent amount of pressure (50 lbs on 2" ATB tires would be nice) without leaving you laying on the curb exhausted.

Also, not sure where my backup floor pump is so if anyone has a recommendation there it would be appreciated. I seem to have an even mix of presta and schrader valves in my life.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on January 7, 2013 at 4:29am

Do any floor pumps have a solid stand? I swear I knock mine over 5 times while pumping, and 3 times when i'm just working around it! 

Permalink Reply by milkbar on January 7, 2013 at 4:59am

1) seals blowing at high psi

2) little feet thing cracking and breaking off

3) shaft bending

About 30% return rate.

Of course, understand that 99% of my shop's customers are roadies running ~100-120psi and are verrrrrrry picky. Still, anything higher than 5% return rate I stop selling.

notoriousDUG said:

What sort of problems were you seeing with the Topeaks?  We sell a ton and I have never seen one come back in the time I have been there.

milkbar said:

In my view there still isn't an excellent mini pump on the market. I used to sell the Topeaks, but stopped after a few years due to so many warranty issues. For a long time, though, they were the only halfway decent solution.

But the Lezyne mini pumps changed that a couple of years back. They are not inexpensive, but hold one and you'll immediately notice ether difference in construction quality. Then use one and you'll leave the store with it.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 7, 2013 at 5:02am

This is my winning combination.  Got both and they've worked well for me.

notoriousDUG said:

Road pump is any of the Topeak 'morph' series pumps and the Topeak Joe Blow for a floor pump.

I like Topeak pumps best across the board because you can buy seals and parts for them.

Permalink Reply by milkbar on January 7, 2013 at 5:04am

Older Silcas (not all the new models, be wary of this!) have super heavy and stable steel bases. Lezyne floor pumps have aluminum bases and wider feet.

Apie 10.64 said:

Do any floor pumps have a solid stand? I swear I knock mine over 5 times while pumping, and 3 times when i'm just working around it! 

Permalink Reply by Liz on January 7, 2013 at 5:04am

I like the road morph with pressure gauge for a frame pump, but that's because most of my flats happen on my road bike (skinny tires plus longer rides).  If you aren't worried about pressure level and just want to get home the mini is nice since its small enough to fit into most bags.  

I love the joe blow floor pump for at hoem. 

Permalink Reply by Deet 4.5mi on January 7, 2013 at 5:06am

i think i would go with the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HPG Bicycle Pump, i like the fact that you screw the head onto the valve, i saw the one without the gauge at Comrad this weeked and it looked and felt solid.

http://www.google.com/shopping/product/6424884495519048178?q=lezyne...

Permalink Reply by milkbar on January 7, 2013 at 5:09am

FWIW those are *extremely* well made and also the worst of both worlds, ie not small enough to easily carry with you on the bike and yet also a really poorly operating traditional floor pump because (1) it's very short and you have to lean over a lot vs a traditional floor pump and (2) it's way lower volume and harder to push (and require way more strokes) than a full sized floor pump.

They are totally rad and extremely impractical.

Deet 4.5mi said:

i think i would go with the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HPG Bicycle Pump, i like the fact that you screw the head onto the valve, i saw the one without the gauge at Comrad this weeked and it looked and felt solid.

http://www.google.com/shopping/product/6424884495519048178?q=lezyne...

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 7, 2013 at 6:15am

It could just be the high pressure; haven't really seen any of those issues.

milkbar said:

1) seals blowing at high psi

2) little feet thing cracking and breaking off

3) shaft bending

About 30% return rate.

Of course, understand that 99% of my shop's customers are roadies running ~100-120psi and are verrrrrrry picky. Still, anything higher than 5% return rate I stop selling.

notoriousDUG said:

What sort of problems were you seeing with the Topeaks?  We sell a ton and I have never seen one come back in the time I have been there.

milkbar said:

In my view there still isn't an excellent mini pump on the market. I used to sell the Topeaks, but stopped after a few years due to so many warranty issues. For a long time, though, they were the only halfway decent solution.

But the Lezyne mini pumps changed that a couple of years back. They are not inexpensive, but hold one and you'll immediately notice ether difference in construction quality. Then use one and you'll leave the store with it.
Permalink Reply by Deet 4.5mi on January 7, 2013 at 6:16am

For me carrying it in a trunk bag it would work fine, by no means is this a replacenent for a floor pump at home. I have used the smaller style pumps in the past and have trouble getting to a reasonable pressure in the tire due to the connection to the valve, so that is the biggest sell from me.


milkbar said:

FWIW those are *extremely* well made and also the worst of both worlds, ie not small enough to easily carry with you on the bike and yet also a really poorly operating traditional floor pump because (1) it's very short and you have to lean over a lot vs a traditional floor pump and (2) it's way lower volume and harder to push (and require way more strokes) than a full sized floor pump.

They are totally rad and extremely impractical.

Deet 4.5mi said:

i think i would go with the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HPG Bicycle Pump, i like the fact that you screw the head onto the valve, i saw the one without the gauge at Comrad this weeked and it looked and felt solid.

http://www.google.com/shopping/product/6424884495519048178?q=lezyne...

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 7, 2013 at 6:17am

You have just described everything I love.

milkbar said:

 totally rad and extremely impractical.


Permalink Reply by Deet 4.5mi on January 7, 2013 at 6:39am

well said.

notoriousDUG said:

You have just described everything I love.

milkbar said:

 totally rad and extremely impractical.

Permalink Reply by Will on January 7, 2013 at 8:17am

Another vote for the Topeak Road Morph G. Also, I carry a CO2 inflator, which thankfully I've never had to actually use. At home, I have a Lezyne Alloy Floor Drive.

No problems whatsoever with the Topeak or the Lezyne, except a few times the threaded chuck of the Lezyne has disassembled threaded presta valves, which is really fun when I'm running late for work.

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