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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.
Here are the best bike pumps you can buy:
- Best bike pump overall: Vibrelli Performance Floor Pump
- Best electric air pump: EPAuto Portable Air Compressor Pump
- Best budget bike pump: Bell Windstorm 400 Floor Pump
- Best professional grade bike pump: Topeak Sport II Floor Pump
Updated on 06/18/2019 by Les Shu: Updated selections, prices, links, and formatting.
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