But if you’re looking to carry it with you, then you don’t want anything too heavy. Much like size, weight isn’t a concern if the pump is going to be left at home, and here, a sturdy pump that doesn’t topple over is a bonus. The smallest mini-pumps will eventually inflate a tyre, but are obviously limited on air volume. But if you’re planning to carry your pump on a ride or take it in the car, then it’s an important factor in your decision. If your pump is going to stay at home, size isn’t going to be of great concern. If you run tubeless tyres, check out our list of the best tubeless pumps and inflators. For this style of valve, more common press-on style heads are best. If you use tubes or tubeless valves with a removable core, just be aware that some thread-on pump heads can unscrew the valve once inflated. Then there’s the thread-on style, which offers a reliable fit, but needs to be ‘flipped and changed’ depending on your desired valve. A twin-valve head will have two separate slots for either valve, while a ‘smart-head’ will automatically adjust to the various valve sizes. Some pumps are valve-specific, others must be changed internally to fit various valves. Nearly all pumps these days will cater for at least Presta and Schrader, but not all are as simple as others. Presta (racing style) and Schrader (like on a car) are two of the most common valve types. Gauges are generally most accurate at the middle of the range, so if you’re trying to accurately inflate your mountain bike tyre between 23 and 25psi you’ll need a gauge with a low-pressure accuracy (or just a separate pressure gauge).Ī pump with a digital gauge is also an option if you’re looking at more expensive options. Look for a gauge that’s easy to read and offers a suitable pressure range for your needs. Gauge accuracyįew hand pumps include a gauge, but any decent track pump should. If you have tubeless tyres, a pump with a massive volume output may be enough to seat a tyre without needing an air compressor. A high-volume pump will mean it takes fewer strokes to reach your desired pressure, but in turn, will generally mean a lower maximum pressure.Īs mountain bike tyres have far greater volume (and lower pressure), a large-volume pump is more important here. Much like pressure, this will depend on your main bike choice. Because of this, brands such as Lezyne offer pump models specific to road or mountain biking. A higher-pressure pump is often a trade-off for volume output, or at least gauge accuracy. Not many people really need a pump that goes to 260psi and even a committed mountain biker probably won’t need above 40psi. Russell Burton / Immediate Media Pressure needed A pressure gauge might be worth adding to your tool collection if you run low pressures.
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