We filled a lot of tires by counting strokes and double-checking the pressure with a different digital gauge. We tried these best bike pumps on Schrader and Presta valves, high-pressure road bike tires, and high-volume mountain bike tires. With a good pump, it’s easy to get into the habit of doing regular bike repair and safety checks before every ride. They are also the unsung hero of a great ride because they help you find the right mix between friction and speed.
No matter what kind of bike you ride a road bike, a mountain bike, a beach cruiser, a hybrid, an ebike, or a unicycle you need a way to pump up the tires. After trying 35 pumps over the past five years, we think the Lezyne Classic Floor Drive is the best floor pump for most bike commuters because of its sturdy construction, easy-to-read dial, and completely reliable screw-on head that fits both Presta and Schrader valves. Below we have mentioned the best bike pumps.
Best Bike Pumps Comparison Table
| Brand/Model | Pump Type | Pressure Gauge | Valve Compatibility | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planet Bike ALX 2 | Floor | Yes | Presta/Schrader | $$ |
| Lezyne Pressure Drive | Hand | Yes | Presta/Schrader | $ |
| Crankbrothers Sterling | Floor | Yes | Presta/Schrader | $$$ |
| Bontrager TLR Flash Charger | Floor | Yes | Presta/Schrader | $$$ |
| Topeak JoeBlow Sport 2Stage | Floor | Yes | Presta/Schrader | $$ |
Planet Bike ALX 2
| Bike Pump Model | Planet Bike ALX 2 |
|---|---|
| Pump Type | Floor Pump |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Maximum Pressure | 160 PSI |
| Valve Compatibility | Presta, Schrader |
| Gauge | Yes |
| Additional Features | Dual Head, Hose Dock |
We think the Planet Bike ALX 2 is the best choice for someone who doesn’t ride every day or every week. It has more high-quality parts than anything else in its price range. It has a steel base and barrel. The only plastic part is the pump head, which you push onto the valve and lock with a button. This pump isn’t our top pick because of two things: the head and the very short hose. Still, it is one of the best bike pumps that you can buy.
Still, the ALX 2 pumped up tires faster than almost every other pump we looked at, including the expensive Specialized Air Tool Pro and the cheaper Lezyne Classic Floor Drive. Our judges also liked how steady it was and how easy it was to use. The wide wooden handle helps a lot with that. Also, this is the only pump we found with a limited guarantee that lasts a lifetime, which is much better than the industry standard of two years.
Pros
- Lightweight aluminum construction
- Easy to use with a dual valve head
- Accurate gauge for measuring tire pressure
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Not as durable as other options
- May not hold up well over time with heavy use
Lezyne Pressure Drive
| Bike Pump Model | Lezyne Pressure Drive |
|---|---|
| Pump Type | Hand Pump |
| Material | CNC Machined Aluminum |
| Maximum Pressure | 120 PSI |
| Valve Compatibility | Presta, Schrader |
| Gauge | No |
| Additional Features | Flex Hose, Frame Mount |
The Lezyne Pressure Drive is a hand-held bike pump that is smartly made and can fill the kinds of tires that most recreational riders use. In fact, it works better with different tire sizes than the other small pumps we tried. Overall, it is one of the best bike pumps that you can buy.
This pump screws tightly to inner-tube valves using a hose that can be taken off and has a smooth, powerful stroke. It’s small enough to fit in a jersey pocket and comes with a bracket that you can connect to your frame. It works with both Presta and Schrader valves, which are the two most common types of valves for bike tubes in the US.
Pros
- Compact and easy to carry with you on rides
- High pressure output for road bike tires
- Durable aluminum construction
- Compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves
Cons
- Can be difficult to use with some valve types
- Pressure gauge not included
Crankbrothers Sterling
| Bike Pump Model | Crankbrothers Sterling |
|---|---|
| Pump Type | Floor Pump |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Maximum Pressure | 160 PSI |
| Valve Compatibility | Presta, Schrader |
| Gauge | Yes |
| Additional Features | Dual Head, Hose Dock |
Most of the pumps in this review are good at filling road tires with high pressure. Only two high-volume mountain bike tires really stand out. This one costs less than the other. The Crankbrothers Sterling pump has two modes: one that works best for pressure and the other for volume. A foot button at the base lets you switch back and forth. Our mountain bike tires go from 10 PSI to 30 PSI faster with the high volume option than with any other pump we tried except one. And it keeps the size of the file small enough that it is easy to compress. For now, it is one of the best bike pumps that you can buy.
In high-pressure mode, this pump filled our road bike tire with more strokes than any other tried pump. And we don’t like how hard it is to read the white and blue scale. It’s marked every 5 PSI, but the markings are small and hard to see, and it’s not a very accurate way to measure. It did well in our tests of accuracy, but we made sure that the numbers were round: 30, 40, and 80 PSI. With this scale, it would be hard to hit a number like 32. So, if you want a cheap, accurate pump that fills fat tires quickly and has a universal nozzle that fits both Presta and Schrader valves, this is the one we suggest.
Pros
- Large barrel for quick inflation
- Ergonomic handle for comfortable use
- Compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves
- Durable construction
Cons
- Can be bulky to carry with you on rides
- No pressure gauge included
Bontrager TLR Flash Charger
| Bike Pump Model | Bontrager TLR Flash Charger |
|---|---|
| Pump Type | Floor Pump |
| Material | Aluminum, Composite |
| Maximum Pressure | 160 PSI |
| Valve Compatibility | Presta |
| Gauge | Yes |
| Additional Features | Chamber for Tubeless Setup |
To seal the tire to the rim or “seat” it, tubeless tires need a quick blast of air. Either a loud, corded air compressor or the Bontrager TLR Flash Charger will do the job. The Flash Charger is our favorite of the two compression bike pumps we tried. Both work as manual compressors, but in our tests and as a normal bike pump, the Bontrager was more reliable. But the Bontrager always needs fewer pumps to inflate road and mountain bike tires, and its universal chuck links to Schrader and Presta valves more quickly and reliably.
The digital dial is one of the easiest to read in the test because it is so well lit. This pump has a stable base, a comfy handle, and a smooth feel. This pump has a few problems, but none of them are deal breakers. The first problem is that using this pump as an air compressor is harder than we would like. You must remember to move two buttons on each side of the bike in the right order from the vertical to the horizontal position. It’s not hard, and the pump comes with a sheet of instructions that are easy to follow.
It’s just easy to make mistakes, especially at first. And the clip that was supposed to hold the chuck and keep the hose in place doesn’t work at all, so the hose is free to move around. At higher pressures, the gauge is also not always right. It tends to think too much of them. We suggest using a different measure to double-check the pressure of your road bike tires. But we recommend this pump if you want your tires to be filled quickly and evenly. Still, it is one of the best bike pumps that you can buy.
Pros
- Designed specifically for tubeless tires
- Rapidly inflates tires with a burst of air
- Can be used with any floor pump
- Easy to use with a push button release
Cons
- Expensive compared to other options
- Not compatible with non-tubeless tires
Topeak JoeBlow Sport 2Stage
| Bike Pump Model | Topeak JoeBlow Sport 2Stage |
|---|---|
| Pump Type | Floor Pump |
| Material | Steel, Composite |
| Maximum Pressure | 160 PSI |
| Valve Compatibility | Presta, Schrader |
| Gauge | Yes |
| Additional Features | Dual-Stage, TwinHead |
Get the Topeak JoeBlow Sport 2Stage if you want to fill your mountain bike tires as quickly as possible. It takes eight strokes to go from 10 PSI to 30 PSI on a fat tire. That’s anywhere from 100 to 375 percent fewer strikes than the competition. Only one other pump with twice as many compressions comes close to that one in terms of how well it works. Thus, it is one of the best bike pumps that you can buy.
The 2Stage is able to do this because it has two ways to inflate. Stage 1 is for high volume and Stage 2 is for high pressure. It works like the other two-stage model we tried, but the barrel is much bigger, so it fills the tires much faster. This also makes it harder to squeeze the pump, and it makes it tall, which can be hard for riders who aren’t as tall. The high-pressure mode is not as good, but it only takes three more pumps to get the same result as the fastest mode. The bad thing is the way the gauges are made.
The first part of the gauge only goes up to 30 PSI. Each pound of pressure is marked. The second half goes from 30 to 160 PSI, with only every 5 PSI marked. These marks are close to each other. Since it’s hard to see where the needle is pointing, it’s not strange that the gauge is not very accurate above 30 PSI. The two-sided scale is also hard to use when the tires are flat. If you can deal with all of that and still want this pump’s efficiency, go for it.
Pros
- Dual stage pump for quick inflation
- Large gauge for easy reading
- Ergonomic handle for comfortable use
- Compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves
Cons
- Can be bulky to carry with you on rides
- Not as durable as some other options
FAQs
Floor pumps, small pumps, and CO2 inflators are the three main types of bike pumps. Floor pumps are made to be used at home or in a bike shop. They can fill tires quickly and with a lot of air. Mini pumps are smaller and easier to carry, so you can take them with you on a ride. CO2 inflators fill tires quickly and easily with compressed CO2 bottles.
When picking a bike pump, you should think about the type of valve your bike has (Presta or Schrader), the desired pressure range, the pump’s durability and ease of use, and whether it has extra features like a built-in pressure gauge or a hose.
To use a bike pump, you must first connect the pump head to the valve on your bike tire. Before you start to pump, make sure that the pump head is firmly attached to the valve. Next, pump up and down on the handle to fill the tire with air. Stop pumping every so often to check the pressure of the tire with a pressure tester or by pressing your finger on the tire. When the tire’s pressure is where you want it, take the pump head off the valve and put the valve cap back on.
