The Best Bike Pumps of 2023

Despite its relegation to some forgotten corner of the garage, bike pumps are always there when you need them. The best bicycle tire pumps are reliable, fast, and, in the case of mini bike pumps, easy to carry with you if you get a flat on the road. While they seem simple, the best bike pumps come with features that make filling your tires easier and faster.

We’ve looked at a variety of pumps with high-capacity barrels, pressure gauges, and varying pump settings to find you the best bicycle pump for however you ride. What follows is the best of the bunch.

Scroll through to see all of our recommended buys, or jump to the category you’re looking for. For more help choosing the best bike pump, check out our buyer’s guide, comparison chart, and frequently asked questions at the end of this article.

The Best Bike Pumps of 2023

Comparison Chart

Bike Pump	Type	Max PSI	Length	Weight	Valve Types
Topeak JoeBlow Sport III	Floor pump	160	25.5″	3 lbs., 11 oz.	Presta, Schrader, Dunlop
BV Ergonomic Floor Pump	Floor pump	160	24″	2 lbs.	Presta, Schrader, Dunlop
Blackburn Designs Core Pro Floor Pump	Floor pump	180	29″	3 lbs., 13 oz.	Presta, Schrader, Dunlop
Pro Bike Tool High Pressure Mini Bike Pump	Portable	100	7.5″	4.5 oz.	Presta, Schrader
Lezyne Micro Floor Drive Digital HVG Pump	Portable/Floor	160	13″	7.3 oz.	Presta, Schrader
Topeak JoeBlow Dualie Floor Pump	Floor pump	75	27″	4 lbs., 3 oz.	Presta, Schrader, Dunlop
Lezyne Classic Drive Floor Pump 3.5	Floor pump	220	26″	3 lbs., 12 oz.	Presta, Schrader, Dunlop
Crankbrothers Sterling Bike Floor Pump	Floor pump	160	25″	1 lb., 10 oz.	Presta, Schrader
Bontrager Dual Charger Floor Pump	Floor pump	160	43″	3 lbs., 11 oz.	Presta, Schrader
Silca Tattico Mini	Portable	100	9.5″	5.4 oz.	Presta, Schrader

Why You Should Trust Us

At GearJunkie, we are lucky to play host to a number of cyclists that enjoy all different types of disciplines — from downhill MTB to winter fat biking, to racing cross-country in international adventure races. In order to find the best bike pump available today, we tapped into that knowledge and sought out the pumps that we use ourselves, as well as pumps that have been recommended to us by our riding partners.

During testing, we aimed to consider every facet of these bike pumps, including pumping pressure, ease of use, and the space they would take up in a garage or riding pack. Because not every blowout is going to occur at home, we paid equal mind to floor pumps as we did to portable pumps that are easy to bring along with you. Having both styles can cover your bases when it comes to bike maintenance.

And finally, because excellent new bike pumps are hitting the market every year, we are constantly cycling in new testers for our routines and will continue to update our guide as the best of the best becomes available.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Bike Pump

Secure Attachment

For the most part, when you’re fixing a flat, you’re already in a frustrating situation. Having a pump that’s a pain to work with only makes things worse. When you’re choosing a bike pump, it pays to have one that is reliable and easy to use.

The first step to that is to find a pump that offers a secure fit onto your tire’s valve. Many pumps have hose heads that you just push onto the tire valve. This often works, but you can lose air if it’s not secure. It can also lead to disconnection while you pump.

A loose connection can let air escape as you pump, requiring more pumps to fill your tire. Losing air between the valve and the head of your pump also adds to the time it takes to fill it up. That leads to more time spent pumping away and less time on your bike. Nobody wants that.

Even worse, a loose connection can lead to the pump head popping off the valve of your bike. This means you need to stop pumping and reapply the hose. After this happens three or four times, you might be ready to chuck everything into the bushes and walk home.

When you consider shopping for bike pumps, look for a pump with a threaded connection like Lezyne’s Classic Drive Floor Pump. This means that the head of the hose actually screws onto the valve. This provides a secure, airtight seal between the pump and the tire.

Ease of Use

A pump that’s complicated and difficult to use is not going to help your situation. You don’t need your hands slipping off your pump or the hose popping off the valve while you try to fill your tire.

Mini-pumps are what you’ll be using when you do field repairs. As there’s no foot pedal for extra torque, your hands are doing all the work.

Mini-pumps usually take at least 100 pumps to fill a tire. So, it’s likely that your hands will be tired and sweaty by the time you fill it up. Look for a mini-pump with a solid grip. Many pumps have knurling on the edges, which helps your hands keep a solid grip on the pump.

Also, some mini-pumps like the Silca Tattico Mini are designed to minimize heat buildup. This not only minimizes hand sweat but also keeps the pump from breaking down over time. If you usually ride with a pack, there are some mini-pumps with foot pedals available. Take a look at the list above for some of the best options.

Floor Pumps

If you’re looking for a pump for your garage or shop, there are a few other things to consider. Floor pumps need to be stable, so look for a pump with wide or long footpegs.

Most floor pumps come with two footpegs, but some come with a third peg for more lateral stability. This comes in especially handy when you’re bearing down on the pump to hit that higher psi.

The handle is also important when it comes to comfort. Larger, longer handles are generally more comfortable when using a bike pump. This is mostly because larger handles don’t dig in as much.

We’re also fans of the feel of wood handles on floor pumps. If you’re looking for more comfort, some floor pumps feature padded handles.

Speed of Inflation

The speed of inflation depends on the amount of air you can move into the tire per pump. So, it makes sense that if portability isn’t an issue, floor pumps are the fastest way to inflate your tires. The larger body takes in and expels more air per pump.

Because you don’t have to worry about carrying it on your back or mounting it on your bike, floor pumps can be built with bigger bodies and carry a higher volume of air. This is a huge issue, especially when it comes to mountain bike or fat bike tires. Some pumps are built specifically for use with high-volume tires like these.

The bigger bodies pull more air in and compress that air on the downward push. Often, these high-volume pumps have a switch somewhere, usually on the base.

This switch allows the pump to change from high-volume pumping (for MTB and fat bikes) to high-pressure (for road bikes). These are a great option for cyclists who ride a wide variety of bikes.

Mini-Pumps

Because they have smaller bodies, mini-pumps take longer to fill a tire than a floor pump. Their portability requires smaller bodies, which means far less volume per pump than floor pumps.

When referring to mini-pumps, the speed of inflation depends largely on how easy it is to use. Look for a mini-pump with a solid grip, as your hands will be doing most of the work. A mini-pump with textured handles or knurling machined onto the grip will work well for maintaining a solid hold.

Guaranteeing a tight seal between the hose and valve is also a factor. A good screw-on hose head can minimize the loss of air when you pump. This lowers the number of pumps (and the time) that it takes to fill your tire.

Stability

When it comes to floor pumps, stability primarily comes from the base. As pressure builds in your bike tires, pumping becomes more difficult and you must bear down on the pump.

When you apply this weight, there is an increased chance of the pump tipping over. This can result in frustration, damage to the pump or yourself, and if anyone else is around, hilarity.

Most pumps combat this by making longer, wider footpegs to create a more stable base. If stability is your priority, look for a floor pump with three legs. This creates a stabilizing tripod effect and helps prevent tipping. Take a look at our list above for some three-legged options.

With the vast majority of mini-pumps, you’re holding it in your hands as you pump. The base isn’t the issue, as these pumps generally don’t have one.

For mini-pumps, stability refers more to grip and the hose’s ability to stay on the valve. Hose heads that screw directly onto a valve ensure a stable connection, which prevents the hose from popping off while you pump. This is especially important with mini-pumps, as they have much shorter hoses.

As a result, it’s a lot more likely that you’ll accidentally tug on the hose as you pump. A screw-on hose head keeps your hose secure if you accidentally pull it away from the valve.

Stability also refers to a mini-pump’s grips. A textured grip provides a stable grip on the pump’s handles as you pump away. This prevents slippage and wasted pumps — and it gets you back on your bike as soon as possible.

Comfort

Grip is also a huge part of comfort when it comes to mini-pumps. The aforementioned grip features increase friction on your pump, so you don’t have to squeeze as hard to hold it. Look for a pump with rubberized or textured handles for a better grip.

When it comes to floor pumps, there are a few more handle options. Handles can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are even padded handles for extra softness.

Some people can find padded handles a bit excessive, but we are fans of wood handles. Wood handles provide a warmer, slightly softer feel than plastic or metal. They also give the feel of working with wood tools, which some find soothing.

Durability

Strong materials make for strong gear. When you’re shopping for a floor pump, look for strong materials like steel or machined aluminum in the body. This helps the body hold fast in the face of strong pressure buildup within the pump.

The hose head can also be a weak point, especially if it gets stepped on or run over in the garage. If this is a concern for you, look for a hose head built with strong material.

No matter how well-built or how strong the materials are, pumps can eventually break. Many companies sell replacement parts online. This is helpful, as you won’t have to buy a whole new pump if a piece breaks down.

Bontrager’s Dual Charger Floor Pump has replaceable internal parts as well. This way, pretty much everything on the pump is replaceable.

Mini-pumps are smaller and tend to be more delicate. Look for a mini-pump made with strong materials like aluminum. Aluminum is a great material for mini-pumps, as it combines strength with light weight. So, it won’t add too much to your bike if it’s attached to your frame.

Portability

Ease of carry is an important feature for mini-pumps. Mini-pumps generally have two carrying options. The first is the frame carry, in which the pump is mounted directly on the frame.

Most mini-pumps come with a mounting bracket. The bracket attaches to the pump as well as to the top tube (or wherever you can fit it).

Frame mounting is useful for several reasons. First, if it’s always attached to your bike, there’s no chance that you’ll leave it at home. Second, it saves room and weight in your pack. Or, if you prefer to ride without one, it doesn’t require a pack at all to carry.

For another option, these smaller pumps can fit in a jersey pocket. This also goes for medium-size mini-pumps. All but the biggest mini-pumps should fit well in a jersey pocket for quick accessibility.

Larger mini-pumps have more features and a higher air volume per pump. Their larger size comes with a trade-off, however. The biggest mini-pumps are too long to sit in a bike frame. Many are also too large to fit into a jersey pocket.

If you choose to buy a bigger mini-pump, be prepared to carry it in a backpack or hydration pack.

Value

As with many things, there is generally a trade-off between features and price with bike pumps. You can easily get a solid floor pump for well under $100.

However, you can expect to pay more if you’re looking for additional features and durability. More expensive pumps offer more durable materials and features that make them easy to use.

If you only have one bike and you only use your pump occasionally, an inexpensive pump will do. And at a lower price, you can replace it without breaking the bank.

If you ride several types of bikes and take them out often, you may want to look at some pricier options. Look for a floor pump that works well for both high-volume and high-pressure tires. Many pumps have settings that can switch to a high-volume mode for mountain bike tires and a high-pressure mode for roadies.

Consider your needs and weigh them against your budget to find the best pump for you.

FAQ