The 10 Best Bike Pumps 2024 - Bike Pump Reviews

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

Whether at home or on a ride, nothing beats a reliable pump—floor or mini—for fast and accurate inflation.

Bike pumps are the unsung heroes of cycling. You wouldn’t get very far without one, whether it’s a mini pump that goes along for the ride or a hard-working floor pump in the garage. Either way, both serve the same purpose: to inflate your tires. A floor pump typically does its job faster and with better accuracy, while a mini pump can get you out of a jam and back in action until you’re home again, where you can top off your tire pressure with a floor pump. Ideally, you should have one of each and be comfortable using both.

Silca has made many good pumps over the years. Some of these have been extremely expensive, and while the Terra's $140 price point is not cheap, it is the most affordable floor pump in Silca’s lineup. But much more importantly, I would argue that it is the best floor pump Silca has made.

The dual-stage gauge is excellent at providing precise inflation below 30 psi for gravel and mountain bike tires. But with an overall capacity of 120 psi, the Terra also works great for road tires. The build quality is excellent, with a beautiful wood handle and subdued earth tone color scheme. The pump feels solid but is light enough to be easy to travel with.

The pump head feels extremely solid, with all-metal construction and a firm locking lever. It can easily convert between Presta and Schrader valves and it also has a very precise bleed valve. In our testing, we could consistently bleed off half of a PSI when inflating off-road tires below 30 psi.

The Terra was an easy consensus choice for our best overall pump. It was consistently the pump everyone reached for; its gauge is accurate (and easy to read), plus it has a noticeably smoother pump action compared to all the pumps we tested. While it's not a cheap pump, its price reflects its quality.

At 2 feet tall, the Vibrelli is a few inches shorter than the average floor pump, making it a more convenient travel companion. We found it easy to jigsaw into a trunk already overcrowded with bikes and gear. And since it’s so light (2.75 pounds), it won’t push your checked baggage over the airline’s weight limit. Our testing found that the gauge was accurate up to 100 psi (the max pressure our testing device will measure), although the graduations on the dial go all the way up to 160 psi. This pump is best for road and thin gravel tires. Although you can fill fat tires with the Vibrelli, it’s not a high-volume pump, so you’ll get a tricep workout filling mountain bike tires. Although the shaft is steel, the base and handle are plastic. That’s not a deal breaker, but it means the pump isn’t as robust as the more expensive ones on this list. But at this price, it’s a great value.

Specialized's Air Tool Comp has a dual-range pressure gauge (similar to the pricier Silca Terra). Half of the gauge is for low pressures and runs from zero to 30 psi in one-psi gradients, while the other half is for high-pressure tires and runs from 30 to 120 psi in two-psi gradients. However, unlike the Silca Terra, the gauge leaves something to be desired when it comes to accuracy. Our testing found that it reads two psi low for pressures up to 30 psi, then reads between four and five psi low from 35 up to 100. However, the variations are consistent and repeatable, meaning the Air Tool Comp will inflate your tire the same way every time. Although we also wish the pump head had a bleed valve, we still use it regularly and appreciate its versatility across a wide range of tire sizes and widths.

This high-volume pump is, as the name suggests, made specifically for filling mountain bike tires. The three-inch gauge goes up to only 40 psi, with big, easy-to-read markings in one-pound increments. Of all the pumps on this list, this one has the gauge that’s the easiest to use for setting a precise tire pressure. The stable metal base is the same as the Air Tool and Air Tool Comp V2. Like those pumps, the Air Tool MTB also has a metal barrel, although it’s much larger in diameter to move a higher volume of air with each stroke. And move a lot of air it does—it took us only 20 strokes to fill a 29 x 2.6-inch tire to 20 psi. The plastic handle and loose-fitting plunger give the feel of a discount product. However, testing confirmed that this pump’s gauge is accurate at all points, and we consistently reach for the Air Tool when filling mountain bike tires. We wished for only one thing: a release valve to let out the pressure. Though it may seem minor, it’s incredibly useful when you’re trying to hit 17 psi and you accidentally overfill.

This pump won our testing. It’s noticeably larger than the rest of the minis on this list, but it really works. Despite being best suited for high-volume tires, it also does a solid job getting road tires back to serviceable riding pressure. And since it’s a dual-stroke type, it inflates tires extremely fast. Also, it has a built-in gauge, so we were never left wondering just how much (or how little) air we had managed to cram back into Otiresire. For both flat repair and “Oh damn, I left my floor pump at home” moments, the Mountain DA is a lifesaver.

Not content to just turn out beautiful, exquisitely detailed, and gloriously over-the-top floor pumps, Silca has decided to make one of the best mini road pumps we've tried. The locking, lossless air chuck (Presta or Schrader) is connected to a flexible hose that stores inside the pump when not in use. The pump will confidently get a road tire up to 100 psi, even if it's not super fast. The built-in heat sink does make reaching the higher pressures more comfortable, as it prevents the barrel of the pump from becoming too hot.

The OneUp EDC pump is an ideal solution for riders who want everything they need to fix a trail (or road) side issue in one place. Sure, you pay for that privilege because the tools are sold separately from the pump. But once you have it all in one sleek package, it's hard to go back to having things in multiple places.

As a pump, the EDC functions similarly to our Best Overall mini pump pick, the Mountain DA. It's a high-volume pump, so it makes quick (for a mini pump) work of filling everything from a mountain bike to a road tire. It's built to last with all of its main parts being made from metal. Plus OneUp has a very robust list of accessories and service parts available for the EDC. Its price and lack of a gauge kept it from being our Best Overall pick, but it's still a fantastic mini pump that can also hold all of your tools.

There are many different CO2 inflators out there. Most will empty a CO2 cartridge into your tire just fine, but Lezyne Control Drive CO2 does that job just a bit better. The dial used to open and close the valve feels precise and robust, so if you use larger-size CO2 cartridges, you can dispense just the right amount of air without wasting the rest. Its CNC construction feels durable, plus it's compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves.

The TLR Flash Charger is a good alternative to an air compressor when it comes to installing tubeless tires. The large vertical tank can be pressurized to 160 psi, the maximum pressure read by the digital gauge. To install tubeless tires, place the nozzle on the valve, and when the tank is pressurized, flip the release lever from Charge to Inflate. Opening and closing that lever isn’t a binary choice—you can modulate the pressure as it’s released.

When installing a mountain bike tire, we were nervous about blasting in 160 pounds at one shot but found it very handy to let air in small bursts, giving the tire time to settle. The TLR Flash Charger also works well as a traditional high-pressure pump. The digital gauge is, according to our testing, accurate up to 100 psi, which is the maximum pressure our testing device measures, and that gauge measures pressure in one-tenth increments. The pump is a little big and unwieldy to throw into the back of a car, but it’s a great tool for the home workshop.

We tested several alternatives to the TLR Flash Charger, such as the Topeak JoeBlow Booster and the Lezyne Pressure Over Drive. Functionally both were fine, but they weren't quite as polished as the Bontrager pump, and neither was significantly cheaper. Lezyne's offering has a very sturdy but extreamly annoying to use pump head. The threaded chuck simply takes too long to attach to the valve, which lead us to consistently avoid using it outside of testing. The JoeBlow version was completely adequate, but it's five dollars more than our pick and doesn't have a digital gauge.

If you want to ride with a frame pump, there is really only one option. Silca's Impero Ultimate is sturdy, reliable, rebuildable, powerful, and beautiful. It comes in multiple sizes, so you'll need to measure your frame and select the size that fits. I've owned one of these pumps for eight years; it still functions as well as the day I got it. There's simply no reason to buy a different frame pump.

Floor Pump

These freestanding pumps inflate faster and with less effort than a mini pump for more reasons than just size. A sturdy, wide base provides a platform on which you can stand and hold the pump still, while a wide handle allows you to engage the plunger with both hands for better leverage. While pressure gauges can vary in terms of max psi, placement, size, every floor pump has one. As well, every floor pump has a long flexible hose with a chuck at the end that can get into hard to reach places, some more easily than others.

Mini Pump

These compact inflators are designed to go along for the ride—whether tucked in your pocket, strapped to your frame, or carried in a bag. Their smaller build means more power and effort to reach your chosen psi (or at least a pressure that’s good enough to get you out of a jam and rolling again). Most mini pumps attach directly to your valve, but some come with a short, flexible hose that helps with finding a more comfortable pumping position. Mini pumps typically don’t have pressure gauges, and those that do often have one that is small and difficult to read (besides, your pumping arm will likely get tired before you even reach the ideal psi). A dual-action mini pump inflates tires much quicker as it moves air both when you push and pull the plunger.

Tubeless Pump

Tubeless tires are here to stay, and having the right tool for the job infinitely helps. While you could get away with setting your wheels up with a conventional floor pump, this is not a foolproof method. Tubeless tires often require a quick burst of air to seat the bead to the rim. The secondary canister of these pumps allows you to build up the pressure and dump it into the tire in a quick burst. These pumps differ from standard floor pumps, in that the rider “charges” the pump using a two step, two way valve application. Once the rider charges the chamber to the desired psi, flipping or turning a switch allows all air to rapidly inflate the tire, seating the tire onto the rim.

Frame Pump

The ultimate display of elegance and function: the frame pump. Serving cyclists for over 70 plus years, there's no better or more reliable tool than the trusty frame pump. And many old heads and long distance riders use them for getting home when in a pinch. Only a handful of these icons remain in production (like Silca’s Impero or the Topeak Masterblaster), but many will last your entire riding life. Whether it's new or vintage, frame pumps scream sophistication and functionality.

CO2 Pumps & Inflators

These wonderful problem solving accessories should make you feel like batman. Whipping out one of these from your utility belt, they come in (typically) either 16g or 20g cartridges. You'll then marry that to either a CO2 specific adapter or hand pump that will have a nozzle attachment adaptable to your valve type. Regardless if you carry a CO2 or not, having a mini pump is your best bet!

Presta

This is the long, thin valve that tapers at the top and is made entirely of metal. It’s often threaded from tip to rim and has a knurled nut at the end that must be unscrewed (opened) in order to add or release air. Presta valves are typically found on road and performance bikes because they can hold higher air pressures. The smaller diameter of this valve compared with a Schrader type reduces the size of the opening in the rim, which makes for a stronger wheel.

Schrader

Think of the valve you see on car tires, mountain bikes, beach cruisers, and most kids’ bikes; that is a Schraeder valve. The Schrader valve is wider than the Presta type and the same circumference from tip to rim. It’s wrapped in rubber, threaded at the end, and has a pin in the center that can be depressed to add or release air with a spring to keep it sealed. This type of valve can be inflated using an air pump at a gas station. Please be cautious when inflating at the gas station as the compressors often push air quickly and can over-inflate bike tires.

Dunlop

The less-common Dunlop valve (used on bikes in parts of Asia and Europe), looks like a wider presta valve. It’s usually found on city bikes, but is rarely seen in the U.S. Still, because you never know where your riding will take you, we included a few pumps in our roundup that come with an adapter for this type of valve.

Tubeless

These valves look identical to a Presta valve (except for a few small exceptions). They are usually identifiable by a rubber grommet bottom of the valve where it meets the rim. Most also have removables core for ease of tire installation and adding or topping off sealant.

Most modern pumps are designed to work with both main valve types, and some come with adapters for things like sports balls and pool floats.

Swappable

This also has all the parts needed to inflate a presta or Schrader valve. However, the head’s internals must be reversed—it takes a few seconds and doesn’t require tools—to switch it from one style to the other.

Twin

This type of head has two individual ports: one for presta and one for Schrader valves. Rider’s choice.

Adjustable

This style automatically adjusts itself to fit presta and Schrader valves without any extra steps. Simply press the head to the valve, lock it on, and start pumping.

Bicycle tire pressures are measured in PSI (pounds per square inch), which is the Imperial measurement for air pressure used in North America. BAR is the metric measurement for the pressure in a specific volume.

High-pressure pumps move a smaller volume of air with each stroke and are better suited to filling skinny road tires. Generally speaking, if you ride tire pressures higher than 60 psi, you need a high-pressure pump. These will max out between 160 and 220 psi.

High-volume pumps, on the other hand, move a large amount of air with each stroke and are made for filling fat tires very quickly. However, most struggle to inflate tires to more than 60 psi. The gauges on these pumps typically have large, easy-to-read markings in one-psi increments that make it easy to dial in a precise tire pressure.

Tire pressure is one of the (personal) metrics that can have loads of impact on how you ride. The perfect tire pressure is a range rather than a hard number. Heres a link to help navigate finding your perfect tire pressure.

Lastly, because no two rims are designed the same, it’s extremely important you read the instructions and manual to verify what is the maximum pressure your rim is designed for. Hooked rims and tires are meant to hold tires onto the rim at higher pressures due to the recessed chanel, while hookless function at lower pressures and operate because of the tire pressure and tighter tolerances built into the rim and tire. With tubeless specific systems it is highly encouraged not to go above the recommended safe pressures. (ie. 72.5 psi for most tubeless rims)

We’ve spent hours inflating and deflating tires, pushing our forearm strength to the limit to see how these pumps perform. We pumped skinny tires, fat tires, gravel tires, and everything in between. For the floor pumps, we counted how many strokes it took to get to 20 psi in a mid-width, 29-inch mountain bike tire, as well as 80 pounds in a 700 x 28mm tire. For mini pumps, we tested tire pressure after 200 strokes, the limit of our collective forearm strength.

And one of the most common questions we get when assessing pumps is how accurate the gauges are. So we built a device that allows us to not only test the accuracy of each gauge but also reliably compare each pump. (Full disclosure: Our device reads only as high as 100 psi.) We evaluated the pumps on performance, price, stability, user-friendliness, and how easy it is to read the gauge to land on these, which will best serve the needs of anyone looking for a new pump.

Bicycling has been vetting and reviewing bikes, gear, and accessories for more than five decades. Recommendations are based on the extensive work of the test team, which includes Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy, Senior Test Editor Matt Phillips, Test Editor Dan Chabonov, and Maintenance Editor Gabe Ortiz. Together, they have more than 60 years of ride-testing experience and insight that they bring to every recommendation they make.

For these selections, the entire Test Team tested more than 30 pumps. The project, which includes picks from top brands as well as smaller players in the product category, had a wide scope so that they could narrow down the offerings to pumps that offered the most versatility, sturdy construction, good accuracy, and more. The result is this compilation of 10 pumps that we feel are the best currently being offered.

Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer.

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.

October Prime Day Bike Accessory Deals 2024

These Wheels Are Stiff as Hell and a Blast to Ride

The Best Power Meters For Data Gathering

Campy Plays Catch Up with Super Record Wireless

The 6 Best Bike Computers of 2024

The 9 Best Repair Stands for Every Type of Bike

The 13 Best Bike Lights for Every Kind of Ride

What You Need to Know About Crankarm Length

What Were the Best Details on MADE Show Bikes?

Canyons New Aeroad Is Stiff, Light, and Fast

The AhHa Toaster Is Your Next Bike Rack Solution

SRAM’s Red XPLR AXS 1x13 Is the Best Gravel Group