Get rolling again with these easy-to-use mini pumps
By Ron Koch
Mountain Bike: Topeak Mountain Morph
A fold-out leg, collapsible handle and flexible hose make this little dynamo almost as easy to use as a floor pump, but it still fits into your hydration pack. The wide barrel pushes out enough air to fill mountain-bike tyres, leaving you with energy for the trail ahead.
PRICE: $44.95
WEIGHT: 250g
All-Rounder: Echelon Sports MTB Nebo
This dual-purpose pump fits both Schrader and Presta valves and inflates on both push and pull stroke, up to a pressure of 120 psi. No matter what tyre you’re inflating, a small gauge takes the guesswork out of finding the correct pressure.
PRICE: $29.95
WEIGHT: 130g
Performance: Blackburn Airstik SL
This tiny pump slips easily into a jersey pocket or mounts discreetly next to your bottle cage. The minimalist Airstik fits only Presta valves and the slim barrel moves relatively small amounts of air with each stroke, so it takes time to inflate high-pressure road tyres.
PRICE: $49.95
WEIGHT: 59g
Road: Specialized Airtool Road Flex
Pushing too hard when using a traditional hand-held pump can damage your tube’s valve. The high-pressure Airtool, ideal for road tyres, solves that problem with a flexible, retractable hose, which isolates the valve from even vigorous pumping action.
PRICE: $49.95
WEIGHT: 106g
Touring: Genuine Innovations Second Wind Road Alloy Mini
A CO2 cartridge will fill your tyre fast, but can be used only once. This hybrid model offers a reliable backup: the inflation head can also be used as a pump, and your spent cartridge becomes the handle.
PRICE: $64.95
WEIGHT: 120g (with cartridge)
TIP: STEM SAFETY
When inflating your tyre, put one hand behind the pump head, where it attaches to the valve. Operate with your other hand. This prevents you damaging the valve stem.