They may not be the most glamorous accessory, but if you’ve ever been stranded with a flat tyre, miles away from home or the car park, you’ll know a good mini pump is worth its weight in gold. And not just for you, either. Plenty of times, we’ve helped out friends and strangers who’ve been stuck on the trailside. It’s nice to be the person who can come to the rescue and get another rider rolling again.
Mini pumps have a simple job to do – inflate tyres. But there’s plenty more to it than that. Brands must balance size and weight with pumping efficiency, as well as come up with an easy, secure way to attach the pump to the valve, and all while trying to keep the price competitive.
A good pump will be quick and easy to use even when covered in mud and grit, and when the user’s hands are freezing cold. It must be portable enough to take with you on every ride, yet have sufficient air volume to ensure that you’re not going to spend hours pumping to get your tyres to the correct pressure. It must also have a secure valve connection that will work
