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Over the past seven years, we've researched over 23 models of frame pumps to bring you the most in-depth advice available. For this review, we tested 8 of the top contenders, scrutinizing the features of each in our pump-to-pump comparison. A good frame or mini pump for your bike will get your ride back on track as quickly and painlessly as possible. Our bike experts used each of these pumps for months, carrying them on every ride to find out how portable and functional they really are. We fixed accidental road and mountainside flats, intentionally rode around with a slow leak to ensure opportunity, and inflated standard fat and skinny tires from flat to full, counting every compression along the way. It's painstaking work, and we're happy to do it to find the perfect fit for your frame, saddlebag, pack, or jersey pocket.
The Pro Bike Tool Mini Bike Pump with Gauge takes all the guesswork out of pumping with a pressure gauge built right into the stem, and it's the only pump we tested that sports this impressive feature. We double-checked the accuracy of the gauge with a digital meter on several occasions and found it to be pretty spot on. In addition, we loved the sleek design that made this pump easy to transport and use. The durable materials and quality construction ensure that this pump will bail you out of many trail or roadside binds over its lifetime.
So what's the catch? The Pro Bike Tool Mini Pump is heavier than a lot of models out there – only one pump we tested was heavier – but when you're talking about an ounce or two, it's hard to tell a big difference. In fact, this durable metal pump weighed the same as one of the pumps made fully from plastic and was far less durable. Overall, we'd say this frame pump kept the weight within acceptable margins. If you'd like an option that's just a tad lighter, the Lezyne Sport Drive HV can deliver, though it is not as easy to use and isn't quite as efficient. Another downside to the Pro Bike Tool Mini Pump is the length; you won't be able to carry this pump in a saddlebag or jersey pocket. However, it does come with a frame mount that does a great job of securing the pump, even on the bumpiest of trails. Considering the caveats, we'd say any drawbacks are mitigated in this mighty lil pump.
At first, we didn't think much of the Vibrelli AIR pump. It's super lightweight and doesn't feel as solid or durable as some other awards winners, like the bombproof Silca Tattico Mini mentioned below. However, when it came to inflating our tires, this pump proved that it was up to the task. It's designed more like a high-pressure pump in that it delivers less air per stroke than other pumps. This meant that it took longer to get us to X pressure, but even at higher pressures, the pumping was easy. The universal “smart” valve head connects to either Presta or Schrader valve without the need to switch anything, which is one less moving part to worry about. And priced less than most fast food value meals, it's an easy purchase.
A low price point typically means that the manufacturer used less expensive materials in the construction, and this pump is no exception. The aluminum barrel is thin, and almost every part except the barrel is plastic. This doesn't inspire much confidence in the longevity of this pump. Yet, because of the price, it's easily replaceable. For just a slightly higher cost, you could also try the BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini, which offers just a bit more durability and performance. Another potential issue is that the frame mount lacks a strap, so it might get lost on the road or trail. Although this wasn't an issue during our testing, we believe that each ride with this baby mounted to the frame is just tempting fate. It's so small you could just as easily carry it in a bag or jersey pocket. Regardless, if you are looking for a super lightweight pump that will easily inflate any bike tire to pressure, then you'll want to consider this little guy.
The Silca Tattico Mini resembles a piece of military tactical gear. The matte black finish on the solid aluminum alloy body is accentuated by the knurled handles on each end. At first glance, it actually looks like a scope, complete with rubber caps on each end. But this tool isn't for warfare unless you're talking about attacking the trail. This pump will get your ride up and running again in no time if you're stranded with a flat (and you were good about packing your patch kit and/or extra tube). In fact, we found this was one of the easiest pumps to use at high pressure, making it suitable even for inflating your road bike tires up to 100psi. The head of the valve easily unscrews and flips around to make changing between Presta and Schrader valves a breeze. We were impressed by every bit of this well-made pumps construction – from the rubber inflation hose that retracts into the body to the metal internals that ensure a long life of pumping for this bomber piece of gear.
We encountered some major issues with the Tattico Mini during testing. First, the solid metal handles sport 90-degree edges that tend to dig into the hands. “I didn't really notice this at first,” our reviewer said, “but after 300 pumps or so, my hands definitely let me know,”. Compared to most models, it is designed differently in that the barrel is on the back of the pump instead of the front, where it attaches to the tire valve. For our testers, this meant that our hand occasionally got pinched on the instroke while pumping (see the full review for a picture demonstrating this issue). When trying to remove the pump during testing, the pump valve also tended to stick onto the tire valve, whether Presta or Schrader. This resulted in a slight loss of pressure (and all that hard work) when removing the pump from the tire stem. It wasn't enough to toss the pump in the garbage, but compared to pumps that don't leak at all, we did take note. Finally, this was a significantly heavy pump due to the bomber construction, which is an important consideration for some. If you want something slightly lighter and easier to use, check out the Lezyne Grip Drive HV. It doesn't compare to the Tattico Mini in terms of durability, but it still gets the job done, and for less money. Like any relationship, the Tattico Mini takes some getting used to, but we think it is well worth the time and effort if you need a pump that may survive a bomb blast.
When you're inflating a road bike tire with a frame pump built for high volume, it's really easy at first and may become darn near impossible as the pressure approaches higher digits. The BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini addresses this issue with advanced engineering; there's a switch on the bottom of the pump that allows you to choose whether you want to pump high volume or high pressure. This pump will add air quickly until about 20-30psi, at which point it becomes difficult. No sweat, though, because with the flip of a switch, the pumping becomes easier again. Granted, you're adding less air with each stroke on the HP setting, thus requiring more strokes, but it's easy pumping, so we found that it goes pretty quickly. Further, the universal valve attachment design means that you don't have to do anything to switch between Presta and Schrader valves.
Despite all the benefits, we were unimpressed by the tube design. The tube is on the back of the pump instead of the front where it attaches to the tire stem. This leaves little room for your forward hand when gripping and ripping due to the small size of the valve head. As a result, it tends to pinch the forward hand if you're not careful. Another disadvantage we discovered during testing is the Air Handler Mini does not include a frame mount. We're guessing the manufacturer didn't think it was necessary due to the small size. It is, in fact, small enough to fit in our saddle bag and could easily be carried in a jersey or pack. So perhaps this point isn't enough to knock it down a full peg. If you're not too worried about adding a bit more weight to your load, you might want to check out the Pro Bike Tool Mini. It performed better across all other metrics but was one of the heaviest we tested. Overall, if you want a pump that makes it easy to go between high volume and high pressure pumping, we believe the mighty lil Air Handler Mini is a terrific choice.
This sped-up video demonstrates inflating a road bike tire with the BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini. Note when our tester switches from HV to HP and the pumping becomes easier.
Credit: Jon Oleson
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How We Test Frame Pumps
Frame pumps and mini pumps are your best friend when you need to inflate a tire while out on a ride. Frame-specific products are well suited for road and cyclocross bikes and provide quick, efficient inflation due to their larger size. We tested each frame pump on both road and mountain bike tires; after all, if it doesn't pump up your specific tire style, it is somewhat useless. For road bikes, we assessed how well the frame pump achieved 100 PSI by counting the number of strokes it took to get there. Then we assessed mountain bikes by pumping 300 strokes and using a digital gauge to assess the final PSI. We also kept detailed notes on ergonomics, how easy they were to use, and any durability issues.
Our frame pump testing is divided across five rating metrics:
Pump Performance (35% of overall score weighting)
Ease of Use (25% weighting)
Durability (15% weighting)
Ergonomics (15% weighting)
Weight (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
This review is the joined work between Curtis Smith, Jon Oleson, Ross Patton, and Kurt Gensheimer. Each has their own unique background in biking, whether it be trail riding, BMX, or high-speed road biking. Regardless of style, they all know how handy a frame pump can be, and understand how frustrating it can be when you are stranded without one, or worse, it doesn't work properly. That is why our team has devised tests to ensure we find the best frame pump on the market.
Analysis and Test Results
There are a wide variety of mini pumps. Some are designed to work well on high-pressure road tires. Others are designed specifically for mountain bike tires, which have higher volumes and need lower pressures. We break down the different options available below.
What's the Best Value?
We know that buying a quality product at a great value is always the goal. That's why we consider the products' performance scores against their sticker price. The Vibrelli AIR does the best job of balancing price and performance. The BIKETUBE is another budget-friendly model that performs well. The Pro Bike Tool Mini is a mid-priced option but one of our very favorites. For just slightly more than the budget pumps, you get a solid, high-quality frame pump.
The Vibrelli is one of the lightest frame pumps tested, and one of the least expensive.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Pump Performance
This is where the rubber meets the road. Getting air in the tire in an efficient manner is critical. In general, products designed for mountain bikes don't work all that well for road bikes because they are often unable to hit the target pressure. Road bike pumps will get a mountain bike tire up to pressure, but often require so many strokes that you might decide to walk home instead. The best pumps allow you to hit your target pressure quickly with a minimal amount of strokes. Also, the effort required to achieve that pressure must be manageable.
Pump manufacturers often provide max pressure ratings for their pumps. We found that many pumps are incapable of matching those claims because it gets too hard to compress them under high pressure. Also, when a pump cycles through several hundred compression cycles in rapid succession, heat builds up. As the chamber heats, the metal expands, decreasing the piston seal's effectiveness. This allows air to escape and reduces the volume of air per stroke. So the faster you pump, the more inefficient your pump will become. How well a design manages these factors determines how well it will perform for its intended purpose.
Our favorite mini pump for road applications is the Pro Bike Tool Mini Bike Pump with Gauge. This impressive little pump was able to achieve 100 psi in 180 easy strokes. Other products we tested either took many more pumps to achieve the pressure, or the pumping was so difficult that we struggled to even reach the desired pressure. Additionally, this Pro Bike Tool Mini pump has a pressure gauge built into the inflation hose, which took all of the guesswork out of reaching our desired pressure.
The built-in pressure gauge on the Pro Bike Tool Mini pump removed the guesswork when inflating a road bike tire for the stroke test.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Our favorite mini pumps for mountain bike tires are the Lezyne Grip Drive HV and the Lezyne Sport Drive HV — hitting 30 psi on a 27.5" x 2.3" tire with 225 and 260 strokes, respectively. For comparison, the Pro Bike Tool Mini Pump took 360 strokes. This was understandable for the Lezyne pumps, which are built with larger barrels for pumping volume. Just don't expect these pumps to hit high pressure, as we had a hard time even getting to 80psi.
Using the Lezyne Grip Drive HV trailside to inflate our mountain bike tire.
Credit: Jon Oleson
The Silca Tattico Mini was one of our favorites on this test. Silca designed this pump with an “adaptable cup seal” that grows with the tube to maintain efficiency as the pump heats up. Due to this design, the loss of efficiency during pumping is minimal.
The BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini also scored well, with excellent all-around pumping performance. It hit 30 psi at 250 strokes on a mountain bike tire, which is in line with our top contenders. And when the pumping got difficult, we were able to switch the pump to HP and continue pumping almost effortlessly. Of course, this mode puts less air in the tire with each stroke, so it took 450 pumps to get a road bike tire to 100 psi.
The switch on the butt of the BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini that allows you to choose high volume or high pressure pumping.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Last and perhaps least due to its overall performance was the Topeak Peakini II. Although there were other factors that moved this pump toward the bottom of our list, it did perform well on this test, reaching 30 psi on our mountain bike tire in 250 strokes. The oversized plastic barrel is designed to move a lot of air, but not pump pressure. We had a difficult time even getting our road bike tire to 90 psi with this pump.
Ease of Use
Flat tires always happen at the most inopportune times. We all have busy lives, and most of us try to make the most of our time by planning a ride that uses up nearly every minute of the available window. So when a flat occurs, we want equipment that is reliable and foolproof. Some products are easier to use than others.
We've found that pumps using a flexible hose and a thread-on valve attachment are the easiest to use. It takes a few extra seconds to deploy the flexible hose from the pump and thread the fitting onto the valve, but the interface provides a consistent leak-free connection while you pump. Another important consideration is how much fumbling you must do to change valve heads or attach the pump to the tire stem, and pumps with universal heads were considered highly in this category. In addition, we gauged how easy the pumps were to carry, since a pump doesn't do you any good unless it's with you. And a pump that's not easy to carry may have a tendency to get left in the garage or trunk.
The screw on valve heads on the Lezyne Sport Drive HV provide an air-tight seal while pumping, while the inflation hose makes it easier hold and pump.
Credit: Jon Oleson
The Pro Bike Tool Mini Pump with Gauge was the easiest to use mini-pump that we tested. The inflation hose stores conveniently in the handle. You simply remove the hose, choose which end fits the tire valve you're using, and screw it on. The threaded valve head secures tightly to the tire stem and creates a tight seal that doesn't leak even when threading it on. The only thing that this pump is missing is a bleed valve to let air out if you overshoot your mark. However, with the built-in pressure gauge, you know exactly where you're at in the process. This superior pump also comes with a frame mount complete with a rubber strap, so you can be sure that your pump isn't going to bail on the trail.
Pro Bike Tool Mini Pump with Gauge screwing on and off a Schrader valve
Credit: Jon Oleson
The Silca Tattico Mini, on the other hand, did leak a bit when donning and removing the valve head to/from the tire stem. Yet when it was secure on the stem, there was no leaking during pumping. The valve chuck is super easy to unscrew and flip over for changing between valve types. This pump also comes with a frame mount with a rubber strap. When mounted in place, this pump does not budge! We feel like our bike could go through a hurricane and come out with this pump still attached to the frame.
Both pumps that we tested from Lezyne, the Grip Drive HV, and the Sport Drive HV have inflation hoses that are stored in the pump. The dual valve heads, one for Presta and one for Schrader, are threaded and easily screw onto the tire valves, providing leak-free pumping. Additionally, the Grip Drive HV has a bleeder button on the inflation hose, which makes it convenient whenever you need to relieve a little pressure. Both of these big-barrelled pumps come with a frame mount that has a Velcro strap, ensuring that your pumps stay in place whether you're cruising the flats or bombing the bumpy downhill section of your favorite local loop.
The Silca Tattico Mini was locked in place once mounted. We could hardly even jiggle it with force.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Since this category was two-part – both the ease of attaching and ease of carrying – there were those contenders who scored high in one test and low in the other. For example, with its universal head, the BV Mini was easy to attach and provided leak-free pumping. Yet the mount is cheap and flimsy, and this pump was the only one that fell off our bike (and was nearly lost) during our bumpy trail test. Likewise, the Vibrelli AIR has a universal head and scored great on attachment and pumping, but without a strap on the frame mount, you're tempting fate every time you hit the trail. While it didn't fall off during our testing, we imagine it's only a matter of time.
The BV Mini was the only pump to fall out of its frame mount during testing. We had to ride back and find it.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Conversely, the Topeak Peakini Mini Pump scored horribly on the attachment test since it was leaky, bent one Presta valve, and eventually broke the valve tip off while trying to get our road bike tire up to pressure. Yet on the transport test, it scored top marks. The secure mount is equipped with a Velcro strap that keeps this pump in place no matter the trail conditions.
Lastly, the BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini scored well on the attachment test, given its universal head that securely attaches to the tire stem. Since it doesn't come with a frame mount, we weren't able to test whether or not it stays attached on bumpy downhill trails, but it's small and light enough that it even fits in the saddlebag of our road bike. You shouldn't have an issue keeping this pump on you while riding.
The Topeak Peakini Mini Pump was hard on Presta valves particularly. It eventually broke off our valve stem.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Durability
In an ideal world, you would never need to use a frame pump. But if you need to use yours, you want the peace of mind that it will actually work when you need it. Inherently, a piece of equipment with moving parts will wear out over time, so we were sure to put a true beating on these products to ensure that we put more wear and tear on them than the average cyclist. However, when it comes down to it, the elements and exposure are what cause a frame pump to break down — not use.
The biggest problem that we saw over our six-month test period was that some of the valve heads began to deteriorate. When exposed to the elements – the dirt, the dust, the heat and cold – for long periods of time, the rubber seals will inevitably dry out and crack. For this reason, our highest scoring products are the Pro Bike Tool Mini Pump, Lezyne Grip Drive HV, and Silca Tattico Mini pumps. Their flexible rubber hoses conveniently store in their aluminum bodies, protecting the valve connections from the elements.
The pumps with plastic valve attachments, or whose bodies are made primarily of plastic, scored lower as this material will wear more quickly with time and exposure. The Vibrelli AIR, Topeak Peakini, and BV Mini pumps all fell into this category. While the quality of the plastic did vary between these contenders, we know that overall, they will not last as long as pumps with more durable metal and rubber in the design.
The cheaper pumps comprised largely of plastic scored lower in the durability metric.
Credit: Jon Oleson
When we got down to the internal components, it was easy to see that the Silca Tattico Mini was the most well-built and durable of the pumps we tested. The aluminum-alloy body feels as hard as stainless steel. The internal design of the pump incorporates rubber valve seals that expand with use and a “heat sink” at the end of the handle that moves heat away from the barrel as you're pumping. Both of these attributes will increase the life of the pump. The durable rubber inflation hose terminates in a metal reversible chuck that is precisely machined for a tight fit. The hose stows in the handle and is protected by a burly rubber cap that fits snugly. Further, a rubber gasket sits between the barrel and the handle to ensure that dirt and dust don't get into your pump and gunk it up. If you're looking for the most durable mini pump, this one fits the bill.
A close-up shot of the well-machined all metal chuck that helped earn top marks for the Silca Tattico Mini in the durability metric.
Credit: Jon Oleson
A close second in this category was the Pro Bike Tool Mini Pump with Gauge. The premium quality CNC machined aluminum alloy body is solid and able to take some abuse. The durable rubber hose with built-in pressure gauge stores in the body, protecting it from the elements. The precisely machined threaded connections attach smoothly and securely, whether attaching to your tire stem or storing until you need it again. The rubber caps fit snugly over each end, protecting your internal parts from dirt, dust, and grime. All these qualities work together to create a mini frame pump that is built to last.
Here you can see the detail put into the construction of the Pro Bike Tools Mini Pump with Gauge. The thick rubber hose, gaskets, and machined aluminum helped earn this pump a high score in the durability metric.
Credit: Jon Oleson
The Lezyne Grip Drive and Lezyne Sport Drive are also designed with durability in mind. Both pumps have hard aluminum tubes and durable rubber hoses with precisely machined valve connections. While the Grip Drive is made entirely of metal and rubber, the Sport Drive does incorporate some plastic into the housing, which brought down its score relative to its more durable cousin.
Lower on our durability list are the pumps that use both metal and plastic in the design. Most of these pumps have an aluminum tube but utilize plastic for the housing and connection parts. The Vibrelli AIR and the BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini both fit this description, and due to the less durable plastic housing and valve connections, their scores suffered in this assessment.
While it sports an aluminum tube, the BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini is mostly made of plastic.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Finally, the plastic-tubed pumps are the lowest in this category. The Topeak Peakini and the BV Mini are made pretty much entirely of plastic (maybe there's a metal pin in there somewhere?) The Topeak is clearly made of thicker, more durable plastic and has a metal piston rod, so it scored slightly higher than the BV Mini, which feels like thin, cheaper plastic.
When taken down to its parts, the only piece of the Topeak Peakini Mini Pump that's not plastic is the metal rod.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Ergonomics
When you have to stop mid-ride to fix a flat, the last thing you want is a pump that makes it harder to get your tire back up to pressure. We considered the ergonomics of each pump's design, taking into account how it attaches to the tire stem, how it feels in the hands, and how easy the handle makes it to deliver stroke after stroke to get you back on track.
We can appreciate it when a manufacturer takes the time to incorporate elements into the design that may make it more difficult or costly to produce yet easier to use. The fold-out handle is one such feature. Both the BV Mini and Topeak Peakini have this feature and scored well in this category. The Topeak Peakini is a bit easier to grip, given the larger barrel, thus scoring a bit higher. Both of these pumps' valve heads attach directly to the tire stem (rather than via a rubber hose), which means that you're required to grip the tire and pump while inflating so that it doesn't damage your valve stem or the rubber welds that attach the stem to the tire tube. This may take some finagling to find a grip that is comfortable for you.
The ergonomically designed handle of the Topeak Peakini Mini pump gave it a higher score in that category.
Credit: Jon Oleson
All the rest of the pumps we tested have an inline handle you cup with your hand as you deliver air to your tire. Some of these handles incorporate rubber or plastic to make them easier to grip, while some are designed with a knurled grip that helps you hold onto the pump stroke after stroke. Additionally, some are designed to attach directly to the tire stem, while some attach via a rubber hose. The latter, we found, is easier overall since you don't have to worry about gripping your pump and the tire as you deliver air.
The Lezyne Grip Drive HV lives up to its name. Designed with a large tube and knurled grip, this pump was easy and comfortable to use. The cross-hatch design on the handle makes for a non-slip grip, whether your hands are gloved, sweaty, or covered in mud. The stowable rubber hose links the pump to the tire stem, making the job a bit easier. Our only gripe with this pump was that it seemed to deliver most of the air at the bottom of the stroke. The overall effect is that you have to push harder right at the end of your stroke, which over time felt like more work for our body than the pumps that deliver air throughout the in-stroke. The Lezyne Sport Drive HV is similar to its cousin in all ways except that it's designed with a bulky plastic handle with ridges for your fingers to grip. This makes the pump easy to handle as your other hand cups the rounded metal end.
The Lezyne Grip Drive HV has a knurled handle that makes it easy to grip.
Credit: Jon Oleson
The Pro Bike Tools Mini Pump with Gauge has a sleek design, slick aluminum, and a thinner tube, which we thought may make it harder to grip. It seems like the designer may have had the same thought, however, and they added a light knurling to the handle. For better or worse, this isn't as textured as the Lezyne Grip Drive or Silca Tattico Mini handles, but we found it to be comfortable and effective at maintaining our grip during testing. Overall, the pumping is made easier by the stashable rubber hose that connects the pump's tube to the tire stem.
There were a couple contenders that seemed to sacrifice ergonomics for other design elements. The BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini is engineered to switch between HV and HP pumping, but one result of this is that the tube is on the back of the pump rather than forward, where the pump attaches to the tire stem. Because the valve head is small (the pump is smaller overall), our hand extended over the tube so that while pumping, we would pinch our hands if not careful. This made it a bit more awkward, although not impossible to use.
You need to be careful how you grip the BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini to avoid pinching your forward hand as you hold the pump on the tire stem.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Likewise, the Silca Tattico Mini utilized the same design, where the tube is on the back of the pump. Silca designed it this way so that heat generated while pumping is moved into a “heat trap” at the butt of the pump, which means more efficient air delivery (when heat expands the rubber seals in a pump, it can result in less efficient pumping as air is lost) and greater life for the pump. Our experience with this design was such that we had to watch not to pinch our hand on the forward grip as we pumped. Also, in most other cases, the rubber tube that extends from the pump to the tire made pumping more comfortable. This pump, however, has a sharp 90 degree angle on the forward grip which bit into our hand over many strokes, making it less comfortable to use over time.
The Silca Tattico Mini has a sharp edge that dug into our hand with use, and we also had to make sure not to pinch the side of our hand while stroking.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Weight
This category is really for the road racers and mountain masters for whom each gram is counted. For the rest of you, this category may not matter as much since we're talking about a difference of an ounce or two between our contenders. If you're worried about how much your gear weighs, or you're just interested to see how these pumps compare weight-wise, then read on to learn more.
At the top of the pack, you'll find the Vibrelli AIR. At 88 grams, it is the lightest pump we have tested. This small but effective pump cuts weight by utilizing a thin aluminum tube and plastic housing and handle. It's so small and light that you may not even notice it in your pack or jersey pocket. The frame mount will add a few grams of plastic onto your frame, but since the mount does not have any sort of strap to ensure your pump stays put, you may want to plan on carrying it on you anyway.
The Vibrelli Air Master Mini does not have a strap on the frame mount, which made us wonder how secure it is. However, being one of the lightest we tested, this could easily be carried in a pack or saddlebag.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Lezyne surprised us with the Sport Drive HV, which is a big-barrelled pump that's designed to move a lot of air (i.e. for mountain bike tires). This was one of the larger pumps we tested, but due to the design, it's also one of the lightest at just 97 grams. Lezyne achieved this feat by using plastic for the pump's housing. With the frame mount added, you're looking at 100 grams of additional weight for your adventures. If you're a mountain bike racer – whether pro or amateur – this would be a great pump to consider having on your circuits. The Lezyne Grip Drive HV is about 30 grams heavier due to more durable (read: heavier) materials.
The all-plastic BV Mini clocks in at 100 grams without the mount. Honestly, we expected this pump to be lighter, since it doesn't seem to incorporate any metal. The longer tube and ergonomically designed handle add more material overall, thus adding a few more grams to what would otherwise be a very simple and cheap design. If you're looking for a cheap pump, we'd point you toward the Vibrelli AIR instead. Or, if you want a pump that's a bit heavier but will switch between high volume (HV) and high pressure (HP) pumping, then check out the BIKETUBE Air Handler Mini, which weighs in at just 108 grams and is small enough to easily fit in a pocket.
The Lezyne Sport Drive HV is surprisingly light for a large-barreled mini pump.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Our Editor's Choice, the Pro Bike Tool Mini Bike Pump with Gauge, comes in a little over an ounce above the lighter pumps, at 134 grams. It's our strong opinion that the more durable construction and useful features, like the built-in pressure gauge, are well worth the little bit of extra weight. If you're counting every gram for your next road race, you may feel differently. And that's ok. We've covered the lighter options for you. Conversely, the Topeak Peakini Mini Pump came in at the same weight as the Pro Bike Tool Mini Pump. This pump is almost entirely plastic, but the larger tube (intended to deliver more air) and bulky design mean an overall heavier pump.
While the Pro Bike Tool Mini Pump isn't the lightest contender, its sleek design means that you may not notice it as much as the bulkier pumps.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Last in this category was the Silca Tattico Mini, which weighs a whopping 165 grams without the mount. If you want to know why this pump weighs so much, read above under “Durability”. The quality materials that make this pump so durable also add many more grams overall.
Using the Silca Tattico Mini to get our mountain bike back on the trail.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Conclusion
A properly functioning frame pump can truly make or break a day of cycling. Nothing is worse than walking your bike down the trail after a rewarding climb or having to hitchhike home or call for a ride. The right pump will not only give you peace of mind when you're far out on your ride, but will also be easy to use, pump quickly and efficiently, and be easily portable. We hope our comprehensive review will help you get back on the road or the trail and continue with your awesome day in the event of a flat. Happy pedaling!
—Curtis Smith, Kurt Gensheimer, Ross Patton, and Jon Oleson
