Cannondale Airspeed Max Mini Pump

SO GOOD…

At just under 300mm in length, the Airspeed will easily fit in most hydration packs. The fold-out foot peg and T-shaped handle help steady the pump and give it a solid footing for pumping. The pump head simply screws on to Schrader valves on one side and Presta on the other, and is easy to attach to both types. The air volume is high too, with the pump reaching a fairly high 12.8psi in the 100-stroke test.

NO GOOD…

The Airspeed isn’t the smoothest, with a lot of internal friction that meant the 100-stroke test tired out our arms more than any of the other pumps here.

PRICE: 47$

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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