Skip to main content

Giant Control 1+ MTB track pump


Giant’s dedicated high-volume, low-pressure inflator has a really big dial (60mm), which is very accurate but only goes up to 40psi. The pump head autoadjusts to fit Schrader or Presta valves and the wide lever gives a sturdy, airtight lock. There’s an air release button to get your pressures on point if you overpump, too. It doesn’t quite shift enough air in a single stroke to compete with a compressor but it’ll pop better-matched tubeless tyre/rim combos into place fine if you go mental for a minute. The really long stroke means it isn’t a struggle to get tyres up to pressure, even if you take it right to the dial limit to make sure the beads are fully seated. Its massive metal base makes it less likely to topple over and chip your frame, and the big handle is reasonably comfy. Judging by the Control 2 we’ve had for the past two years, it’s likely to be a lot more durable than many more expensive inflators.

Price $67

Popular posts from this blog

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.

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.

Anthony Messere’s Morpheus Vimana Slope

A flying chariot built with one thing in mind – slopestyle domination

Syncros XR1.5 saddle

Saddles are a vastly personal item, as shown by the wide array of shapes and sizes on offer. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for another. Syncros have tackled this by offering two widths - a narrow 132mm version we've tested and a wider 143mm version.

Merida Big Seven 100

We've rolled up to our local woods, with a meandering blue trail, some natural wooded tracks and a bit of fire road chucked into the mix to see how the Big Seven 100 tackles trails that entry-level riders are likely to cut their teeth on.