All Arround MTB

The Vernon 2.0 is one of the most well-thought-through pump designs we’ve seen, and the price is good too. The wide, three-pronged steel base gives good stability while you’re pumping and the hose is plenty long enough too. We’re big fans of the big, easy-to-read gauge that sits at the top of the pump’s barrel. Possibly the neatest feature, though, is the bleed button located at the base of the gauge. Its location makes it easy to keep tabs on your tyre pressure while you bleed air off. In action, the broad (255mm) handle is comfy enough (though the edge could be rounded off) and offers plenty of leverage for tackling tubeless tyres, which the Vernon will seat without too much fuss. The chuck will fit Presta or Schrader valves, though you do need to unscrew the end and flip the internals over to switch between the two. While we’ve had no issues with the chuck coming loose, it doesn’t connect to the valve as securely as on some pumps. As this is the high-volume model, it makes...

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

Despite an all-plastic construction and a bit of base-to-shaft wobble, SKS’s basic track pump has impressed us with its consistent, reliable performance. The handle is broad and comfortable, and its action is smooth all the way down. Inflation speed is middle of the road – it took us 34 pumps to get a 27.5x2.3in tyre to 30psi. Because it’s limited to 115psi, the Air-X-Press 8.0 can’t be used to charge some tubeless inflation canisters. The head has a secure fit over valves, and a flip-lock mechanism. While the hose isn’t long, we’ve rarely found this to be an issue. We’d like a slightly wider base and bigger gauge, but for $45 these little niggles are easy to forgive. Price $45

At just over $45, this new track pump from Fabric looks and feels like it should cost a lot more. Although the dual-valve head doesn’t stow in the base of the pump, as on its pricier counterparts, it’s still attached to the same usefully long hose, which will reach a bike hung in a workstand. There’s also a clip to secure the hose to itself to keep things tidy when it’s not in use. The valve head clamps securely in place with very little effort to keep things leak free, and the pressure gauge is large, easy to read and accurate too. The Stratosphere Sport uses the same footplate as the other pumps in Fabric’s line-up, which, although quite wide, isn’t particularly deep. This means it works fine on a flat workshop floor but on uneven ground it isn’t the most stable pump out there. Still, considering the price tag, it’s hard to argue with the sturdy body, decent gauge and general quality on offer here. Price $48

This heavy-duty, MTB-specific inflator has a sturdy steel barrel and base. It tops out at 50psi, which means there are fewer numbers to squeeze onto the gauge, so it’s easier to read. We found that the analogue dial didn’t quite tally with our digital pressure gauge, though. What the Chamber lacks in finesse it makes up for in brute strength, seating even 29+ tubeless tyres with ease. In fact, it’s proven so efficient that our tubeless inflators have been gathering dust for the past few months. The super-long hose means you don’t have to worry about valve position as much and it’ll even reach bikes hung in a workstand. Blackburn have added some nice touches – most notably the 31.8mm bar clamp, which allows you to swap the simple (and not very comfortable) handle for your favourite riser bar and grip combo. Throwing in a barrelmounted bottle opener too, they’re trying hard to justify the price tag. For those in the market for a specialist high-end pump, we reckon they’ve just about ...

With a minimalist CNC’ed aluminium head, the Control Drive feels high quality. Despite its small size, attention to detail is high too. A rubber seal engages with the cartridge threads as soon as you begin loading the inflator, which means little gas is lost before the valve is opened. The head slips easily over both Schrader and Presta valves, and the control knob is knurled for grip and simple to operate. The price is a little high considering that the inflator only comes with a single cartridge. Price $37 w/16g cartridge

The snake-shaped plastic head of the CO2-Bra is easy to use with one hand and keeps your skin away from the cold surface of the cartridge. A gauge on the back turns red if the inflator is ‘armed’ and a thumb lever allows precise control of gas flow. It accepts Presta and Schrader valves, and the forked-tongue dust cap is a nice touch! We inflated our 27.5x2.35in test tyre to 20psi using a 16g cartridge but you’ll need a different inflator if you run a firmer set-up, since the CO2-Bra won’t accept larger canisters. Price $34 w/16g cartridge

There’s a big flow-control knob on the Fabric inflator’s plastic head and it accepts all sizes of threaded cartridge. It engages well with both Presta and Schrader valves, and resists being twisted off the valve. The foam sleeve is the thickest on test and saved our skin from freezing. It may not look as elegant as others here, but works well and you get a lot for your cash. With no rubber seal (as found on the Lezyne inflator), you have to be quick screwing the head onto new cartridges to avoid leaking gas. Price $30 w/2x16g cartridges, 2x tyre levers

Despite being the smallest inflator on test, the metal CPRO2 has a reassuringly solid feel. It’s also the simplest design here, with a mechanism that releases gas as the head is compressed against the valve. A short plastic tube allows the canister to be partially screwed into the head without piercing the seal – a simple but effective solution for transporting a cartridge. There’s no insulating sleeve, so wear gloves while using it. It also only accepts Presta valves. Price $32 w/16g cartridge

This plastic inflator has a trigger and a sprung ‘weather cover’, which must be activated simultaneously to inflate a tyre. A canister can be stored in the handle, which also prevents frozen hands. It accepts both valve types and threaded and unthreaded cartridges. It’s the bulkiest unit here and the plastic casing doesn’t feel as high quality as others on test, despite the relatively high price. The handle wouldn’t accept our 25g cartridges, although these can be used with the head. Price $45 w/2x16g cartridges

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

This little alloy pump has a detachable hose, which screws neatly into the handle when not in use. A bleed valve on the hose makes it easy to unscrew the pump from the valve without removing the valve core or twisting the valve stem in the rim – a great feature, which saves faff on the trail. Its real selling point, though, is the in-built digital pressure gauge. Although we did get the odd high or low reading, for the most part we found it to be very accurate, which meant we didn’t need to carry a separate digital gauge. This is the all-rounder version of the pump, capable of inflating tyres to a whopping 120psi – useful if you have a commuter or road bike too, but the higher-volume Digital Alloy Drive ($105) will get mountain bike tyres up quicker. With the Digital Pressure Drive, it took us 120 strokes to inflate a (tubed) 29x2.4in tyre to 29psi. Our only real gripe is the 174g weight – we wish it were a touch lighter. Price $105

FWE’s 160S sits at the more economical end of the track pump spectrum. For under 45$ you get a large steel barrel that’ll get tyres up to 160psi. Inflating a 29x2.3in tyre to 30psi takes just over 20 strokes. The diamondshaped footplate grips prevent any slippage underfoot and the steel base is good and sturdy. While the pressure gauge is mounted at the base of the pump, its large size means it’s easy to read. The size of the gauge also gives the 160S an almost triangular footprint, which adds to the stability. A dual head makes it easy to switch between valve types, giving a firm fit every time. The hose is plenty long enough too. We found the height of the pump, stroke length and handle comfortable enough for a track pump at this price. Our only request would be a bleed valve to make it easier to fine tune pressures. Price 42$

The Airboy CO2 combines a mini pump and a CO2 tyre inflator in one slim, short, lightweight (142g) package.You can inflate tyres the good old-fashioned – if a little tiring – way or you can screw a CO2 canister to the opposite side of the valve head and use the dial at the end of the pump to control the airflow.

Bontager's flash charger is a unique pump and compressor aimed at tubeless tyre users but its combined design is its weakness as well as its strength.

The obvious difference here is that while the Airshot tank can be used with any pump, the Bontrager combines pump and tank in the same package. That’s a great idea in principle and potentially more convenient for transporting. It makes it a heavy, bulky piece to lug around though. Having already accidentally broken the hose attachment point once, its largely plastic construction is proving less robust than the metal fixtured Airshot too and obviously if the pump breaks you can’t use the compressor and vice versa.

Airshot is a classic, simple but brilliant “Why didn’t I think of doing that” product. It’s been executed well enough that we’re happy that its South Walian inventors sweated all the details to create a really good, foolproof and bombproof product rather than us.

Why carry an inflator and pump, when one tool can do the same job as both? Enter the Airtool CO2, which can accept threaded cartridges to give its inflating powers a huge boost. The concept allows trail riders to have the speed of CO2, without leaving them stranded after a puncture.

The Minoot is an excellent, ultrasimple backup to have stowed away in a pocket or at the bottom of your bag.

We always expect expensive floor pumps to be built to the highest standards and the PRO Team doesn’t disappoint, with a well thought out design and solid build.