We’ll come right out and say it: you need a floor pump. Keep your mini pumps and CO2 cartridges on your frame mounts and in your jersey pockets—that’s where they belong. For installing new tires, prepping your bike at the racecourse and completing your pre-ride checks, the floor pump is an invaluable tool that every cyclist needs. We rounded up seven floor pumps and put their design and durability under the microscope to give you an idea of what’s currently on the market. And to see which pump reigns supreme as far as inflation efficiency goes, we took a size 23c Kenda Kadence Pro tire and Kenda tube and mounted them to a Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheel, then inflated the setup from 0 to 100 psi, meticulously counting the strokes along the way. Here’s what we found.


ICETOOLZ AIR 625
The smallest and least expensive pump in our test, the A451, has a steel barrel decked out in a lime-green finish. Its locking dual-head chuck features separate Presta and Schrader valve adapters, and its plastic base has rubber knobs to keep your feet planted. For $29, the A451 is a superb value, with its smooth pumping action, solid build and secure lock. It would make a good garage mainstay and a great traveling companion due to its light weight and small profile. IceToolz has an extensive line of larger floor pumps as well for those seeking greater inflation efficiency.
Special feature: Small footprint, plus light weight equals portability
Max output: 160 psi
Strokes to 100 psi: 30
Weight: 2 pounds, 5.9 ounces
Price: $29
For More Info: Ice Toolz

SKS AIRWORX 10.0
SKS Germany has been making bicycle floor pumps for 80 years; and that experience is evident in the Airworx 10.0, which features a solid steel barrel, piston and base, and a plastic handle with a rubber grip. Its multi-valve head chuck can accept both Presta and Schrader valve stems while securing them with a heavy-duty locking clamp. Available in orange or silver, the Airworx 10.0 is made in Germany. Our only real complaint is that the chuck lock may be too heavy-duty, requiring the most amount of force to unlock it among our group of pumps.
Special features: Top-mounted gauge for easy reading
Max output: 144 psi
Strokes to 100 psi: 20
Weight: 3 pounds, 12.8 ounces
Price: $44.99
For more info: SKS

LEZYNE ALLOY FLOOR DRIVE

Lezyne’s Alloy Floor Drive scores top marks in the aesthetics category with its CNC-machined aluminum barrel, base steel piston and varnished wood handles. Its 43-inch hose is capped with Lezyne’s Flip-Thread chuck that maxes out at 220 psi and screws directly onto both threaded Presta and Schrader valves. A Presta-only Speed Chuck adapter is also on tap for quick fill-ups that don’t require screwing the chuck onto the valve stem. It’s available in a gleaming silver finish, as well as blue, red and gold. Lezyne also offers several less expensive models with similar features, but the Alloy Floor Drive is our favorite in the company’s line because it gets the job done efficiently and in high-class style.
Special feature: Triangle-style base is the most stable of the bunch
Max output: 220 psi
Strokes to 100 psi: 23
Weight: 3 pounds, 5.9 ounces
Price: $79.99
For more info: Lezyne

TOPEAK JOEBLOW ACE
The JoeBlow Ace is the most expensive pump in our test, but it also packs the most features and proved to be the most efficient of all the pumps tested. Topeak’s SmartHead chuck is one of the best in our test as well, sliding over both Presta and Schrader valves with ease and locking into place without any extraneous effort. You can fine-tune your inflation thanks to an air-release button on the chuck as well. Its tall frame and relatively heavy weight prevents it from being the ideal floor pump to haul to the local crits, and a $150 price tag may deter most other pump shoppers. But, the JoeBlow Ace would be the bike shop’s go-to pump among our test models and would also be well suited to life in most any garage.
Special feature: Three-stage inflation system proves most efficient
Max output: 260 psi
Strokes to 100 psi: 13
Weight: 4 pounds, 15.2 ounces
Price: $149.95
For more info: Topeak

BLACKBURN AIR TOWER 4
The Air Tower 4 is Blackburn’s second-most expensive floor pump in their line of four. Its aluminum barrel comes in a brushed silver finish, and its thick aluminum base is one of the sturdiest in our test. A top-mounted gauge is easy to read, an oversized plastic handle is ergonomically designed for a superb grip and a plastic chuck features Blackburn’s proprietary AnyValve design, which accommodates both Presta and Schrader valve stems. As the second-heaviest pump in our test, and because of its robust build quality, we’d recommend the Blackburn Air Tower 4 as a solid pump for the garage or bike shop.
Special features: Thick, durable aluminum base
Max output: 160 psi
Strokes to 100 psi: 22
Weight: 3 pounds, 15.8 ounces
Price: $69.99
For more info: Blackburn

PARK TOOL PFP-4

Park Tool’s floor-pump line is three-strong, and the PFP-4 slides into the top spot for both price and list of features. Dubbed the company’s “professional mechanics’ floor pump,” the PFP-4 features an aluminum barrel, steel piston and a molded plastic base with steel foot pads. Its gauge is mounted high for easy viewing, and its thick handles are covered in clear, rubber grips. The PFP-4’s dual-head chuck features separate adapters for Presta and Schrader valves, and the chuck lock was our favorite among the test group thanks to its ergonomic design. A preferred pick among bike-shop employees, Park Tool’s PFP-4 is a great choice for any garage.
Special features: Top cap unscrews for easy maintenance
Max output: 160 psi
Strokes to 100 psi: 22
Weight: 3 pounds, 6.9 ounces
Price: $55
For More info: Park Tools

PARK TOOL PFP-5
The PFP-5 features a similar dual-head chuck design as its sibling, the PFP-4, with separate ports for Presta and Schrader valves. At just under three pounds, it's the second-lightest pump in our test. This low weight and a pair of foldable foot pads makes the PFP-5 a great traveling companion. But its most impressive feature is the enormous gauge that is, by leaps and bounds, the easiest to read out of any in our test. Perfectly suited for the nearsighted old guy and the young buck, alike, the PFP-5 scored well in efficiency, requiring 22 strokes to fill our test tire to 100 psi—the same as our other Park Tool model.
Special Features: Biggest gauge in our test
Max output: 160 psi
Strokes to 100 psi: 22
Weight: 2 pounds, 14.3 ounces
Price: $40
For more info: Park Tools

SILCA SUPER PISTA
Silca has been manufacturing bicycle pumps since 1917, and each and every one of them is still made in Italy. The Super Pista is one of the company’s highest-end models, featuring an aluminum barrel, steel piston, beechwood handle and a cast steel base. A base-mounted gauge displays both psi and bar scales in a retro-style font, complete with the classic Silca logo. Silca’s tried-andtrue, Presta-oriented chuck is crafted in aluminum, but can be easily removed to accommodate Schrader valves. A retail price of $110 makes the Silca the second-most expensive in our test, but it’s also one of the most efficient. It’s an impressive tool with a solid construction; and, best of all, its parts are replaceable, making it a winner in the longevity department.
Special feature: Italian craftsmanship from a celebrated brand
Max output: 210 psi
Strokes to 100 psi: 21
Weight: 3 pounds, 8.4 ounces
Price: $110
Fpr more info: Silca