A decent foot pump that doesn't break the bank
Discussion
It's been a few years since I last bought a foot pump and it seems things have moved on since then.
After an inherited Halfords pump broke after 30 years service I replace it with a Ring branded pump about 10 years ago (think it cost about £10). It broke recently so I'm now in the hunt for a replacement. Foot pumps seem to have both gone up in price and gone down considerably in quality. Anything under about £15 seems to be the same piece of junk marketed under multiple names. I'd rather pay a little more if it gets me something that will last but even the £20 pumps look a bit nasty.
I've got a 12v inflator for the car so this is really only a single barrel thing for the bicycle or emergency use. Any suggestions?
After an inherited Halfords pump broke after 30 years service I replace it with a Ring branded pump about 10 years ago (think it cost about £10). It broke recently so I'm now in the hunt for a replacement. Foot pumps seem to have both gone up in price and gone down considerably in quality. Anything under about £15 seems to be the same piece of junk marketed under multiple names. I'd rather pay a little more if it gets me something that will last but even the £20 pumps look a bit nasty.
I've got a 12v inflator for the car so this is really only a single barrel thing for the bicycle or emergency use. Any suggestions?
Stirrup type track pumps seem to work well at sensible prices.
I have one for my bikes which I also use to top up car and motorbike tyres.
Simple plastic thing, had it a dozen years, I use it often.
Did have to buy a new valve fitting for it.
Everyone else seems to have a 12V compressor.
Haven't seen a new footpump that doesn't look like junk for a long time.
They all look like the one I had in 1990 or so, with flimsy metal frame which bent on the pivots.
I have one for my bikes which I also use to top up car and motorbike tyres.
Simple plastic thing, had it a dozen years, I use it often.
Did have to buy a new valve fitting for it.
Everyone else seems to have a 12V compressor.
Haven't seen a new footpump that doesn't look like junk for a long time.
They all look like the one I had in 1990 or so, with flimsy metal frame which bent on the pivots.
Colonel Cupcake said:
I just buy the cheapest one from Halfords. £9. Even if it only lasts a year, it's just tuppence a day but mine have lasted 5 or more. Just not worth fretting over.
True. The issue is that they break in middle of needing it though. If you can find one of the proper old ones then they're worth having. 
I bought this over a few years ago and whilst I haven't used it more than a 100 times it feels very solid and comes with a nice carry case.
HEYNER Premium Double Barrel Foot Air Pump With Manometer 10 Bar 140PSI Pedalmax… 225000 https://amzn.eu/d/0dd5h5iu
HEYNER Premium Double Barrel Foot Air Pump With Manometer 10 Bar 140PSI Pedalmax… 225000 https://amzn.eu/d/0dd5h5iu
I'd also echo the suggestion of going with a track pump. I've got a Bontrager that almost certainly wasn't all that expensive as I bought it simply because I needed a pump and didn't put too much thought into it. That was 15 years ago and it is showing no signs of any issues despite regular use on bikes, cars, balls etc.
It amuses me actually that on several occasions when neighbours have seen me about to check and inflate my tyres on my car in the road they've said 'do you want to borrow my [crappy and noisy] 12v inflator?'. I can only assume a track pump doesn't quite look the part when using it on a car but it really does work perfectly well.
It amuses me actually that on several occasions when neighbours have seen me about to check and inflate my tyres on my car in the road they've said 'do you want to borrow my [crappy and noisy] 12v inflator?'. I can only assume a track pump doesn't quite look the part when using it on a car but it really does work perfectly well.
My 12v inflator died the other day so borrowed a mate's track pump. I was surprised at how good it was. From memory about ten pumps to get a bike tyre up to 65PSI. If I had one I think I'd use that instead of faffing around with the 12v one. Although my 12v one is an old noisy thing that plugs into the cigarette lighter in my car, so I imagine there are better ones around now.
Sorry, didn't notice the brand of the track pump. My mate's not a cycling nut though so can't see it being anything too special. It was just a black plastic and rubber thing.
Sorry, didn't notice the brand of the track pump. My mate's not a cycling nut though so can't see it being anything too special. It was just a black plastic and rubber thing.
ARHarh said:
Saw the title and thought of that thread. I have no need for a vintage pump but I really want one!
Realistically, you don't get much (of anything) for £15 - £20 these days. By the time you've taken out the vat, the packaging and distribution costs (invariably from China), and the manufacturer's and retailer's margins, a £15 retail price probably gets you about £2 worth of product. The problem seems to be that no one actually bothers to make a durable product these days - it's all about the lowest possible price.
Having said that, I bought one very much like this about 4 years ago and it's holding up well (to light use). Not this exact one, I paid twice that for mine, but it looks pretty much identical. It seems to be slightly better made than most of the others.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BB5C6Q5H/
Having said that, I bought one very much like this about 4 years ago and it's holding up well (to light use). Not this exact one, I paid twice that for mine, but it looks pretty much identical. It seems to be slightly better made than most of the others.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BB5C6Q5H/
LeoSayer said:
I bought this over a few years ago and whilst I haven't used it more than a 100 times it feels very solid and comes with a nice carry case.
HEYNER Premium Double Barrel Foot Air Pump With Manometer 10 Bar 140PSI Pedalmax… 225000 https://amzn.eu/d/0dd5h5iu
I can also vouch for these too, been really good, pumps quickly. Not cheap thoughHEYNER Premium Double Barrel Foot Air Pump With Manometer 10 Bar 140PSI Pedalmax… 225000 https://amzn.eu/d/0dd5h5iu
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff