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I work as an MTB guide and I’m forever in the hunt for the best pump to carry and tool. I’ve read plenty of reviews and tried several myself, guests often bring different ones too that I get to test but I thought I’d ask here for a bit of a discussion/large scale input.
So why would recommend as the best pump, here’s my criteria:
- most important thing is speed of inflation
- don’t mind about weight or size as I carry a large pack pack
- doesn’t unscrew valve cores when removing
- comfortable to pump with. No ridiculous tiny handle
- pressure gauge is nice to have but they usually aren’t very accurate anyway
- doesn’t need to fit in bike as I often switch between bikes anyway.
- the ones with the little footstand seem nice as you don’t end up with arm pump maybe?
Same question for a multitool that will do all I need it to do in one tool.
- the less fiddly attachments the better because I just loose them (not ratchet tools pls)
- full length most used keys are nice to have
- large selection of tools. Allen, torx, flat/philips head, chain tool, knife?
- size and weight are not as important as I carry a nice big backpack while guiding
- I like the neatness of on bike storage but I switch between 3 different bikes so better to just have a pocket tool. Or some kind of little frame bag I can switch between bikes easily or something.
fire away!
Can’t find mine at the mo, but the schwalbe multi tool has the bits to remove valve cores.
(Does it have a near-rival?)
Oh and reason for asking is I lost my tool recently and my pump broke!
+1 for Mountain Morph.
My top multitool is the Crankbrothers M19
Everything just works. The chain tool can be a bit of a pain but once you know the technique it works fine.
I’d go for a mini floor pump, probably the Mountain Morph.
The Topeak Ratchet Rocket are pretty good mini tools.
I haven’t seen one of these integrated into a multi tool:
Decathlon seem to be the goto for plastic tyre levers.
Mtn morph or clone, for the pump, though dont bother with the gauged version.
multi-tool, I don’t think you can buy a terrible one nowadays but none stand heads above the other. I have a TP hexus, but have had a CrankBro 17, & a spare lezyne, they all do the same job.
as your not worried about weight, I’d also suggest a leatherman type tool, as decent knife & pliers. Dont use mine very often but it has been invaluable, when I did need it
Mountain Morph - just watch trappoing your skin between the handle and body when using
Also usually have a Leatherman Skeletool - Philips & flathead, bottle opener - I carry it for the pliers, found these useful on quite a few occasions for different things - I mention this tool as it has a good knife like you asked but struggling to think when I've really ever used it
I'm also on the lookout for the perfect multi-tool
Only the following - 2,2.5,3,4,5,6,8 - T10, T25 - 0,1,2,3 spoke - all with tools of a decent length
Carry Park Chain tool and Dynaplug seperately and have no need for screwdriver heads (if I did see above)
I've used Mountain Morphs for about 15 years, and whilst they are really good at almost everything, I've found the OneUp 100c pump is better at reinflating tubeless tyres whilst out on the trail. The MM has a pretty narrow hose connecting the pump to the valve, and my completely anecdotal conclusion is that this reduces the volume of air that can be pumped in fast.
For tools, I tend to carry a Topeak Ratchet Rocket, but ditch the flimsy tyre levers and replace with a Wolftooth chain splitter (which also holds 2 pairs of quicklinks). With the extension piece, and ability to mount the bits in the end of the handle (to use like a screwdriver), you can normally get into any hard to reach bolts.
+1 on Topeak Hexus just because the tools are full length and the chain tool doesn't suck. I also carry a Gerber Dime, for the pliers and knife; pliers are surprisingly useful on so many things...
Mountain Morph looks like a good shout! I like that it has the flip up valve connection unlike the similar Lezyne product which always seems to unscrew valve cored when removing.
Pliers were for tightening/untightening valve cores when I don't have the proper tool haha. That little 4-in-1 tool in the ebay link looks handy!
Topeak Hexus was actually the tool I lost, so perhaps we just go with another one of those.
Leatherman seems like a good shout but damn they're pricey! Looks like the kind of things you'd keep forever though so perhaps a good birthday request.
If you've got the space, then the mountain Morph just for the foot pump. I like a Hexus multi tool just for the ease of use and leverage. I'd try to find a tyre worm punch and worms that are narrow - the fat ones are less easy to get a good seal around rims IME.
Good selection of nuts and bolts, recently mended a b screw on a XO mech with a just the correct pitched nut. A pair of pliers, pair of snips, zip ties, tyre patches, stand alone chain breaker, and chain link breaker/joiner, inner tubes
I have a spare brand new Topeak PT30 minitool in gold if any use ? £20 posted..
best mini tool - basically nothing that is in the penknife form.
Instead get on of the ones with bits and a ratchet etc. - so much more usable.
Look at those from Wera, Topeak etc.
such as:
https://toolrebels.de/en/products/wera-tool-rebel-bike-tool-set
https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1159-RATCHET-ROCKET-LITE-DX+
I love my Truflo 2-stage, it's like a mountain morph except better at almost everything. The telescopic action is so much better and while it doesn't really feel higher quality, it lasts betters.
The "almost" is because yes it'll unscrew a loose valve if you're careless. It's not like Lezyne, it doesn't unscrew a normally tight valve, so it shouldn't ever be a problem... but just occasionally you screw up and create yourself a wee issue. So it gets a point off for that and that might be enough to put you off but it's totally dealable with and I think for most people will just never happen. And it is so much better at the actual pumping part than anything else I've used.
The exact same pump body with a lever head on it would be the best pump ever though.
Oneup 100 pump with the multitool. The pump is a press on and very efficient. I bought one because I borrowed one from someone on the trail once and was blown (sorry) away with how good it was. Only potential issue is it won't fit Schrader
Even has a little storage capsule you can fit valve cores and a (second) chainlink in.
The multitool has everything you need really apart from a knife - you can even potentially tighten a cassette with it (it has the right spacings to do it). The chainbreaker is really good.
Leatherman seems like a good shout but damn they’re pricey!
The sidekick is about £60, or less. Certainly sturdy enough,has pliers and a one hand(thumb) opening and locking knife blade.
If you actually need to fix stuff on others bikes I’d get a ratchet listed above, the fancier and fatter the multi tool the less likely it is to fit into a hard to reach area like around a rear shock or a bottle cage. Then I’d carry a mini set of pliers with a knife, such as a leatherman of some sort, and some mini quick link pliers and chain splitter with a range of links. Oh man and a shock pump and zip ties and a nut and bolt.
I’d also carry some Aldi Allen keys 4,5,6 to lend out (another tip learned from Tracey on here)
Topeak Ratchet Rocket or similar is the direction I'd go in. It's easy to add or remove specific bit attachments for your needs etc. just add a decent small dedicated chain tool - the chain tools integrated on multi tools are always gash.
+1 for the Oneup EDC larger-sized pump. Works really well. Super solid and comfortable in the hand. I guess you could argue that it's more likely to bend valve bits than a Morph-type, but I've not managed it yet. The EDC tools are decent too, but if you're not bothered about weight/bulk etc, there may be better options. Good for swapping from bike to bike as the tools live in the pump, so it's just a single unit to swap over. Not cheap, but nicely done ime.
I get on well with the Lezyne multi-tools - do pretty much everything - but if I think I'm going to do lots of stuff with allen bolts, I carry one of the Park fold-out hex-key sets. And a compact Gerber too, sometimes, the plier bits on mine work really well to push back brake pads/pistons. If you have weird inaccessible bolts on your own bike, it might be worth carrying an individual allen key to suit, fold-outs sometimes struggle with random brake caliper mounts, linkage pinch-bolts etc.
I suspect most normal - ie not gear-tester - riders have only used a limited number of multi-tools and, in honesty, moslty they're just hex keys with an added chain tool thing. Personally I'd avoid weird clip-together ones or those with lots of small, easily-dropped components, like ratchet sets, but I'm sure, with care, they're fine.
Small Knipex pliers are worth their weight in Haribo when you haven't got exactly the right tool on your multitool.
Personally I’d avoid weird clip-together ones or those with lots of small, easily-dropped components, like ratchet sets, but I’m sure, with care, they’re fine.
Is my view also, I'm sure they're fine if you're not completely ham-fisted or otherwise incompetent, but the penknife style tools just seem to me at least, to be more idiot proof.
Ratchet sets are definitely easier to lose bits from. But they also fit into places that my normal multitool could (bottle cage bolt as an example)
No perfect solution for everyone, just based on your own preferences
I like to carry a bike tool and a separate pliers based multi tool
+2 for the oneup 100. It's a good pump, quick to inflate but also reasonably compact. The integrated tool is sufficient for pretty much anything on trail. Mine moves between my 3 bikes, they've all got mounts.
Most multi tools come with too much superfluous shit. Pretty much everything that you are going to need to sort on the trail can be done with 3, 4, 5 & 6 mm Allen keys and a T25 with some decent leverage ability and a chain tool. Yet they seem to come with all sorts of other weird bits and bobs attached that make them too bulky.
Blackburn Big Switch tool is hands down the best multi/trail tool I've used in 30+ years of MTB.
Simple, robust, plenty of leverage, and just the right number/type of bits.
Room for a some tubeless anchovies and tool in the pouch too.
I like my Blackburn Wayside 19. Allen keys detach and there's a knife and chain tool.
Topeak Mountain DA pump is the best small pump I've used.
The Blackburn Wayside is pretty good because it has removable allen keys as above, but I moved away from a single tool because I found the missing link was a decent set of pliers. I now run a Blackburn Big switch which is a sort of double ended allen key wrench and chain tool in a tiny, tiny micro tool wrap that you can accessorise, so I have brake pads in mine, and then a now discontinued Leatherman style CS, which has the smallest acceptable set of pliers I could find, but also has a blade, tweezers and basic screw drivers, and then one of those ZTTO chain pliers that the links go in.
https://www.blackburndesign.com/p/wayside-bike-multi-tool/350160000100000010.html
https://www.blackburndesign.com/p/big-switch-bike-multi-tool/350160000100000022.html
https://www.cubestores.co.uk/products/acid-pump-race-flex-hv-black
Pumps wise, I have a cube MTB pump with a really cleaver multi switch head, great build quality and is small enough to fit in my hip pack, but big enough to pump acceptably. Its not as fast as bigger chambered pumps though.
No love for the Daysaver multitool? Apart from the eye watering price it ticks most boxes.
Had my first puncture in years yesterday (tubes - pinch flat).
Topeak Race Rocket MT inflated a 2.4 x 29 to around 20psi in less than 100 (easy, as in the stroke wasn't getting hard) pumps. Fits nicely in a hip pack
Great questions and a host of different answers!
Speedy inflation - co2, but it isn't without issues.
Pump in bag, it is the Topeak mountain morph - mine is about 20 years old and works brilliantly.
For tools, it is very personal...I've a wee L-shaped bar with reversible heads, that also has a chain splitter. About the same footprint as a credit card but thicker.
My toolkit also has quick links, tyre levers, replacement mech hanger and a 8mm head that sits on the 5mm bit.
I've got a tubeless repair kit as well - a 29" inner tube that can be shrunk to fit down to 24" as well.
I should take photos as they show and explain it all far better than my waffle. It all works very well for me and the bikes I end up working on.
I can recommend against the park IB-3 tool. I ignored bad reviews and relied on the brand, but the reviews were right.