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Hi All
Looking for a track bike pump seen the Halfords one and sks one both seem to have good reviews but thought I’d ask see if anyone on here recommend anything else ? Looking to spend no more than £25
Thanks
Tom
I've found that the head/valve connector is the most important thing with track pumps. After that you're paying for a more robust build that'll last a bit longer.
A lot of people like the Joe Blow ones, but I was never greatly impressed. Have a good Park one at the moment, (apart from the gauge, but I use a separate electronic one anyway) but they're a bit above your price range. Oddly a 7 quid Aldi one I have is also quite decent.
I’ve had quite a few over the years. Joe Blows didn’t impress. Lezyne look nice but custom guage which failed was expensive to replace. I’ve still got an ancient Silca Pista bought before they got bought by the Americans and doubled in price.
It’s double your budget but the sks RennKompressor is the one I’d buy again (and did when it was stolen from my van). Simple. Industrial. Repairable. Standard guage you can replace for £5.
Buy cheap/buy twice.
I paid about £25 for my Specialized one but I just checked and they've gone up a bit.
But I've had it 12 years and it still works and it's worth it for the colour.
Get a Renn. I had a Joe Blow but my airshot blew out its seals at a pressure lower than indicated on the gauge. Since the Renn, all has been great. Replace the sks head with a Topeak SmartHead for extra ease of use. You’ll still be using it in 30 years time if you haven’t lost it by then.
Joe blow sport, had my last one 12year + (as rebulds kits are available), couldn't see any point in spending more on a new one.
We have two Joe Blow ones, had then for 15+ years. Think I've only had to service one of them then once.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-joe-blow-max-hp-pump
Joe Blow Max £26.59 at Wiggle.
I have had a Joe Blow for 10+ years and it has been faultless
Renn.
Durable enough to last over a decade in a workshop.
Enough spare parts available that when some dick snaps something, you'll be fine.
You can also change to a fluid filled gauge, as the stock one is only "ok".
Get a hirame (or a good copy) if you're using proper valves. Or a topeak for both types.
I don't recommend the Joe blow if you use a high pressure tubeless blaster type thing. I've had 2 that have failed whilst using these, they don't seem to handle the heat/pressure and the check valve fails.
I've had a Joe blow for years, it just keeps going(I don't use a separate tubeless tank)
Mert +1.
SKS notes
You can also change to a fluid filled gauge, as the stock one is only “ok”.
What are the benefits of a fluid filled gauge? (my sks has a low pressure gauge on it so that it's accurate at mtb pressures, with the disadvantage I need a different pump to mount tyres with the airshot)
Get a hirame (or a good copy) if you’re using proper valves. Or a topeak for both types.
Hirame is lovely (have one of the workshop pump) but I heard bad things about copies - are any actually good value (or are they just delaying buying a real Hirame?)
I've had one of these SKS heads on my Renn and it works well. The 'EVA' head just tore up it's seal really quickly.
This Topeak works well too. Anything that claims to do both valve types in a single hole has failed quickly IME.
The standard gauge isn't *that* accurate in the first place, better than most of the competition though. And they corrode after two or three years of using tubeless sealant in the tyres.
Fluid filled last longer and are actually calibrated (though, who knows how much use that is after 6 months!). I've got one that's 5 or 6 years old and last time i took it off (last summer i think) not a single spot of corrosion on it.
You can also choose your gauge to suit what you are going to do, 0-4 bar, 0-50 psi, 0-10 bar, whatever (when i bought mine it only had one gauge available, didn't know you could get low pressure now).
Yeah, i have that dual purpose SKS head, have a hirame copy waiting to go on. It's the same copy i was using in the last shop i worked in. So i know it's good.
Now, the challenge, i have to find the small ziplock bag with the Hirame copy in it...
Tag me in and post how it is.
eBay has copies that are only £50 (when you can pick up a Hirame for £15 more). Theres a £17 copy on Amazon but it has some poor reviews (including someone saying the lever bent after the first few uses)
didn’t know you could get low pressure now).
It's a standard gauge - I bought a low pressure gauge on eBay for about £8