9 best bike pumps to get prepared for every journey

Our tester took this pump on an around-the-world bike ride, and not only is it still going, it impresses every cyclist that borrows it. It’s surprisingly light – at 225g – and mimics the ergonomics of a tiny floor pump, with a little kick stand and a T-shaped pump handle.

It works with both kinds of valves, thanks to an easy to reverse head, and packs up pleasingly neatly – the rubber hose wraps over the top and screws into the foot peg. After years of regular use in all kinds of conditions, the foot peg loosened slightly, and needed to be screwed back in: otherwise, this wonderful pump took everything in its stride.

With a stunning capacity of 220 PSI, this elegant floor pump would do a car’s tyres in a pinch. It’s a pleasure to use, with a locking head that works with Schrader and Presta valves, a comfortable handle, plenty of room for your feet, and a smooth pumping action.

The pressure gauge is clear and easy to read, and the bleed button makes micro-adjustments easy. What we loved most about this pump was how tall it was: extended, the handle came up to chest height, which meant no awkward back strain, even if you have a workshop full of bikes to deal with. It’s also pleasantly light – a nice bonus, given it’s obviously a workshop tool.

Everything a road cyclist needs in a pump, this is sleek, skinny (at just 100g), tiny and very, very fast. It claims to inflate tyres 50 per cent faster than other pumps: we couldn’t confirm the number exactly, but it was one of the most efficient hand pumps we tested.

The larger outer chamber forces air into a smaller inner chamber before transferring into the tyre, so you pump more air at higher pressure – and it’s still jersey pocket size. The valve head is Presta only, so this is definitely one for the road racers.

A great pump for anyone with a variety of bicycles – whether that’s a family that loves touring holidays or a roadie who likes to mountain bike – this budget-friendly floor pump has a decent capacity (145 PSI/10 bar) and fits both kinds of valves.

It works smoothly and easily, but because of the weight – over 1.2kg – and size, this is definitely one for the garden shed, not your next time trial. We loved the generous foot pad, which made it easier to get a good grip on the pump.

If you have any aspirations to take part in a long-distance bikepacking race or tour this is a great pump to invest in. For a portable pump it has a mighty stroke length and a decent capacity of 80 PSI, which means you can inflate very quickly.

The valve head (which works with both types) connects easily and securely, even if you’re fumbling around in a mid-race adrenaline spike. Best of all it comes with a CO2 cartridge (16g) to give you one seriously instant recovery – and then the security of the hand pump as a back up if anything happens along the course. It’s a decent race weight and size too, at 128g and 210mm.

A light, pocket-sized pump that’s perfect for long-distance rides, short tours and commuting. The pump is very compact – about the size of a long marker pen – and incredibly simple to use, with a threaded head that you can swap between Schrader and Presta valves.

With an impressive capacity of 120 PSI, it’s ideal for roadside punctures and quick, mid-ride inflation. It doesn’t have a gauge and pumping from flat takes a while, so it’s not intended to be your main workshop pump. But it fits comfortably in a jersey pocket or a small pannier, and comes with a frame mount, making it indispensable for quick trips out.

While this is the best hand pump we tried, it will price out all but the most serious cyclists. That said, you will never have to buy another one – it’s basically indestructible, and comes with a 25 year warranty. Silca makes professional-standard bike tools, and it has condensed all the expertise from that into this little cylinder. The major difference is the build quality and materials – the pump is metal and leather, which guards against the biggest pitfall of normal models: temperature change as you pump.

For example, the leather gasket they use in place of a plastic one stops the small air leakage that usually happens as the pump heats – Silca says this translates to 98 per cent pumping efficiency. It’s a fraction heavier than some of the other small pumps we tested, at 150g, but will last longer and inflate faster than any other pump on the market.

Perfect if you’re commuting with just a handbag or pockets for storage, this pump was the smallest we tested at 20cm long and 105g. There is a tradeoff: it’s got a 100 PSI limit and it does take a long time (and a lot of laborious pumping) to fully inflate a tyre. But if you’re commuting with strong tyres or only cycle to the shops, this is an ideal pump to throw in your bag as a safety net. It's also compatible with both kinds of valves.

One for the professionals or the home mechanic, this smart floor pump boasts a sleek LCD display for precision pumping. As you’d expect from a hundred pound pump, it’s a joy to use. It looks really good, with a polished metal body, and feels very sturdy. It’s tall, with a long stroke length, which means that inflating doesn’t take a long time. It also has the highest capacity of all the pumps we tested, at 240 PSI, and works with both kinds of valves.