peterraymond

I'm in the market for a tire pump for road biking. I have several, but none of them seems ideal. Per the title of the thread I don't want one that starts out working great and then fades over time. I think I also want one that has a hose to connect to the valve. It should generally work well, but not weigh a ton. Sure, price is part of the equation too.

So, recommendations please.

prathmann

Good experiences with the Zefal HPX series (and still have one of the earlier HP ones from the '70s). They've worked well for decades and I've only needed to add a bit of oil or grease every few years. I've had more issues using ones that use a hose - either with the attachment or with wear of the hose over time.

Hiro11

I'm confused. I assume you mean a frame pump. Do you use a frame pump frequently? I almost never use mine, I can't imagine wearing one out. For floor pumps, I've got a $25 one I got for Performance a decade ago that still works perfectly. Floor pumps are pretty durable. If you're using a frame pump to pump up your tires day-to-day, buy a floor pump.

tagaproject6

I have a Silca that is 20 years old. Hasn't faded yet.

indyfabz

Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky. It drifts away, and all you money won't another minute buy.

Topeak Road Morph G?

vtje

My beloved 10 years old Lezyne road drive works and looks just like new!

philbob57

My Zefal HP was my only working pump for some years. After 35 years the plunger's gasket shrunk a bit. Bought a $10 part from ebay and it's as good as new. The part would have cost a lot less, but I didn't want to wait for shipping from France.

Forever, though ... that sounds like an expectation that simply can't be satisfied.

eriku16

peterraymond

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, I'm talking about a frame pump for occasional use after flats, with my floor pump doing the normal stuff. Where I used to live there were a lot of goat heads and I got a lot of flats. Fewer now, so don't need a pump that will inflate 10,000 tires from empty, but more one that years later still works fine.

And forever? Well I exaggerated a little. I'm 66, so forever can be quite a while, but no one lasts forever.

rgconner

I lose bike pumps faster than they wear out. Usually forget to re-do the strap or I have a flat at the end of a ride and I am so burnt out I forget it.
Oh, and stolen too.

But if money were no object:
https://silca.cc/products/impero-ultimate-frame-pump

that said, a $20 co2 unit will probably last forever:
https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Bike-Tool.../dp/B017KU1DIK

79pmooney

Another Zephal HP/HPX fan. The HPs (discontinued a couple of decades ago were a more durable pump but the current HPXs are not shabby.incorporate frame fit into the handle end (the HP required a peg) and have teh lock-out of the frame-mount spring so you do n ot have to pump against it when you are pumping air. I have HPXs that I have has for years. (And still have an HP or two on bikes.) I went 15 years where my only pumps were the HPs on my bike. They only got replaced when they fell off the bike and cars ran over them. (And for one, I pushed a dowel into the tube and pushed out the dent, did my best to straighten the handle and used it for quite a few more years. It had a nice ergonomic arc to the handle motion.)

I've never owned (and maybe once used) a Silca so I have no wisdom there other than I have bailed out Silca owners a number of times and have yet to need their pumps. And if you run over them, they break, Car or bike, I've seen both.

Ben

sdmc530

nothing lasts forever but Silica seems to get close to that!

JohnJ80

JohnDThompson 

The old Silca Impero is a good pump (I still have half a dozen still in service here), but the plastic body does get brittle with age. I've had a couple split or shatter in use in the past couple years. Fortunately, I picked up a bulk lot of headless Imperos many years ago, so I just move the Campagnolo head from the old pump to a new one.

canklecat

I've used a Topeak RaceRocket HP for almost three years, lots of tire repairs. Easy to use considering it's tiny size, has a short hose that prevents bending the valve, can handle Presta or Schrader. No idea whether it can be rebuilt but the cost is so reasonable it might be cost effective to just buy another. Takes about 250-300 strokes to fill a tire. Topeak has a longer stroke version of the same pump.

I'm also satisfied with the Blackburn Core Slim, but haven't had it long enough to know how durable it will be. It seems very well made, heavier and sturdier than the Topeak RaceRocket, although not as ergonomically friendly -- the hard edged end caps aren't rounded and covered with rubber like the Topeak. And it's Presta only. But it has a slightly longer stroke so it takes somewhat fewer pumps, although being a mini-pump it's still about 200 strokes to inflate a 700x23 tire.

Caliper

In a few billion years the Sun will swallow the Earth, or so they say....

Seals wear, but buy name brand and not cheapo no name stuff and you'll get better seals.

biker128pedal

Look at the Topeak Road Morph with gauge. I’ve had mine for 10 years. It is not perfect. I have a Velcro wire tie I use to hold the foot thingy in closed. The tab which holds it closed broke. But it is like a small floor pump. The chuck fits presta valves which are on the short side for my 50mm wheels. The gauge is very helpful. And works though hard for me to see with older eyes. I think Lezyne make a fanciers version.

It comes with a bracket that attaches below the water bottle. If you don’t want a small pump that fits in your Jersey this is not it. There is a mini morph with gauge that is about 10 inches long. Topeak has the Mini Dual DXG with gauge. I have one and could carry it in my jersey pocket but the road morph has the hose.