Bicycle hand pumps

HP or HV: the designation that decides everything

Almost every hand pump has one of these two sets of letters in its name, and it is the most important factor when choosing. It is not about quality but about internal design : with each stroke, a pump delivers either lots of air at low pressure or a little air at high pressure. You cannot have both.

• HP (high pressure) : narrow barrel, long stroke. It reaches 7–9 bar without difficulty, enough for a tubular or narrow road tyre. It works on an MTB tyre, but takes a disheartening number of strokes.
• HV (high volume) : wide barrel. It fills a large MTB, gravel or fatbike tyre quickly, but tops out at around 4–5 bar. Unsuitable for a road tyre.
• Dual chamber (Twin Turbo, Dual) : a selector switches between volume and pressure modes. You inflate quickly at first, then build up pressure. It is the real compromise for anyone with several bikes.

Double action

A pump double-action delivers air on the forward stroke and on the return stroke. For the same air volume, it halves the number of strokes. Look for the designation DA or Dual on models that have it, and it makes a considerable difference when inflating a tyre at the roadside.

Hose or direct-fit head

Compact pumps screw directly onto the valve. The problem is well known: every stroke puts leverage on the valve, and a Presta valve breaks quickly — especially on a deep-section rim with a valve extender. Models with a retractable flexible hose eliminate that risk and let you reach an awkwardly positioned valve. On a bike with carbon wheels, this is not something to overlook.

Pressure gauge or not?

A gauge on a hand pump gives only an approximate reading — its scale is short and accuracy is limited. It stops you riding off at 2 bar thinking you have 6. For fine adjustments, the right tool is a separate digital pressure gauge, and for precise inflation, a track pump in the garage.

Size, material and mounting

• The mini pumps (15 to 18 cm) fit in a jersey pocket. They take a lot of strokes, but you always have one with you.
• The longer models (25 to 30 cm) inflate tyres noticeably faster and attach to the frame beneath the bottle cage.
• Barrels machined from solid material are more durable and seal better than composite barrels, often at a similar weight.
• Check that the frame mount is included : on some models, it is sold separately in the spare parts section.

And electric pumps

This section also includes a few compact electric pumps that inflate effortlessly to a preset pressure. They need recharging, weigh more than a mechanical mini pump and are no use if you forget to charge them — but they make a real difference when setting pressure to a tenth of a bar, or for a cyclist with limited hand strength.

To find out more: How to choose a bicycle pump

See also: CO2 cartridges and inflators · Electric bicycle pumps · Pump parts and accessories