Test mini pumps: More puff: 4 mini pumps in the TOUR test

When the tyre hisses as if you've opened a bottle of sparkling water too quickly, it's clear that you're at a standstill on the road. Anyone who rides a gravel bike as well as a road bike with narrow tyres will inevitably want a mini pump that can handle the higher tyre pressure for the road tyre as well as the larger volume of the gravel tyre, so that the pit stop in the event of a puncture is history as quickly as possible.

With a large-volume pump - "High Volume" in marketing speak - gravel tyres can be inflated faster and more conveniently than with the classic mini pump a la "Wese" (named after the former professional cyclist Steffen Wesemann) from SKS, for example.

We tried out four selected large-volume models. The discounter Decathlon charges 15 euros for its compact pressuriser, while Crankbrothers charges three times as much, but scores with top workmanship and clever extras. From the outside, all pumps appear similarly voluminous, but in the practical test they differ remarkably in their internal values, specifically in terms of pumping power and maximum achievable pressure. Crankbrothers and Pro, for example, achieve tyre pressures of up to almost eight bar, which makes them suitable for narrow road bike tyres; Decathlon and SKS do not inflate the test tyres as hard, but also require significantly fewer pump strokes per bar.

The mini pumps in the individual test

Crankbrothers Klic HV CO2

• Price: 50 Euro >> available here
• Weight / size: 125 g / 223 x 25 mm
• Valve type: Presta / Schrader
• Strokes/ (strokes per bar, based on tyre dimension 700 x 40; max. pressure manufacturer's specification). / Max. Pressure: 88 / 7.6 bar
• Equipment: Folding handle, hose, magnetic coupling, CO2 adapter, holder

TOUR rating

• Pumping capacity: 2/5
• Handling: 3/5
• Equipment: 5/5
• Weight/packing size: 5/5

Conclusion

With all its gimmicks - rotating dust cover, folding handle, magnetic coupling, CO2 attachment - the Klic HV is a nice toy for technology fans. However, other pumps are better suited to the "real thing". You need little force, but comparatively many strokes to pressurise the tyre. With a maximum pressure of 7.6 bar, it also gets narrower tyres rolling again. The folding handle is slightly angular and you can easily pinch your knuckles when pumping because the end stop is too tight.

Decathlon MTB Pump

• Price: 15 Euro >> available here
• Weight / size: 208 g / 250 x 29.5 mm
• Valve type: Presta / Schrader
• Strokes/bar / Max. pressure: 55 / 4 bar
• Equipment: Pull-out hose, dust cap, snap-in function, telescopic cylinder

TOUR rating

• Pumping capacity: 4/5
• Handling: 4/5
• Equipment: 2/5
• Weight/packing size: 4/5

Conclusion

With the MTB Pump, Decathlon delivers a bang for the buck. Apart from the fiddly tube pull-out, it is a real recommendation if you want to quickly add a lot of volume to your tyres. The valve connection is cleverly designed and fits Presta or Schrader valves without having to be screwed on. Top features: the telescopic piston rod and the handle with click-in function. However, with a maximum pressure of 4 bar, it only brings narrower tyres up to "that's enough pressure for home".

Pro Minipump Performance HV

• Price: 33 Euro >> available here
• Weight / size: 101 g / 210 x 20 mm
• Valve type: Presta / Schrader
• Strokes/bar / Max. Pressure: 100 / 7 bar
• Equipment: Extendable hose, dust cap, holder

TOUR rating

• Pumping capacity: 1/5
• Handling: 4/5
• Equipment: 2/5
• Weight/packing size: 4/5

Conclusion

100 strokes per bar are an announcement, as are 100 grams - the first, however, in a negative sense, the second in a positive sense. The low hand forces and small pack size speak in favour of the Pro. We would not recommend it as a pure gravel bike pump, but it is also suitable for road bikes with wide tyres and is more of an all-rounder with minimal weight. The small tube and the protective cap are practical, but the workmanship of the valve head could be improved.

SKS Airflex Explorer

• Price: 35 Euro >> available here
• Weight / size: 135 g / 205 x 31 mm
• Valve type: Presta / Schrader
• Strokes/bar / Max. pressure: 61 / 5 bar
• Equipment: Dust cap, extendable hose, soft grip, holder

TOUR rating

• Pumping capacity: 3/5
• Handling: 4/5
• Equipment: 5/5
• Weight/packing size: 5/5

Conclusion

Apart from the comparatively high hand forces and minimal play of the piston in the cylinder, the SKS is an absolutely recommendable pump for gravel bikes. Thanks to the centre split, it offers both hands a secure grip and the rubber coating on the pump hand is very comfortable. The pump head, which can be easily switched between Presta and Schrader valves, is also impressive. Somewhat annoying: the rattling of the hose inside the pump.