Mini pumps

Topeak Gravel 2Stage minipomp

The Topeak Gravel 2Stage is a mini pump for gravel bikes, with the same two-mode design as the Roadie. It suits wider tyres that need more volume.

What you get

Mini pump for gravel
Topeak Gravel 2Stage model

Why a mini pump?

A puncture rarely happens at home. Leaving without a pump risks a long walk. A mini pump usually weighs 80 to 150 g and solves that. It goes with your spare tube, tyre levers and multitool in the saddle bag or rear pocket.

Know what you are buying. A mini pump has a small barrel, so each stroke moves little air. On a road bike, getting to 5 bar quickly takes several minutes and hundreds of strokes. On a mountain bike with wide tyres it goes faster because you need little pressure, but the volume is larger. Some mini pumps are designed for high volume and others for high pressure. So read the pressure range: usually about 5 to 8 bar, depending on the model.

The alternative is a CO2 cartridge with an inflator. A single 16 g cartridge typically fills a road tyre to a usable pressure in a few seconds. It is quick and light, but each cartridge is single use, a cartridge covers just one tyre and the pressure drops faster than with air. Many riders therefore carry a mini pump as the standing back-up, and CO2 for races.

Also look at the head. A mini pump with a flexible hose puts less strain on the valve and is steadier than a model that screws straight onto the valve. Both should handle Presta and Schrader if your bike needs it.

How mini pumps compare

There are a few ways to inflate on the road. Each has its own strengths and limits.

Type	Pressure	Speed	Weight
Mini pump with direct head	Usually 5 to 8 bar	Slow, strains the valve	About 70 to 120 g
Mini pump with hose	Usually 5 to 8 bar	Slow, steadier	About 100 to 160 g
CO2 inflator with cartridges	Usable pressure, leaks faster	A few seconds per tyre	Inflator 20 to 50 g, cartridge 16 g
Compact electric pump	Usually up to about 6 to 8 bar	Quick, needs charging	About 100 to 200 g

Values are guides and vary by model.

Choose it if

You ride gravel and want a pump for wider tyres
You carry it in your saddle bag or on the frame for long rides
You ride outdoors and do not want to depend on a passer-by.
You want a light pump that fits your saddle bag or pocket.

Choose something else if

You only ride narrow road tyres and the Roadie will do
You pump your tyres at home. A floor pump is quicker and more precise.
You ride narrow road tyres and expect to reach 7 bar quickly. That is very slow with a mini pump.

How to use a mini pump

Open the valve
On a Presta, unscrew the nut and tap it so it frees up. Put the cap to one side.
Attach the pump
Place the head straight on the valve and lock it. With a hose model, hold the pump on the ground or against the rim.
Pump steadily and straight
Hold the pump with both hands and pump at a steady pace. Push square on so the valve does not bend.
Check with your thumb
Squeeze the tyre. It should feel firm. At home, top it up again to the correct pressure.
Remove the pump and close up
Release the head, screw the Presta nut closed and put the cap back.

Good to know

Check that the pump suits your valve type
Read the product page for the pressure it reaches
Test the pump at home before you take it along. A pump that leaks only shows it by the roadside.
A CO2 cartridge is single use and the valve can ice up. Wear gloves or use a cloth.
Always carry the right cartridge size and thread type. Not every inflator fits every cartridge.
Replace the rubber seal when the pump grips less well, otherwise you keep pumping without result.

What you get

Why a mini pump?

How mini pumps compare

Choose it if

Choose something else if

How to use a mini pump

Open the valve

Attach the pump

Pump steadily and straight

Check with your thumb

Remove the pump and close up

Good to know

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