Reviews You Can Rely On

Lezyne Pressure Drive Review

Awesome mini pump for high pressure, low volume tires
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lezyne pressure drive frame pump review
Credit: Lezyne
Price:  $55 List
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Manufacturer:   Lezyne
By Curtis Smith ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 17, 2016
74
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 14
  • Pumping Performance - 30% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 30% 8.0
  • Portability - 20% 8.0
  • Looks and Design - 10% 6.0
  • Durability - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Lezyne Pressure Drive could be considered a heritage model at this point. It has been available for eight years, an eternity in the world of cycling products. It is a top-of-the-line mini pump that excels at high-pressure pumping. The flex hose design is a staff favorite, with an air bleed button and both Presta and Schrader valve compatibility. We love this little pump, but its performance has been eclipsed by another Lezyne product, the Road Drive.
REASONS TO BUY
Durable
User friendly
Pumping performance
REASONS TO AVOID
Lack of versatility

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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line If you need a high pressure pump for low pressure tires, this is a great optionThe performance of a floor pump, but the size of a frame pumpA mountain bike pump that won't break the bank but performs exceptionally wellLight and effective, this is a great option to mount on your frame or stash in your jerseyBest mini pump on the market for road cyclists
Rating Categories Lezyne Pressure Drive Topeak Road Morph G Topeak Peakini II Birzman Velocity Ap... Lezyne Road Drive
Pumping Performance (30%)
7.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Ease of Use (30%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Portability (20%)
8.0
5.0
6.0
8.0
7.0
Looks and Design (10%)
6.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
Durability (10%)
7.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
7.0
Specs Lezyne Pressure Drive Topeak Road Morph G Topeak Peakini II Birzman Velocity Ap... Lezyne Road Drive
Weight 90g 204g 134g 136g 97g
Length 19cm 35cm 27.5cm 17.78cm 23.5cm
25C Road Tire Pressure following 200 Pumps 60psi 125psi 85psi 44 psi at 100 pumps 72psi
Tire Pressure 27.5 x 2.3" Following 300 Pumps 17psi 50psi 55psi 22psi 25psi
Ability to reach 90psi in a road tire 25cc Yes Yes Yes N/A Yes
Pump Head Type Hose Thread On Hose with locking lever Standard with locking lever Non-thread hose, slip on Hose Thread On and Slip on
Presta Compatible Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Schrader Compatible Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Frame Mount Bracket Included Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Pressure Gauge No Yes No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

Our previous Editor's Choice, the Pressure Drive is a compact aluminum mini pump with excellent pumping performance and an awesome design. TheLezyne Road Drive offers better pumping performance, but the Pressure Drive is no slouch and will not leave you disappointed.

Performance Comparison


lezyne pressure drive frame pump review - the pressure drive is a great high-pressure mini pump, in a very...
The Pressure Drive is a great high-pressure mini pump, in a very sleek compact package.
Credit: Curtis Smith

Pumping Performance


The Pressure Drive has great pumping performance, particularly for road tires. We hit 60psi in our road tire test at 200 pump strokes. However, the Road Drive and the Pro Bike Tool High Pressure Pump both out-perform the Pressure Drive, hitting 70psi and 66psi respectively.

The Pressure Drive only hit 17psi in the mountain bike tire test, compared to the 37psi reached by the Lezyne Gauge Drive. Pumping effort is similar to the Road Drive and slightly easier than the Pro Bike Tool. The Pressure Drive is a great pump, but it does not quite compete with our top performing products.

lezyne pressure drive frame pump review - the pressure drive has a reversible flex hose for both presta and...
The Pressure Drive has a reversible flex hose for both Presta and Schrader valves, and an ABS bleed button to allow easy valve removal and minimize air loss.
Credit: Curtis Smith

Ease of Use


Lezyne pumps as a group are some of the most user-friendly pumps available. The Pressure Drive features a flex hose, like the Road Drive, but it does not have the slip fit Presta valve connection that the Road Drive does. We like the slip fit connection when we need to add a few psi to a low tire. The Road Drive threads onto the valve stem for a secure connection without worrying about lateral pressure on the valve stem. It also has an ABS button that allows you to release pressure from the hose before removing the valve, reducing air pressure loss. Pumping is smooth and easy, with only a moderate increase in effort as pressure increases.

Looks and Design


This contender has a similar design to other Lezyne pumps we tested, such as the Lezyne Road Drive and Lezyne Gauge Drive. The flex fill hose is stored in the handle of the pump. When you need it, simply unthread, remove and thread it onto the pump discharge. The hose is similar to the Road Drive hose, but it omits the Presta slip-fit connection for a Schrader valve connection.

The ABS valve allows the user to release pressure in the hose to aid in removal of the thread on chuck from the valve. We love the ABS feature and wish that every pump had one. The look of the pump is clean and refined. It is all aluminum, with black sections on each end and raw aluminum in the middle of the pump. The rubber caps on both ends are vital features that prevent contamination of the pump discharge and hose.

Portability


The Pressure Drive is very portable. It weighs 90g and is only 19cm in length. The Topeak Race Rocket HP is slightly shorter in length and a bit smaller in diameter. The Pressure Drive fits well in a jersey and does not stick out of the pocket as much as the Road Drive. A frame mount bracket is also included.

lezyne pressure drive frame pump review - the pressure drive comes with a frame mount designed to prevent the...
The Pressure Drive comes with a frame mount designed to prevent the pump from extending while stored on the bike.
Credit: Curtis Smith

Durability


Like all of the Lezyne pumps we tested, the Pressure Drive is very durable. The aluminum construction shrugs off corrosion, and the rubber caps prevent internal contamination. The thread-on valve connections do not have rubber bushings that can deteriorate with use, so they maintain an airtight seal almost indefinitely. Similar in durability is the Lezyne Road Drive, Topeak RaceRocket, and Silca Impero Ultimate.

Value


This pump is a great value. However, the Lezyne Road Drive will also do a phenomenal job of inflating road bike tires.

Conclusion


The Pressure Drive is a great mini pump with intense high pressure pumping performance. It has been apart of the Lezyne lineup for a long time for good reason. If you want a longer pump, the Pressure Drive is also available in a medium length.

lezyne pressure drive frame pump review - the pressure drive...not much bigger than your water bottle cage!
The Pressure Drive...not much bigger than your water bottle cage!
Credit: Emily Zell

Curtis Smith