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Pro Bike Tool High Pressure Pump with Gauge Review

An inexpensive mini pump with good pumping performance and design
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pro bike tool high pressure pump with gauge frame pump review
Credit: Pro Bike Tool
Price:  $30 List
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Manufacturer:   Pro Bike Tool
By Curtis Smith ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 18, 2016
66
OVERALL
SCORE


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

Our Verdict

The Pro Bike Tool High-Pressure Pump with Gauge is a great all-around pump. Its design is similar to Lezyne pumps, and it features a removable flexible hose with an integrated pressure gauge. It does not quite have the high-pressure pumping performance of the Road Morph G or the Lezyne Gauge Drive HV's high-volume performance, but it can function reasonably well for both applications.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Pumping performance
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
No hose air bleed
If you are looking for a purpose-built road mini pump, check out the Lezyne Road Drive. The Lezyne Gauge Drive HV is your best bet for mountain bike applications.

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Overall Score Sort Icon
66
73
73
71
54
Star Rating
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Bottom Line Snazzy looks, excellent functionality and a reasonable price point make this pump a solid purchase decisionA 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 jerseyA small pump with outsized performance, this is a good option for weight conscious road bikersA poorly performing frame pump that has a CO2 regulator that works very well
Rating Categories Pro Bike Tool High... Topeak Peakini II Birzman Velocity Ap... Topeak RaceRocket HP Portland Design Wor...
Pumping Performance (30%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
2.0
Ease of Use (30%)
7.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
Portability (20%)
7.0
6.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
Looks and Design (10%)
6.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
Durability (10%)
7.0
6.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
Specs Pro Bike Tool High... Topeak Peakini II Birzman Velocity Ap... Topeak RaceRocket HP Portland Design Wor...
Weight 129g 134g 136g 87g 73g
Length 23cm 27.5cm 17.78cm 18.5cm 14.7cm
25C Road Tire Pressure following 200 Pumps 68psi 85psi 44 psi at 100 pumps 46psi 12psi
Tire Pressure 27.5 x 2.3" Following 300 Pumps 30psi 55psi 22psi 12psi 10psi
Ability to reach 90psi in a road tire 25cc yes Yes N/A Yes No
Pump Head Type Hose Thread On Standard with locking lever Non-thread hose, slip on Hose Thread On Threaded
Presta Compatible Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Schrader Compatible Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Frame Mount Bracket Included Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Pressure Gauge Yes No No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


pro bike tool high pressure pump with gauge frame pump review - the high pressure pump uses a flexible fill hose with a built-in...
The High Pressure Pump uses a flexible fill hose with a built-in pressure gauge.
Credit: Curtis Smith

The Pro Bike Tools High-Pressure Pump is a great pump at a great price. It is less specialized to a specific function when compared to our Editors' Choice Award winners, but it has the advantage of being versatile enough to be used for multiple applications. Quality construction and a flexible hose that stows in the handle with an integrated pressure gauge is a standout feature at this price point.

Pumping Performance


The High-Pressure Pump with Gauge has good all-around pumping performance, but it lags a bit behind the best high-volume and high-pressure mini pumps we tested. You can see this in the chart below.


This contender achieved 66psi in a 25c road tire at 200 pumps. For comparison, the Lezyne Road Drive was able to reach 70 psi at 200 pumps. This is not a huge difference in pressure, but it's harder to pump this model at those pressures. The High-Pressure Pump became very difficult to pump at 150 strokes. Getting in those last 50 was a real chore. It is capable of getting a tire all the way up to 90 psi, but it is a struggle, and it took us 270 pump strokes to hit the mark. During the mountain bike tire test, this pump was able to hit 22psi in a 27.5" x 2.3" mountain tire at 300 pump strokes.

Not bad, but not nearly as efficient at the Road Morph G to be an easy to use pump. The flexible hose deploys from the handle and threads into the pump on the opposite end. The hose is reversible and has a Presta valve on one end and a Schrader valve on the other. The pen gauge sits in the middle of the hose with about an inch of flexible hose on either end between the gauge and the air chuck.


Having the pressure gauge mounted in the center of the hose limits hose flex, compared to the Lezyne Road Drive, and does not provide as much freedom to get the pump in a position of comfort. Valve attachment is easy due to a built-in swivel that allows the valve to be threaded onto the pump without rotating the entire pump. Pumping is not as easy as it is with the Lezyne Road Drive. As the pressure in the tire increases, the pumping effort quickly increases as well. This is in contrast with the more gradual linear increase in pumping effort we experienced with the Lezyne Road Drive.

Looks/Design


This Best Buy Winner features a flashy all-aluminum construction and looks very similar to the Lezyne pumps we tested. The pump handle and the barrel have grooves machined into the aluminum that provide a good grip for pumping. The flexible fill hose has both Presta and Schrader chucks and a swivel built in to make valve attachment easier.


The inline gauge is a nice touch, and we found it to be accurate to within 5psi. The flexible fill hose lacks the ABS valve found on Lezyne pumps. This makes valve removal more difficult as you are fighting the backpressure from the tire when you unthread the valve. Rubber caps do a good job of protecting the pump discharge and fill hose from contaminants. Overall, the Pro Bike High Pressure Pump is a well-designed pump with classy looks.

pro bike tool high pressure pump with gauge frame pump review - the high pressure pump stowed in a camelbak palos hydration pack.
The High Pressure Pump stowed in a Camelbak Palos hydration pack.
Credit: Curtis Smith

Portability


With a length of 23cm, this model falls on the longer end of the mini pump spectrum. Still, carrying the High Pressure Pump in a jersey, hydration pack, or on the frame are all options.


You can see how it compares to the other pumps in the chart above. It is slightly shorter than the Lezyne Road Drive that measures 23.5cm, but it is about 30g heavier. When compared to the Lezyne Gauge Drive HV, it is 1 cm shorter and 12 g lighter. The High Pressure Pump is most comparable to the Road Drive in function, so we rank it lower due to its increased weight and diameter.

pro bike tool high pressure pump with gauge frame pump review - the pro bike tool pump mounted using the frame mount.
The Pro Bike Tool pump mounted using the frame mount.
Credit: Curtis Smith

Durability


This contender ranks highly in durability, as you can see in the chart below.


The aluminum pump body and piston are strong while remaining relatively lightweight. The flexible fill hose with thread-on air chucks worked flawlessly during testing. The only pumps receiving a higher durability rating are the Silca Impero and Silca Pocket Impero, which both utilize a leather pump washer on the piston. These leather washers have proven to be more resistant to wear than the rubber washers used in every other pump in the test.

pro bike tool high pressure pump with gauge frame pump review - the fill hose deploys from the end of the pump handle on the high...
The fill hose deploys from the end of the pump handle on the High Pressure Pump. The rubber caps prevent contamination of the pump chamber and fill hose.
Credit: Curtis Smith

Value


The High Pressure Pump represents an exceptional value. It is not the cheapest pump in the review, but its performance to value ratio is off the chart. Durable construction, good pumping performance, and a price that can't be beaten make this pump a true bargain. This is the model we would recommend to a friend who is on a budget or just getting started with the sport of cycling.

Conclusion


The Pro Bike Tool High Pressure Pump is a great mini pump, and, despite its lower price, was a strong contender against our top-rated products. It performs adequately for both high-volume and high-pressure applications. A flex hose with an integrated pressure gauge set this pump apart from other pumps in this price range. If you are on a budget or want to purchase one pump for all your mobile inflation needs, this contender is worth your attention.

pro bike tool high pressure pump with gauge frame pump review - this model fits well in a jersey pocket.
This model fits well in a jersey pocket.
Credit: Curtis Smith

Curtis Smith