Where the Zefal falls down is on ergonomics and construction quality. The head of the Zefal IPX pump is secure, not as secure as the Topeak but still more so than the Silca. The Zefal 4, an all-plastic option that you can pick up for under a fiver in some places, so it's extremely cheap, but it felt so flimsy and didn't achieve sufficient pressure to warrant inclusion. While not the cheapest frame pump you can buy, the Zefal HPX represents a decent value option that still works reasonably well. A dedicated band though continue to use them, sometimes for aesthetic reasons, but mostly because they can refill a tyre a lot quicker and more easily than most mini pumps. They are larger and harder to store than a mini pump, and naturally heavier too, which puts most people off. Best frame pumpsįrame pumps have somewhat fallen out of favour since the heyday of the cycle tourist.

As with most things, there is always a decision to be made. The valve connection is excellent as per other Lezyne options, and given it gets to the same effective pressure as the Airtool it's a toss-up as to whether you want a small form or a quick inflation. The short length makes it more pocket-friendly, though it is wider than other options so maybe more frame bag or bar bag friendly than one for pockets already stuffed with snacks. Lezyne mini pumps are extremely well made (I've got a road one that's still going after nearly eight years), so if you're particularly hard on your gear then this may be the one for you. Short body doesn't deliver much air per stroke Run a fashionable frame bag or bar bag and chuck it in there instead. Gravel mini pumps are bigger than their road counterparts too, so don't always expect to be able to fit one in your jersey pocket. You'll get going quicker though, that's for sure. Gravel mini pumps, or MTB ones, deliver more air per stroke but can't reach the same high pressures. As such, using a standard road mini pump takes forever as they can't deliver enough air volume. Gravel tyres are wider than those for road, sometimes rivalling mountain bikes (my gravel bike clears a 2.5in tyre in 650b). That being said, if you're preparing for an FKT, or a bikepacking adventure where the grams really start to add up, this would be an excellent option if you're running slightly wider tyres. Combine that with the narrow barrel and it struggles to reach the pressures you'd want for a road pump. The head only presses on, meaning it struggles to seal at higher pressures. Low weight is one thing, and certainly has advantages (there is also an even smaller, lighter NANA version), but the simple design has some drawbacks. Fortunately, thanks to an extremely simple design, this isn't the case, and it's one of the cheaper options too. Considering it weighs four times less than the Lezyne Digital Pressure Drive, and is made entirely from carbon fibre and titanium you might expect the Rene Herse NUDA to come with a crazy price tag to match the astonishing weight.

Airtool sport bike pump