Recommend me a tyre foot pump.

Uriel · 26 Jun 2015 at 12:27

A few months ago my excellent 20-25 odd year old halfords foot pump decided to stop working. I found the gauges are inaccurate on recent Halfords value pumps.

Got a cheap pump from a supermarket but the gauge was terribly inaccurate and would jump all over the place while pumping.

Decided 'you get what you pay for' and went for a Michelin analogue pump (one of these http://www.halfords.com/motoring-tr...uges/michelin-analogue-single-barrel-footpump). It lasted roughly 3 months and a handful of uses before developing a leak. Also I didn't like having to screw it onto the tyre valves. I prefer a clip. The gauge is great though.

So - I'd like a new one to be
- Well built, reasonably sturdy and reliable (so preferably you'll have used it for a good while).
- Fast, precise and accurate gauge
- Clip on not screw on
- Don't mind single or double barrel.
- Happy to pay for quality if its worth it.

I do have an electronic inflator but I prefer to use a foot pump - so no electric tyre inflators please.

rodenal · 26 Jun 2015 at 13:04

Costco usually have a good range of stuff like this, tends to be well made - no idea on price though, sorry

tsinc80697 · 26 Jun 2015 at 13:06

I had a good look through reviews of foot pumps and ALL of them had a fair few negative reviews. I ended up buying a track pump which is a bigger to store but there weren't many negative reviews on it.

Beto Track Pump Alloy Barrel With Gauge

Not used it yet to test how accurate the gauge is but I will this weekend and I can compare it to the in-car TPMS and Draper Tyre Pressure Gauge.

sprite1275 · 26 Jun 2015 at 13:12

I went through a load of footpumps before getting this http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/hand-tools/sealey-heavy-duty-foot-pump way more solid than any other ive used. They seem to be pretty scarce now though.

Hotwired · 26 Jun 2015 at 13:13

I don't know what it is about foot pumps, they tend to aim low and have appropriately low standards too.

The sky tends to be the limit for track pumps in price and quality but they are not convenient for stashing in a car.

sprite1275 · 26 Jun 2015 at 13:14

Oh sorry they seem to have zero stock aswell ^^^

ci_newman · 26 Jun 2015 at 14:10

Hotwired said:
I don't know what it is about foot pumps, they tend to aim low and have appropriately low standards too.

...

Because most people wouldn't use a foot pump to inflate a car tyre - the majority would use an electric inflater, so the quality of the foot pump doesn't need to be especially high.

I only use my foot pump on air beds and bicycle tyres,

Dave85 · 26 Jun 2015 at 14:22

Race bike pump is what I use and works really quick and super accurate. About £30 for a not bad one.

Uriel · 2 Sep 2015 at 13:49

After looking around I went for one of these:

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-fp150-single-cylinder-foot-pump

Seems robust enough and ticks all the boxes in the OP. It's a similar form factor to the Michelin pump I had but I'm hopeful that it will last a lot longer because key components are metal where plastic ones gave way on the Michelin.

Amleto · 2 Sep 2015 at 14:09

I went through several in a small amount of time, costing approx £5 - £25. They all failed miserably so I got a couple of air compressors instead. Noisy and not that fast, but at least they're reliable.

Armageus · 2 Sep 2015 at 14:58

Uriel said:
I do have an electronic inflator but I prefer to use a foot pump - so no electric tyre inflators please.

Not sure why the hate for an electric tyre inflator - if it's to go in the car where size is an issue (i.e. can't use a track pump), then I don't know why you would want a foot pump - If i had to inflate a tyre at the roadside, an electric one is a far better option.

Uriel said:
Got a cheap pump from a supermarket but the gauge was terribly inaccurate and would jump all over the place while pumping.

Uriel said:
- Fast, precise and accurate gauge

Given that you are intent on doing things the hard way anyway, why not just buy a good quality separate pressure gauge, and then not have to worry about the quality of the one on the pump?

Uriel · 2 Sep 2015 at 17:15

At the roadside, I might well use the electric inflator. Same if a tyre was properly deflated, when an electric pump would be faster. It's in the boot if I need it. I have a handheld pressure gauge too.

I regularly check the tyre pressures of two cars ouitside my house (terrace with on street parking and no guarentee of parking nearby) every few weeks. It's easier if I don't need to plug it in. If there's a decent pressure gauge built into the pump that's one less thing to carry around.

Each to their own.

paradigm · 2 Sep 2015 at 17:26

You need to plug your compressor in for the pressure gauge to work?

Mine doesn't :confused:

Clarkey · 2 Sep 2015 at 17:27

For something you use every few weeks and are both slow/terrible and prone to breaking, just sack it off and use the local garage air machine instead like everybody else?

Dis86 · 2 Sep 2015 at 17:51

Buy a track pump.

They really are that good.

blun · 2 Sep 2015 at 20:54

I have a "HEYNER PEDALMAX double barrel" and it's pretty good with an accurate gauge.