The AirTower 4 blends heavy duty performance and reliability with a modern look and feel. A contoured T-handle, oversized base and new Presta/Schrader Double Barrel Head adds convenience.
Submitted by
aldujaparov
a Weekend Warrior
from Longmeadow, MA, USA Date Reviewed: April 22, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
warranty
Strengths:
Shrader connection works o.k.
Weaknesses:
Presta connection useless
Similar Products Used:
Blackburn TP-4, Silca
Bottom Line:
garbage; received as warranty replacement for TP-4 (handle broke, Blackburn had no replacement part); once I saw this I asked Blackburn to return TP-4, said they couldn't.
Presta connection useless: in order to seal, requires pressing down to the point that Presta stem is depressed, releasing air in the tire. As mentioned in other reviews, air is also released when the head is released, so you have no idea how much air is left in the tire after you've pumped! Why have a gauge at all! TP-4 was a great pump; can't believe they'd replace it with this junk.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
yellowmtb
a Cross Country Rider
from MI Date Reviewed: April 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Fort Custer
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$79.00
Purchased At:
PRICEPOINT
Strengths:
Crap. Slow to connect to presta valves. Slow inflation.
Weaknesses:
Sticky pump. Cheap handle. Unstable base
Similar Products Used:
Performance 20 house pump.
Bike Setup:
X.0 ellwsworth, scott road bike dura ace, and others.
Bottom Line:
They are great about warranty replacement. I have paid $12 three times to return a defective pump to them and receive a new one. Customer service is A-1 if you want the same piece of crap back.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
drewmcg
a Cross Country Rider
from Ann Arbor, MI Date Reviewed: April 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Potto
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Accurate gauge
Works
Smooth, efficient pumping
head works fine (old style--black with flip down to lock)
Weaknesses:
thumb lock backwards (they evidently changed this on the new, grey head)
the exposive release of air when you remove the head after inflation can be disconcerting (really loud)
Similar Products Used:
nashbar pumps, others
Bike Setup:
mostly a roadie; Cannondale hardtail mtb
Bottom Line:
Very good, very reliable floor pump. Probably best lifetime warrantee in the business.
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Submitted by
bellullabob
a Racer
from RI Date Reviewed: March 5, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
moves air well
Weaknesses:
bad construction. Too many brakeable plastic parts for a pump in this price range. Gauge doesn't work anymore. Customer service...what customer service.
Bottom Line:
sure they have life time warrenty but try having them get back in touch w/ you so you can claim that!!!!
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Submitted by
RoxRunner
a Cross Country Rider
from Mystic, CT, USA Date Reviewed: February 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Bluff Point Single Track
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Mystic Cycle Centre
Strengths:
Moves a lot of air. BlackBurn's warranty! I've used it a bunch.
Weaknesses:
Valve system in head fails frequently.
Similar Products Used:
Joe Blow Pumps by ¿Topeak? Not sure who makes the Joe Blows.
Bike Setup:
Too many bikes to list, but all are in the entry level of high-end bikes, parts and accessories.
Bottom Line:
The valves fail much too frequently and seem to be very, very temperature sensitive. If I'm going for a morning ride, I can't use the pump if I left it in the garage overnight b/c the innards don't seal and if I put in a presta stem, air shoots out the schraeder side (and vice-versa). It's pretty annoying, but with BlackBurn's lifetime warranty, I've been trading the pumps in every three to six months for a couple of years now.
That said, when it does work as it's supposed to, it really moves s a ton of air in that big barrel and I can get the pressure up to 125 psi on my road bike with no problem. It's pretty great that way. I'd likely buy this again if I was going to live in a warm/dry place, but it seems that the cold and humidity of the NorthEast is too much for the valves to work right.
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Submitted by
stillkeen
a Weekend Warrior
from Cambridge, UK Date Reviewed: November 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Old Chevy, Rotorua, NZ
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Ribble Cycles (UK)
Strengths:
Solid construction.
Gauge at the top.
Smooth operation.
Easy to attach to presta valves (I dont use Schrader).
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Park home mechanic pump. Aeron pump from supergo. Plastic Giant pump.
Bike Setup:
Titus motolite, Kona Unit 2-9, Zion 853EBB, Kinesis road bike, fixie conversion, Cotic Roadrat.
Bottom Line:
I've had three pumps before this one, and they've been wobbly and had bad valves. The best before this was the Park, but it had the gauge halfway down barrel and wasnt stable/solid.
This pump just feels solid and is easy to attach to the valves. The lifetime warranty sounds great, so hopefully this will be my last pump.
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Submitted by
kibbles6890a
a Cross Country Rider
from Davenpor,FL Date Reviewed: November 6, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$51.00
Purchased At:
on line
Strengths:
Easy to pump, Works well on presta valves and damaged presta valves
Weaknesses:
loses 7p.s.i on release
Similar Products Used:
Sette tripod
Bike Setup:
Motobecane Grand Record 09
Bottom Line:
Blackburn must be listening to riders, This has a NEW STYLE HEAD. It is Gray in color, has hole for both presta and schrader vaves. It LIFTS UP TO LOCK IN PLACE. It goes on easily, locks easily, and is easily removed with out hurting the presta valve. It does not leak. The gauge is sturdily mounted. It is easy to pump to 125 p.s.i. It loses 7 p.s.i. when removed. When I talked to Blackburn, they were concerned about what head I had on the pump. They said a lttle loss in air is normal. They suggested that I pump a little higher before I remove the pump. I went to 130 p.s.i. and when I released it, I measured 123 p.s.i. this is close enough for me. On the whole, it appears that the pump is well made, is easy to use and has a lifetime warranty. I highly recommend this pump. Make sure that you get the latest version!
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Submitted by
gamtnbkr
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgia Date Reviewed: October 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Pickelsimmer Fields, Pisgah, NC
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Solid construction, mostly metal parts, lifetime guarantee, flip lever down to lock onto valve stem
Weaknesses:
flip lever down to lock onto valve stem
Similar Products Used:
floor pumps by Wrenchforce, Specialized, Performance Hurricane, Topeak
Bottom Line:
This is a good pump. Flipping the lever down when mounting on the valve stem instead of up (like most pumps) confused me at first. I had to read the directions to figure out why it wasn't working correctly when I first tried it. Since then it makes perfect sense. No more banging your fingers on the spokes. It pumps a large volume of air with a smooth stroke. The handle is comfortable. The high mounted gauge is easy to read.
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Submitted by
onelessfatguy
a Weekend Warrior
from queens, ny Date Reviewed: October 15, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
amazon
Strengths:
Each pump stroke increased PSI 5 lbs
Weaknesses:
th epump came broken. The valve head is a piece of garbage and was missing a pin. When i tried to use anyway, the tire would lose 30lbs upon disconnect. The company said that the need replacement part was on back order (I WONDER WHY) and they didn't know when it would be available. They would not send me a new pump or pay the shipping for the defective one to be returned to them. Low quality pump, low quality customer service.
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn, Topeak
Bike Setup:
2007 fastback comp
Bottom Line:
DO NOT BUY THIS PUMP
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shane
a Racer
from Santa Cruz Date Reviewed: June 19, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$44.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Head works great, With most pump heads once you get the head on the valve, you push up on the lever which makes no sence. With the Air Tower 4, you push down on the lever, very smart. Lifetime gurantee
Weaknesses:
For me, the actual pump, not head started leaking. Since it has a life timed gurantee, I sent it back. Three weeks later, I got a new one. Since it is guranteed for ever, I'll never need another pump
Similar Products Used:
lots
Bike Setup:
Ibis Silk SL
Ibis Mojo
Bottom Line:
Buy it for the warranty
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Wellington, New Zealand Date Reviewed: May 24, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Online Dealer
Strengths:
This review is for 2007 version of pump. Reasonably sturdy and well constructed. Pumps to high pressures (~ 130 PSIg) relatively easily.
Weaknesses:
Nozzle very difficult to remove from valves (after pumping). It is my understanding that many of the 2007 series pumps have this problem! Pressure limit pointer a bit too loose and too easy to accidentally move.
Similar Products Used:
Topeak Joe Blow (sometimes difficult to get good seal on Presta valves) Specialized Air Tool Comp (Overall a good pump)
Bottom Line:
Generally this is a good pump. But because of difficulty in removing the nozzle from valves, I don't use this pump. The 2008 version of this pump has supposedly a better nozzle, but I have not as yet tested it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from OHIO Date Reviewed: April 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
lodeman@ameritech.net
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$32.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
None.
Weaknesses:
Everything. Cheap quality. Poor workmanship.
Similar Products Used:
Silica
Bike Setup:
Many.
Bottom Line:
There are better choices for a floor stand pump. This pump is poorly constructed and Blackburn's customer support is terrible.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Brooklyn, NY Date Reviewed: January 1, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
R&A Cycles, Brooklyn, NY
Strengths:
Easy, effortless strokes. Sleek look.
Weaknesses:
Pump nozzle doesn't disengage that easily once you're done pumping.
Similar Products Used:
Topeak Joe Blow Sport
Bike Setup:
Bianchi track bike
Bottom Line:
This one is a winner, so far. I've only had it for about 2 months, so I can't speak about it's longevity. I've had two other types of pumps before this one, a Shwinn Air Driver 1100, and a Topeak Joe Blow Sport.
This pump is noticeably different from the others in that it requires truly effortless arm strokes to pump the tire up to 120 or so.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Abilene, Tx Date Reviewed: November 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Government Canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Everything about it shows and feels like quality. I did a lot of research before choosing this pump. Nice big shot of air per stroke Smoothness and quality of product Lifetime warranty Works great on tubeless
Weaknesses:
I wish the red tic mark on the air guage didnt move so easily.
Similar Products Used:
Morpheus
Bike Setup:
-06 Haro Shift F/S
Bottom Line:
Blackburn is a well known company. This pump not only looks great, but more importantly works great. And with a lifetime warranty, this will be the last floor pump I ever buy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Reading, PA Date Reviewed: June 9, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
Online
Strengths:
Accurate, consistent pressure reading Reliable so far (more so than others I've experienced) Good seal Decent shot volume (although MTB's may want bigger) Less air loss on withdrawal
Weaknesses:
Odd: Locks on stem with lever down Must pump up the line over current tire pressure and sometimes must wiggle to ensure break-through occurred
Similar Products Used:
RAV-X POS x2; others 2 full size bike pumps, 2 mini's
Bike Setup:
Road bike
Bottom Line:
This pump delivers
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Gallup, NM Date Reviewed: April 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
The one I'm riding
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
1) Lifetime warranty / great customer service 2) Works as it's supposed to 3) Good seal on presta valves 4) Can seat tubeless beads without any extra effort
Weaknesses:
Only one I can think of is that the air pressure gauge doesn't angle to my sight-line (picky, I know)
Similar Products Used:
generic floor pumps, Avenir cheapo pumps our LBS used to stock
Bike Setup:
Geared FS and SS hardtail (both UST tubeless)
Bottom Line:
My first Air Tower floor fell over (surprise, surprise: pumps tend to do this) onto a concrete floor and the pressure gauge broke (the needle came off) and it was maybe six weeks old. Blackburn replaced for free and shipped a new one to my LBS in less than one week. (I had to do nothing; my LBS handled it. No hassle.) The replacement has performed flawlessly for the past 18 months. It does what a pump should do: pumps the tires (even tubeless) without hassle. And Blackburn truly does stand behind their products. What more could you ask for? It's a solid pump and a decent value.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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