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Submitted by
Warren
a Cross Country Rider
from Japan
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Y's Joker | | Strengths: | When I first bought it, it worked well and I could inflate my tires easily without any effort, but that didn't last very long. | | Weaknesses: | The dual head leaked air after 20-30 uses and now I can not use it for anything other than pumping up my soccer ball. | | Similar Products Used: | Other | | Bike Setup: | Cervelo Soloist | | Bottom Line: | It seems obvious from reading other posts that the pump head breaks often and quickly, amongst a variety of other problems. I am extremely disappointed with the poor quality of this product. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jaghouse
a Cross Country Rider
from Iowa
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Reliability | | Bottom Line: | There are various versions of the Joe Blow pump. I have the Sport II (twinhead NOT smarthead) and it has worked wonderfully since day one. The twinhead design seems to be a winner. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
greenforest56
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Bolinas Ridge Trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Good strong pump, nice design, well built, reliable | | Weaknesses: | handle | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn | | Bike Setup: | Proflex 656 stock | | Bottom Line: | This is an excellent pump. I have used it a lot for seveal years, given excllent service. Solid, well built. My only criticism is the handles. Topeak put some kind of rubber material at the ends. I keep expecting it to come off. It hasn't yet, but it will someday. Otherwise, the pump is bullet proof. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dbarzel
a Weekend Warrior
from memphi, tn
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | herb parsons | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | no idea | | Strengths: | high gauge reading, and (when it works) the presta/schrader convertible head - good support from topeak (will ship new parts when your eventually breaks) | | Weaknesses: | subject to breakdowns - i have rebuilt mine at least 3x in 4 years | | Similar Products Used: | silca pumps | | Bike Setup: | cannondale rush 6 with tubeless tires | | Bottom Line: | don't buy it - look for a sturdy rebuildable pump like the silca or lezyne | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BigBull
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Tahoe | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Joe Blow Max is a piece of crap.
Joe Blow Sport is great and solid built. | | Weaknesses: | Joe Blow Max is a joke, cheap plastic cap broken in few months. Hard to get higher pressure than 30psi even when new. But Joe Blow SPODT is a great pump on the other hand. | | Bottom Line: | I used Joe Blow Sport for years and love it so much so after I accidentally run my car over it I replaced with a similar model JB MAX: what a mistake. Do youself a favor and get the SPORT or Pro model.
THe 4 star rating is for Sport model.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T_woot
a Cross Country Rider
from Auburn, CA
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Annadel S.P. | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | JOEBLOW sport pump... it works great, was a decent price compared to specialized pumps that would probably perform the exact same. I love the dual valve for schrader and presta, its awesomely handy, comes with a needle for basketballs and such, and another little adapter. I haven't used em but I like having such things handy regardless. | | Weaknesses: | the yellow is awesome, why not love it? | | Similar Products Used: | stuff at bike shops, specialized floor pumps | | Bottom Line: | cheap price, fine pump, great functionality, still working just fine after 2 years | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thorvald
a Weekend Warrior
from Bornholm, Denmark
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | tarmac, gravel | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | Germanny | | Similar Products Used: | Italian floorpump, can't remember the name, Silca, SKS, Blackburn Air Stick 1, Blackburn Mtn pump, Topeak Pocket Rocket | | Bike Setup: | Scott CR 1, Pinarello Opera, Specialized Stumpjumper Comp -91, Wheeler touring bike | | Bottom Line: | After two years my Topeak Joe Blow Sprint began to work worser and worser. In the beginning it didn'nt pump in the top of the stroke, and later it also nearly didn't worked in bottom of the stroke. I opened, inspected, cleaned and greased the tube, the piston and the O-ring. And I couldn't see any faults. But, no, there were no changes. Then I disassembled the hole thing, cleaned everything, and greased it. Still no changes. Did everything once again. Still no results. Phoned the national distibutor asking for spare parts, especially the O-ring, which looked OK by visual inspection, but on the other hand problaly was the reason for the missing pressure. The answer from the distibutor was: Topeak don't sell spare parts for their pumps. Now I realised that I instead should have bought either a SKS floor pump or a pump from Blackburn, because both of these are selling spare parts for their pumps. Just before I ordering a new pump, realising I was the owner of a piece of garbage, I disassemblede my Topeak Joe Blow for the absolutely last time. And thanks for that. I saw this time that the bottom plug, which are screwed into the bottom of the cylinder, are fitted with two O-rings in exactly the same size as the O-ring at the piston. By changing one of those O-rings from the bottom plug with the O-ring at the piston, MY PUMP WORKS AGAIN. Now I just wonder if the pump also this time wil give up after two years. If this should be the matter, there is still one more O-ring in the bottom plug, which I can put to the piston, and then get two more years of life out of my Joe Blow sprint. A lot of trouble, but nice to have fixed it. - I haven't had other problems with this pump, which now works fine again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
_Lac_Man_
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Real Carbon Fiber dial, two seperate ends - "Twin Head" - for Presta/Schrader valves, sturdy construction as far as I'm concerned. | | Weaknesses: | None that I have encountered. | | Similar Products Used: | Serfa FP-200 | | Bike Setup: | Presta valves | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the Joe Blow Sprint pump - - -
I haven't had any problems with this pump, I don't know how there could be issues with it really...my bike has Presta valves, my girlfriends has Schrader, the pump works great on both. This thing has gotten banged around in the bed of the pick-up, dropped on gravel, no dents, cranks, nada. It's also got cool little extras like a clamp that keeps the handle from extended if it's not in use, it has a spot for sport ball and floaty needles. It gives precise PSI measurments - I compared it with my digital PSI gauge.
It's a little pricey, but I guess the extra cost goes towads the real Carbon Fiber...which I love. I'd recommend it if you need a mid-quality pump at a pretty reasonable price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Lang
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans Waterloo (UK) | | Strengths: | Looks good | | Weaknesses: | Original Joe Blo Pro - Rubber grip on handle slips off, pivoting support pointless over design , you will probably never use it - oh and it does not pump up bicycle tyres!
My pump has become progressively worse over a short period of use and it will now not inflate a tyre / tube beyond 35psi. At this point all air that is pumped goes somewhere other than the tube I want to inflate. | | Similar Products Used: | Silka, ozone comp (an all plastic pump that is more efficient that the expensive JBP) | | Bike Setup: | Fixie, Road, Mtb, Uni-cycle | | Bottom Line: | A piece of junk - on the face of it looks to be a quality product but is seriously let down by its function - or more to the point the lack of it!
Best avoided. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gtg252b
a Racer
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Quick pumping, solid feel, good connection. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Wrenchforce, Silca Pista | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the Joe Blow Pro. MTBR should really have different sections for the different Joe Blows because they are all pretty different. In my experience the Joe Blow Pro is an amazing pump. I actually liked mine so much that after 6 months of use I bought one for my fiance so that she would stop "borrowing" mine and "forgetting" it in her car. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from Scottsdale
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Strengths: | Feels sturdy, looks good. | | Weaknesses: | Poor quality of the double head (pesta and regular). It started leaking and backing up the air into the pump after approximately 50 uses. | | Bottom Line: | I would not recommend this pump. It does not appear that the problem is fixed. Therefore, buying a replacemnet head will only buy you few more months of use. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charly Perje
a Racer
from Austria
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Astrian Alps and dolomits | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Helen's Cycles, Santa Monica | | Strengths: | This pump is tough. My kids droped it a few times and it still worked like a dream | | Weaknesses: | Can't tell any. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Serfas | | Bike Setup: | MTB and ROAD both Presta valve | | Bottom Line: | I don't know what some of this guys do with your with a pump but my only suggestion to all of you how think this pump that this pump dosen't work on presta valves should take a lesson on how to use a pump. I pump my daughters 20" bike and my racing bikes with (I know you want believe it) the same "Blow Joe" pump. It works great and it never missed a beat.
This pump is a great product and I will buy another one, since mine was lost by a freight carrier on a transport from the US to europe.
For anyone how wants to buy a pump, go and buy a "Blow Joe" it will work for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | This review is for the Topeak Joe Blow Sport (yellow-colored floor pump) When it worked, it worked fine. | | Weaknesses: | Qaulity -- The t-valve (presta one side, schrader other side) internals broke so whenever I pump, air comes out the side I'm not using. | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn mountain air | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight | | Bottom Line: | This pump worked fine for the first six months. Then it stopped holding air. I checked the bleed valve and it was tight and I opened up the T-valve, where the air was flowing out to check for any broken pieces. Nothing. Whenever I use the presta side, air escapes (quickly) on the schrader side. I went back to REI to check out the warranty card on a new JB sport pump and it said 90 days. What a rip. A co-worker said I could make a claim after the 90 days -- she did -- and still get a replacement part for free. We'll see what happens. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff dinges
a Weekend Warrior
from hoschton, ga.
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | fort yargo | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | inaccurate guage reading
leaks from everywhere | | Similar Products Used: | cheap ascent floor pump | | Bottom Line: | This is absolutely the worst bicycling product I have ever purchased. The first thing I noticed with the Joe Blows Pro was that the gauge is off by 10 psi either way. Yes, it gets worse. After a couple of uses the head started leaking air. After replacing the head the top part of the pump (where the gauge is located) started leaking air so bad that after attempting to pump up just ONE tire I am totally exhausted. Absolute crap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Lower Hutt | | Strengths: | This review is for the 'Sport' version
Appears to be solid and well constructed | | Weaknesses: | Very inaccurate pressure readings on gauge!
Difficult to pump at higher pressures (~ 100 PSI)
Instructions a bit confusing at first
A bit expensive (here in NZ) | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Air Tool Comp | | Bike Setup: | * Avanti Illusion - hybrid; 27 speed; Deore shifters and derailleurs; Specialized Infinity 700 x 38c tires; cable disc brakes
* Giant CRX Zero - road training; 20 speed; Vittoria Zaffiro 700 x 25c tires; hydraulic disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | Purchased this pump on the understanding that, overall, it was a good pump. However, it was particularly disappointing to find that the gauge was inaccurate. Using a separate pressure gauge would help verify actual pressure. But the inconvenience of having to pump to 'estimated' pressure, remove pump, attach pressure gauge, remove pressure gauge, reattach pump (as necessary), and pump some more, is too great. This would prolong tire pressurization procedure, and make having the gauge on the pump superfluous. That, plus the other weaknesses rendered this pump as being effectively useless. Pump was returned to the LBS for a full refund.
Therefore, the 'Sport' version of Joe Blow series of pumps is not recommended. Buy and try at your risk! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a
from Brooklyn NY
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Strengths: | Easy to get pump head on and off the tube valve, compared to a previous pump. Fairly easy pumping overall. | | Weaknesses: | Possible issue with product life. One of my pump's pump heads died after 7-8 months. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Air Driver 1100 (avoid at all costs), Blackburn Air Tower 4 (so far, so good) | | Bike Setup: | LeMond road bike (double, aluminum, Shimano 105), Bianchi track bike. | | Bottom Line: | This is for the Topeak Joe Blow Sport. This is a good pump for the money, so I see it as a value purchase. I had two of them, for two different locations where I kept my bike. It works very well and fairly fast. However, the head on one of the pumps developed a fatal leak after only 7-8 months of use. The other pump is still going strong after about a year. I think the other pump's breakdown is probably just bad luck. I replaced the broken pump with an BlackBurn Air Tower 4, which is also good and pumps faster, though it's a tad more expensive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry
a
from Lafayette, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | Looks nice. Topeak customer service is good. | | Weaknesses: | Poor engineering. Poorly made. | | Similar Products Used: | Ascent floor pump (Performance brand) | | Bottom Line: | This is an update from 8/24/2006. If we still used the term "blows", meaning bad quality or bad experience, then this pump would be aptly named. An up-to-date name would be "Joe Sucks". The valve head does not seem to push a presta valve in for inflation. It seems to rely on air pressure to push in the valve. To pump up a road tire to 100psi, I need to lift my feet off the ground. I weigh around 155. The Ascent pump is effortless and it has a larger barrel. The top cap that the piston shaft passes through is not screwed on like a jar cap but snaps on like a battery cover on a remote control. It came off and one of the snap tabs is broken off. It needs duct tape. Customer service is good; they sent me a new valve head but it was no different from the original. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Geary
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Sport Chek | | Strengths: | Easily connects, pumps up tires quickly, hose attaches to itself when finish and just plain looks good. | | Weaknesses: | I have not ran into any problems seems pretty straght forward to me. | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn TP-1 | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6000 Mountain hardtail | | Bottom Line: | I have a hard time believing some of the reviews here and thought that the Topeak Joe Blow is a great buy for the money. Construction of this pump is solid with a long rigid stroke for quick inflations. Great pump well worth the money I paid, would buy again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Corbett
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, NJ
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Point Present Bicycle | | Strengths: | Does the fron tire very good | | Weaknesses: | Have a hard time doing the rear tire | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh SC30 | | Bottom Line: | I'm scared that I will put too much or too little in the tires. The rear tire I'm having a very hard time doing. These nornal size holds. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gabe
a
from New London, CT USA
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$24.00 | | Purchased At: | Amazon | | Strengths: | This applies only to the JoeBlow "Max II" version of this pump. Pump looks cool (yellow/black) with fat barrel -- see comments below. Acceptable length hose. Dual head - no need to change parts between Schrader and Presta. | | Weaknesses: | Operation of pump is really poor. Takes a huge amount of effort to squeeze out 90 psi. My guess is that it's due to the larger barrel bore. The name "Max" which goes with the larger barrel is in my opinion simply a marketing gimmick. Functionally pretty crappy. | | Bottom Line: | I would not recommend this pump. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Newton, MA
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Pumps up tires quickly | | Weaknesses: | Edges of metal baseplate are sharp and marred my wooden floor. | | Similar Products Used: | Topeak Sport | | Bottom Line: | The specific model was "Topeak Joe Blow Sprint Floor Pump – '04". Perhaps other versions do not have this problem (sharp edges of baseplate mar the floor.) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry
a
from Lafayette, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Apex Park in JeffCo | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Dual head that seems simpler and you would think would work well. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't seem to work. The gauge is too wide a range so it is hard to resolve smaller differences in pressure. | | Similar Products Used: | Sears air compressor with a brass adapter / Performance Hurricane (the kind that is like a mini floor pump) | | Bike Setup: | Presta valves | | Bottom Line: | Not impressed. I have a Mt and road bike. Each bike has a regular presta on one wheel and a long stem presta on other. The pump worked on both stems on the Mt bike but didn't pump the long presta on the road bike. It seems hit and miss. I actually have the MaxII which is a little bit different. It doesn't have a 360 degree swivel hose and it's black. Jenson charged more for it. I thought I was getting more because I was paying more. Go figga. The Performance Hurricane mini floor pump that goes in my pack impresses everyone who sees me using it on the trail. I highly recomment it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Michener
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Sweet Sixteen | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Great when it's working. | | Weaknesses: | Seal around top of pump breaks easily | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn pumps | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mtn Elite | | Bottom Line: | Seal around head of the pump started to leak on me after a year of use. Now it's kaputt. Again, one of these disposable products that we could all do without. Better to go with a Blackburn that has a life warranty. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a
from Bozeman, MT, US
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | fills my tires, has a gauge so I know how much pressure is in there! | | Weaknesses: | Base isn't the greatest, can be a pain to get perfectly on the stem - otherwise it just backs up with pressure | | Similar Products Used: | walmart quality junk | | Bike Setup: | Big hit hardtail, Commuter hardtail, singlespeed roadie, girlfriend's bike | | Bottom Line: | This is for the Joe Blow sport pump... it has the two way head that seems to be less prone to trouble than the "smarthead" type, plus, it's cheaper. This has been a great pump for me, and very rarely given me a problem. I'd like to get a nicer floor pump one day, but not until I've squeezed every gasp of air from ol' Joe Blow. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Abilene, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar? | | Strengths: | It looks pretty but that's not what counts. | | Weaknesses: | The valve head stopped working and was impossible to repair. It is very poorly constructed for a pump of this price. | | Similar Products Used: | I've had pumps from WalMart that lasted long than this POS. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that this pump is crap. Don't buy it or you will be disappointed. Thanks for ripping me off Topeak! I'm not even going to bother replacing the head because I know that it will just let me down again. It's a cheesy cheap plastic piece of junk. On the value rating, I give it a 1 because it costs a lot and doesn't work. On the overall rating, I give it 1 because it costs a lot and doesn't work. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Chattanooga
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | River City Bicycles | | Strengths: | Easy to use, valve head is a good design that has always worked well after ~2 years. | | Weaknesses: | Hose cracks formed on surface which eventually start to leak. If you clip the hose into the clips to secure it between uses, the hose is bent into a bend radius tighter than it probably should be which led to the surface cracks. If you get this pump, just leave the hose loose or only use one of the two clips so the hose is not bent excessively. Usage: 1 to 4 times per week for 2 years. | | Similar Products Used: | Silca track pump | | Bike Setup: | Two wheels, a frame etc. | | Bottom Line: | Good pump, but the hose will leak after a year or two if its bent during storage. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Kingston, Pa
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Main Bike World | | Strengths: | I was getting by with an air compressor, but needed something the kids could use. Three attributes sold me on this pump. First, the built-in pressure gauge. Next, the massive and removable smart head, and last the pump could stand upright on its own. If your looking to begin teaching children how to be responsible and maintain proper tire pressure this pump seems to have it all....Not | | Weaknesses: | The smart head has the life span of a Utility Knife Blade. It works great at first, but at some point you have to make the decision to toss it or your gonna get hurt trying to get one more time out of it. This pump began failing at its head stem seal then soon after the lever seal. But what was most disappointing, the ergonomics of the smart head lever. It proved to be too difficult for younger children to manage. Either it was too difficult to grip to flip open, or they would pinch their fingers when closing. Eventually, the holes for the lever pivot pin, which are cast into the head body, became elongated and allowed the pivot pin walk-out.
The T-handle hold down clip is cheesy, lasted six months with kids.
| | Bottom Line: | For now it's a paper weight. I can get a replacement head and go through the same aggravation, or upgrade to the dual head and hope it performs better. Topeak's designs seem to sway more towards sleek and trendy, then ergonomic and practical.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Inflates bike tires. | | Weaknesses: | Smart head can be a PITA to use when it wears, or on "non-standard" valves. | | Similar Products Used: | Others. usually CO2 | | Bike Setup: | Yes | | Bottom Line: | Mine worked well for about 2 years. Then it developed a problem of not sealing when locked on my vlaves (presta). It also wouldn't inflate properly on schrader valves (DH bike tubes). So, I ended up taking the smart head apart , cleaning and putting a light coat of grease into it.
That only fixed the leaking from the lever. But I found a replacement kit for rebuilding the smarthead online at www.bikeworld.com for $5. Replaces all the guts of the smart head, and viola!! it works great again.!! Came with the smart head guts AND the O-ring for the pump piston also. Fixed two problems at once. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rideorglide
a Weekend Warrior
from Long Island
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Air volume, for a short while at least | | Weaknesses: | Pressure gauge | | Similar Products Used: | Various hand pumps | | Bike Setup: | Rockhopper FSR XC | | Bottom Line: | Very disappointed with durability of this item for the price: Gauge has started leaking air after 2-3 yrs.
Now I pump with one hand on handle and one on gauge glass to stem the leak. Accuracy never seemed to be it's strong point, but now even less so. Currently shopping for a replacement -- will avoid this brand in future for sure. Somewhat flimsy base/cyclinder construction. Also loses pressure when disconnecting valve. When it was working properly, gauge only gave an approximate feel of accuracy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron J Nicoli
a Weekend Warrior
from Jerrabomberra, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere Insane | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Hammer 'n' Cycle | | Strengths: | Great Pump! Fairly light, Strength is incredible, good accurate strong gauge with nice big face, dual adaptor great, metal base rocks! | | Weaknesses: | Nothing! | | Similar Products Used: | Some cheapie K-mart sucker | | Bike Setup: | Getting a 2005 Norco Torrent YAY! | | Bottom Line: | Great pump well worth the money I paid, would buy again any day. Massive quantity of air, Really strong metal base and strong cylinder and fittings. As in post below have not had a problem with dual adaptor works great! that is probably a fault.
BUY THIS PUMP!
5 thumbs up.
Cheers, | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from Cumming, Ga
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Fort Yargo | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Store | | Strengths: | Once properly engaged, pump had good volume and the gauge was accurate. | | Weaknesses: | The twin head hose is a lousy design. The adapter is a straight tube until you lock the lever down. You have to place your thumb over the end of the adapter to keep air from leaking out. The adapter also would not engage on my presta valves. Owned it for one evening took it back as soon as the bike shop opened the next day. Traded it for a RAV X pump with a dual valve head and have not had any problems. | | Similar Products Used: | Bell "Jury", RAV X "Blow X Power" | | Bike Setup: | Giant Rainier | | Bottom Line: | Based on my experience, you have about a 50% chance of letting all the air out of your tire every time you use this pump with presta valves. Unless your thumb has the ability to hold back 60+ PSI while manipulating a lever, look for another product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from CA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | I have both a Joe Blow Pro with the Smart Head Adapter and the Joe Blow Sprint with the Twin Head Adapter. I like the Sprint with Twin Head Adapter much better. The Smart Head Adapter is hard to get off my presta values. The twin head adapter isn't. Both have the pressure gauge high up the pump near the handle not at the bottom. Makes it easier to read. I'd highly recommend the Joe Blow Sprint. | | Weaknesses: | The Smart Adapter is hard to get off my presta values. Half the time I ended up skinning my knuckles prying it off. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Road Bike | | Bottom Line: | The Joe Blow Sprint is my favorite pump from Toepeak. It's around twenty dollars cheaper than the Joe Blow Pro and the twin head adapter is a breeze to get on and off the presta values. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Benefiel
a Weekend Warrior
from Morgan Hill, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | CA Death Ride | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | This is for the Joe Blow Pro...
Easy to read top-mounted guage.
Easy-on head for both presta and schrader
Wide, stable base. | | Weaknesses: | Head goes onto presta easy, but is sometimes hard to remove. I still like it. | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn, Silca | | Bike Setup: | Lemond road, Tommasini road, Specialized hardtail mtn. | | Bottom Line: | The only downside is that it's a little hard to remove the head from presta valves. It hasn't damaged the valves and it still functions like new. Everything else works great. I've liked all floor pumps I've had, but this is the best. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J
a
from Boise, Idaho USA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Resurrection Pass | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Mail order web | | Strengths: | Interchangeable head works well. I prefer having a dedicated Schraeder and dedicated presta, but this one works well on both heads. | | Weaknesses: | Cheezy plastic head and fittings. Hose is crap. | | Similar Products Used: | Silca, Schwinn, Blackburn, Zefal. | | Bike Setup: | Giant VT, Fetish Fixation SS, Fetish Velocita road, Kona beater. | | Bottom Line: | I really liked this pump at first. The head works well with both schraeder or presta. The guage seems accurate. It delivers a fair amount of volume to mt. tires and easily inflates road tires to 110 psi. The other day I went out to pump up some 1.95 slicks on a beater bike and it wouldn't pump. The hose has completely rotted. There were cracks in it. No I did not store it outside in the sun. I've kept it in the dark in a shed ever since I bought it. When I tried to separate the hose from the head so I could buy a new hose the cheezy plastic end that goes inside the hose broke in half with little or no pressure. Very badly designed. Skinny little thing. My LBS would charge me more than a new one to replace the head so I'm just going to buy another hose and put a permanent presta head on it. I have not had good luck with pumps ever. I've tried many brands. I would pay $100 for a good pump if I knew it would last. Stay away from this brand. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Celeste
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mount Falcon, Morrison | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | The pressure gauge is nice. Pumps air better and faster than my frame pump at low pressures. | | Weaknesses: | ...But, at higher pressures, my $4.50 from Kmart frame pump works much better! They need a disclaimer on this: FOR >55 PSI!! Even though the gauge goes up to 150psi, it became excessively difficult to pump up my road bike tires. I couldn't get them past about 75, so I took it back to the store. The guys in the bike shop played with it a little bit. One of them got a road bike up to 100psi, but he told me it shouldn't be that difficult, so they gave me a new one, which I thought was very nice of them. But, take it home and guess what? Same sort of problem. After a lot of jumping up and down on the handle, I finally got them to 105 (they should be 110-120).
Well, I guess you get what you pay for. I always wondered why people would spend up to $100 for a simple tire pump. Now I know.
In addition to the low psi, I've also had problems with the stem attachment being a little quirky. Sometimes it takes, sometimes you have to mess with it a little bit. | | Similar Products Used: | Bell Composite pump | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 90 & Specialized Dolce Elite | | Bottom Line: | Well, it's better than your average discount-store model, but not by a huge amount. Don't plan on pumping up any road tires, but if you're definately a mtn biker and have good luck with inanimate objects, you might be OK with it. On the othe hand, I don't think we should give these guys anymore business for their cheap product! (They get 2 chilis on value just because this was almost the cheapest pump on the market) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Suburban Commando
a Racer
from Long Island, NY
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Point | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$21.00 | | Purchased At: | TJ Maxx (of all places!) | | Strengths: | Well, at $20 this wasn't such a bad deal. Comfy handle, dual head, decent gauge, long durable hose. I got the one with the steel barrel. It has enough volume and pressure to handle my road and MTB needs. | | Weaknesses: | The head was a dual type that you would twist to engage either side of it. If you rotated it in the wrong direction, you risked damaging the head. They could have easily solved this problem if THEY SIMPLY PUT THE CORRECT TURNING DIRECTION ARROWS on both sides of the head. More often than not, I will slip the head onto the valve, then I will have to look to the opposite side of the head to figure out which way to twist the head in order to engage the valve stem. Not having a flip lever does help avoid the problem I experienced with the Topeak Smarthead upgrade kit (see my review for that matter). Also, the schrader valve side was render useless because the plastic nib inside the valve head became crushed and it no longer depresses the valve stem on schrader valves (a main reason I purchased the uprgade kit). | | Similar Products Used: | Silca Pista- sorta like the VW bug of pumps: simple, easy to rebuild, works somewhat well, and every time you try to convince youreslf that you should throw it out, it always comes through in a pinch when you need it. And how else can you pump up a disc wheel without the compact Silca disc head? | | Bike Setup: | Assorted configurations. | | Bottom Line: | I suppose the newer ones were not so bad a deal for the original retail price, but at less than $25, this is a great deal. But if you race, I would not feel comfortable having this be my only pump in the car. I would take along a least a frame pump as well, just in case one of the many plastic parts on this pump decides to crumble. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Rockit | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Good looking (yellow), comfy palm handle, come with adapters for balls and rafts. good price, reliable. | | Weaknesses: | Soft grip on top of the handles could come off if dropped. | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn | | Bike Setup: | Three bikes in my house | | Bottom Line: | Good reliable pump for almost three years, no problem with both types of valves, can't ask for more. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | When it works, it pumped air well. | | Weaknesses: | Internal valve failures. I have two of these. One was an older model and the other is less than a year old. Now the new one failed. Both failures were internal valving. Performance says that 17% of the new ones are being returned and they say that is a low return rate for a pump! | | Similar Products Used: | Silca. Its 25 yers old. A pain to use. Its rebuildable. It still works. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale & Specialized road. | | Bottom Line: | The marketing guys say this is a good pump but don't believe it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
angus henry
a Racer
from ottawa
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Gats | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Mountian Equipement Co-op | | Strengths: | Fills fast and easy. Guage is at the top of the pump so it's easy to read. Smarthead means no switching back and forth Presta/Shraeder. | | Weaknesses: | Clip holding pump handle down is very flimsy and breaks frequently.( I sell them) Because the guage is on top of the pump it is more top heavy and likely to fall over. A little spendy. | | Similar Products Used: | lots, Still this is the best on of all. | | Bike Setup: | TCR Zero, TCX, Giant XTC, yes I love Giants | | Bottom Line: | This pump has never given me anything but perfect reliability. Try not to wiggle the pump head onto the valve becasue that wears it down faster and usually a shop will have spare parts for the pump. Lower rating because for the price it costs it should be flawless and its so damn close. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darby
a Weekend Warrior
from Saint Louis
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Worked well for filling up my bike tires - never had a problem with the pump head design. Used it for two months to fill up a car tire with a slow leak - a minute or so of work and I was good for the day. | | Weaknesses: | Probably related to using it for a couple of months to fill my car's leaky tire - one day the piston head broke off of the pump shaft - fixed it once with super glue, but when it broke again, threw it away. I was at first very disappointed by this, but when I remembered that last year I had used it so much, I feel that I got pretty good value out of it. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Mountain Bike | | Bottom Line: | Not a bad pump, wish it were a bit more durable - the piston is a plastic part crimped into the metal pump shaft - maybe a metal piston would not have broken. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Racer
from London, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Mountain Equipment Coop | | Strengths: | Seems to be well made, with sturdy foot rests, and well paddles handles. Tire guage is easy to read. | | Weaknesses: | I honestly haven't been able to get the Smart Head design to connect to any of my tubes, rendering the pump useless. | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn track pump, Blackburn frame pump,Topeak frame pumps of various designs. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale, Mikado | | Bottom Line: | Its going back next time I get to Toronto. If they can show me how to connect it to a tube, maybe I'll keep it. I hope it is just a defective pump, because it seems to be well constructed, and I have had good luck with other Topeak pumps. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Cowles
a Cross Country Rider
from Granite Bay, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Foresthill Divide Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Nice handle, pumps fast and the SmartHead works for me. | | Weaknesses: | The gauge reads about 10 psi low. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized | | Bike Setup: | Kona Mokomoko | | Bottom Line: | The tires always felt a bit firm after a fill up with my Joe Blow Pro. After putting it on a couple of gauges on my compressor I found out that, sure enough, it was reading about 10 psi low (depending on inflation). I am not sure if I will replace it or just paint marks on the glass for my mountain bike and my hybrid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from London UK
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | www.bromleybike.com | | Strengths: | Awesome. Smarthead design does what it is designed to do. Aluminium casing. Comfy grips. | | Weaknesses: | none as yet | | Similar Products Used: | loads of different mini and frame pumps. | | Bike Setup: | what bike?
| | Bottom Line: | good pump for the money. does what it should do and with ease. will have to see how it holds up over time. I use one of my bikes for commuting and offroading so I am always changing the tyres from slicks to off-roads, so my pumps tend to take a bashing ;-)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from georgia
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | intown bikes | | Strengths: | good feel on pump grips, designed well--nice visible dial | | Weaknesses: | head leaks-but fixed it by cutting out a small plastic circle from a milk jug, i removed the presta side cap, fit in the small plastic circle and using only the shcrader side and using a converter for presta, everything's fine. | | Similar Products Used: | crappy foot pump from auto section at k-mart, i am surprised i didn't twist my ankle with it | | Bike Setup: | blah-blah, presta and schrader bikes | | Bottom Line: | mike at intown bikes would gladly replace or exchange my pump, i am pretty sure-but-i thought about it, the economy is slow right now-so why give mike and his supplier-quality bike parts a hassle. I used to work at k-mart and saw tons of good stuff thrown away, i saw in my mind's eye the joe blow pump sitting in a warehouse waiting to be disposed of....i just couldn't deal with it, and besides mike had said, try it before u buy it. I work at a struggling business right now that might very well close soon, we don't get many returns, but they do happen, and usually we just throw em away (the items).I am not the kinda guy that wants to carry around receipts and gripe and return and exchange things. Inventors and engineers ideas-i am sure-are edited at processing and manufacturing levels, i thin this is why the joe blow head pumphead fails. It's a simple fix, cut out a little plastic circle, insert it under the twisty cap u use the least and viola, an improved, very good pump. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Mntn. Eqpmnt. Co-op | | Strengths: | Solid, nice looking unit, readily visible pressure gauge mounted up high, with rotating bezel indicator ring. Handle lockdown and nozzle holder. Cool name. | | Weaknesses: | The smart head managed to work itself apart while I was endeavoring to fill a presta valve road tire, resulting in an air leak at the head and complete loss of air in the tire. I took it apart and put it back together enough to make it work again but I can never trust it now. Additionally, it requires nothing shorter than a medium length valve stem or it won't attach itself at all. Finally, the handle lockdown broke on one side for no aparent reason. | | Bike Setup: | Tubed and tubeless mntn. bike tires, road bike tires. | | Bottom Line: | The smart head is a nice concept but unless I have to fill the tire on my car, I don't even need a shrader valve adapter and it's the smart head that caused the initial problem. I wanted a durable pump that would stand up to frequent use and last a long time, this isn't it.
I'm going to try the Park PFP-2 if I can find one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate
a Cross Country Rider
from Portola Valley, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Braille Trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Old Model: None
New Model: Metal construction, does not leak air. | | Weaknesses: | Old Model: Cheap flimsy plastic, leaked air, and apparently recalled for safety reasons.
New Model: tears the valve stems off Presta. | | Similar Products Used: | Silca, Blackburn. | | Bike Setup: | 3 bikes - Specialized M2 Comp, Santa Cruz Superlight, and Litespeed Tuscany. | | Bottom Line: | I received the original Joe Blow pump in 2000 as a wedding gift. This is the one that eventually was recalled. It sucked. The damn thing leaked air while you pumped, and was made of plastic which shimmied and shakes when you pumped. Total crap. The recall gave me the opportunity to dust it off and get a new Joe Blow pump from REI last year (REI is awesome, by the way!). The new pump is metal construction (a definite improvement) and does not leak air when pumping, even to road bike pressures (8 bars/120 psi). The problem is the pump nozzle - it supposedly works on Schrader and Presta out of the same single hole. Well, that's B.S. - it tears the valve stems on Presta (which is all I run on my bikes) because it goes on too tight. Total, total crap. I'm done with this, and buying a Silca. I am going to let Topeak know. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area, CA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Braille Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | It does pump some air- but the air leaks out as you pump it | | Weaknesses: | RECALLED FOR PRODUCT SAFETY PROBLEM. Also, would not pump air worth a damn - it began to leak air all while pumping. The gauge bites, too - jumpy due to the air leakage, no doubt. Finally, barrel and base are plastic and flimsy and thus the pump moves around as you pump. | | Similar Products Used: | Silca. | | Bike Setup: | Superlight. | | Bottom Line: | The Joe Blow Comp (black plastic barrel) has been recalled - get a superior replacement (see www.Topeak.com). This product sucked anyway, so I am glad to get an excuse to upgrade.
I NEVER will buy a plastic barrelled floor pump again.
2 chilis, cause maybe my experience was atypical. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
vic sutton
a
from Camberley, UK
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Good pump while it lasted | | Weaknesses: | stopped working ! | | Bottom Line: | While it lasted, good pump. I used it to pump road pressures of 150 psi regularly. Nice gauge; clear, accurate etc. Then for no real reason (can't remember any particular rough handling or incident), the twin-head started to leak air and it has trouble getting 50 psi in any tyre. It does only appear to be the valve assembly as I have removed it and pressure tested the rest of the pump; no other obvious leaks. I did also have to replace the internal O-ring on the sealing plate about 3 months ago, but that was a fairly cheap item fron the LBS. I will probably upgrade the twin-head assembly to the Smarthead to make the pump operational again. Hopefully this will prove to be more robust, i shall let you know ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stefan mayer
a Racer
from tarzana,ca,usa
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Encino Velodrome | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Encino cyclery | | Strengths: | While it lasted, it worked great. Pumped well and quickly. | | Weaknesses: | It tried to kill me! Three months after I got it, I was pumping up my road bike tires, and the guage exploded, straight up, into my left eye. | | Similar Products Used: | Silca track pump | | Bike Setup: | 2 full Record Orbeas, 1 Voodoo Bizango, a few track bikes | | Bottom Line: | I don't think I'll be picking up another one of these any time soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FishTaco
a
from South Salem, NY
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | web retailer | | Strengths: | Reliable; Quick; Tight Seals; Maintenance Free (so far) | | Weaknesses: | too big to put in my Camelbak | | Similar Products Used: | BikeNashbar POS | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth, XTR, blah, blah | | Bottom Line: | This pump has performed flawlessly for me. I use it mostly on my road bike, where the high pressure tires need to be topped off every ride. Pumping both tires to 120psi takes literally 90 seconds. And the guage is even accurate! (tested it against a hand held guage)
the dual head works well, too, when I've had to fill the Schrader valve tires on my kids' bikes.
Five burnin' turds!
p.s. don't try to save money with some generic POS pump - it ain't worth the aggravation. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate SC
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Haven't found it yet | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Oshmans | | Strengths: | Good features including gauge on top of pump, dual valve head. | | Weaknesses: | Does not work. Too much plastic, cheaply made, and the guage turned to be hard to read. | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn Trak Pump Pro | | Bike Setup: | Haro Escape 8.2, Thudbuster | | Bottom Line: | I bought this pump on the recommendation of a knowledgeable sales person, and the price was right. I got it home, and tried to pump up my tires. The valve was hard to secure without leaking, and once that was done, the pump leaked from the top, even at a low pressure. I returned it promptly, and bought a Blackburn, which seems to work well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Longmont, Co
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | Good stable base, large analog guage, hose, Presta/Shrader dual head. | | Weaknesses: | Head-to-valve fit, pump volume. | | Similar Products Used: | Plastic off-brand that died with a leaky fitting. | | Bottom Line: | I like this pump. The high placement of the guage means no stooping over to see some small dial at the foot of the pump. The dual head makes losing the correct fitting history. However I think the head is a little hard to fit onto the valve stem, leading to some air loss while flipping the locking lever. It pumps easily, though not as fast as some double-action pumps. The long hose also means ease of use, without having to always postion the valve first. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darren
a Cross Country Rider
from Overland Park, Ks, USA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | Comfortable, ergo-handle. | | Weaknesses: | Tips over easily by itself when setting on carpet. LEAKS AS FAST AS IT PUMPS! | | Similar Products Used: | a "foot"-style pump my old man picked up from K-Mart back in the day. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale R1000
Specialized Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | This pump sucks. Well, you could say it blows too depending on your meaning. 1st year when I was only riding mt. bikes - no problem upto 45-60psi. After my first year of road biking this thing can't handle the high pressures! You can hear the pump letting the air out almost as fast you put it in! Funny thing is, all the negative reviews state something about the smarthead malfunctioning. I've never had a problem there. The air leaking hiss stops when I press down on the lens of the pressure gauge. What the heck? I am going to try to see if it's fixable but I doubt it. I won't buy this brand again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick Strong
a Weekend Warrior
from New York, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | (When it worked) smooth, relatively fast to get up to desired pressure. If this product had an easy-to-use head and was more reliable, it would be really nice! | | Weaknesses: | Dual head was difficult to seat properly, too wide/bulky to use on smaller wheels (e.g. baby joggers, etc). Started leaking internally after a year of moderate use. | | Similar Products Used: | Cheap no-name steel pump (worked great for 10 years) | | Bike Setup: | Family stable: Wicked Fat Chance, Masi Gran criterium, Cannondale MTB, Specialized HotRock | | Bottom Line: | I was very disappointed with my entire experience with this item. It arrived defective, had to be replaced, was hard to use for almost a year, then died.
To their credit, Topeak is replacing it, and I will post a second review based on the new unit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MIKE
a Cross Country Rider
from RAVENNA,MI
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | North Country | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Achieves high pressures easily, stable | | Weaknesses: | smarthead doesn't always work first time in schrader valves. The pressure gauge graduations aren't easy to interpret as mentioned in other evaluations | | Bike Setup: | 98 Schwinn s-20, cane creek ad-10, titec, panaracer xcpro & much more | | Bottom Line: | A good value for the money I paid for it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Victor Kan
a
from Morrisville, NC USA
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | This is for the Joe Blow Pro.
SmartHead seems like a good idea and might work well.
Very stable base (with the folding down brace), wide foot plates.
Comfortable handle.
| | Weaknesses: | The Smarthead is not durable. The threads on the head (plastic?) wear out quickly (I've used it only like five times) and won't hold the metal retaining ring when the thumblock is engaged anymore, resulting in leaks under any amount of air pressure.
I've submitted a customer service request with Topeak. If they don't respond soon, I'll likely trek back to Performance and return it for a refund.
The gauge is easily visible, but the graduations on it don't make sense. Must be a plot to convert fraction loving Americans to metric.
Far less efficient than the Blackburn TP-3. I don't like the tradeoff between light pressure required when pumping to having to pump twice as much for the same PSI. | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn TP-3
Silca classic | | Bottom Line: | I would buy it again only if they make the Smarthead more reliable.
Good design, poor execution, at least in the pump that I got.
One chili for value since it's a paper weight right after just minimal use.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kriss Anderson
a Racer
from 66 Port O Call Dr. Apt D
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | A-1 Cyclery | | Strengths: | Easy to pump to very high pressures. No problems with guage like other users. | | Weaknesses: | The dual head leaks and can not be repaired. I have replaced it once already, but it began leaking again. I will probably replace the head with a Silca head. Newer models use a different head and probably work better. | | Bottom Line: | There are probably other pumps with simillar prices that function just as well and don't have the problems with the pump head. The newer model may not have this problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Fearing
a Racer
from Caldwell, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Central Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$32.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Sports | | Strengths: | Rugged, easy to use, easy to read guage, many different available adaptors. Can be used outside of my tubes for cycling! | | Weaknesses: | Flimsy plastic hose and pump arm could break. Found it to be a little tougher to pump to 110psi than usual. Resistance at 40psi! | | Similar Products Used: | Mini-Pumps | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y-77 frame, Ultegra STI, Spinergy REV-X | | Bottom Line: | An excellent pump that gets the job done. My fist high quality floor pump that I throughly enjoy. Excellent service from BikeSports and great customer service. I hope this pump can grow old with me!
I feel as though it's the best pump for the buck and essential for home use and shop use. Becareful when adjusting the locking arm on the outlet, could break. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mitch Plout
a Racer
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | great smart head valve, good looking, nice gauge, decent price | | Weaknesses: | mine sprung has sprung a leak at the base twice | | Similar Products Used: | blackburn shop pump, nashbar, silica, and planet bike floor pumps | | Bike Setup: | 2001 fisher supercaliber
2001 Monty x-hydra | | Bottom Line: | nice pump other than the leaks which were warrenteed but there was a very long turn around time at topeak, great valve head!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave buhler
a Cross Country Rider
from palm desert
Date Reviewed: December 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | The easily read analog gauge, the release and the sad fact that with a four month lifespan, it was my longest-lasting pump, are all suggestive. | | Weaknesses: | It died. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Air Force | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose 10.7, D/A cassette, velomax wheelset, Salsa skewers, Koobi ti saddle. | | Bottom Line: | She was a good pump but I thought it would last longer than it did. A trip in the car was enough to jar the head seal loose and that ended the pump's life. I wish her well in pump heaven. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul M
a Weekend Warrior
from Fremont CA USA
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | The pump is well made, comfortable to use, and the pressure gauge is easy to read. The dual presta/schraeder head makes it very convenient for use on both bicycle valve types. | | Weaknesses: | The dual head wouldn't work on my motorcycle's schraeder valves which are all metal and thread for the full length. The pump is not as stable as it could be because of its relatively small base. | | Similar Products Used: | Avenir | | Bike Setup: | 99 Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bottom Line: | A decent pump, works great on bicycles and cars but not all off-road motorcycles. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Earl
a Racer
from Lafayette, CO
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | The ability to do presta and schrader valves easily without any head changes is a plus. The gauge mounted on top for easy reading is great. The handle fits in your handle perfectly. And pumps up a road tire to 110 psi quickly. This floor pump is excellant for both road and MTB bikes; and travels well for races. | | Weaknesses: | None to date. | | Similar Products Used: | Silca track pump for about ten years | | Bike Setup: | Which bike? | | Bottom Line: | I would give this floor pump an five in every category, but engineers always seem to come up with a better design and functionality. I bought because I am not a big fan of Specialized products. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Laura
a Racer
from NC
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Easy to read gauge, reliable, good leverage for high psi | | Weaknesses: | hard to use with Schrader, keep your fingers out of the way when releasing lock lever, can catch your skin -OUCH | | Bike Setup: | road | | Bottom Line: | Great pump, always does the job. And, the body is made of metal so it is also makes a great weapon in a pinch ;). No problems with mine, and I've used in almost daily for over a year.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pops
a Cross Country Rider
from ooltewah, tn
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | nashbar, i think | | Strengths: | great pump! works well for me...good gauge, easy to read.
sorry others had problems. | | Similar Products Used: | blackburn | | Bike Setup: | cannondale caad4 mountain, litespeed classic road | | Bottom Line: | has given good service at $39 (from nashbar i think). i can't imagine one being any better. pumps mtn or road up tight. works ok on my kids' schrader valves, but better on presta. look around...don't pay MSRP! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jer
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Smarthead eliminates playing with valve parts in order to fill presta or schrader tubes. Gauge is at top of pump where you can see it, not at the bottom next to your feet. There's a place to store the pump head so it isn't lying on the floor somewhere. Works well with presta valves. Seems durable enough. | | Weaknesses: | The foot stand isn't very stable if your feet aren't on in. The newer models (2000) have much wider stands. It has some trouble with Schrader valves; tough to insert and remove head. More expensive than most other floor pumps. Moronic name. | | Similar Products Used: | Eons old foot pump | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale R300 | | Bottom Line: | Decent enough floor pump on the high end of the price spectrum. Has some additional conveniences than some other pumps, and inflates tires too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mattman
a Cross Country Rider
from South Salem, NY
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Putnam Park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | 1. high capacity, doesn't leak
2. guage at top of tube, not by your feet
3. twin head handles presta or schrader without having to take anything apart | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Bike Nashbar | | Bike Setup: | Ventana El Fuego, Kestrel 500sci | | Bottom Line: | This pump is easy to use and has given me no trouble for two years. The head slips easily over valves and once the lever is flipped doesn't leak. Fills MTB tires in a snap and gets my road tires to 120psi easily. Great improvement over the Nashbar, and at $30 at REI is a bargain to boot. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brent
a
from Utah
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | looks cool | | Weaknesses: | doesn't work | | Bottom Line: | Bought it last month at REI for $30. Actually used it yesterday and I'm now returning it. Leaks badly somewhere in body. Guage is sporadic. Buy another brand. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad
a Weekend Warrior
from Johnson City
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | White Rock | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Higher guage, Smooth pumping action, very sturdy | | Weaknesses: | that topeak don't make a JOE BLOW frame pump | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Trek 930 w/ rock shox (jett) | | Bottom Line: | if you need a good floor pump that you can rely on , this is your JOE BLOW! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gene
a Weekend Warrior
from Blacksburg, VA
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Nice to have the gauge up high | | Weaknesses: | I returned the pump after using it a couple of times as it started leaking around the gauge when the pressure was above 80 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | It was unacceptable | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Pulau Ubin | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Sturdy construction, clear guage, a nice pump except... | | Weaknesses: | Presure Guage. The first guage blew a leak after 3 months of use and was replace dby local bike shop. Now, 12 mths later, the guage is leaking again but the bike shop will not replace it as its over 12mths old, topeak usa refer me to topeak in Taiwan who will not answer an email. | | Bottom Line: | I thought I'd bought an excellent pump that would last me a lifetime but after 18 months its into the trash. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill
a Cross-Country Rider
from Reston, VA
Date Reviewed: October 6, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Sturdy, good volume, accurate guage, solid base, comfortable handle. | | Weaknesses: |
The Smart Head sort of sucks...I replaced it with a Silca brass head since all my tubes are presta anyway. | | Similar Products Used: |
Avenir, Schwinn, and a variety of others over the years. | | Bike Setup: |
Trek, Miyata, Diamond Back, Raleigh & Klein | | Bottom Line: | it's a little expensive, but worth the price in the long run. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trent
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: August 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
burke-gilman | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Well built
works well for presta | | Weaknesses: |
doesn't work as well for schrader | | Similar Products Used: |
other floor pumps, who keeps track? | | Bottom Line: | Bought the deluxe model with the dual presta/schrader smartlhead for $50 at REI. It works very well on presta valves, but it's a little hard to get off shrader ones. Still works better than a lot of cheaper pumps on schrader. Nice smooth pumping action, sturdy base, top mounted guage, built in nozle holder. If you're willing to spend $50 on a pump, this is nice one to get. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from MA
Date Reviewed: June 26, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Pumps quickly+efficently, comforatble handles, stable base, easy to read guage, works like a charm on presta | | Weaknesses: |
Expen$ive, works poorly with schrader (the fat one) | | Similar Products Used: |
hand pumps, car tire inflators, another cheesy floor pump | | Bike Setup: |
Trek Y-22, small valve | | Bottom Line: | Want a great pum. Get this one. But look for a sale! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross-Country Rider
from Brookfield, WI
Date Reviewed: May 13, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Well built | | Weaknesses: |
Hard to use on Schrader
Gauge markings | | Similar Products Used: |
Zefal | | Bottom Line: | Very well built pump, this is the model with the Smarthead. Works great on Presta but is very hard to get the head off of a Schrader valve. High gauge is nice but increments are in 4PSI and are hard to figure out, it jumps from 20 to 40 PSI. Nice storage for head integrated in pump. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary
a cross-country rider
from Murfreesboro, TN
Date Reviewed: February 15, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Good stuff. No problems in the year I've had it. I figure it's just a pump, but hey, it's a good pump. Doesn't fit a presta very well, though. You'll need an add-on attachment. Other than that, buy it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
P DeSimone
a
from weekend warrior
Date Reviewed: August 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had this pump for almost one season now and it works great. The handle is noticeably cushioned, for those long pumping sesions with a new tuvbe. Thanks to the great output those long sessions are greatly reduced vs. other pumps. This baby pumps quickly. A couple of geat features are: the built in pressure gauge located at the top of the barrel making it easier to read; the double headed valve has been incredibly useful as my bike has presta valves and my wife's bike has schraeder - it really is as simple as they say it is, just flip the thumb lock one way and it's a presta, the other and it's schraeder. It couldn't be simlpler. The long hose makes reaching the vlaves quite easy (but most bike-specific floor pumps have the extra long hose these days). All-in-all a great buy! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a cross-country rider
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: August 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Don't pay retail for ANYTHING!! This sport is expensive enough even at discount prices. Yes, this is a great pump, but you can get it for about thirty-five bucks if you hunt properly. Got mine at REI on a member special, but Performance and Nashbar always seem to have it on sale. Top notch construction, a gauge that works, it's a pump for crying out loud. Save your money for the Ibis Bow-Ti or some elective surgery!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lou
a racer
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: July 13, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Had one for a few months to replace my Legendary Silca. I think people in love with their Silca's have just closed their minds to anything else. Well let me tell you as a 10-year Silca owner, this pump is is head and shoulders above the Silca and easier to use - the guage is the best on the market (you can actually see it) and the dual head is very convenient for using on both my mountain and road bike. The non-tip base is also a step up from the Legend, along with the comfy handles. Just go to you shop and try one, it's worth the money. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dean
a cross-country rider
from Idaho
Date Reviewed: March 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I found that initially the pump works well then the head becomes difficult to use on the valves. Schraeder and presta require a lot of manipulation before it starts to fill properly. Had head replaced once and it too worked well for 8 months then it started to cause trouble again. I also found the head difficult to remove as well.Dean | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: February 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got this pump after too many years of using my mini-pumps for everyday use. It is fantastic! It is well built, stable, has an extra long hose that helps to fill tires when they are in the repair stand, the gauge is accurate and easy to read, and it fills all my tires (road and mountain) fast. The dual head works great and I expect this pump to last for a very long time. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sethor
a racer
from Cleveland, OH
Date Reviewed: November 18, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I race both road and Mt. bikes, and I pay particular attention to my tire pressure. I just got a new Joe Blow pump to replace my crappy Performance pump (the gauge broke after about 3 months - it is locked at about 50 lbs.). I bought it because I have worked in two bike shops, and they both had this pump. It is easy to use. I really like how it has 2 heads on it, so to switch from Presta to Schrader, you just flip a lever. I found that when using the product right out of the box, it required a few uses to break in each head, and get a good fit. However, I really like the pump, and how the gauge is up near the top of the pump (it makes it easier to read, and rotate the bezel). A solid pump. It has a 25 year warranty, and is user serviceable. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Jim
a
from Honolulu,HI
Date Reviewed: September 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a floor pump. The barrel is made of aluminum, and the
base is probaby steel. It has a double head (Schraeder/Presta)
that works well with both types of valves. It has a gauge with
a rotating red mark to indicate the goal pressure. The pump
is very solidly made.I have had this pump for a year, and it has held up well. I had
some slight difficulty with it the first few times using it on
Schraeder valves, but it is fine now. The gauge is easy to read,
the pump easy to operate and very fast to fill both road tires
and mountain bike tires. I find it very convenient because
there is no effort in switching between different valve types -
one merely puts the pump head on the tire valve and rotates a
single lever. It is the best pump I have ever used,
and I have no complaints about it, except that it is expensive.
But you get what you pay for. I bought it from Performance. | | Overall Rating: |
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