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Topeak
Einstein mini pump
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Submitted by
Alex Karacsonyi
a Cross Country Rider
from North Haven, CT
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Tyler Mill | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | L.L. Bean | | Strengths: | Best pump, lasted about 8 years. | | Weaknesses: | Finally has worn out. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Super Light | | Bottom Line: | I told Topeak the pump was getting weak. They told me they were no longer making it and couldn't get me parts. So they sent me a brand new Harpoon, no questions asked! Great company that stands behind their name and product. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Salvador Salcido
a Weekend Warrior
from Fresno, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | pavement | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | too long ago to remember | | Strengths: | It removes the tire with incorporated removal tool, it patches it with contained patches and it telescopes to inflate the tube fast. | | Weaknesses: | Part of the tire removal tool broke off- making it impossible to use (I don't know if this is really a weakness after over 4 years of road AND home use.) | | Similar Products Used: | Zefal, Blackburn | | Bike Setup: | Merlin Road (that's right, road) C- Record, Chris King and a bunch of other cool stuff. | | Bottom Line: | Kicks Ass! After several years of household and emergency use, my Einstein finally leaked more than it pumped. Anyone who has pneumatic tires should consider this pump (if they can find it). You don't even need to carry a saddle bag 'cause everything you need to fix a flat is contained within the pump - what's not to like? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mikey Likes It
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Dinosaur Ridge, White Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | It Blows Air. It Removes Tires. It Carries Patches. It has Telescoping Action. It Still Works after being on a frame-mount for 3 years. | | Weaknesses: | Weight? Get a life, pedal harder you wimps. | | Similar Products Used: | Ahhhh.. Hard to remember using another pump.. is there really another pump out there? | | Bike Setup: | Klein. Expensive. Dangerous. Beautiful. Built in Ejection Seat action at no extra cost... | | Bottom Line: | Still works. Have used it endlessly for 3 years, and it still works. It sill works damgummit. It still works. It has been through the clay of riverbeds, to the top of 11,000 foot trails, down to the purgatory river, and all over Colorado.
Fixed numerous flats. Have exhausted supplies from probably 10 to 15 patch kits.
Finally took this thing apart and cleaned out the air valve. My god, it was so simple to clean. It now looks new in there.
I cannot say how anybody could make a better pump. I started thinking about it, and went on this stupid search for some new super gadget, maybe with a built in gauge, etc. What a waste of time.
There is nothing better. You don't need to be an Einstein to figure that out. Just get one. Do they even make them anymore?
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GS
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago IL
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Palos, Kettle Moraine | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$21.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Patches in compartment, tire removal system, and the ability to switch from volume to high pressure inflation | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found one yet | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn Mountain Air | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Giant xtc se2 | | Bottom Line: | Great pump! I usually carry a couple of CO2's and a pump as a backup. Will get the new tube started with the pump, get it on the bike, shoot a CO2 into it, and finish with a pump if I need more in the tire. I suppose if you were going to frame mount this, it ought to have some type of cover over the valve, but since I throw it in my Camelback, it doesn't make any difference to me. Buy it....it's worth it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pablo
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Flat Pass | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Full Cycle, Boulder | | Strengths: | Compact, very versatile, tire lever included, smart head, solid construction, nice appearance, patch kit in handle | | Weaknesses: | does not stay closed, so I have to mount it upside down...the rubber strap on the frame mount has stretched and now is almost ineffective | | Similar Products Used: | Something by wrench force | | Bike Setup: | '01 Fisher Marlin, Psylo SL, all XT, Panny Fire XCs, stock Bonti stuff | | Bottom Line: | This is a very good pump. Not too many people have shown me their pumps and impressed me since I bought this one. It was not cheap at $40, but it's well worth the price. I don't even worry about getting stuck with this baby on my frame. The only downside is now that the strap has stretched, I'm afraid I'll lose it. I don't want to hide it in my Camelbak though...it looks too sweet. 5 chilied flamers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james
a Weekend Warrior
from edinburgh
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | edinburgh bike co-op | | Strengths: | Small, light, Brilliant snap-to-axel rotary tyre lever malarkey. | | Weaknesses: | Spare patches can be stored in cap -bloody difficult to get off (especially with cold hands). If you mount the pump on your bike the crud gets in -result: Tyre-patch soup! i.e. wrecked patches. | | Bike Setup: | Claude Butler Alu frame, Hope Closed 2 front, Shimano Xt discs rear, Suntour MG90 forks. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent wee pump if you don't mount it on your frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Gilbert, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mtn Pass | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | A-1 Bike Center | | Strengths: | Compact, light, low & high pressure capabilities, built in tire lever, and seals well to presta valve. | | Weaknesses: | Pain in the a** to use with a schrader valve. And has recently become very difficult to switch from high pres. to low pres. | | Bike Setup: | 99 GT Ricochet with a few upgrades | | Bottom Line: | Light and compact but forget helping someone with schrader valves. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
næstep
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay Area, California
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Adjustable to high pressure pumping.
Axel centered tire lever design a la Cook Brothers lever.
Hidden tire patch compartment in handle.
Dual use schraeder/presta head (no disassembly req'd).
| | Weaknesses: | No pump 'T' handle.
Patch compartment difficult to open.
Patchs don't fit flat in compartment, come out "tacoed". | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn MP1/MP3
Zefal Mountain Pump | | Bottom Line: | I didn't really need this pump, as my Blackburn was more compact and had a nice handle, and Blackburn's customer service can't be beat, but I digress...
The Einstein has too many goodies to pass up for the price. The lack of a 'T' handle is inconvient, but so is a flat tire. In return, I got rid of 2 tire levers and a small nylon tool pouch that otherwise held my patches and multi-tool. Even trade? Hmmm... maybe.
It gets the tires up to pressure easily. The Schreaeder/Presta head works as advertised. So does the tire lever funtion. It fits in my Camelbak pump compartment. What more can I ask?
Loose one chili for lack of a 'T' handle and overall girth.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Lombardi
a Weekend Warrior
from Wilton, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Cranbury Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$13.00 | | Purchased At: | Altrec.com | | Strengths: | Small, light, looks cool, fits with same bolts as botter holder. | | Weaknesses: | Doesnt come with longer bolts to mount with bottle holder (big deal!) A bit hard to get off the valve when your done using it.. but since it worked for me and got air in my tire, I didnt care. | | Bike Setup: | '98 Stumpjumper M2 | | Bottom Line: | Came in handy already, dont even notice its there... Maybe i'll paint it light blue and make people think its Nitrous-Oxide or something. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from British Columbia, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | -Light
-Good Lookin'
-Effective
-Smart Design (tire removal system, and smart head) | | Weaknesses: | -no cap to keep mud out of opening | | Bottom Line: | This is a great pump and I recommend it to anyone. It has saved me more than once. Gotta love those patches!! But it needs a cap to keep mud out of the valve opening. Other than that, it's all good!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marko
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | solid, pumps both road and mtb tires fast, little top cap holds patches. | | Weaknesses: | the handle seems a little flimsy... though in fairness it hasn't broken and i don't really expect it to. | | Similar Products Used: | some wrench force mini (good, but i lost it) and a specialized pump which broke after 3 days, got replaced and was never that good. i lost that too. | | Bike Setup: | 1994 kona explosif, singleator 2001, 1997 bomber z2, tires are either continental grand prix atb (commuting) or bontrager jones (weekend off road). i change my chainring to suit the ride. wheels are mavic 517's on XT(front) and DX(rear). | | Bottom Line: | i commute every day a good pump is a kinda vital security blanket for me. this is a good pump. i bought it without checking the reviews, and was kinda surprised by how low a rating it had... the locking lever is solid and easy to use, the pump inflates tires fast and having those glueless patches hidden in the pump has saved me. just once, mind, but that was enough. top quality mini pump. if you're in a store, use their floor pump, otherwise, you'll be happy you have this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Weber
a Cross Country Rider
from Northern Virginia, USA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Fountainhead | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great Construction, "Smart Head", Save your ass Patch Kit | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Mini Pump(SUCKS A BIG ONE), Zefal frame Pump, Various Floor Pumps | | Bike Setup: | 99 Gt Backwoods Frame with M636 caged pedals, Rockshoxs indy c, STX shifters | | Bottom Line: | Good stuff for the price. The pump is worth the price. Get It because it can save your ride if you get a flat. Also it does presta and shrader valves, so you can help out a buddy on the trail. Also this pump does high and low pressure very well, Compared to the other pumps I have used this is the best one I have used yet and I hope Topeak comes out with an even better one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicagoland
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | First of all, if the cap to the patch compartment came of more easily, I'm thinking there's a good chance the cap AND the patch kit would be gone when I needed it (i.e. it would fall off on the trail). I don't like mounting stuff on my bike so like everything alse I lug around the pump resides in my Blowfish on my back, therefore no comment on the frame mount, although it seemed a little loose. I have used it without difficulty on both presta and schraeder valves, and the tire levers combined with the axel clip is pretty efficient. Doesn't seem heavy considering what it can do and how well it has performed for me so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wade
a Cross Country Rider
from Virginia, US
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | compact, telescoping barrel. high pressure and low pressure capabilities. | | Weaknesses: | smarthead. the smarthead doesn't work too well with the schraeder valve, you really have to jam the valve in there. but it works great with presta. | | Similar Products Used: | blackburn mmp-2 mammoth
performance brand hp pump
wrench force, advent | | Bike Setup: | crmo frame, manitou pro, lx rd, xt brakes, time atac alium | | Bottom Line: | the einstein is alright, but i think they tried to put too much stuff into one item. the bracket didnt' fit the threading on my bike frame, i have one wheel that is presta and one that is schraeder, but the pump only really worked for the presta. so in a jam, i would not be a happy biker. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cam
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | sturdy construction
aids tire removal and seating.
patch kit | | Weaknesses: | heavy? oh please...like you'll notice. | | Bottom Line: | This pump rocks.
It's very well thought out top to bottom and is a god send with flats.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Quick tire removal
Solid
Smart Head | | Weaknesses: | Can pinch your hand if your not careful | | Similar Products Used: | Trek mini pump | | Bike Setup: | Trek 930 Shox
Sampson Pro Road Z7 | | Bottom Line: | Easy to use with solid construction. I also thought the cap was hard to get off for the patches. I found the Magic Lever tire removal system quick and easy to use. It would be better with their T handle design. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Glenn
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: February 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | It actually pumps air!!
solid construction
versatile head(presta or schraeder,no switching neccessary) | | Weaknesses: | a tad heavy, but I can live with it(pedal harder)
| | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale MG-302 | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale FS | | Bottom Line: | OK, I dont know why this pump got a low score, because it works incredibly well compared to what I had before (n.b. avoid the MG-302 at ALL costs!!spend the money on this pump)
As for the patch compartment, it is EASY to get off, if you bothered to read the instructions (trust me, it is in the instruction book)also, if the pump "slides" apart on you, you have not locked it together (give knurled ring a half twist to close)bottom line, it may be heavy, but the trail 30 miles from nowhere is the last place you need to find out that the pump you bought instead of this one does not work. Get this pump, worth every cent for the features and solid construction. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gabe
a Cross Country Rider
from state college, pa
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | cool-looking
patch compartment
not too slow | | Weaknesses: | hard to get at patches
heavy
wont stay closed | | Similar Products Used: | schwinn cyclone | | Bottom Line: | this is a pretty good pump. its easy to figure out how to get at the patches, but pulling the cap off might take over a minute. it is heavier than most pumps, but certainly not as heavy as it looks. it looks very good, with a lot a rubber and less plastic. the mount is good, its more flexible than my cyclone's with cracked, so it hasnt broken yet. the biggest problem is that there is no mechanism that keeps the telescoping pump in a closed position, so you have to mount it in a way that one end is against a tube. the pump is very easy to use, and took my much less time to inflate to 50 psi than with my schwinn cyclone | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ronald Tanikawa
a cross-country rider
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: November 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
advantages: automatically select presta or schrader, sleek aluminum bod
y, easy tire insertion lever.
disadvantages: heavy, difficult to use tire removal lever, short 7.5
inch pump travel (telescoping), difficult to use pump bracket, directions did
not indicate how to get to glueless patches.
I did not like the quick tire removal feature because the metal pump hea
d cover would scrape against my rim when used.
My pump bracket came with 2 rubber straps, one of which appeared to have
only 1 of 2 points useable to hook onto the pump bracket.
On the handle of the pump is a cover for the glueless patches. There ap
pears an arrow that indicates to me to push up to get to the glueless patches.
However, I discovered by accident that you must press on the sides of
this cap to get to the gluesless patches. There were no directions
for how to open the cap. If you needed those patches in an emergency,
it may be frustrating to get at them, unless you knew how to open the ca
p.
This is by no means a rampage against Topeak, because I like
the Joe Blow floor pump because it's lightweight, has an easy to read ga
uge, and easy to use dual valve pump head. But I own a Zefal Switch mini
pump, and it is lighter, has about 3 inches more of telescoping travel,
and is cheaper. | | Overall Rating: |
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