As a follow up to our story earlier this year on the Best Tubeless Sealant for Gravel, I was recently inspired by a failing floor pump to bring the Gravel Gear Survey back for round 2. In this survey we asked our followers on the Gravelstoke IG page to let us know their Favorite Floor Pump and the responses came in with lots of great suggestions. After roughly 24 hours we counted the comments and analyzed the results. But before we get into our crowdsourced outcome and share what we learned on the best floor pumps available today, let’s discuss some of the basics on what might make a great floor pump for gravel bikes.

A bicycle floor pump, also known as a track pump, typically consists of a tall cylinder that houses a piston, a handle at the top for pushing the piston up and down, and a base at the bottom to keep the pump stable while in use. There is a hose attached to the pump with a chuck at the end that can be attached to a bicycle tire valve. There are 3 key elements that you will want to pay close attention to when choosing a floor pump for gravel applications:

• CHUCK The pump head, or chuck, can typically attach to either Presta or Schrader valves, but some may be specific for one valve type. Gravel bikes will almost exclusively use Presta valves, so opting for a Presta-specific chuck can be a nice option unless you need to regularly inflate balls or your kid’s bike. Some pumps come with a dual head that can fit both types of valves, but these chucks can be more complicated to service and are often made with more parts for the dual functionality.

• GUAGE Most floor pumps have a pressure gauge, either analog or digital. Digital can be useful if you require very repeatable and accurate tire pressures, but they will require batteries. Analog gauges are good for most people and they almost never fail. Look for a pump with a clear, easy-to-read pressure gauge for pressures around 20-50 psi.

• BARREL Opt for a road or gravel-specific pump that has a barrel designed for mid-volume tires. Gravel floor pumps will come with a larger barrel diameter that allow you to move more air per pump stroke, which is nice for quickly inflating larger-volume gravel tires.

Another Clear Favorite

Back to our survey, I wasn’t sure what to expect as there are a lot of reputable brands making floor pumps today. Nevertheless, there was a clear favorite in the Gravelstoke community, and that is Silca. The brand that happens to make a $500 floor pump, Silca attracted nearly 45% of the total votes. Here are the full results from our survey, with the graph showing each Floor Pump brand mentioned and the percentage of votes cast for each.

Best Floor Pumps For Gravel

Looking through the comments there were a few models that came up multiple times by our readers. After some additional research and considering reliability, serviceability, and value, our top floor pumps for 2024 are the following:

1. Silca Terra - The Terra was mentioned more than any other floor pump available today. And while the Terra is Silca’s cheapest floor pump, it doesn’t compromise on quality. The Terra features a two-stage gauge for readings between 0-30 and 30-110, an aluminum barrel, wooden handle, and locking aluminum Presta/Schrader chuck with bleed button. check price

2. Topeak Joe Blow - Coming in second place in the survey was Topeak. I still have fond memories of my Joe Blow that I purchased in 2010. It was cheap and it did exactly what I needed it to. After about 10 years it required a new pump head and I gave it away. There are several Joe Blow models, but the Sport III is our pick for overall value and function. It does contain more steel and plastic than our top choice, but you can’t do much better for a solid floor pump under $100. check price

3. Lezyne Gravel Digital Drive Pro - For those who prefer the latest in gravel-specific technology, our recommendation is the Gravel Digital Drive Pro that’s priced in between the Terra & JB. Designed specifically for gravel bikes and other mid-volume tires, the Gravel Digital Drive Pro is designed for quick and accurate inflation of tires 32c and up. The digital gauge looks great and is easy-to-read, offering +/- 0.5 PSI accuracy. Similar to the Terra, this premium pump is machined from aluminum and comes with a wood handle. check price

And perhaps the most important part… we promised that a comment on the IG post would count as an entry to win a free collection of Gravelstoke stickers. And the winner is Jorge González from San Pedro, CA! Jorge, send us an email or DM to claim your prize.

Survey and Results by Dave Malwitz

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