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review
£44.99
VERDICT:
Quick inflation for a range of tyre sizes; does the job, though pump action isn't as refined as some
Weight:
1,630g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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The Bontrager Dual Charger Floor Pump offers both high volume inflation and high pressure, all at the flick of a switch. It gets your tyres, whatever their size, pumped up quickly, but it does feel a little bit flimsy in use.
- Pros: Quick inflation for tyres wide and skinny
- Cons: Vague feeling to the handle operation
If you have a fleet of bikes with different tyre sizes, a dual floor pump like the Bontrager certainly makes life easier.
> Find your nearest dealer here
At the flick of a switch you can swap between high pressure and high volume pumping. For larger volume tyres like those found on a mountain bike or a gravel/adventure bike, all you'll need is the high volume setting.
Getting a 38mm (700C) gravel tyre up to 50psi took 13 strokes in high volume mode, and I could even get a 25mm road tyre up to 80psi in the same number of strokes.
The massive 4in dial gauge face is colour coded and the sweetspot for switching over to high pressure is around 70psi, which is where it starts to get hard to push the handle down. I managed the 80psi above without switching, but the more I used it I learnt that it's more efficient to do it at a lower pressure.
Taking the 25mm tyre up to 100psi took another nine strokes after switching to high pressure mode via the toggle switch on the base, bringing it up to 22 in total.
Compare this with using the high pressure mode on the same tyre from flat and it'd take 34 strokes to 80psi and 43 to 100psi. Quite a difference.
> How to choose your tyre pressure
Because of the large dial, the base of the Bontrager has three feet which makes for a very secure stance, and they are covered in sandpaper for your feet to grip to.
At the end of the hose is a smart head connection which accepts both Presta and Schrader valves without having to change anything. Just like the Giant Control Tower 0 I was also testing alongside it, the head doesn't feel the most secure on the valve but it doesn't leak and stays attached throughout when pumping a tyre up from flat right up to 100psi.
The only thing I would criticise about the Bontrager is the feel of the actual pumping action. The handle feels almost loose and a bit flimsy; it isn't – I can't pull it apart or anything – it just feels a bit vague to me, for what is otherwise a very good pump.
> Buyer's Guide: 11 of the best track pumps
When it comes to the money, the Bontrager's RRP of £49.99 looks a little pricey against some. Our sister site off-road.cc has just tested the Crankbrothers Gem Floor Pump which has twin modes and Rachael rated it highly. It comes in at £40, so a bit of competition for the Bontrager.
Overall, the Bontrager performs well, although the sloppy feel to the pumping action takes the shine off of a 50 quid pump for me.
Verdict
Quick inflation for a range of tyre sizes; does the job, though pump action isn't as refined as some
road.cc test report
Make and model: Bontrager Dual Charger Floor Pump
Size tested: One
Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
It's ideal for those riders who have many different tyre types in their collection.
Bontrager says, "The Dual Charger Pump is versatile floor pump with multiple pressure settings that let you easily inflate high-pressure road tires and larger volume hybrid and MTB tires. A quick flip of the switch moves between settings, making it perfect for riders who own both a road and mountain bike."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Bontrager lists these features:
Steel construction and replaceable internals provide long-term durability
Auto-select head instantly fits both Presta and Schrader valves
Large, stable base minimizes tipping
Easy to read 4in base-mounted gauge
Base-mounted switch allows for easy transition between high volume and high pressure settings
High volume setting allows for quick inflation
High pressure setting allows for easy inflation as PSI increases
Max pressure 160 psi (11bar)
Rate the product for quality of construction:
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
4/10
The handle is hard, with little grooves underneath to dig into your fingers.
Rate the product for value:
6/10
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
For getting the air in it can't really be faulted.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Minimal strokes needed.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The feeling of the pump action.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
The likes of the Crankbrothers mentioned in the review is a fair bit cheaper.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, it cuts down on your pumping time.
Would you consider buying the product? Possibly
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
Really good in many ways, but there are more refined feeling pumps out there – if that is important to you.
About the tester
Age: 40
I usually ride: This month's test bike My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed
Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.
With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.
He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.
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