Park Tool Home Mechanic Floor Pump PFP-8

Park Tool's distinctive blue products are a common sight in bike shops and home workshops around the world, and this Home Mechanic Floor Pump PFP-8 is an affordable and easy to use option. It's not the sturdiest pump in the world, but the large base means you can stick your foot on it for stability, and it works reliably.

• Pros: Easy to use, big dial, chuck, light, price
• Cons: Not the sturdiest build

First things first, it's an easy pump to use. The chuck, the part you attach to the inner tube valve, accommodates both Schrader and Presta valves with separate holes. Simply push the head onto the valve, flip the lever and you're good to go. It's that simple.

During use, the head stays firmly locked onto the valve – I had no issues with it falling off or working loose. Beware, though, the lever can flick closed rather quickly. You learn that lesson pretty damn quick!

> Find your nearest dealer here

At the base is a huge high-contrast analogue dial that makes viewing the pressure very easy, with psi and bar readings displayed in generously sized digits. It 'only' goes up to 160psi but that's enough for most applications; only trackies will want to go higher than that.

The pump is built around a steel barrel and base with a plastic handle. It is lightweight and as such is easy to move about, making it a good candidate if you do a lot of travelling to events and want to stick a pump in the boot of the car.

The wide base provides plenty of real estate for using your foot/feet to keep it planted while you're pushing and pulling the plastic handle. That's a good thing, it not being as sturdy as some heavier and admittedly pricier pumps.

It's clearly designed for occasional rather than regular or even daily use, where the higher quality materials and extra heft of workshop quality pumps provide a much more solid feeling.

> Buyer's Guide: 12 of the best track pumps

It is very easy to get a tyre inflated. I counted 17 strokes from flat to 80psi, and the effort level was minimum, with the last stroke no harder than the first. It proved to be accurate when compared to other pumps and my trusty digital gauge – I inflate my tyres on a regular basis and I'm fussy about pressure accuracy. I had no issues on this front with the Park Tool as a daily pump.

> How to choose your tyre pressure for speed, grip and comfort

In terms of value, it's quite a cheap pump and compares well with others. The Zefal Profil Max FP60, which got a very glowing review, is £39.99, or there's the Lezyne Sport Floor Drive ABS2 pump which looks even more nicely made and even features a wooden handle, but that's £45.

Verdict

Easy to use and light enough to take to events, a good choice for daily or occasional use