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Inflating tires has to be one of those subjects I find particularly annoying. Whether it’s pumping up my tires pre-ride or needing to refill after a puncture, tire pressure maintenance is one of those areas where, if you get it wrong, it could spell disaster for your ride.
Fortunately for me, I rarely get punctures on my fat bike due to the lower tire pressures, but also because I decided to ditch the $5 hand pump and invest in a proper track and trail pump. No more pinch punctures due to laziness.
In this guide, I thought I would share with you my favourite pumps that I found when trying to find the best pumps for fat bikes, to help you find your perfect pump.
Interested? Then read on…
Recommended Pumps
BEST TRAIL PUMP – LEZYNE Micro Floor Drive XL
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = Yes
- Weight = 13oz
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Aluminum
BEST TRACK PUMP – Topeak Joe Blow Sport III High Pressure Floor Pump
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = Yes
- Weight = 4lbs
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Alloy Steel
BEST CO2 PUMP – Beto Mini Bike Pump with CO2 Inflator
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = No
- Weight = 2.82oz
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Aluminum
Different Types of Fat Bike Pumps
So you’re probably thinking “a pump is a pump” right? Well, actually there are different types of bike pumps available, which can all be used in different situations.
Below are the main types of bike pumps that you can buy.
Trail Pumps
Trail pumps, also known as hand pumps, are small, portable pumps that you take out on the trail with you.
These pumps are designed to fit into your backpack or attach to your frame, making them a lot more convenient than bigger pumps.
The main reason for taking a trail pump with you is to inflate your tires in the event that you get a puncture. This is particularly important if you are quite far away from your home/car and get a flat tire.
Another reason that you might want a trial pump, particularly with fat bike tires, is that they are great for providing adjustments to the amount of air in your tires when out on the trail. This can be especially useful when riding a fat bike as you might want to raise or lower the pressure in your tire depending on the surface you are riding on.
If you want a more detailed guide on trail pumps, check out our guide to the best trail pumps for fat bikes.
Track Pumps
Track pumps are large pumps that are designed to quickly inflate your tires to the desired pressure for riding your bike.
Most track pumps look like a large plunger (like you see in the films to blow something up with TNT), which is designed to provide the maximum amount of air per pump. These also come as a foot pump as well, however, there are generally fewer of these.
Due to their size and weight, these pumps are not designed to be carried with you when out riding. These are designed to be used pre-ride to pump your tires up to the right pressure before you set off. For this reason, they are not very useful if you get a puncture when out riding.
If you need to regularly inflate several tires, say for friends and family, a track pump is a good investment as you can do this quickly and effectively.
CO2 Pumps
CO2 pumps are small, handheld pumps that use compressed air to inflate your tires. These are pitched as an alternative to handpumps for use when out riding.
The main advantage of these pumps is that, unlike a handpump, you don’t have to waste energy pumping up your tire. Simply attach the CO2 pump to your valve and the compressed air will blow up the tire. This will save a lot of time when needing to pump up your tire and will save significant time if you have several punctures when out on the trail.
The downside with this sort of pump is that you need to keep purchasing new CO2 canisters, unlike a hand pump. This means that instead of the one-time purchase you get with a normal pump, you will find that you are perpetually buying more CO2 for inflating your tires.
How To Choose A Fat Bike Tire Pump
Pressure Gauge
Fat bike tires are quite different to other bikes when it comes to the amount of pressure you put in them.
With most bikes, the aim is to have a low rolling resistance, so you want to get the maximum pressure into the tire as possible. This helps to make riding fast easier than if there is a lower pressure in the tire.
Fat bikes on the other hand are generally ridden with a lower amount of pressure in the tire. This is because you can typically use a fat bike on a wider variety of terrains, including sand and snow. When riding on these different terrains, you will need to have the tires at the appropriate pressure to make the most of your riding experience.
Riding on firmer surfaces? Add more pressure to your tires to lower your rolling resistance and increase your speed. Riding on sand/snow? Lower your pressure to give you a wider surface area and make it easier to ride on top of the surface.
Having a pump with a pressure gauge is important for your fat bike due to the need to manage your tire pressure. Pumping your tires up without knowing what pressure you have pumped them to could ruin a potentially awesome ride.
Weight
Weight is particularly important when buying a trail or CO2 pump, as you will be carrying it with you when out of your ride.
Whilst most hand pumps are not going to weigh you down when on a ride, for some people, going for the lightest components is important. If you are one of those looking for the lightest ride possible, then you should try and get a light pump, particularly if you are going to be carrying it in a backpack/rucksack when riding, where a heavier pump can become annoying.
Valves
You would be surprised how many friends I know who have bought a pump without checking if it has the right fitting for their tires valves. This is an even worse thing to discover when you are out on the trail.
Depending on the pump you buy, it might be designed for use with both Presta and Schrader valves. If not, check the type you need before you buy the pump.
Material
If you want to invest in a pump for life, then you should try and buy a pump made from high-quality material.
A cheap plastic pump might save you some money upfront, but if you ride regularly and need to adjust your tire pressures a lot, you will probably need to replace it quite soon after buying.
Going for a pump that is predominantly made of more sturdy material, such as metal, will save you money in the long run as it will last longer.
Best Trail Pump For Fat Bikes
LEZYNE Micro Floor Drive XL
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = Yes
- Weight = 13oz
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Aluminum
The LEZYNE Micro Floor Drive XL is a great choice for those looking for a pump designed specifically for a fat bike, that is light enough to take out on the trail with them.
Weighing just 13oz, this lightweight pump has been designed to deliver a large amount of air with each pump of the handle, perfect for fat bikes where you will need a lot of air to get your tire ready for riding again.
With a maximum PSI of 35, this pump is made for low pressures and therefore has the right level of sensitivity on the gauge when trying to get a more specific tire pressure. This is much harder on higher PSI pumps as the gauges are usually harder to read.
In my opinion, this is the best trail pump you can get for your fat tire bike.
LANDX Portable Bike Pump Electric Tire Inflator
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = Yes
- Weight = 30oz
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Aluminum
If you prefer the easy life and don’t want to be wasting valuable energy inflating your tires when out on the trails, the LANDX Portable Bike Pump might just be what you’re after.
This is an electric pump, meaning that you don’t have to do any of the hard work. Simply attach the pump, set the desired pressure and away it goes. No hard work for you!
This pump is a little heavier than most at 30oz (1.9lbs), however, it still isn’t that much of a burden to lug around on the trail.
The downside? With this being electric and there being no alternative if the battery run out, you need to keep it charged. Otherwise, you might be stuck with a flat tire and have no way to inflate it!
PULIVIA Bike Pump with Digital Pressure Gauge
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = Yes
- Weight = 4.2oz
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Aluminum
The Pulvia Bike Pump is another great choice for those who want a trail pump that can help them out in case of a puncture.
This small, frame-mounted bike pump comes with a digital pressure gauge, meaning you get a more accurate measurement of the pressure in your tire than with analogue gauges.
Unlike an electric pump, you still need to pump the tire up yourself. However, this can be seen as a positive as it means that if the battery does run out, you still can inflate your tire, you just won’t be able to check exactly how inflated it is!
Best Track Pump For Fat Bikes
Topeak Joe Blow Sport III High Pressure Floor Pump
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = Yes
- Weight = 4lbs
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Alloy Steel
If you want a strong and durable track pump, the Topeak Joe Blow III would be a great choice.
This steel track pump has been engineered to deliver lots of air for every push of the handle, meaning you can inflate your fat tires quickly and with a lot less effort than with another pump (particularly trail pumps).
It can be used with both Presta and Schrader valves and comes with a pressure gauge to help you get your tire pressure right before you ride.
A good pump to take in your car and get your tires right before you ride.
LEZYNE Steel Floor Drive Bicycle Tire Floor Pump
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = Yes
- Weight = 3.3lbs
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Alloy Steel
Another great track pump for inflating your tire pre-ride is the Lezyne Steel Floor Drive.
Suitable for use with both Presta and Schrader valves, this pump is great for getting your tires up to pressure before you hit the trails. This process is even easier due to the high amount of air created with each pump of the handle.
The pressure gauge will also help you ensure you get the right amount of air depending on the pressure you want in your tires.
Schwinn Air Center Plus Floor Bike Pump
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = Yes
- Weight = 2.5lbs
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Alloy Steel
The Schwinn Air Center Plus Floor Bike Pump is another great track pump for inflating your tires before you ride.
Made of alloy steel and weighing just 2.5lbs, this pump is durable and lighter than other track pumps available.
This pump can be used with both Presta and Schrader valves, so you should be able to help your buddies out with their tires as well!
Best CO2 Pump For Fat Bikes
Beto Mini Bike Pump with CO2 Inflator
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = No
- Weight = 2.82oz
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Aluminum
If you’re looking for a small, lightweight pump that will get you quickly back on your fat bike, the Beto Mini Bike Pump is the perfect pump for you.
Weighing just 2.8oz, this pumps is super light and fits snuggly to your bike frame.
The real USP of this pump is that it can be used as both a hand pump and a CO2 pump. Perfect for if you run out of CO2 when trying to inflate your tire and need to add a further blast of air to get you up to full inflation.
There is no pressure gauge with this pump, which will make it hard to get the perfect tire pressure, however, if you just need to inflate quickly to get you back home/to your car, then this could be the perfect pump for you.
PRO BIKE TOOL CO2 Inflator
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = No
- Weight = 2.15oz
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Aluminum
For this looking for a small pump that can get them out of a pickle on a ride, the Pro Bike Tool CO2 Inflator is a great choice.
This CO2 Inflator will give both Presta and Schrader tires a quick blast of air, inflating them very quickly so you can get back out and ride.
It is also very light, so you will barely notice that you have it.
The downsides of this pump are that it only uses 16g cartridges, so make sure you only get these. There is also no pressure gauge, which means you will have to go by feeling alone when it comes to getting the pressure in your tires correct.
Ezi Bike Pump
Key Features:
- Pressure Gauge = No
- Weight = 5.12oz
- Valve Type = Presta and Schrader
- Material = Aluminum
Another good choice of CO2 pump is the EZI Bike Pump.
This pump, which can be used with Presta and Schrader valves is a good way to quickly inflate your tires after a puncture.
Weighing just 5.12oz and at just 5.7 inches long, this is a pump you will barely notice and can just put it in your pocket.
Again, you will need to get 16g cartridges to work in this pump, with this pump taking both threaded and unthreaded cartridges.
Summary
So there you go. I hope you found this guide useful and now know which fat bike pump you are going to buy. As I already had a decent track pump, I decided to invest in the LEZYNE Micro Floor Drive XL as it is perfect for use with fat bikes and has helped me to really dial in the tire pressures on my fat bike tires.
Andy is an avid cyclist who enjoys nothing more than a ride out in the hills. Competing in track, road, time trial and mountain bike events in the past, he prefers slower rides out with his family these days.
