It takes a brave mountain biker to venture out without the means to fix a puncture. And that means carrying some form of mini-pump. But the difference between the best and the worst, in terms of durability and volume of air shifted, can be vast, which is where we come in. We’ve tried and tested a whole load of portable pumps to ensure you don’t end up with one that sucks.

And if you need something for home use, don’t forget to check out our alternative guide if you’re looking for the best tubeless inflator pumps for home use.

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Best MTB mini-pumps – quick list

• Best overall mini-pump – Topeak Mountain TT G
• Best ultra-compact mini-pump – Crankbrothers Gem Short

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1. Topeak Mountain TT G

Best mini-pump for high-speed inflation

Weight: 230g | Strokes: 50-4psi, 100-13psi, 200-27psi | Length: 25cm | Contact: extrauk.co.uk | Rating: 10/10

Reasons to buy:

• Powerful and efficient
• Comfortable to use

Reasons to avoid:

• Expensive
• Gauge is not that accurate
• Chunky

Fat like a salami sausage, the Topeak Mountain TT G is a monster among mini-pumps. But it backs up that size with a powerful action. With a huge volume and a two-way action, that pumps air on both the pull and push stroke, it gets you back up and running in double quick time. 200 strokes gave us 27psi in our 29×2.4in test tyre, which is superb.

Comfort is excellent, the thumb lock keeps it from slipping off the valve, and there’s a bracket to attach to your frame included. Our only gripe is that the gauge isn’t especially accurate, but it’s a good guide once you’ve calibrated it against a standalone pressure gauge. As we explained in our review, ‘if we were standing by the side of the trail in the rain with a double flat, this is the pump we’d want in our pack’.

Read our full review of the Topeak Mountain TT G pump

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2. OneUP EDC pump

Best compact pump with tool storage

Weight: 140g | Volume: 70cc (tested) and 100cc volume | Strokes: 100 – 12.8psi | Contact: oneupcomponents.com | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Inflates super-fast
• Clever do-it-all solution
• Excellent build quality

Reasons to avoid:

• Heavy once EDC tool is inside
• Can get a bit muddy behind the front wheel without a big mud guard
• Expensive

Available in two sizes (100cc and 70cc) the OneUp EDC pump also boasts internal storage. It will accept OneUp’s custom EDC V2 tool, complete with multi-tool, tyre levers, and chainbreaker. But you do need to buy this separately (£69.99). Of course, you can just use the pump on its own, and it comes with a frame mount, integrated CO2 chuck, and plug for the pump storage.

We love the construction, with the CNC machined texture adds grip, while the anodised shaft feels smooth as silk when pumping. It shifts plenty of air too; even the smaller option achieved just under 13psi in 100 strokes. That’s almost up there with the Topeak Mountain TT.

Read the full review on the OneUp EDC Pump

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3. Lezyne Grip Drive HV

Best mini-pump with hose attachment

Weight: 125g | Strokes: 50-3.5psi, 100-11psi, 200-25psi | Length: 23cm | Contact: upgradebikes.co.uk | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Well made
• Grippy handle
• Gets up to pressure quickly

Reasons to avoid:

• Handle is a bit short
• Hose can leak air during installation/removal from valve

With a high-quality alloy build and knurled handle the Lezyne Grip Drive HV is a pleasing product to handle and feels like it will last a lifetime. HV stands for High Volume, so it shifts a lot of air with each stroke – perfect for mountain bikes. 200 strokes gave us 25psi on our test tyre, which is about where we’d want it for most riding. The slippery shaft also made light work of getting to this pressure – even the last few strokes were fairly easy.

To inflate the tyre you attach a short hose (stored in the barrel) to the valve. This has a Schrader fitting on one end and Presta on the other. We’ve mixed feelings on the hose connection; while it can put less stress on the valve, to install it you have to wind the whole pump on and it’s easy to let air escape during this process. If you’re a fan of hose pumps, the Lezyne Grip Drive is top quality and highly effective.

Read our full review of the Leyne Grip Drive HV

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4. Crankbrothers Gem Short

Best ultra compact mini-pump

Weight: 136g | Strokes: 50-2psi, 100-10psi, 200-20psi | Length: 18cm  | Contact: extrauk.co.uk | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Compact and easy to carry
• Powerful for its size
• Good value

Reasons to avoid:

• Not much to hold when pumping

The Gem pump from Crankbrothers comes in two lengths, and this is the shorter model at just under 18cm. To make up for its dimensions, it boasts a dual-piston that works in both directions and also the company’s Air Switch feature, that allows you to toggle between high volume or high pressure using a dial on the end of the barrel.

Using the high volume mode we quickly got to 15psi, at which point we needed to switch to the high pressure setting – while this pushes less air into the tyre, it takes less effort. To hold the pump on the tyre there’s a thumb lock, and this is useful because there’s not much to grip at the pump head itself. If space is at a premium, but you don’t want to compromise on pumping power, the Crankbrothers Gem Short is an excellent choice and great value.

Read our full review of the Crankbrothers Gem Short

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5. Truflo Mini/Shock Pump

Best dual-purpose shock pump and tyre pump

Weight: 176g | Contact: freewheel.co.uk | Rating: 8/10

Reasons to buy:

• Presta adapter means this pump works on tyres and suspension
• high pressure and high volume modes
• neat, compact design

Reasons to avoid:

• Not comfortable to use
• Hose a little short

If you’re looking for one pump to fulfil two functions, then the Truflo mini/shock pump is just the ticket. It’s named the Mini/Shock because it can be used both to inflate tyres and to add pressure to a shock. So if you’re looking to lower the amount of kit you carry when you ride, this is certainly a pump to consider.

There are two modes; high-pressure and high-volume, which can be switched between using a dial on the handle. High-pressure deals with forks and shocks, while high-volume is for inflating tyres.

Because it’s still quite compact, we found that it does take a while to inflate a tyre but is great for suspension set-up since you can use the high-volume setting to initially boost a load of air into your fork, then the high-pressure setting to fine-tune it. We managed to get about 70psi in 20 strokes in a fork. However, the pump isn’t very comfortable to use since you have to grip the gauge, and the handle has quite a blunt shape.

Read our full test review of the Truflo Mini/Shock suspension pump

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6. Zefal Mt Mini Pump

Fastest mini-pump

Weight: 210g | Strokes: 100 – 19.9psi | Length: 23cm | Contact: zefal.com| Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Big volume means fewer strokes needed to get up to pressure
• Sturdy construction
• Hidden hose reduces strain on valve

Reasons to avoid:

•  Hard to pump at higher pressures
• Not the grippiest handle
• No dust cap
• Bulky

The Zefal MT Mini shifts a lot of air, and is the fastest pump when it comes to inflating a completely flat tyre in the wild. 100 strokes got our 29×2.5in Maxxis tyre up to 19.9psi, which was certainly enough to limp home on. Another few strokes and we were at operating pressures. But, the large volume means that the last ten strokes took a lot of effort, so you’ll need strong arms. Overall, a well-made and effective mini-pump from a well-respected brand.

Read our full test review of the Zefal MT Mini pump

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Also worth considering

Some of the pumps that we’ve reviewed, but just missed out a mention in this buyer’s guide, include the Crankbrothers Klic HV Mini Pump. It’s a trendy design, with magnetic hose connection and fold-out handle and foot stirrup to turn it into a mini floor pump. However, it took ages to get up to pressure – 100 strokes was just 11psi. We also caught our knuckles a few times when pumping.

The SKS Airflex scored a decent 7/10, but we criticised the fiddly-to-remove hose, and it only achieved 8psi after 100 strokes. We were also impressed by the build-quality of the Silca Tattico with its aluminium construction. Once again though, the performance was underpar, with just 5psi after 100 strokes.

Oxford’s Airflow MT also failed to produce enough puff, with just 5psi registering in our tyre after 100 strokes. While the Blackburn Airstik 2Stage was similarly wheezy and also uncomfortable to use. The Park Tool PMP 4.2 did much better, with a 8/10 rating, and we praised its light weight and reasonable price.

Another pump that worked well was the Syncros 2HV1.0. For such a compact pump, it shifted an astonishing amount of air and is definitely worth checking out.

How we test

To gauge efficiency, we inflated a 29×2.6in Maxxis Minion DHR tyre using each pump and measured the pressure after 50 strokes, 100 strokes and 200 strokes. We also assessed how comfortable each pump is during use, because your arm will definitely start to burn after 200 strokes. We also weighed and measured every pump to see how much space they’d take up on the bike and when stashed in a pack.

We tested over 10 mini-pumps, and only the pumps rated 8/10 and over have been included in this list, with the score based on the above performance criteria and comparison between the pumps.

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What to look for in a mini pump

Mini pumps have changed a lot over the last few years. Most now have a high-quality aluminium construction, anodised parts, extra grip handles, dual-valve compatibility and there are even some out there that you can put a tool inside. The upshot of all this development is that most modern mini pumps are more convenient but also more expensive.

What hasn’t changed is how you store them, which is either on the bike or on your person. Stashing them in a pack is recommended because the pump won’t get covered in dirt and grit and  is less likely to seize up when you actually come to use it.

Even though they’re described as mini, the size, or volume, of a pump does have a big effect on how much effort is required to inflate a mountain bike tyre. Compared to road bikes, MTB tyres have higher volume but running lower pressure, which means you need a pump with a large air chamber if you want to inflate them quickly. Sure, a high-pressure/low volume mini pump will also work, but it will just take longer to do the job.

Most of the mini pumps tested here are high volume and we’ve covered a spread of styles and prices.

1. Grip

Chances are you’ll be trying to inflate your tyre after refitting an inner tube and your hands will be slippery, so some form of grip is a must. The head and handle also need to be a decent size because you need to brace against them when inflating the tyre.

2. Dual/Smart head

There are currently two valves in common use – Presta and Schrader. To work with both valves, some mini pumps use an insert that you flip over inside the head, but the best come with smart heads that automatically adjust without having to take anything apart. That said, as most MTBs use presta valves, you only need to do it once. Both solutions work, but you usually pay slightly more for the latter.

3. Thumb Lock

To ensure the pump doesn’t slip off the valve during vigorous pumping a lockable head is a good idea. This also stops air loss and leaks, which is good because you’ve usually killed your arm getting air in there.

4. Extension Hose

A flexible extension hose does allow you to smash out the strokes without stressing the delicate valve stem. On most pumps the hose is housed inside the shaft, and it can also be double ended – Presta on one end, Schrader on the other.

5. Frame Clip

To carry the pump on your bike you can use the supplied plastic snap-on clip, that usually mounts underneath your bottle cage. It needs to be offset to the side of the cage and come with a strap, so the pump doesn’t fall out on the first rough descent.

6. Co2 booster

Some pumps come with the facility to attach a Co2 cartridge – handy for emergency inflation, usually in a race situation.

7. Pressure Gauge

Helps give an idea of when to stop pumping. Some are more accurate than others, most add to the cost.

Looking for something for pumping up your tyres quickly? It’s hard to beat the best track pump or floor pump for fast inflation, and they’re ideal for storing at home or in your vehicle. You’ll also need a great shock pump to ensure your suspension is at optimal pressure.