Tested: Stompump
No one should get excited about flat tires. “Whoopy! I just wasted $80 and now my bike is covered in sealant and glitter!” See? Ridiculous. Flats are no fun, but despite this, I was actually grinning the first time I used the Stompump on the trail. Of course, I wasn’t grinning because I was having a good time—it still sucked—I was grinning because, for the first time, I wasn’t wishing eternal damnation on a small, inanimate object.
The creators of Stompump have an interesting background. One rooted in the world of cycling as well as, of all places, robotics. They’ve worked to design and manufacture OEM products for Specialized, Sigma and Cervélo as well as regularly competing (and winning with their robot, Bronco) in the “Battlebots” TV series of robot duels. Of course, the creators also ride a lot of bikes when they’re not planning robot duels or figuring fixtures, and know the bane of riders that is the mini pump. It was one particularly frustrating ride spent fighting a stubborn hand pump that spawned the idea of the Stompump, a pretty radical take on the ubiquitous inflator.
The composite mount is totally solid without the included strap should you want to forgo it. The mount attaches in place of a bottle cage, or you can zip-tie it to your frame. Or throw it in a backpack—whatever you want.
For starters, it’s a foot pump, not a hand pump—because your legs are way stronger than your arms, duh. Instead of looking like you’re performing an illicit act on the side of the trail, using the Stompump looks like you’re curb-stomping a defeated flat-tire-foe into the ground. Satisfying, surprisingly cathartic and PG-rated. Or maybe PG-13 for graphic violence.
The action of the Stompump is quite smooth for how much force is being exerted on it, with every stroke ending with a nice solid *thunk*. The thing is built like a tank (a 185-gram tank), and I never felt like I was remotely close to damaging it from hard use, even when putting my full 230-pound bulk on it. Unlike finicky and sometimes fragile hand pumps, the Stompump is so solid and easy it’s strangely enjoyable to fix a flat with it.
There's storage inside for plugs or a patch kit (or whatever will fit inside). The chamber runs the length of the piston.
After nearly six months of use, my Stompump is barely any worse for the wear, with only paint chips on the base where the pump contacts the ground. It’s gotten more use than all my previous mini pumps combined—including two months of daily use serving in place of a floor pump while I traveled overseas. Dust, mud, rain or ice, the Stompump just keeps on going. Just in case though, there’s a rebuilt kit available for $20.
Minimal internals to keep things robust. There's even an air filter to keep dust out when you're pumping in deep summer.
The main body of the pump is aluminum, with a very big bore to push a lot of air in each stroke. I’ve found with most tires it’s about 10 pumps for one PSI when you’re at normal running pressures (25-30PSI). Starting from empty fills faster, and it takes considerably less time to fill a tire than using most hand pumps. From flat, a 2.5-inch 29er tire takes about three minutes to bring up to 25PSI—way faster than most hand pumps, and you’re not sweating at the end while nursing arm-pump. You can go up to 60PSI if you really want, but I’ve only gone that high once filling a Schwalbe Procore.
Plastic? Nope. Alloy? Check. Feel free to stomp.
So what’s the catch? Despite everything the Stompump has going for it, it does have some flaws. At higher pressures (over 40PSI), it gets hard to pump, and you need a really firm surface as the base—it might be the only time that loam isn't welcome. I do also wish there was an optional inline pressure gauge that could plug-and-play with the hose, but I suppose I can’t have everything.
Then there’s the price. At $100, it’s not an inexpensive tool by any means, especially for a pump. Heck, you could probably buy three, four or even five hand pumps for the same price. But what good would that do? Anyway, after using the Stompump, I doubt I'll go back to using hand pumps—the ease of use and functionality justify the high dollar. Plus, it’s USA-made by a couple of people who are as enthralled with riding a bike as their customers—and that shows in the final product.
Should you damage the hose, simply cut out the damage and re-install in the quick-disconnect fittings. The head threads on to either Shrader or Presta valves—it won't remove your value core, don't worry.
The Stompump isn’t really meant to simply replace the standard hand pumps—it can do a lot more than that. It can serve trail head top-up duty, as a travel-pump (if you have a pressure gauge handy) or any number of uses when you need a small, portable air supply—heck, I even used it once to top-up my truck’s tire in a pinch. Born of necessity and molded by careful innovation, the Stompump is a well-thought-out tool that works exactly as advertised. Flats aren't fun, but at least fixing them won't suck too much with the Stompump.
Learn more at stompump.com.
