10 of the best folding e-bikes
When you need to inflate a tyre and don’t have access to a floor pump, there are easier options than an arm-cramping mini pump
16.03.2026
The best way to pump up tyres to the right pressure is with a floor pump – also known as a track pump or workshop pump. Floor pumps are far more efficient than other manual pumps and they’re much easier to use. But they’re too big to carry conveniently on a bike, so you’ll need something more portable for your commute.
Punctures should be rare on the ride to work, so long as you take measures to prevent them. One day, however, you’ll need to re-inflate a tyre at the roadside or at work. That’s when the limitations of a pocket-sized hand pump become painfully clear. Mini pumps shift little air per stroke, so getting a tyre to a rideable pressure will likely take hundreds of strokes. It’s slow, hard, uncomfortable work. When manufacturers say a mini pump will inflate to 90psi (or whatever), they mean it can reach that pressure without blowing a seal. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to get the tyre that firm.
In fairness, some mini pumps are better than others. Some are telescopic or have dual-chamber pumping. Others are manufactured better, with more metal than plastic or more comfortable handholds. But even the best mini pump won’t be as easy to use as the options below. Prices are RRP at time of writing. Don’t forget your Cyclescheme discount!
Frame-fit pump
Traditional frame-fit pumps are rare. Few bike frames are equipped with pump pegs these days. You can buy band-on steel or plastic pump pegs, however, and some frame-fit pumps don’t need pegs: as long as they’re the right length, they can be wedged, slightly compressed, between the head tube and seat tube or between the top tube and bottom bracket – lying along the top tube or seat tube, respectively. Frame-fit pumps look like stretched versions of mini pumps. The longer barrel means more air per stroke and an easier pumping action. It also makes a frame-fit pump handy for fending off aggressive dogs! Most frame-fit pumps attach directly to Presta valves only.
Topeak Road £24.99
A good-value, aluminium-bodied pump with a thumb lock to keep it attached to the valve when pumping. A seal and dust cap keep muck out. Sizes: S (43-49cm frames), M (49-54cm), L (54-59cm) and XL (59-64cm).
Silca Impero Ultimate II Frame Pump £100
A premium aluminium pump with silicon bumpers for a snug fit against the frame, a leather piston gasket and a two-stage head gasket to prevent air escaping. Sizes: S (44-49cm frames), M (49-54cm), L (54-59cm) and XL (59-64cm).
Mini floor pump
Like a smaller version of a track pump, a mini floor pump has a hose and fold-out feet. As it rests on the ground, you only have to press down to pump; you don’t have to hold it in place with your other hand. This halves the effort required. Mini floor pumps come with a bracket to attach them to the frame. They can also be tossed in your commuter bag; while they come in different sizes, they’re all shorter than frame-fit pumps. They fit both Presta and Schrader valves. Some have pressure gauges, either analogue or digital.
Topeak Mountain Morph £34.99
Topeak has whole a range of Morph pumps, ranging from the diminutive Mini Morph (£29.99) to the Turbo Morph Digital (£79.99). The Mountain Morph is arguably the price/performance sweet spot for commuters. It can reach 160psi, which you’ll never need, yet shifts plenty of air per stroke. It’s 35cm and 250g.
Like Topeak’s Morph pumps, Lezyne Micro Floor pumps come with and without gauges and in versions for high-pressure (HP) or high-volume tyres (HV). As the HV versions can reach 90psi – and do so quicker than the HP pump – it’s the better option for most commuters. It’s 30cm long and weighs 205g.
Electric pump
The electric mini pump, or e-pump, is the new kid on the block for inflation. E-pumps are pocket-sized, rechargeable-battery-powered compressors that will inflate tyres a handful of times per charge. Most have a digital gauge and a battery-level indicator. They can be noisy and get quite hot but are effortless to use. A screw-on hose makes electric pumps easier to attach to the valve, especially on bikes with small wheels, and prevents heat damage to lightweight TPU innertubes (standard butyl tubes are fine). The main drawback of electric pumps is that you have to remember to recharge them, whereas a manual pump is always ready to use.
Cycplus AS2 Pro Max Tiny E-Pump for Bike £95.58
This isn’t Cycplus’s smallest e-pump; that’s the matchbox-sized AS2 (97g). But the Pro Max is still small (81x60x32mm and 205g), while inflating tyres faster, to a higher pressure (up to 120psi) and more times. It takes about a minute to inflate a 700x25C innertube to 120psi. It also has a digital gauge for accurate inflation, which the smaller AS2 lacks. It fits Presta and Schrader valves and comes with an extension hose.
Muc-Off AirMach Electric Mini Inflator - Pro £100
Same idea as the CyclePlus AS2 Pro Max, except it’s a bit smaller (64.5x63x28mm and 122g). With a correspondingly smaller battery, it won’t do as many tyre inflations per charge. As well as a digital gauge, it has a useful memory function, making it easier to re-inflate a tyre to your preferred pressure. It fits Presta and Schrader valves and comes with an extension hose.
Gas canister
For anything but racing, where instant re-inflation remains an advantage, gas canisters are likely to be replaced by e-pumps. Mainly because they’re not reusable, which wastes money and environmental resources. A canister contains compressed CO2. A dispenser screws to the top of the canister, piercing its seal. The dispenser has a regulator to enable you to control the gas flow into the tyre. When the gas is discharged the canister becomes cold, so most have an insulation sleeve.
The price doesn’t include CO2 canisters, which are £14 for a pack of five from Lezyne; the Control Drive is just the T-shaped dispenser on the top. That’s made from CNC-machined aluminium, with brass internals. A twin-head design means it can be used on Presta and Schrader valves without adapters. The Control Drive weighs 16g, while the gas canisters are 16g each.
As well as gas, this canister contains latex-based sealant so you can inflate a flat tyre and simultaneously seal most punctures in it. It’s aimed mostly at mountain bikers but is also suitable for commuters who don’t have the time or skills to fit a replacement tube. The hose is compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves. If you only need Presta compatibility, there’s a more compact version without the hose (same price).
