Bontrager Air Support MTB

The story of my hand pump...

 

Bontrager Air Support MTB

I actually bought this Bontrager Air Support MTB hand pump in March 2010 but it has served me well over so I though it deserved a mention.

Costing me $41.52 it's not an el cheapo and it did take the bike shop man at Pack 'n' Pedal some time to convince me it was worth it. Considering I'd just destroyed 2 cheap plastic hand pumps in the space of 2 years, I was sold when he offered a full refund/replacement if it failed within a year. Needless to say it has survived and I think it was worth the extra moola.

This thing is a beast, it features:

• An auto-select head to fit both Presta and Schrader valves 
• Dual action design pushes out air when you're pushing and pulling so it's fast to fill those tubes on the trail when you're in a hurry. 
• Rugged aluminium barrel so it can take a few knocks
• Locking lever to attach the pump to the valve 
• Fold-out handle to give you extra leverage
• It is very light-weight

Bontrager Air Support MTB - ready to start pumping

It comes with a mounting clip to attach to your bike frame, but I never used it as it doesn't fit alongside my specialized bottle holder on my Specialized Hardrock Pro. Instead It's light enough that I usually carry it in my Camelback.

Bontrager Air Support MTB - mounting clip & packaging

This is the best mini hand pump I've ever had, it is quality and worth the extra cost. The push/pull pumping feature is not a gimic; it definitely pumps quicker than those that do not have this feature. It's aluminum build is very rugged and the locking lever holds onto the valve good and tight. Although it looks like it will be weighty it is surprisingly not and it looks awesome, I love showing off my flash looking pump!

Not a lot is perfect and this is no exception, I have found a few cons during my years of use...

• Fold out handle is neat and gives good leverage but it is not the most comfortable thing to be gripping and pumping with for too long.
• The handle pivots and is locked to the main body of the pump via a pin through a thin aluminium spacer. Over the years, I have noticed that this has become loose with wear and could eventually fall apart as it'll no longer lock the handle in place. However, this will take a few more years yet.

Overall, this is a high end mini hand pump, which is reflected in its cost, but despite a couple of cons, I have been happy with its performance and I would recommend it to anyone considering owning one for themselves.