Two Foot Pumps From Mini Foot Pump
By James Sharp

According to Mark Twain, the only thing that a person can be sure of in life is death and taxes. If you ride at all, you can add flats to the list. I cannot count how many times I have been riding along only to suddenly hear air coming from one tire or another. Nothing ruins a good lead in a race like a flat. I have spent many hours sitting on the side of the road pumping with a little frame pump until my arms felt like they were going to fall off, or worse, pumping like mad only to have the valve stem snap off because I got a little overzealous. Well, there is a new (on this side of the Atlantic) pump that can alleviate some, but not all of the frustrations associated with flats. It is called the Mini Foot Pump.

The Mini Foot Pump comes in two flavors: the small, carry-with-you Mini Foot Pump and the larger-but-still-Lilliputian Air Revolution. They retail for $29.95 and $49.95, respectively. As the name may indicate these are small pumps that you activate with your foot. Both are capable pumps and both can inflate road or mountain tires.

Air Revolution
The Air Revolution is the Big Brother to the Mini Foot Pump, but that doesn’t mean that it is large in any way, weighing in at a paltry 17 ounces. It has two chambers, one low pressure and one high pressure, and is capable of reaching 260psi. This means that it doubles as a shock pump and is even equipped with a bleed valve and high pressure gauge. The pump head is designed so that it doesn’t lose any air from the shock when you go to disconnect it. This is achieved by backing off the pin that presses the shocks valve core before you remove the pump head. Unfortunately this same head that is so great for a shock requires the use of an adaptor to fit presta valves. I’ve never been a big fan of adaptors. They can get misplaced and never seem to be where you need them. A nylon bag that carries the pump and adaptors is included.

The dual chamber design of the Air Revolution lends to its stability, something needed when you use your foot to pump, but doesn’t do anything for the efficiency of the pump. Inflating a tire is by no means quick, one of the prices paid for high pressure.

Mini Foot Pump
The Mini Foot Pump (MFP) is the real story here. At just 9 ounces, the MFP is about as light as you’d expect for a pump this size. Marketed as the Bikers Dream in Europe, the MFP has been around for some time, just not in the U.S. Don’t let its size fool you; this is a capable pump. It is rated to 140psi, more than almost all road tires. The efficiency of the MFP is actually better than the Air Revolution. That’s not to say that it is particularly fast, but it ranks right up there with other small pumps. The pump head is convertible from presta to Schrader.

What is the biggest benefit? No more hunching over to fill a tire road- or trail-side. No more damaged or broken valve stems, thanks to the long hose. You attach the pump, stand up hold your own bike, and pump. No more, “hey could you hold my bike for a minute while I pump.”

Like the Air Revolution, the MFP comes with a nylon bag. The bag for the MFP, however, has three hook-and-loop straps to attach it to your top tube.

Summary: Both the Mini Foot Pump and the Air Revolution are quality pumps. While both have their limitations, the Air Revolution seems to have more of them. It isn’t quite small enough for a mini pump, but doesn’t have the volume for a floor pump. I see the buyer as someone who travels a lot and doesn’t want to pack a shock pump and a tire pump, or someone who finds space in his/her car to be at a premium during the summer road trips. The Mini Foot Pump, on the other hand, would be a good choice for anyone who rides, whether on road or off. It attaches to the frame via the included nylon bag, keeping it away from the muck and mud of off-road rides; likewise it doesn’t take up room in your hydration or seat pack. I would recommend the MFP for anyone who continually damages valve stems, or who is looking for an easy to use frame pump, from novice to expert.

James Sharp is a contributing editor for GearReview.com specializing in mountain biking.

For more information, contact:
Mini Foot Pump
369-B Third Street #183
San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel.: 415.482.9907
Fax: 415.459.2937
www.minifootpump.com
info@minifootpump.com