Review: Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV Pump

Its tough to find trail pumps exciting - full stop. For a while now there have been some clear categories of pump for use with mountain bikes - mini-pumps, track pumps and co2 cartridge systems. Broadly speaking mountain biking is a world where trying to find the best of both worlds is an engineering challenge and newly hailed 'solutions to all your problems' are treated with scorn or cynicism. Lezyne however claim to have done this with the humble pump.

We have to admit that we were sceptical when Lezyne announced that they had developed a 'micro track pump' but we thought we would give it a go. Co2 cartridges have always seemed wasteful and expensive and most mini pumps choose to only pump a tyre up to less than the required pressure when standing on a trailside in the pouring rain. Many a time has it been the case that one puncture has led to another through a poorly inflated tyre. Out the box, the pump is a very nice looking bit of kit being largely made out of shiny aluminium and exudes not only design but also some really practical features. It is the same size as most trail sized pumps but feels much lighter than it looks - in fact initially it felt a little fragile. It initially seemed like the wrong pump had been sent through as there wasn't a gauge in sight but closer inspection highlights a really clever 'in-line gauge' in the attachment hose. Aside from this natty feature, the fold out foot and the pump handle really make this feel like a mini- track pump but there are also other clever features including a tapped hole in the base to screw the inflation hose into when not in use which should help keep the crud out.

All sounds well and makes for a very boutique looking pump for posing on the trail but the function of a pump should be the most important factor. Was it just a fancy mini pump or did it deliver more? The first thing to note (which hit us like a breath of fresh air) was the fact that the attachment point for your valve screws onto it and this means no more fiddling around trying to pump and adjust the angle of the nozzle to get the angle just right to prevent air escaping – it amazes us that so few others have bothered to do the same. Easily adjustable from Presta to Schraeder, it avoids fiddly washer changes by the attachment simply unscrewing, flipping over and screwing back together. Once hooked up with the foot out, the action of the pump is fantastic and it fills a tyre much quicker than a mini pump. This is no track pump but you will spend less time in the rain and get your tyre to the right pressure. Action is smooth and while the pump might seem un-ergonomic because of its size, it actually isn't.

Price wise, it isn't cheap but then most people only buy one mini pump in their mountain biking life and thus this is a good investment, for those who aren't too fussed, this could double as a workshop pump and save the cost of a track pump - if you are willing to take a little longer to fill a tyre. Long term, the shiny looks are likely to fade but there are no concerns of this pump giving up the ghost. Tyre technology has improved enough that punctures on fat tyres are much rarer these days so this could be your ideal trail companion.

It certainly shoots to the top of the 'best trail pumps out there' list!! A well thought out good looking pump with some excellent features!

RRP: £41.99

More information: www.lezyne.com or www.upgradebikes.co.uk