Topeak JoeBlow Max II track pump review

Topeak is a bike accessories powerhouse with everything from bags to computers and trailers. Even its track pump range is extensive with almost 20 models on offer.

The Topeak's JoeBlow Max II is towards the budget end of its range, but still comes with a steel barrel and a quality gauge, with replacement parts readily available if anything stops working.

It’s quite a short pump and its stroke is short too, but nevertheless it took just 19 strokes to get a 23mm tyre up to 100psi, which is the least we’ve found on testing a range of track pumps.

>>> The best track pumps: a buyer’s guide

Those strokes required a lot of effort though once the tyre got to higher pressures, making the pump quite awkward to use. This is probably due to the quite short pump stroke and the hose too is on the short side, so it’s more difficult to get to the valve of a wheel on a bike held in a stand.

The pump comes with a plastic twin-sided head which works with both presta and schrader valves and has a lever to lock it onto the valve securely.

>>> Buyer’s guide: the best cycle mini pumps

Despite only having two legs to its base the pump is stable and the handle is comfortable to use. The gauge is reasonably easy to read as it is positioned some way up from the base and is clearly graduated, although we found that it undermeasures pressure by a few psi.