MAMMOTH JOURNEYS
Lezyne Pressure Drive Hand Pump Review
The bike pump which has the risk to self destruct
When buying a hand pump for a bike I believe it should serve a basic function of being able to inflate your tyres with minimal stress, and zero risk of the entire tyre being completely flat after you have attempted to pump them up.
Unfortunately for the Lezyne Pressure Drive hand pump it doesn't satisfy the basic principles expected and has one massive flaw, which in my head isn't worth the potential risks it brings.
When searching for my new bike pump I wanted it to have two features. Firstly I was keen for it to have a flexible hose. Similar to my track stand pump I believed that having a hose would allow some natural movement when pumping which would put less stress on the valve and pump, and potentially also offer a more secure connection. The second feature I wanted was to have a pump which was not plastic. I thought it would offer a more robust option and last longer.
This criteria led me to the Lezyne pump, but after a few months of use it was clear I was wrong on both my requests and this pump offered a risk which was not outweighed by it's other benefits.
Adaptability and Storage
The flexible hose allows for both Schrader and Presta valves. This is now a lot more common when buying a pump and obviously means you don't need to buy two pumps if you have multiple bikes with different valves.
The hose is intergrated inside the main body of the pump and there are two dust caps that cover either end. Unfortunately the dust caps are rather loose and I have lost one already - although this is the least of my worries.
There is a mount for your bike which I tend to use putting it on the down tube by my bottle cage. The length of the medium pump is 21cm so easy enough if you wanted to put it in the back pocket of your jersey or perhaps in one of your bags your carry - if that's your thing.
Function:
In this section I will explain how it is intended to work, and then in the final section explain what actually happens in real life.
Let's talk about the Schrader valve first as this is largely unremarkable. You screw the hose onto your valve, and then you screw the hose into the pump. You can do it the other way around but I find it easier this way as you don't have the main pump in the way. You pump to the pressure you desire, there is no gauge so you have to do the old fashion press on the tyre to figure out if it's OK and not an issue at all. Then you can release the air in the tube to help remove the hose from the valve. To date I have had no issues with Schrader valves when using this pump. Although at times I have not released the air pressure and it has made no difference with it all working fine.
For Presta valves the process is the same but you HAVE to release the pressure in the hose by pressing the button on the tube so that you don't remove the inner core of the Presta valve. This is the theory. Let's move on now to reality.
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Reality
The idea that this magic button on the side of the hose releases the pressure to stop you removing the inner core of the Presta valve is just absolute rubbish.
A little reminder that on most Presta valves the inner core can be removed so it can be filled with sealant. A great and easy explanation can be found on this forum. I've put a photo of the specific part here for you to get a better idea.
It'll be easy for readers to point the finger at me, the user, for not using the pump correctly. I fully accept there has to be some user error here, that I will be not using the pump perhaps in a particularly meticulous manner that I should.
However, if there is a risk that the pump you are using will remove the inner valve of your inner tube - that is stupid risk to have with a pump. With the other handpumps I have used in the past I have never had any issues like this.
I have had three occasions where I have removed the inner core. I have followed the instructions on which order to put the hose to the shaft and then to the valve - which obviously makes zero difference. I've also used the other end of the hose to tighten the inner core, and even used pliers in the past. Unfortunately because the design means you need to screw the hose on you are required to have it at a relative decent tightness which then seems to lock the inner core onto the hose. If it's too loose, which I have tried before, the air doesn't get into the tube.
The most recent fail was a few weeks ago when it was pitch black and raining. The worse time to get a puncture. I can generally be on the road in about 15 minutes so I wasn't too concerned. But imagine the frustration after all the effort that you start off from the beginning with a completely flat tyre all over again!
Conclusion:
My review here is not unique to what other users have found. If you dig about you can see customers who have bought this pump who have succumbed to the same fate of this ridiculous hose. Even if you manage to work the hose correctly, which I have done on many occasions, the end result of how well the tyre was pumped up is 100% not worth the worry and anxiety you have when you remove the hose in complete fear your tyre will go completely flat.
You can tell fairly easily here that I think this pump is not good at all. No pump should have the risk of all your hard work being undone. You should not have any extra worry or concern the pump you have will work. It doesn't offer any extra benefit that other pumps have in terms of how well it pumps, to warrant this useless risk/function. I compare this to other hand pumps which are all unremarkable - which is what you want.
Avoid at all costs and instead go for something much simpler like the Topeak Pocket Rocket Mini Pump. Works on both values, cheaper than this pump and most importantly, won't self destruct.
Have you used this pump and had a better outcome? Or have you got similarly frustrated by it?
I'll be so interested to know other peoples experiences so please let me know on info@mammothjourneys.com
See all our videos from reviews to cycling adventures on our YouTube Channel.
For a more reliable and less risky option, the Topeak Pocket Rocket option seems to do the trick and not too expensive, full review coming soon!
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