Park Tools PMP4

Length: 26.5cm
Weight: 133g

The Park Tools PMP4 is probably very similar to what many of us think of when we think of the modern pump. It’s fairly short, with a plastic handle and valve adapter, it has an aluminium barrel, an anodised shaft (I’m not sure why), and it feels very solidly made.

The lever that locks the valve onto the pump is also made from aluminium, which is a nice touch: plastic ones can often flex. When not in use, the handle is kept locked onto the barrel by a simple friction catch and a simple pull activates it. The handle then pivots at the top to form an L-bar for easier pumping; those of us with large hands will be pleased to note that there’s a catch to prevent crushed knuckles.

The Presta/Schrader adapter is of the usual remove-bits-of-plastic-and-invert design; in my experience one swaps valve bits around so infrequently that it’s rarely a problem. Push the pump head onto the valve, lift up the lever and start to pump: no problem. The pump head is at 90° to the valve, which isn’t ergonomically ideal, but was easy enough to work around. The stroke length was perfectly acceptable, and the pump inflated my test tyre with the minimum of fuss. It also comes with a mount that lets you put it anywhere with a couple of rubber rings.

This is a back-to-basics pump. It’s nothing exceptional, but it’s good value, small and well made, it performs admirably and shouldn’t let you down.

Review Info

Barney Marsh

Barney Marsh takes the word ‘career’ literally, veering wildly across the road of his life, as thoroughly in control as a goldfish on the dashboard of a motorhome. He’s been, with varying degrees of success, a scientist, teacher, shop assistant, binman and, for one memorable day, a hospital laundry worker. These days, he’s a dad, husband, guitarist, and writer, also with varying degrees of success. He sometimes takes photographs. Some of them are acceptable. Occasionally he rides bikes to cast the rest of his life into sharp relief. Or just to ride through puddles. Sometimes he writes about them. Bikes, not puddles. He is a writer of rongs, a stealer of souls and a polisher of turds. He isn’t nearly as clever or as funny as he thinks he is.

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