Topeak Pocket Rocket

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Topeak says, "Lightweight mini pump with alloy barrel for roadies. Soft dual density polymer head and plastic handle for increased grip and comfort while pumping. Efficient design pumps to 160 psi."

My initial reaction to the Pocket Rocket was that it must be one of Topeak's higher end pumps as it looks and feels premium; you can see from the design details that quite a lot of thought has gone into creating it. So I was surprised to see that it costs less than 20 quid, and can be picked up for a lot less if you shop around.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Features include an integrated seal and dust cap, rubberised pump head with internal bayonet handle lock for easy gripping and handling, aluminium thumb-lock for durable usage, a machine-cut slimline barrel. The mounting bracket can be placed underneath a bottle cage, and includes a rubber strap to keep it secured.

Topeak lists:

ADDED FEATURES Dual density polymer head

Includes side mount bracket (Art No. TPMB-2C-1)

BARREL Butted aluminum

CAPACITY 160 psi / 11 bar

HANDLE Plastic

HEAD Fits Presta / Schrader / Dunlop valves w/ integrated dust cap

SIZE 22.2 x 4.2 x 2.5 cm 8.7' x 1.7' x 1.0'

THUMB LOCK Aluminum

WEIGHT 115 g / 4.05 oz

It took 150 strokes to get a 28mm tyre up to 70psi, which is plenty enough to get you home. The pump is slim enough to fit easily into a jersey pocket and only weighs 109g, which is great for this price point. The locking mechanism grips onto the valve really well. I have used other, slightly bigger pumps than this in the past that did not perform nearly as well. I have quite big hands, and at 22cm long, the pump is just the right length to use.

So far, so good. It feels like a product that will last for a long time. The inside of the pump head reveals a brass fitting which will not corrode. All the materials feel durable.

109g for less than 20 quid is great.

Topeak has really thought about comfort when designing the pump, and it shows. The thumb and forefinger shaped ends are ergonomic to use, and the rubberised grip at the head of the pump makes it comfortable to hold with a forefinger to steady the pump on the valve. There are no sharp edges around the handle or locking lever, which could make it uncomfortable to use.

Great value for money. I was surprised at the rrp, and a quick hunt online shows it can be found for a lot less than that.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It performs really well: you simply push the end over the Presta or Schrader valve, lift the locking mechanism, which has an excellent grip on the valves, and get pumping. I found it took approximately 150 pumps (about 3 minutes' worth) to get a 28mm tyre to 70psi to get me home.

It starts getting pretty hard to pump after this point, so you will probably need a breather and a few more minutes if you want to get to 100psi or more. It's then a simple matter of flipping the locking mechanism down and pulling the head of the pump off to release it.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The quality of construction and premium feel. It is obvious that a great deal of thought has gone into the small details, such as the thumb-shaped handle ends, the turn and click locking mechanism to stop it rattling around when mounted on the bracket, and the fact that there are no sharp edges anywhere on the pump.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I'm really clutching at straws here, but I noticed the rubber bung, to seal the end of the pump when not in use, doesn't stay in place very well if you have it in Schrader valve mode. If you have it in Presta mode it's very secure, as the locking mechanism can get a grip on it, to keep it in place.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Looking at recently tested products in the same price range, it's £3 less than the excellent Birzman Mini Apogee, which is even lighter and smaller than the Topeak if absolute miniaturisation is required.

And it's a fiver less than the Pro Bike Tool Mini Pump, another good pump in the same price and weight range, although some issues were found with the pump getting hot, and with getting up to higher pressures.

Use this box to explain your overall score

Having used several Topeak and other brand mini-pumps over the years, the Pocket Rocket is one of the easiest to use, with all the features I could need. The thought and attention to ergonomics is excellent, and to have such a competitive price is outstanding. A definite 9 out of 10.