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review
£32.99
VERDICT:
A no frills track pump that gets the job done with the minimum of fuss
Weight:
1,300g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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The SKS Airkompressor 12.0 is a tall floor pump designed to make inflating your tyres quick and easy. It works.
The Airkompressor12.0 is a tall track pump at 690 cm but this extra height makes inflating your tyres a simple exercise. Long languid strokes soon have the tyre at the pressure you desire.
The extra-long steel tube ensures great volume per stroke. I used it to pump up Continental 23mm tyres from flat to 100 psiin 35 strokes with no arm pump at all. Pulling up on the solid plastic handle gives you a stroke length of 500mm, plenty to apply the required pressure.
The only downside to this extra height is that it makes the the Airkompressor a little unstable.
Attaching the head unit is simple. Select the hole depending on the valve type and press it on then pull down the lever to secure. The head unit fits very snugly, almost too well as it can be a little tricky to get off but you certainly won't have any issues keeping it in place. With a long pull on the handle you begin to inflate and as already mentioned it really doesn't take long to get up to pressure.
The extra large gauge allows you to easily see what pressure you have reached.
The foot pads are quite smooth with a single ridge. No problem if you have flat shoes but in cleats it isn't such a smooth operation.
The hose is quite stiff which in can unhook the head from it's housing at the top of the pump. A small niggle but it does leave a bulge of hose trailing when not in use.
At £32.99 the SKS Airkompressor 12.0 is competitively priced, offering a pump that will get you up to the pressure required with the minimum of fuss.
Verdict
A no frills track pump that gets the job done with the minimum of fuss
road.cc test report
Make and model: SKS Airkompressor 12.0 floor pump
Size tested: White
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?
For any rider who needs a track pump that allows you to get your tyres up to pressure quickly and efficiently. It has a few quirks but still represents good value.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
It is quite a tall pump at 69cm but that gives you a long 50cm stroke. On average it took 35 strokes to pump up a Conti 23mm tyre from flat to 100 psi.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
The aluminum body is solid and sits firmly on the footpad although the extra height does make it a little unstable. The underneath of the footpad is hollow which perhaps doesn't help. The hose is firmly attached and made of a tough rubber.
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
The barrel length soon gets the pressure you need. The action is smooth and easy.
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
The simple design and construction do not detract from the quality or durability. The extremities such as the head, footpad and handle are made from tough plastic and the hose from a durable rubber.
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
8/10
At 1300g it isn't the lightest track pump but not enough to provide any penalty in performance or use.
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
9/10
The pump action is smooth and the plastic handle sits comfortably in the hands. The gauge is simple to read with the numbers large enough to see from distance.
Rate the product for value:
9/10
£32.99 represents good value for a track pump that covers all the basics. The SKS Airkompressor 12.0 is effective and is half the price of much of the competition.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The SKS Airkompressor 12.0 goes about its business simply and effectively. The 500mm stroke generates plenty of pressure. The head unit attaches firmly although detaching can be a little awkward. It gets tyres inflated quickly.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The smooth action is a joy too use as is the speed of inflation.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The lack of stability when not in use means the Airkompressor can topple over too easily. You finish using it and pop the head down only to see the pump topple on occasions. Not a game changer but you don't want to see it hitting the floor regularly.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
Good value and a decent performance if a little unsteady on its feet.
About the tester
Age: 45 Height: 178cm Weight: 80kg
I usually ride: Currently riding a Pinnacle Evaporite Three My best bike is: As above
I've been riding for: Under 5 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, sportives, mtb, Not yet but looking to dip my toe in the world of TT
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