Topeak’s JoeBlow Sport Ex is the most affordable track pump in its range and is designed to inflate a wide range of tyre sizes – quickly. With a robust build, long hose and large analogue gauge for easy reading, it also features a SmartHead pump head, which automatically adjusts to fit either Schrader or Presta valves. It keeps things simple with no bells or whistles, just a solid construction and great action delivering high-volume inflation with each stroke.
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Topeak Topeak JoeBlow Sport EX track pump - Technical details
The JoeBlow Sport EX is a high-volume pump capable of delivering fast and easy inflation up to 120psi/8bar across a wide range of tyre sizes. The shaft is constructed from steel with a matt painted finish, whilst the handle and base are made from engineering grade polymer, which in theory should be tough.
At the base, the large winged foot tapers in shape to allow for a good foothold when pumping, and the large 3.5in analogue display gauge is easy to read with a yellow movable marker to set your desired psi. At the end of the long hose, you’ll find the SmartHead pump head, which automatically adjusts to fit both Presta and Schrader valves. It weighs 1,230g/2.71lbs and claims 498cc volume per stroke.
Topeak Topeak JoeBlow Sport EX track pump - Performance
The JoeBlow Sport Ex is a good choice if you’re after a new track pump, on a budget and own a range of bikes from mountain bikes to gravel and road bikes.
Weighing in at 1230g, it’s reasonably lightweight, owing to the composite handle and foot, and the overall build feels substantial. The main handle has a squared-off shape and is comfortable enough, although I’d have preferred a more ergonomic shape to the underside rather than the hollowed-out fin design, which isn’t that comfortable. It offers a large enough flat platform for pushing down with both palms. I like the shape of the foot, which fitted the ball of my foot perfectly and held the pump in place. The foot is also stable enough to hold it up when stored without it falling over all of the time.
The hose measured 106cm to the tip of the Smarthead, which was ample length to reach my bike in a stand or give me room to get away from any tubeless explosions. The SmartHead fitted snugly with all Presta valves tried, stayed in place and didn’t leak any air. I like the big analogue gauge, which is easy to read. The yellow marker is a nice thing to have to aim for accuracy.
At full extension, the upper rod is very long - so long that I struggled to pump with both feet on the composite foot - maybe not a problem for riders taller than my 5,7” height. I found one foot on the pump foot and a step back with the other gave me ample room to power through the full stroke. At full extension, there is some play in the upper rod in the barrel, but it never felt like it could bend or kink, and once I’d honed a central stance over the pum,p I could apply an even and powerful stroke.
Under testing, I found inflating already-seated tubeless tyres from flat an absolute doddle. The stroke felt even and easy, with little effort involved. It took 24 strokes to inflate a 650 x 2.6in tyre to 20psi, 29 x 2.5in tyre 19 strokes to 20psi and 700c x 45 15 strokes to 40psi.
However, trying to inflate newly seated tubeless tyres with this pump reminded me of the days before I started using tubeless inflator pumps and the utter humiliation felt in defeat and the resulting mess. Seating the tyres' bead near the rim bead hook for a decent airlock is key to inflation, but, alas, hard work to achieve with a lot of tubeless rims.
I managed one success though, with a 29 x 2.35 tyre on a Nukeproof Horizon rim, but other than that, I failed. I tried 27.5-, 29-inch and 700c wheels with tyre sizes of 2.6in, 2.4in and 45c, respectively, all of which were a fail. Of course, you’d struggle with most track pumps - even high-volume ones - as the initial stroke doesn't deliver the high velocity required compared to a tubeless inflator pump.
Topeak Topeak JoeBlow Sport EX track pump - Verdict
At £37, this pump is great value, especially given its ease of use and high-volume delivery, but you’ll need to consider its duties.
If you’re after something more MTB-specific that’ll make short work of inflating high-volume tubeless tyres, the Topeak JoeBlow Mountain EX Track pump scored high and is priced competitively at £45. Its bigger brother, the Topeak JoeBlow Mountain X, will set you back £70 but gets an all-metal build and a similar level of performance.
Liam rated the Lezyne Macro HV Floor Pump at £50, which made short work of tubeless gravel tyre set-up but again struggled like the Sport Ex with larger volume MTB tyres.
If you run tubes, are on a budget or want a backup pump, the Topeak JoeBlow Sport EX is a great option for making inflation easy. But if you change tubeless tyres a lot, it’s worth considering something more specific or a dedicated tubeless inflator pump if you have the budget.
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