Inflating your car’s tyres can be a strenuous task, especially with foot pumps which involve a lot more sweat than a digital/electrical compressor. However, when all things go wrong, an analogue foot pump can be a bit of a life saver.
They require a lot more effort than an electric pump and you can pretty much view them as a leg exercise. However, when you desperately need to pump up your tyres without the need to run your engine or hook up to a source of power, they can be a useful thing to keep in the boot of your car.
They generate a fraction of the pressure of an electric pump, but they’re functional, old-school, and in the long run, likely going to be more reliable. Whether you have all season tyres or some that are purpose-built, a good foot pump will be a good friend to them.
The best foot pumps 2024 at a glance:
Editor’s pick: Heyner PedalMax Pro – buy from Amazon
Best value double barrel foot pump: Ring RFP2 Foot Pump – buy from Amazon
Best simple foot pump: Sealey FP2 Foot Pump – buy from Amazon
However, one search of trying to find one, and you’re immediately greeted with cheap, fragile options from naff brands. With that in mind, we’ve done some digging and listed our favourite foot pumps from trusted brands with good consumer reviews. If by any chance, you’re looking for a temporary repair, we have a guide on tyre sealant, too.
The best foot pumps 2024
Editor's pick
It weighs a little less than the Michelin pump at 2.04kg, but is slightly heavier than the others. It even comes with its own storage bag, which is nice if you want to keep it in the boot of your car.
Pros
- Good quality build quality and construction
- Handy storage case to keep everything neat
- Up to 140PSI of pressure
Cons
- The gauge isn't always 100% accurate
The best foot pump for grip
Rrp: £42.54
Rrp: £42.54
It can pump up to 100PSI, weighs 2.2kg and is ideal for inflating anything from motorcycles, bicycles, and car tyres. It boasts great build quality, too which is important for any high-stress piece of equipment.
Pros
- Great build quality
- The best foot grip
- Powerful enough
Cons
- Will never be as easy to use as an electrical pump
- Not many attachments included
Best value double barrel foot pump
Ring Automotive's RFP2 is a great value pump. It only weighs 1.62kg, but come with three adaptors and a rubber pedal. All for a little over £20, which makes it a great-value product. It pumps up to 100PSI and even has rubber feet for added grip.
Pros
- Anti-slip rubber pedal
- Includes adaptors for use on other things like bicycles
- Superb value for money
Cons
- Slightly lower PSI than others
Best simple foot pump
It even has a rubber foot pedal which is a neat bonus, too. You also get a couple of different attachments for different purposes, which adds to the versatility of the FP2.
Pros
- Very lightweight at just 1.68kg
- Has a rubber foot pedal
- Is a good quality item
Cons
- Lacks attachments
Best space-saving foot pump
This foot pump has a 60cm hose along with three attachments for different uses as well as a lock-on connector for securing the hose into place. It pumps up to 100psi, but unfortunately, the pedal isn't coated in rubber, which can make things slightly more slippery for your foot.
Pros
- Great value for money
- High PSI range
- Lock-on switch is a useful tool
Cons
- Metal foot pedal
FAQs and things to remember about foot pumps
Why should I buy one when we have electric pumps?
In the same way that we would perhaps keep a little toolkit in the back – or a set of winter tyres in the garage if you’re feeling thorough – they’re only really there as a precaution for a car. If you’re out on the road and for whatever reason, you can’t run your engine to inflate the tyre(s) back up (an electric pump requires you to do so), an analogue foot pump is your best bet. Furthermore, if you need to inflate air into a non-running car so you can push it, foot pumps are brilliant for that, too.
They’re also very versatile in the sense that it’s not just car tyres you can inflate with them. Because they deliver pressure far more gently than digital tyre inflators, you can use them to inflate footballs, bicycle tyres and more.
Should I go single or double barrel?
That depends on on how much you want to spend and at what pace you want air to be pumped into your tyres. If you’re using a foot pump for your car, we recommend you go double barrel. But there’s no harm in wanting a single barrel if you’ll have other, lighter uses for it. If you want pure speed, a tyre inflator compressor will be for you.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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