Topeak JoeBlow Sport Digital pump review

Digital-gauge offering from long-established accessory brand

This competition is now closed

By Will Poole

Published: August 30, 2023 at 11:00 am

One of no fewer than 28 options in Topeak’s track pump line, the JoeBlow Sport Digital offers dual-valve compatibility with high-pressure capability and accurate pressure readouts.

Sitting roughly in the middle of Topeak’s extensive range, it offers a mix of performance features and value for money.

Its digital gauge is easy to read and the pump offers good levels of inflating precision, although changing the batteries is unnecessarily complicated.

A 25cm dual-density polymer handle dominates the 69.5cm stored height, with the 74cm hose routed over it and clipped either side of the collar.

The stroke is 46cm long for a fully extended height of 115cm.

An arched steel base measures 25.5cm at its widest and 14.6cm front to back.

The gauge and hose mounting are not integrated into the base as is common, but mounted 20cm up the body.

The digital readout is 37mm across, while the pump weighs in at 1,826g.

In testing, the JoeBlow Sport Digital hit 80psi for a 700 x 26c road bike tyre in 19 strokes, 50psi in a 700 x 40c gravel tyre in 28 strokes and a 29×2.4in mountain bike tyre in 36 strokes.

These are modal figures taken from a number of attempts at each tyre size, measured with the same pressure gauge.

The Hammerhead DX5 chuck enables access to either Presta or Schrader valves by simple selection with a lever.

Although the 74cm (29.1in) hose is on the short side end-to-end, its range is helped by the fact it stems from part way up the pump body.

This will help it reach some valves on bikes suspended in a bike repair stand. Hose storage comes via clips either side of the collar atop the barrel.

The screen is powered by two CR2032 batteries, which require some level of effort to install and replace with the included 1.5mm Allen key.

The screen needs to be dropped out of the casing, before the attached box housing the batteries can be removed.

The lone button on the gauge toggles between readouts in psi and BAR – handily, it wakes when pressure is sensed and powers down after a period of inactivity.

Because the gauge is mounted at the same elevated point as the hose origin, visibility of the readout is improved versus pumps with similar-sized gauges housed on the base.

The dual-density polymer handle adds a good level of comfort and is tapered towards the ends, making it comfortable for a range of hand sizes.

Despite the whole perimeter of the steel base being level, the pump remains stable on a range of surfaces because the base has a wide diameter.

Although not slotted, the base is contoured for some level of grip underfoot.

Topeak has done a good job with the JoeBlow Sport Digital.

There’s a lot of great functionality here, and it’s a precise pump to use. Having said that, the complex battery replacement process is a niggle.

This pump was reviewed as part of BikeRadar’s 2023 pump review. The other pumps tested were:

Workshop manager

Will Poole is BikeRadar’s workshop manager. As a Cytech Level 3-qualified mechanic charged with running one of the busiest workshops in the UK, Will knows almost everything there is to know about bike setup and component configuration. He has ridden and raced road and mountain bikes for more than 25 years, and can often be found ripping up the trails of south Wales. Will is also a regular contributor to BikeRadar and our sister titles, Cycling Plus and Mountain Biking UK magazines, putting his experience as a rider and mechanic to use by testing the latest bikes and product to their limits.