Topeak JoeBlow Booster Floor Pump

A review of the JoeBlow take on pumps designed to seat tubeless tires.

I previously reviewed the Birzman Maha Apogee IV and the Blackburn Piston 3. Each one got a good review, and I’ve used them for a number of years. I never really felt like they were perfect, though. Also, since working on the Look 795 Blade RS project, I’ve switched to tubeless tires on the Vision Metron 55SL wheelset. Once again, I had an opportunity to work with Amain Cycling, and I knew I wanted to talk about a floor pump. I decided the JoeBlow Booster pump was going to be my pick for a tubeless capable floor pump.

JoeBlow pumps are ubiquitous because they are priced right and work really well.

I’ve encountered JoeBlow products a lot. Seemingly every time I borrowed a pump, it was a JoeBlow pump. Most recently, I rode to a time trial race, and got a flat on the way. When I was checking in, I mentioned that I had ridden to the event and gotten a flat. The organizer offered me his pump to check my tire pressure. Sure enough, it was a JoeBlow pump. Just like each time I’d borrowed one in the past, it was a joy. Easy to get on the valve, no chance of unscrewing the core, and easy to get off. After that, I decided next time I had a chance to discuss pumps, it was going to be a JoeBlow pump.

In most cases an air compressor just doesn’t make sense for day to day home use.

Tubeless tires are getting easier and easier but there are still times it’s a struggle to get the bead to seat on the wheel. Most shops will have air compressors capable of doing the job. But for home use, an air compressor doesn’t make sense. What you’ll want at home is a pump with a canister. Pump up the canister then release the air in one quick blast.

I’m not going to dwell too much on the tubeless capabilities of the JoeBlow Booster floor pump. The one thing that is really nice about this feature is that using it is simple.

It takes 40 pumps to charge the booster canister.

There’s no need to unplug, or reconfigure, anything. One simple switch redirects air from the hose to the canister once it’s full just switch it again to release the air.

That feature isn’t what makes the JoeBlow Booster great. The booster capabilities are pretty simple, and there are any number of options for pumps with the same feature. What makes the JoeBlow Booster a great pump is all the other small details.

The air hose is extra long, and there are two hose docks where you can clip the hose for neat storage. The pressure gauge sits on top of the air canister. The placement means it’s towards the top of the pump and easier to read. The numbers and hash marks are well designed. There is plenty of contrast, and it’s never a struggle to figure out what pressure is being read. If you do manage to go over the desired pressure, there is a release valve.

Which brings up my favorite part of the JoeBlow Booster pump. The DX3 smart head will work for both presta or schrader valves. There’s no switching of anything, it just works. But even better is how easy it is to get on and off. With many pumps, it’s a struggle to get the head off the valve. That’s never an issue with this pump, and it’s what I appreciate every time I use it. 

A good pump just works. That can make writing a review harder but it’s what makes a great product.

I struggled to write this review a bit because the JoeBlow pump is so understated. It’s one of those products that just works, and even though I use it almost every day, I don’t think about it much. If you need to seat a tubeless tire, it’s a simple matter of switching a single valve. There’s no struggle to get the head on or off. The base is sturdy, the gauge is easy to read, and the hose is plenty long. The MSRP is $149, and it’s a solid investment. I know many people with JoeBlow pumps that are at least 10 years old. 

Head over to Amain cycling and grab a great pump that will stand the test of time:
Topeak JoeBlow Booster Floor Pump
All of the Topeak products carried by Amain Cycling

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