Singletracks first reviewed the Topeak Joeblow Mountain pump back in 2010 and our reviewer, Syd, was stoked with its ability to inflate tubeless tires. In the years since, tubeless tires have become the norm for mountain biking, and after 13 years Topeak has a new version of the pump, the Joeblow Mountain II.
Topeak Joeblow Mountain II updates
The Topeak Joeblow Mountain II is very similar to the original, with just a few minor changes. The pump still features a 44.4mm diameter steel barrel, long hose, serviceable design, and a dual-sided head that fits Presta, Schrader, and Dunlop valves.
While Topeak markets a number of different Joeblow varieties, the Mountain version is designed to inflate larger-volume tires quickly at pressures up to 60psi. The long hose ensures you never have to spin the wheel down to get to the valve and if anything breaks or wears out, Topeak will likely have spare parts available.
The dual-sided hose head is convenient for keeping a garage full of bikes and playthings inflated, and Topeak includes a ball needle and bladder head with the pump. Many floor pumps require disassembling the pump head and flipping around various pieces to go from Presta to Schrader, but not the Joeblow Mountain II. The only downside to this design is that the lever at the head that switches between the two sides tends to let air out of the tire when moving from open to closed, and closed to open. I’ve been compensating by placing my thumb over the Schrader side to prevent air from leaking out. It also helps to be quick.
I used the Topeak Joeblow Mountain II floor pump to mount and inflate multiple tubeless tires without a compressor. Topeak makes a Joeblow version called Booster that can act like an air compressor, though honestly most riders can probably get by mounting tubeless tires with the Mountain II alone. One thing to note: the Joeblow Mountain II makes a strange, buzzy gurgling sound when pumping, though it doesn’t appear to limit its effectiveness.
Moving beyond the similarities between the old and new version of the pump, here’s what’s changed.
Larger gauge
The most noticeable and welcome change is a larger, 3.5-inch diameter gauge. This makes it easier to dial in tire pressure more precisely, and like the original, the Joeblow Mountain II has a bleed valve at the head for minor adjustments. One thing the larger gauge loses is the external sliding indicator for remembering your target pressure.
I tested two different Joeblow Mountain II pumps and found the gauges to be consistent with one another, each reading 17psi for my rear tire. A Blackburn analog floor pump in my garage read about the same. However a digital gauge pegged the pressure at 19.2psi so either the digital gauge is wrong, or the Joeblow and Blackburns read a couple psi low. (I’ve long suspected the Blackburn was slightly under-reporting tire pressures, which is why I’m not fully convinced the digital gauge is wrong despite three other gauges reading similarly to one another.) If you’re super particular about your tire pressure you may want to recalibrate your preferred numbers for the Joeblow Mountain II just to be sure.
Lighter weight
Most of us don’t really care about the weight of our floor pump, but I should note the Joeblow Mountain II is lighter than its predecessor. This seems to be in part due to a change in the material used for the base to an “engineering grade polymer.” The base material doesn’t feel overly brittle so it should stand up to years of regular use.
A similar material seems to be used for the collar at the top of the barrel, and after a couple uses I noticed one of the tabs that secures the collar had broken off of my sample. I can’t say for sure if the pump came that way, or if I pulled up on the handle too hard and caused the small tab inside to break off. It didn’t affect the pump operation, and I requested a second sample just to make sure it wasn’t a manufacturing defect. The second pump arrived with no issues.
Neutral styling
If anything, the Topeak Joeblow Mountain II now looks like a mountain bike pump. The barrel is painted forest green with stylized topo lines and silver lettering, and even the gauge uses the same green color for highlights.
Pros and cons of the Topeak Joeblow Mountain II pump
Pros
- Inflates tires quickly and can even mount tubeless tires
- Easy to read and consistent pressure gauge
- Long hose and serviceable design should last
Cons
- Lever at the head lets air escape if you’re not quick on the release
- Makes an odd sound
Bottom line
The Topeak Joeblow Mountain pump has long been a favorite among riders, and the latest version will likely find a spot in many garages over the coming years.
- Price: $69.95
- Buy: the original Joeblow Mountain floor pump (the Mountain II is not yet available for purchase)
I just got this pump. I’m disappointed with the twinhead. As stated in the review, it lets air rush out when attaching or detaching from your valve until you turn the lever or remove the head. I thought I got a faulty head and Topeak sent me a new one. The new one does the same thing. It’s a bad design. I’ve never had a pump that did this. I wonder if the smarthead works better. I’ll probably send the pump back or look for a different head that will fit.