The Merida Pump BASIC Floor pump lives up to its name perfectly. It’s a basic, wallet-friendly pump that’s ideal for those who are new to the sport or who don’t regularly ride. However, it's pretty slow at shifting air and the build is worryingly flimsy – it's unlikely to please an enthusiastic rider.
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With a body constructed from steel paired with a plastic base, handle and valve head, the BASIC pump doesn’t ooze quality – but it’s on par for a £20 pump. You also get a needle for blowing up balls and and plastic nozzle for the kind of valves you find on inflatable boats or mattresses.
The gauge is plastic and, thanks to its bright yellow needle sweeping the white units against a black dial, it’s really clear and easy to read.
The head engages with a valve confidently and locks with a solid click, and flipping a rubber seal inside the head converts the attachement from Presta to Schrader or back. It can be tricky to pry the seal out, which could irritate those who use both valve types.
In use the BASIC gets a bit iffy. Even with both feet on the base it’s super-wobbly, to the point I feel the base could snap if I slip or put a hectic effort in. It’s not very efficient either, so if you’re wanting to seat tubeless tyres, look away.
However, it’s cheap and most certainly cheerful if you know what to expect from it. If you’re looking to inflate tubed tyres and you’re not in a hurry, or you want a second pump to stow in the car to top up already-seated tyres, the Merida Pump BASIC Floor will do the job. Given the flimsy build, however, it's hard to say how long it’ll do it.