Specialized Air Tool Comp Floor Pump review

The Specialized Air Tool Comp sits alongside the Air Tool HP at the second highest price point in Specialized’s pumps range.

Specialized claims it is "dependable, versatile and accurate" and the Air Tool Comp certainly has a range of interesting features to go with its radiant paintjob.

It's comfortable to use, with a clearly readable dial, and boasts a range of handy features.

Specialized Air Tool Comp details and specifications

Weighing in at 1,678g and standing at 65.5cm (25.8in), the Air Tool Comp features a 78mm-diameter gauge and a 109cm (42.9in) hose.

The head is Specialized’s SwitchHitter 2 system, needing no manual selection between Presta and Schrader valves.

A 26cm-wide and 21cm-long (10.2x8.2in) base houses the dial and the hose exits from the front.

Fully extended, the height is 113.5cm (44.7in), giving a stroke of 49cm (19.3in).

The handle is 26cm long. Viewed from the end, it has a teardrop-like profile that has been turned 90-degrees.

Specialized Air Tool Comp performance

The handle is very comfortable in use. Its 5cm-wide upper face provides plenty of support.

You might not consider that a pump should be comfortable to use. However, the fact that this one is so comfortable suddenly makes those that aren’t somehow less appealing.

While the very smallest hands may struggle to encircle the 3.5cm-tall handle, most will enjoy using the Air Tool Comp.

The Air Tool Comp needed 17 strokes to get to 80psi in a 700 x 26c road bike tyre, 25 strokes to achieve 50psi for a 700x40mm gravel bike tyre and 19 to hit 20psi in a 29x2.4in mountain bike tyre.

These are modal figures taken from a number of attempts at each tyre size.

The two-stage gauge has larger graduations for more accurate pressure adjustment from 0-30psi, switching to lower degrees of rotation for higher pressures.

Pressure readings between the pump’s own gauge and my digital gauge, used as a benchmark, were consistent as far as could be judged on the pump’s analogue dial.

A target pressure indicator is present on the gauge’s bezel, but I found it wasn’t essential to use it because the gauge is large and clearly visible despite being mounted at the base.

The steel base effectively forms a broad tripod, offering stability on rough ground. It has drillings and grip tape designed to improve traction with any footwear in any conditions.

The hose stems from just ahead of the gauge as the user looks down at the base. At 109cm (42.9in), it's long enough to reach either wheel of a bike suspended in a repair stand.

Specialized’s SwitchHitter 2 valve head accepts Presta and Schrader valves with no need to select or adjust anything. You simply fully insert the valve, lift the locking lever and away you go.

There is a little play between the shaft and pump body at full extension – pressure builds from early in the stroke, no matter what height the stroke begins from.

There are mounting points either side of the collar and a clip to attach the hose to itself, to enable you to stow it away. While there isn’t a groove built into the handle, the hose does hook over it.

A replacement rubber seal for the SwitchHitter 2 head is included to help prolong usability of the pump.

Specialized Air Tool Comp bottom line

Specialized has produced one of the best bike pumps on the market in the Air Tool Comp.

The pump is suitable for every type of rider I can think of and has a slew of features to make the experience better one way or another.

While it's not overtly cheap, it doesn’t carry an exclusionary price tag.