Reviews over the

SKS Air X-Plorer Digi 10.0

Despite having no need* for a new pump, I purchased this one. First impression is that this is a big and heavy pump, the base is one big metal surface unfortunately without rubber anti-slip feet. In itself not a big disadvantage but still something to take into account. Otherwise, the pump looks very solid and the black and bright orange colours are a striking eye-catcher. The first test with the pump was positive. You attach the head in the opposite direction than you are used to with most pumps. The lever has to go down to press on the rubbers. This is smoother than the old system and the lever can be tightened without difficulty. Finally a pump where this goes well for once! Presta valves take the pump head on the smaller screw part, not on the valve shaft/tube. As a result, the grip on the valve is perfect. Not a whiff of air escapes! Now for the test of the digital pressure gauge. Pressurising the tyre is smooth, but requires a bit more force than pumping with a thin tube. However, for 28mm or even 25mm tyres, you won't run into immediate problems. Only from about 6 bar onwards do you need to apply force. Unfortunately, it feels like the pump does not slide smoothly. Perhaps some extra grease/lubrication is needed somewhere. It does not hamper operation, pumping is smooth but not 'smooth'. The pressure reading is ok. Not wow but not bad either. The fact that I can now see very clearly how much pressure I put on the tyres is super! The display is very bright and the numbers very large and clearly readable. When you stop pumping, the pressure also stabilises nicely. Only there is some delay, this is a downside. You can easily pump 0.1-0.2 bar too far because the reading is a bit behind. So I stop pumping when I see the figure coming close. Then I pump little bits more for the perfect pressure. All in all, a very good pump for its money. That you can pump tyres at exactly the right pressure and its very good head are great advantages compared to the small points of improvement that are possible. Therefore 4 stars and definitely a pump I will continue to use. *My previous pump, also from Mantel, could pump to high pressure quickly and easily. But tightening the lever was always quite an undertaking. It took a lot of force and the head shifted causing air to escape, on smooth valves the head even regularly jumped off the valve. Reading off the pumped pressure was only possible in sufficient light.

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