The award-winning Joe Blow Sport III is Topeak's budget-friendly floor pump, offering durability and efficient delivery at a great price despite featuring various parts found on their more expensive models. The Joe Blow Sport III is a must have for any beginner MTBers.
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Beyond the price tag there’s no sign of ‘cheap’ with the Joe Blow Sport III. It easily stacks up to the quality of Topeak's pricier models, and instead just lacks their extra features.
It does, nevertheless, use many of the same bits that the more expensive models use, such as the gauge and head, for example.
The gauge is reasonably sized and easy to read. Like others in Topeak's range it sits a third of the way up the body, instead of down on the base, which sensibly brings it closer – few gauges are that easy to read from six feet away. It also makes the pump feel a bit more compact, as there’s no need for a large base. Needle and bladder attachments stow in the gauge bracket, which is a neat touch.
The Joe Blow Sport III uses the ever-reliable TwinHead head. There’s no fancy auto select here, just two sockets that work really well. It fits Schrader, Dunlop and Presta valves depending on which end of the head you use. The large lever locks confidently and I’ve never worried about bending a valve.
Its action is super smooth with no stiffening throughout the stroke, though it does takes a bit more effort and time to shift air than some other pumps we’ve tested. The Joe Blow Sport III makes seating a tubeless tyre quite a workout, so it’s be best paired with an Airshot or similar if you habitually run tubeless.
If you’re new to the sport or intent on running tubes, the Topeak Joe Blow Sport III is an excellent choice for home use or sticking in the car, thanks to its reliable performance, tank-like build quality and its wallet friendly price.