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Topeak Pocket Rocket Review

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Topeak Pocket Rocket Review (Topeak Pocket Rocket)
Topeak Pocket Rocket
Price:  $23 List
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Manufacturer:   Topeak
By Emily Zell ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Mar 28, 2015

Our Verdict

Topeak's Pocket Rocket is just that - a strong, durable pump in a small, lightweight body. It can be mounted under either water bottle cage and while bigger than the Lezyne Pressure Drive, it is still small enough to forget about - until you need it of course! And when you do need it, you should be pretty pleased with it's secure seals and comfortable handle making inflating a tire that much easier.
REASONS TO BUY
Very small and lightweight. Easy to use. Comfortable handle
REASONS TO AVOID
A bit too long to comfortably mount on seat tube bottle cage. Harder to pump at higher pressures. Difficult to switch from Presta valve set-up to Schrader valve compatibility

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Pocket Rocket is the smaller version of Topeak's Master Blaster, with a mounting bracket to install it under either bottle cage. It is slightly longer and heavier than the Lezyne Pressure Drive, but packs a similar punch when it comes to portability and ease of use. We were able to get good seals on both Presta and Schrader valves. However, we did struggle a bit with switching the head from one compatibility setting to the other, which happened to us with the other single head Topeak pumps as well. However, once all set up, we were able to achieve a good pressure with the Pocket Rocket, even on our road bikes, which run about 110 psi.

Unfortunately, because of this pump's size, while small we found it is still just a bit too long to comfortably mount on the seat tube cage, as it came super close to the left pedal and foot when moving. This was on a size 54 frame. Of course this is really a matter of your own comfort and preference, but if you think it might bug you, and if you can spend a bit more on a pump, the Lezyne Pressure Drive is shorter, and therefore can be comfortably mounted under either cage.

Overall, we found the Pocket Rocket to be very durable, with a simple, aesthetically pleasing design. We also loved how comfortable the molded handle was, making it that much more easy to keep pumping when it got a bit stiffer at higher pressures.

Emily Zell