Lezyne Grip Drive HV pump review – premium-feeling high-volume pump without the price tag

Lezyne is pretty hard to miss if you are shopping for the best mountain bike pumps and CO2 inflators. It has a huge range of pumps covering almost every use case and price point. The Grip Drive HV is a high-volume pump aimed at delivering large quantities of air into mountain bike tires. The full metal construction gives it a premium feel yet it's still keenly priced making it a very tempting choice for those in the market for a new pump. 

Design and aesthetics

Lezyne prides itself in its engineering so it comes as no surprise that the Grip Drive HV has a full metal construction. It feels tough and durable too without the associated weight you would expect. In fact, my review sample weighed 109g which is 10g less than Lezyne claims. The pump is also completely serviceable with Lezyne selling seal kits, replacement hoses, and rubber end caps.

Lezyne rates the pump to 90psi although for all high volume applications you will never need to pump a tire anywhere near that pressure. The hose screws onto the valve and is compatible with both Presta or Schrader valves and is neatly stored within the pump when not in use.

Lezyne offers the Grip Drive HV in two different sizes, 186mm and 231mm. I have the shorter model to test as I wanted to prioritize packability rather than maximum air delivery. The 186mm length does make it a tad long if you are a backpack-free, cargo bib shorts rider, in which case you would be better suited to the smaller Pocket Drive HV which measures just 140mm. That said, Lezyne does include a composite frame mount if you want to store it on your bike.

The pump has an understated aesthetic and the flash of gold inside really boosts the overall premium feel of the pump. I have the all-black version although you can also get the pump in red/black or black/silver colorways. The finish isn't quite as durable as the construction so after a bit of use the black will begin to rub off where you grip the pump.

Performance 

Build quality feels great and the gnarling adds a good level of grip when in use. All the threads are nicely machined and everything screws together smoothly. Having the hose is a big positive as it allows a far more secure and comfortable pumping position. On the flip side, it suffers from the occasional post-inflation valve core removal so it's worth making sure your valve cores are tight, you don't thread the hose on too tight and exhaust the pressure within the hose for removal.

In use, 100 strokes got me up to 18 psi on a 2.2 inch XC tire and a further 100 strokes took it to 23.5 psi. The pump is still impressively light in action up to 300 strokes, at which my tire was hitting 30 psi. The build is pretty rigid too, so there is very little wobble in the handle even when you're giving it the beans.

I found the threaded section of the hose that goes into the pump could get surprisingly hot after some furious inflation, making it a little harder to remove. Also, the rubber cover on the handle is a little annoying as it flaps around under your hand, although it doesn't affect the pump's performance in any way. 

Verdict

The Lezyne Grip Drive HV is a well-constructed, premium-feeling high volume pump at a decent price. The smooth pumping action and hose attachment makes inflating mountain bike tires easy up to 30 psi. The fact you can service and rebuild it is a massive bonus as well if you like to keep your products going.

The convenience of the hose is offset a little by the inconvenient occasional valve core removal and pocket packers will be better serviced by the shorter 140mm Lezyne Pocket Drive HV.

Tech Specs: Lezyne Grip Drive HV pump

• Price: $35 / £35
• Colors: Black, Red/Black, and Black/Silver
• Weight: 109g
• Length: 186mm