Lezyne Steel Digital Floor Drive 3.5 review: The US brand Lezyne is one of the absolute top brands in the bicycle accessories sector. The range of pumps, to which Lezyne attaches great importance, deserves special attention. The innovative products include, for example, the Digital Pressure Over Drive floor pump, which, equipped with a pressure tank, enables tubeless tires to be inflated without an air compressor or CO2 cartridge. In this test, however, we want to focus on the Lezyne Steel Digital Floor Drive 3.5 floor pump, which already looks good.
Structure of the Lezyne Steel Digital Floor Drive 3.5 floor pump
The design, workmanship and materials leave no doubt that this pump is a high-quality product. The elegant, matt black pump body is pleasing to the eye, as is the fine wooden handle and the CNC-machined aluminum base. The pump body sits directly on the base without an intermediate piece, resulting in a very torsion-resistant connection. The digital manometer placed below also catches the eye due to its voluminous dimensions. The battery compartment is less attractive and might be in a different, less obvious place. Visually, however, the only downer. The textile-coated pump hose and the ABS-1 PRO Chuck pump head are testament to the high aesthetic standards of the designers. The scope of delivery also includes a ball needle and an adapter for air mattresses.
Commissioning and operation of the digital pressure gauge
In the test, we can of course only report on the product as it is available to us. The debut was a bit annoying for us. In this particular case - we now simply assume that the product was an exception - the first thing we had to do was change the CR 2032 battery because it was empty. The battery is below the screw cap mentioned above, which can be easily unscrewed with a coin. Removing the battery is a bit annoying, since a shutter button has to be pushed to the side carefully. Only now can the battery be easily lifted and removed with a small screwdriver. Inserting the new CR 2032, on the other hand, is extremely uncomplicated. With the battery fully charged, we could finally devote ourselves to the actual test.
The digital manometer below is operated using two push buttons. The pump is switched on or off by pressing the left switch, the right switch is used to switch between bar (1 decimal place) and psi display (without decimal place). The Lezyne display does not have a backlight, but thanks to the large digits, the air pressure can be read very well. In addition to the air pressure, the display also shows the current battery status. If the pump is not used, the display will turn off after about 3,5 minutes to protect the battery. The imprint on the display is a bit confusing. Here the maximum pump pressure is specified as 350 psi or 24,1 bar, but this is 220 psi or 15,2 bar.
Haptics and pump behavior of the Lezyne Steel Digital Floor Drive 3.5 floor pump
The ABS-1 PRO Chuck pump head was specially developed for the high-pressure area. In contrast to conventional systems, this is not clamped but screwed on. Depending on the valve type, the insert may need to be rotated. Handling and screwing onto the valve takes some practice, but the result is fantastic. The pump head remains absolutely tight even at the highest pressures. Slipping off the valve is also impossible. Not the fastest solution, but certainly one of the safest! The drain valve integrated in the pump head is very inconspicuous, but works without any problems. The wooden handle gives a very pleasant grip. There is also the elegant look. The stable structure of the pump ensures wobble-free inflation. Pump performance is good, but not quite as efficient as higher volume pumps. A few pumping movements are necessary, especially when inflating wider tires.
The details at a glance
- Pressure Gauge Display: Digital, below
- Display modes: bar (1 decimal place) and psi
- Hose length: 120 cm, textile covered
- Base: aluminum
- Pump body: steel
- Handle: Ergonomic wooden handle
- Total height of pump: Approx. 65 cm
- Maximum Pressure: 220 psi (15,2 bar)
- Valve Types: Presta, Auto
- Battery: 1 x CR 2032
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