SKS Germany Air X-Plorer Digi 10 Pump 2022
Reviews / Pumps
10,057
At a glance
The Air X-Plorer Digi 10 is a floor pump with a digital pressure gauge.
It can create a pressure up to 10 bar, and uses the MV Multi valve system to adapt between Schraeder and Presta valve systems.
It retails for: 59,99 EU
About the brand
Back in 1921 a German called Karl Scheffer-Klute started the company, manufacturing curtain rods in the town of Sundern. In 1932 Wilhelm Blome took over the company and bought a tire inflator company and began manufacturing metal pumps. In 1945 they added a football pump to the program, and started expanding the offering when plastics were introduced in the mid 50’s. In 1966 they created the masterpiece which basically is the standard of all high end bicycle pumps, the Rennkompressor. This high end pump is still one of the most found products with race teams, workshops and pro riders. In the 80’s and 90’s they expanded the product range even more with fenders, mudguards, saddle bags and other accessories. Currently they employ around 700 people, the pumps are still manufactured in Germany and besides the bicycle segment, they also supply plastic components to the likes of BMW, Mercedes and KTM.
Besides making quality products and having spare parts available I could not find a sustainability strategy in place.
The product
The brand new SKS pump is a piece of quality. The steel tube and sturdy metal base are sure to give it a long life and a digital pressure gauge makes for high precision accuracy measurements. The soft rubber handle has a good feel and ergonomic design. The 120cm long hose is plenty to easily inflate the tires of any ride, while the MV head fits on multiple valve types without any issue or disassembly. The entire pump measures 71cm high and weighs in at 2000 grams. If any of the wear and tear parts of the pump need replacing, no problem. SKS pride themselves on keeping stock of the small parts like seals, hoses and they even stock the digital pressure valve. You can find the part numbers easily on their website.
Out on the trail
In use, it has plenty of oumpf to inflate tires quickly, and even setting up a tubeless system proved no issue for the Air X Plorer. The pressure gauge can be switched from PSI to Bar to suit your preference and the big digits are easy to read. In case you forget to turn the gauge off, it switches off automatically after 20 seconds or so, a great way to make the 2 Micro AAA batteries last a lifetime. The pump has a solid feel to it, and as it’s made of steel it can withstand a beating.
Verdict
I was pleasantly surprised with the Air X-Plorer Digi 10 Pump. For this price point to get not just a pump with a digital pressure meter, but also a quality steel construction is not very common. Added bonus is that it also has spares for sale, so it’s a purchase that will last. Thumbs up!
This review was in Issue 71 of IMB.
For more information visit SKS GermanyRelated
By Jarno Hoogland
Jarno's life has revolved around two wheels ever since he swung a leg over his first BMX at age 4. After a BMX and DH racing career, he moved on to work for bike shops, distributors and brands before ending up in the editors seat at IMB. Based in the ultimate testing ground in the Swiss mountains, he runs his guiding operation and makes sure every IMB issue is filled with top notch content.
