The Topeak Mini Morph G is a slightly overweight and underpowered mini pump that is comfortable to use, just not in the way Topeak intends.
Like the rest of its Morph pumps, Topeak says the Mini Morph G “brings your floor pump on the trail”. In practice it delivers neither the ergonomics nor the power of a track pump to road- or trail-side inflation.
But it does bring some of the weight. At 195g including the mount, which you’ll want to use unless you can put it in a bag, the Mini Morph G weighs much more than most mini pumps and about the same as a frame pump.
In use
Featuring a foot pad, handle and flexible hose that all fold out, the Mini Morph G is designed to be used like a floor pump. In theory, you should connect the pump head to the valve at the bottom of the tyre. Then the extendable and flexy hose should enable you to move the pump body away from the wheel. With your foot on the foot pad to keep the pump body vertical and stable, you should then pump downwards, as you would with a track pump. This allows you to read the gauge on the hose as you inflate.
However, while pumping downwards in this way, either bent over or in a lunge, I wasn’t able to produce enough power. Because I was having to hold the pump body with my left hand, as the foot pad was too small for me to hold the pump in place with my foot, I was pumping one-handed, whereas you generally use both with a floor pump. The foot pad also relies on you being on even ground when you get a puncture, which won’t always be the case.
I found it easier to inflate tyres with the valve at the top of the tyre, holding everything in a straight line. This way the Mini Morph G securely attaches to the valve and offers more leverage than most mini pumps. It’s comfortable to use thanks to the handle, which you hold in your pumping hand, and extendable hose, which means you don’t need to press the head onto the valve.
This feature of the Mini Morph G seemed to lower the risk of bending or breaking a valve and punching a spoke with your hand if it slips off the pump head.
Inflation rate
Topeak claims its volume per stroke is 55cc. This is more than most mini pumps and less than frame pumps such as Topeak’s Master Blaster in its larger sizes. I inflated a 32mm road tyre to 73psi with 150 strokes, so the claim seems about right.
> How to choose the best bike tyre pressure – balancing speed, comfort and grip
For what it’s worth, Topeak says the maximum pressure is 140psi, or at least that is as high as the gauge will read to. The gauge itself seemed accurate – I used a digital pressure gauge to corroborate it – as long as you reach a multiple of ten. In between these, it’s hard to read.
The Mini Morph G isn’t such a good choice on a gravel bike. Since the dial starts at 30psi, the chances are your optimal tyre pressure will be just above or even below that mark. You can’t change it from its default setting unlike some mini pumps that have high-pressure and high-volume modes. Inflating a 50mm-wide gravel tyre to 34psi took 100 strokes. This rate of inflation is by no means rapid, but I’d usually run this width of tyre about 10psi lower, so it will get to the desired pressure eventually.
As on other Topeak pumps, it’s easy to switch the head of the Mini Morph G from its default Presta valve setting to Schrader. But owing to the starting point of the gauge and its slow inflation of high-volume tyres, I would not recommend it for mountain bike use.
Mounting
The pump comes with a centreline mount bracket you can attach to your frame, either using bottle cage bosses or by strapping it with the supplied zip ties to the underside of your top tube, for example. You also get two pads to fit between the back of the mount and the frame to stop it scratching the paint.
Mounted this way on my Giant Revolt, the Mini Morph G didn’t budge an inch, even on rocky tracks. This is probably because the mount’s connection to the frame is solid, and the mounting bracket has two slots and a strap to secure the pump.
Given its weight and size, if you can’t or don’t want to fit this pump to your frame, it’s one to place in a hip pack, backpack or frame bag rather than a jersey pocket.
Value
Thanks to its long length when fully extended, its sturdy head and handle, and long hose, the Topeak Mini Morph G is more pleasant to inflate with than a typical mini pump. But it still lacks the leverage and power of a frame pump while weighing a similar amount.
I don’t think the gauge is worth the extra outlay or weight if you’ll use it to inflate fatter tyres. The gauge-less Mini Morph is £5 cheaper and 24g lighter, according to Topeak.
In addition, there are a couple of options in Topeak’s range I prefer for road riding. On a race bike, I would use the much lighter and compact Topeak Roadie 2Stage for just a few quid more (£39.99); on a winter bike or endurance bike with a suitable frame, I would take the Master Blaster. This frame pump is more powerful and longer for better leverage but a similar weight because it doesn’t need a mount. It’s also cheaper at £26.99.
Conclusion
Overall, despite not being easy to use in the way Topeak designed, when you inflate tyres as you would with a conventional mini pump it does work all right, albeit pretty slowly for a pump of its weight.
Verdict
Doesn’t work well as a portable track pump but still nicer to use than a standard mini pump
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Topeak Mini Morph with Gauge
Size tested: One Size
Tell us what the product is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
The Topeak Mini Morph G is designed for road, gravel and mountain bike riders who want a portable pump that works more like a floor pump. The idea is a good one, but the size of the pump means this wasn’t feasible for me.
Topeak says: “The smallest Morph® is still big on features. Fills both fat and skinny tyres with ease, fold out foot pad for hassle-free inflation.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
It has a fold-out foot pad, flexible hose, dual density polymer handle, in-line gauge that reads from 30-140psi, a butted aluminium barrel and plastic thumb lock. A centreline mount bracket is included.
Topeak lists:
Head: Fits Presta / Schrader / Dunlop valves
Barrel: Butted aluminum
Handle: T-type dual density polymer
Capacity: 160 psi / 11 bar
Added Features: Fold-out foot pad, Flexible hose
Includes centerline mount bracket (Art No. TRP-3C)
Volume Per Stroke: 50cc
Size: 26x5x2.8cm
Weight: 178g (with gauge), 154g (without gauge)
Pretty comfortable when used with the hose, barrel and handle in a straight line, but not in the way Topeak designed.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Not very well. I found it too small to be used in the style of a track pump.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
I liked its compact size when fitted to my bike frame with the secure mount and bracket.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The impracticality of using it in its intended way and its slow inflation speed for a pump of its weight.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
For a mini pump, £34.99 is mid-range.
Did you enjoy using the product? I neither loved it nor loathed it.
Would you consider buying the product? No
Would you recommend the product to a friend? No
Use this box to explain your overall score
I think it’s just above average. Despite not being easy to use as Topeak designed, when you inflate tyres as you would with a conventional mini pump it does work all right, albeit pretty slowly for a pump of its weight. The build quality of the head, hose, barrel and handle are solid, if not luxurious, though the gauge is basically redundant if you run lower pressures than 30psi.
About the tester
Age: 31 Height: 190cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: Fairlight Strael 3.0 My best bike is: Canyon Ultimate CF SLX (2016, rim brake)
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, cyclo cross, touring, club rides, Gravel
1 thought on “Topeak Mini Morph with Gauge”
I’ve had the non-gauge
I’ve had the non-gauge version for years and while the ‘foot plate’ is a tad short I’ve always found it easier to use than most pumps ‘cos you’re pushing down and gravity is on your side. It’s not as good as as my frame pump but the hose means less chance of valve damage. And sorting out a flat at 02:30 on a wet Sunday morning is no time to do something stupid to the valve of your one remaining inner tube.