The Pocketshock DXG by Topeak is a compact and convenient pump that allows you to adjust the air pressure in your mountain bike’s front fork and rear shock. This is crucial for optimizing the suspension travel of your fork and shock.
I’ve tested this pump, and in this review, you’ll find out if it met my expectations.
⭐️ Verdict: High quality & ease of use (8,7/10)
The Pocket Shock DXG by Topeak excels in almost every aspect. Its compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry the pump in a backpack during adventurous rides. It is convenient for adjusting your suspension on the go…
The dual Pressure-Rite connection system ensures that no air is lost when disconnecting the pump. The 360° swiveling hose head provides extra convenience, especially when the valve is hard to reach.
While I’m impressed with the performance of the Pocket Shock DXG, I find that the scale markings can be somewhat challenging to read due to its compact size.
As for the price, this pump is certainly not the cheapest, but it’s also not the most expensive. It’s a happy medium!
Further along in this Topeak Pocketshock DXG review, you can delve into the tool in detail…
Pros
Compact and light
Swiveling hose
Dosing knob
No air loss
Very good quality
Cons
Scale could be clearer
High pressure requires some force
Overall Score
8,7/10 😁
Quality of Materials
9/10 🤩
Ease of Use
9/10 🤩
Functionality
8,5/10 😁
Price
7,5/10 😃
Size & Storage
8,5/10 😁
Topeak has been producing high-quality bike accessories and tools for over 31 years, and the Pocketshock DXG is one of them. This pump won the Eurobike award in 2005. And although the Pocketshock isn’t new, it remains a widely used pump for adjusting mountain bike suspension.
The pump is compact, making it easy to carry. This allows for on-the-go fine-tuning of the suspension. It’s also very user-friendly, thanks in part to the clear instruction manual.
While the scale markings could be clearer, they are still readable. The pump features a dual valve, ensuring no air loss when disconnecting. Okay, I’ve heard a tiny hiss occasionally, but that’s about it!
Table of Contents
Topeak Pocketshock DXG review
In the review below, you’ll discover everything about how this pump performs in practice, its functionality, quality, and price. Furthermore, I’ll provide you with some alternatives for this pump later on if it doesn’t manage to convince you.
Quality of Materials
Topeak is renowned for its high quality, and the Pocketshock DXG lives up to this reputation. Despite its compact size, the pump feels sturdy and comfortable to hold in hand.
The dial is made of high-quality carbon. Although the scale markings are somewhat compact and close together, I have no trouble reading them clearly. However, I can imagine that this might be different for some people. The dial is also slightly recessed.
The connection of the pump is very sturdy, and the dual valve works perfectly.
Category Score: 9/10
Ease of Use
The Pocketshock DXG is very user-friendly. Both attaching and detaching it is very easy. With the clear instructions provided, you’ll quickly get the hang of this process, at least that was the case for me.
To connect the pump, you need to unscrew the lower part to its furthest point. Then, you can tighten the head. After that, you need to close the Pressure Rite valve. Right after, you can start pumping.
If you really need high pressure, you’ll be pumping for a while, and the last strokes may require some extra force. Personally, I didn’t encounter any issues with this.
If you’ve pumped a tad too much air into the suspension, you can use the air-pressure button to release some air. With this button, you can finely adjust the air pressure precisely (per 0.5 bar or 5 psi).
Disconnecting the pump without losing pressure is also very easy. You simply follow the reverse process by first unscrewing the Pressur Rite valve again. Then, you can detach the other part of the pump. If done correctly, you’ll lose minimal pressure, just a tiny hiss.
Thanks to the flexible hose, you can easily and quickly connect the pump to a shock whose connection point may be a bit tricky to reach. This, along with the dual valve, is a major advantage of this pump in my opinion.
Category Score: 9/10
Functionality
The Pocketshock DXG has a very wide pressure range of up to 360 psi, which corresponds to 24.8 bar. You can adjust the pressure accurately per 0.5 bar or 5 psi using the air-pressure button. The pump is suitable for adjusting both the front fork and rear shock.
This pump cannot be used to inflate your tires and is only suitable for adjusting the suspension.
Category Score: 8,5/10
Price
I’ve always found the price-quality ratio of Topeak tools to be excellent. While the pump is certainly not the cheapest on the market, it’s also not the most expensive. For around $30 (€38), you get a sturdy pump that allows you to adjust your mountain bike’s suspension very precisely.
Category Score: 7,5/10
Size & Storage
The pump is quite compact and lightweight. Therefore, you can easily carry it in your backpack to fine-tune your suspension on the go. This is especially a smart idea if you’ve just got a new mountain bike and the suspension isn’t yet adjusted to your preferences and riding style.
You can neatly attach the hose to the pump itself, which helps save extra space and prevents damage to the hose and the head.
The pump weighs 0,39 lbs (178 grams) and is 8.27 inches (21 cm) long, which should not be problematic for most bike backpacks. However, most saddlebags will be slightly too small.
Category Score: 8,5/10
Brand Reputation & Reviews
In addition to my own positive experiences with this pump, users worldwide unanimously agree that this pump works very well and is of high quality.
It’s not surprising that Topeak tools regularly receive awards. Topeak has become globally recognized in the cycling world and has built an excellent, reliable, and credible reputation over the years.
When I’m looking for a specific tool, I always check Topeak’s assortment to see if they have it.
Category Score: 10/10
Who is the Topeak Pocketshock DXG suitable for?
If you have a hardtail or full suspension mountain bike, you will definitely benefit from a reliable fork pump like the Topeak Pocketshock DXG. This way, you can adjust the sag perfectly and make the most of the suspension travel.
In my opinion, such a pump is a must-have because without it, you won’t be able to adjust and fine-tune your suspension optimally.
Topeak Pocketshock DXG Review: How I rated this product
I purchased and used the Topeak Pocketshock DXG myself to adjust and fine-tune the suspension on my mountain bikes. This review is entirely based on my own experiences with this pump.
Like all other tools I review, I evaluated the pump on various important aspects and characteristics.
Alternatives for the Topeak Pocketshock DXG
Not convinced of the qualities of the Topeak Pocketshock DXG? In that case, there are other good options available. Below, you’ll find three worthy alternatives to the Pocketshock.
RockShox
This RockShox pump is of very high quality, easy to read, and adds air very quickly. One downside is the slight pressure loss of about 10 psi when disconnecting the pump. In terms of price, this is by far one of the best choices.
Pros
High quality
Easy to read
Fast airflow
Great price
Cons
Light pressure loss (10 psi)
Position of the bleed valve
SKS SAM
This pump from the German brand SKS offers features similar to the Topeak but is slightly cheaper. You won’t lose any air, and the hose is flexible, providing extra convenience. However, the pump is a bit heavier and slightly less compact.
Pros
Durable swivel hose
Dual valve
No air loss
Excellent value for money
Cons
Difficult to read psi values
Relatively big
Short hose
Fox Factory
This Fox Factory pump has a high-pressure capacity of up to 350 psi, and it has an easy-to-read gauge. At lower pressures, this pump is less accurate, and minimal air loss is possible. Overall a very sturdy choice.
Pros
High-Pressure Capacity
Easy-to-Read Gauge
Flexible Hose
Bleed valve
Cons
Less accurate at lower pressures
Minimal air loss is possible
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, and based on my experiences, the Topeak Pocketshock DXG is an excellent choice for perfectly adjusting your suspension. Thanks to the dual valve, there’s virtually no pressure loss when disconnecting. Additionally, the pump is compact enough to fine-tune the suspension on the trails.
In terms of price and quality, there are few pumps that match up to Topeak’s. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s far from the most expensive pump available. Topeak is a proven value with an excellent reputation. Therefore, I can only recommend this pump.
Overall Score
8,7/10 😁
Quality of Materials
9/10 🤩
Ease of Use
9/10 🤩
Functionality
8,5/10 😁
Price
7,5/10 😃
Size & Storage
8,5/10 😁
Topeak Pocketshock DXG
With this pump, you can adjust your suspension perfectly. It’s compact enough to take with you in your backpack, allowing you to fine-tune your suspension on the go.
Connecting, using, and disconnecting is very easy. The clear instruction manual ensures that you get it right the first time!
The dual valve ensures that, apart from a minimal hiss, no pressure is lost when disconnecting. Thanks to the flexible hose, you can also quickly and easily connect the pump to harder-to-reach shocks.
The quality is superb, as I’ve come to expect from other Topeak tools. You might pay a little more, but you get solid quality in return.
Pros
Compact and light
Swiveling hose
Dosing knob
No air loss
Very good quality
Cons
Scale could be clearer
High pressure requires some force
