How to know a good pump? It's painful to pay the local price of 15-30&euro; for a pump that is "very good, durable and small". To me, it is just consumable that I will use until it breaks, so I have no interest in investing too much in such a thing. How can I know what the pump is like? Are there some factors to look at to judge its quality?
I got a Topeak Pocket Rocket a few years back at the LBS spring sale for ~$25. Works great. I made $10 the first time I used it because I didn't have to pay a $35 cab fare to get back home after a flat on a country road.

Fits in my pocket, the nozzle has a snap-on cover, works with Presta/Schrader, it's made of aluminum, feels solid and most importantly gets my tires to an adequate pressure.

For floor pumps, you can check out this thread: What is the best floor pump?