Inflation Devices
You've come to the right place if you're looking to add air to any of the following: - Bike tires
- Balls (soccer, football, basketball, volleyball,...)
- Car and motorcycle tires
- Air mattresses
- Beach and pool floats
- Inflatable rafts and kayaks
Many pumps will inflate any and all of the above, but not all work as well for each use. And still there are some that specialize in emergency use and are not meant as maintenance tools.
Quick Picks
General Pumps
Floor pumps and air compressors will inflate anything you need, provided you have the strength and accessories.
Floor Pumps
Sometimes called track pumps, floor pumps are standing devices that you pump vertically while using the ground for leverage. They're the "traditional" bike pumps.
Things to consider: - Seal: Air leaks waste energy, making you work harder. A well-built pump will form a seal and not let air escape, even with repeated use.
- Compatibility: Most pumps these days work on both Schrader and Presta valves. To inflate a ball you'll need a ball needle,
 which comes with many models or costs well under a dollar a piece.
- Gauge: You'll want to know how inflated your item is before you start, how much you're progressing as you pump and when it's inflated to the PSI you want (the recommended PSI, or pound-force per square inch, for a tire, ball, or device is usually noted near its valve). A good pressure indicator dial is well noted, easy to read from a standing distance, and located in a position on the pump that will be convenient to look at while you're at work.
- Base: With floor pumps you'll have to keep the pump upright by keeping a foot (or two) on the pump's base. There are a few things more annoying than a pump that keeps falling over as you use it. A wider base will provide more stability, though the pump's portability may suffer.
- Portability: If you want a pump to take with you on bike rides, look into the frame models below. Otherwise, most floor pumps will fit in cars, if you'd like to keep it around in case of auto tire emergency.
- Handle: This is the piece of rubber you'll be gripping and pressing down on for inflating -- good, comfortable grips are best, though not absolutely necessary.
- Barrel: Larger barrels, the manufacturers of larger barrels will tell you, produce more air per stroke. Yet your ideal should not be maximum pressure per stroke but a balance between high pressure and ease of pumping. Better to pump twenty times and breathe easy then pass out trying to master ten heavy, powerful strokes.
- Dual action: An invention of the '90s was the model that pumped air both on the down stroke and up stroke, as opposed to only on the down stroke, presumably doubling your output on the same amount of effort. Reviews are mixed. Tests show little difference, but newer models are making strides.
Electric Pumps
Electric air pumps or compressors automatically fill inflate at the push of a button, with little to no work from the user.
Things to consider: - Price: Some models cost as little as floor pumps, some even less, with all tire compressors falling into the $20 to $70 price range.
- Power: Models, mostly 12V, are powered by wall outlet, cigarette lighter, or batteries -- some offer a combination of these. Each type of power dependency has its own clear benefits and drawbacks: Plugging into a wall is of no use if you want an air compressor as an emergency roadside unit, and for other uses its practicality will be quite dependent on the length of the power cord and its convenience. Plugging into a cigarette lighter is awkward if you plan to inflate air mattresses and pool chairs -- though you might get a model devoted to those purposes anyway. Batteries give limited power and clearly won't last as long as traditional power outlets.
- Compatibility: Two types of electric air inflators are usually marketed: One for automobile tires and another for air mattresses and inflatable flotation devices. Both types can often (and easily) be adapted to bicycles and balls given the proper accessories, which many times come with the pumps. Car pumps can also be used many times for blow-ups, though usually not the other way around; this would be why the former are more expensive.
- Portability: Most models these days are built to travel -- you'd like to fill your tires enough to get to the nearest station if you get a minor puncture, and you don't want to inflate a kayak before you put it in the car. But you'll want to consult the weight anyway to see if a given compressor is something you can carry, and the size, to see if your trunk can accommodate it.
- Deflation: If taking all the air out of a gigantic blow-up recliner seems like a hassle after a day of lounging in it -- and, jokes aside, it tends to be, whether you've been relaxing or white water rafting on an inflatable -- and you don't have the time to waste on squeezing plastic, make sure your air pump has a deflate function, which is usually as easy as maneuvering the pump's hose.
Additional Pumps
Bike Pumps
|
- There are a few types available, including frame pumps, mini pumps, and C02 inflators.
- Keep in mind that while at home, you can easily use any time of full-size floor pump.
- Average cost for a bike frame pump or mini pump is $30 to $50.
- Usually it's a good idea to have two pumps, one for at home and one for the frame of your bike that you can take with you while on the road just in case you have an emergency.
- To learn more about bike pumps and what to look for when buying, please see Bike Pumps.
|
Ball Pumps
|
- Easy hand pumping for sports balls.
- Come with ball needle installed -- can't be used for anything else.
- No gauges.
- Usually cost less than $10.
|
Foot Pumps
|
- Lets your body weight do the work.
- Best for floats, but also can be used for balls (with needle) and bike tires.
- Relatively small (usually less than a foot in length).
- Can take longer than floor pump (less air per stroke).
- Some inflate up to only 15 PSI (designed for flotation devices).
- Look for: Wide base, so the thing stays still.
|
Related Articles
|
|
Shopping Directory
