Nothing is worse than a bicycle tire that goes flat, a basketball that won't bounce, and especially a flat tire on the side of the road. Thankfully, inflators are your ticket out of those situations.

When it comes down to it, inflators can tackle almost any inflating task: sports balls, pool toys, bike tires, car tires, air mattresses, and rafts with ease! 

 

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Which Inflator Should I Use?

Depending on what you're inflating, you might need anything from a hand pump to an air compressor. Here are some suggestions on what kind of inflator to use and when.

 

 

Sport Balls

If your inflation needs exclusively consist of filling sports balls, you could buy a hand pump, but they tend to be too slow for large items. Since inflators are relatively inexpensive, you might as well do yourself a favor and get one.

Inflatables

Inflatable toys, beach balls, and rafts can be filled the old-fashioned way: with your lungs. However, this can take a very long time. An inflator with an adapter can get these items full of air in a fraction of the time you could do it manually.

Air Mattresses & Rafts

Tubing is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, so long as you don't try inflating the tube by mouth or hand. Even using a 12-volt or 120-volt inflator will take a long time.

The two best options are a high-volume inflator meant for items like these or an air compressor with an adapter. Usually, items such as tubes or air mattresses have large openings so you'll need to make sure you have the proper adapter for the job.

 

Bicycle Tires

You have three options for inflating bicycle tires, and your decision basically comes down to how much time do you want to spend.

A hand pump will take the longest. A 12-volt inflator will fill up bicycle tires faster, while a 120-volt inflator will do it even faster. But an air compressor will get you back on the trails in seconds, not minutes.

Automobile Tires

The most popular reason for purchasing an inflator is to fill automobile tires. More than a convenience item to have in the trunk, an inflator can be a literal lifesaver. 

An inflator can save you in a stall and get you up and running in no time flat! A 12-volt inflator uses the vehicle's battery power and shines the most while on the go. 120-volt inflators may be more powerful, but you'll need to find an outlet to plug them into.

Overall, inflators are great for small tasks and emergency situations, but if you'll be using them regularly or want to do jobs around the house, do yourself a favor and get an electric air compressor.

 

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