If you’ve been a driver for a while, you know how important it is always to be prepared with a solution for any unexpected event that might occur on the way. Ranging from a first aid kit, all the way to portable jumpstarters — there are a ton of devices that you should consider having at all costs in your car. One of the most important ones, especially if you often travel in rural areas is the tire inflator. You never know when it might come in handy.

Having a portable tire inflator is critical to ensure that you will always have a reliable source of compressed air whenever you or anyone else around you might need it. If you travel in areas that are very far off from any civilization, it is vital that you have the means to get your car back on the highway. As with many products, finding the best portable tire inflator for your vehicle is not an easy task. There are too many products with many different functions and features.

This is our take on the five best portable tire inflators:

# Image Brand Price
1 EPAuto $35
2 AAA $17
3 Astro $60
4 Onewell $25
5 Tsumbay $38

 

1. EPAuto Portable Air Compressor

  • 12V DC Power
  • 10-15 A / 120-180 W
  • Digital display
  • 100psi
  • Four units (PSI, KPA, BAR, KG/CM)
  • LED Flashlight

In terms of price and functionality, the EPAuto portable air compressor is the best tire inflator that you can get for your car. It comes with a long power cord through which runs a 12V charge (10-15A / 120-180W). On top of the device, you will find an LCD display on which you can see pressure in PSI, KPA, BAR or Kg/cm.

The maximum pressure that the EPAuto can maintain is 100psi, which is more than enough to inflate any tire you might need. If you sometimes find yourself in dark places with your car and no light — fear not. At the front of the device, you will find a big flashlight that will help you navigate in the dark.

2. AAA Lifeline Portable Air Compressor

  • 12V DC Power
  • 300 psi
  • 10 ft / 3 m cable
  • 1.5 ft / 0.45 m air connector
  • Size: 8″ x 6″ x 4″

If you’re looking for something more powerful for bigger tires, then you might want to check out the AAA Lifeline portable air compressor. Compared to the EPAuto, this gadget has three times more power — enough to produce 300psi pressure. The long 10ft (or 3m) cable will ensure that you can move freely around and reach wherever you need with the tire inflator.

The air connector on the AAA Lifeline portable air compressor is about half a meter in size (1.5ft / 45cm). If portability is something that you would prefer before the others, then this one is the perfect way to go. It comes in the surprisingly small size of 8 x 6 x 4 inches.

3. Astro 3018 Portable Air Compressor

  • Dual AAA battery
  • 21-inch Stainless braided hose
  • 3 – 175 psi measure range
  • 0.1psi display resolution
  • Large LCD display
  • Accuracy: 0 – 58 psi +/- 1.2 PSI, 59 – 174 psi +/- 1.2 PSI

What if you weren’t looking for something that connects to your car with a DC adapter? Maybe you need something with the good old replaceable batteries. If that is the case, the Astro 3018 is the perfect solution to your needs. It comes with dual AAA batteries and can work not only on your car tires but on your bike, motorcycle, ball or other inflatables.

The Astro 3018 comes with a 21-inch stainless braided hose that fits very comfortably in your palm. On it, there is a big LCD display which is capable of displaying the pressure with a resolution of up to 0.1psi. The measuring range is between 3 and 175 psi and the accuracy is 0 – 58 psi +/- 1.2 PSI, 59 – 174 psi +/- 1.2 PSI

4. Onewell Portable Air Compressor

  • Dual AAA battery
  • 200psi
  • 1% accuracy
  • 0.1psi display resolution
  • LCD Display
  • 90-degree valve extender with 360-degree rotation

A great alternative to the Astro 3018 dual AAA battery tire inflator is the Onewell portable air compressor. The device supports a slightly higher maximum possible pressure — 200psi. It is also dual-AAA-battery-powered and features a large LCD display. It will show you the current pressure in the tire with a resolution of 0.1psi an accuracy of 1%. One of the components you get with the device is a 90-degree valve extender that supports 360-degree rotation for complete comfort while using.

5. Tsumbay Portable Air Compressor

  • 12V DC Power
  • 150psi
  • 10ft / 3m power cable

And last, but definitely not the least — the Tsumbay portable air compressor. It comes with a long, 10 foot (or 3 meters) power cord. Thanks to that long cable you have the freedom to move freely with the device wherever you might need. It is powered with a 12V DC power adapter and can reach up to 150psi. That is more than enough to completely fill up any tire you might need. It also comes with 18 months of warranty, 180 replacement and 30 days refund in case you ever want to choose a different product.