Air Pumps

Cordless tyre inflators sit between a foot pump and a full compressor. They're compact, run off lithium tool batteries, and handle car tyres, van tyres, bike tyres, footballs, air beds — anything that needs topping up rather than filling from empty. Most will reach 150 psi, which covers car and light commercial work. If you regularly seat tubeless tyres or run high-pressure plant equipment, you still need a compressor with a tank.

Battery capacity matters more than voltage. A 4 Ah or 5 Ah cell will inflate several tyres before it runs flat; a 2 Ah cell might manage one car's worth. Check the manufacturer's claimed inflation time for a standard tyre (195/65R15, 0–35 psi is the usual benchmark). Models with analogue gauges are simple and don't drain the battery on the display, but digital gauges let you set a target pressure and stop automatically. Verify the gauge against a known-good pressure reference when new — budget inflators can read a few psi out, and that error compounds if you're setting pressures for load or towing.

Most cordless inflators come as body-only, so you supply the battery and charger from your existing kit. If you're starting fresh, buy the battery and charger separately or as a starter set with a drill. Mixing battery platforms across brands doesn't work — the Sealey unit here takes Sealey 20V cells, and that's it. Hose length is typically one to two metres, long enough for all four corners of a car without moving the unit. Store the inflator with the hose coiled loosely, not kinked, and keep the nozzle adapters in the carry case so they don't vanish.