If you use inflatables, you know the pain of inflating/deflating them. The hand pump that came in the box ain’t any good.
It might pop some nerves after a while, but the time and effort invested here ruin half the fun and excitement already. You have to continuously put in the struggle for a considerable time before getting in the water.
That might not be a problem initially, but you realize it’s not working out as time passes. It just gets too overwhelming doing it often. You need something to minimize the effort and time and maximize the fun. That’s where an automatic pump comes into play.
It connects directly to your boat, car, and truck battery via the alligator clips and inflates the “thing” is considerably less time without putting in any real effort.
Plus, if supported, it can also deflate it in no time. This seems a great deal, especially for people using inflatables quite often. But the question is – Which one to get?
I personally use the Airhead 12v pump as it’s sturdy, fills faster, compact, has non-slip adapters, comes with various adapters, and is budget-friendly. Plus, it deflates too.
- High-pressure 12 volt Air Pump with volume of 410 liters per minute
- Removable pressure release valve prevents filling past 1.4 psi
- Hooks to your car, truck, or boat battery with the alligator clips and 10-foot power cord
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I think these are the things we are all looking for in an automatic pump, which is exactly what you get here. But before you get it, I recommend you read my review.
It will help you understand whether it’s suitable for your intended use or not. This review is based on my personal experience, and I talk about this pump’s good and bad points.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Review about Airhead 12v Pump –
Before judging a book by its cover, let me tell you that this tiny little pump draws 28 amps, making it three times faster than the other 12v pumps.
28 amps! That will drain my whole battery! Nah, as it draws 28 amps at 12v, which seems good. But still, if you are using it for an extended period, consider turning on the engine.
I learned it the hard way, but you shouldn’t. Don’t go by the size; this thing is damn powerful. It easily blows adult size inflatables in less than a minute.
This pump comes in a neon yellow color that is easily noticeable among the crowd. Its top handle makes it handy, while the lightweight construction makes carrying a breeze.
With only 2.75 lbs weight, it doesn’t feel like a burden. Even a kid can carry it. Being light, it has a solid construction that seems to last long. Just once, touch, and you know it’s strong.
- High-pressure 12 volt Air Pump with volume of 410 liters per minute
- Removable pressure release valve prevents filling past 1.4 psi
- Hooks to your car, truck, or boat battery with the alligator clips and 10-foot power cord
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You get a pump, alligator clips, five adapters, and a removable pressure valve in the box. The clips connect directly to your boat’s battery(or any battery) and make it work.
The clips are 10 feet long, which gives you plenty of room to use it. The hose, however, is 21”, which seems fine to me. Not long, but not short either. This heavy-duty hose is reinforced with PVC coils that provide all the strength it needs. It’s solid yet flexible, which makes it very easy to use.
The Airhead pump has two sides, one for inflation and the other for deflating. Since the hose is removable, you can put it on the side you want it for. If you are just getting started, place the hose on the inflation side, and when it’s done, fix it onto the suction side, and it will deflate the thing in no time.
This thing pumps up to 2.5 PSI, which is really good. Things can worsen if you don’t need this much pressure, like overinflation and stuff. So, to protect it from overinflation, it comes with a removable pressure release valve that limits the output to 1.4 psi, which is perfect for towables.
However, if you fill anything that requires more pressure (whitewater rafts, inflatable paddleboards), you will still need to use the hand pump. The reason is that the most inflatable boat requires 3 PSI while this pump gets a maximum of 2.5. So, it all depends on your needs.
For medium to low-pressure things, this isn’t the best choice for high-pressure ones. Now, let’s talk about adaptors. So, you get a total of five adapters in the box, and each of them is designed to work with different style valves.
These five work with most valves in the market, including Stem, Boston, Leafield, Bravo, Hulkey Roberts, etc. So, you don’t have to worry about having different valves anymore. While these are non-slip adaptors, and they do work, the quality isn’t as expected.
They are made of semi-flexible plastic, not rubber, so they can break if not cared for properly. And I think you realize they are useless even after getting a simple crack. So, you have to be careful here. Plus, always watch them as they are easy to misplace.
Now, enough of what I liked; let’s move on to what I don’t.
So, the first will, of course, be less pressure. While it goes up to 2.5 PSI(which is pretty nice), it still isn’t suitable for all the inflatables in the market. As I said earlier, you won’t be able to fully inflate the things requiring high pressure, so if you have one of those, this might not be the perfect pump.
The second and, by far, the most noticeable problem is its high solid pitch noise, which can be really, really irritating at times. And I am honest here; it can be frustrating. But that is totally understandable as you can’t expect a pump to fill three times faster and still be as still as others. Anyways, this counts as a con, though.
Another thing I noticed is that it gets extremely hot after little use. Again, not a big issue but certainly something you must know. This Airhead pump comes with a 90-day warranty, so Airhead is there for you if anything goes wrong. So, that is the end of my review.
- High-pressure 12 volt Air Pump with volume of 410 liters per minute
- Removable pressure release valve prevents filling past 1.4 psi
- Hooks to your car, truck, or boat battery with the alligator clips and 10-foot power cord
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So, What’s my Take?
This is a great air pump that does a great job of inflating/deflating my inflatables. It’s perfect and fits right into my budget. So, if you want an air pump that works great while providing within the budget, this is for you.
But if budget isn’t an issue, I think getting a rechargeable air pump with controllable PSI is a smart option. This Digital pump from SereneLife is a better alternative for you.
It has a rechargeable battery, so there is no need for clips, and you can adjust the PSI from 1-16, which lets you inflate any inflatable on the market. You get the same adapters but with better quality.
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So, the choice is yours. If budget is an issue and use don’t use heavy inflatables, get this pump; otherwise, get the one from SereneLife. If you have doubts, check the fantastic reviews both have got.
FAQ –
Does Airhead Pump Deflate too?
Yes, when the fun is over, attach the hose to the suction side, and it will deflate your inflatable in no time. This saves your time and effort and ensures you can focus on other crucial things.
Can you adjust PSI in this air pump?
Nope! This pump goes up to a maximum of 2.5 PSI, but at its own pace. You can’t manipulate or adjust the PSI when you want. However, you can change the pressure to 1.4 PSI by using the removable pressure release valve.
You can kind of adjust the pressure, but there are only two options – 1.4 PSI or 2.5 PSI.
What is the red thing for? Is it a hose cap or what?
The red thing is a removable pressure release valve attached to the hose and then to the adapters. It limits the output to 1.4 PSI, thus preventing overinflation in towables.
So, it protects your inflatables and makes sure they work efficiently.
Conclusion –
In this article, I reviewed the Airhead air pump, which is literally one of the best in-budget pumps you can find in the market. If you like this article, do share it with your friends and family, especially those with inflatables, so they can maximize the fun too!