Product Review — Vayu Portable Tyre Inflator

What is it?

A compact and portable device to fill the air in your tyres. Gone are the days of relying on fuel pumps/roadside shops or carrying a bulky compressor to inflate car tyres. Vayu is a smart device, a little bigger than your 20,000mAh power banks. It gets a small digital screen to display air pressure and modes of operation with a few buttons underneath. So, with the Vayu inflator has Portronics managed to bring in something different than what's available in the market? Let's find out.

What's in the box?

The main unit comes covered in polythene bundled with a registration card and a manual. Then, there's a USB cable, a tube to connect to the tyre valve, and different attachments for other accessories. The latter helps add more functionality to this device which we shall also explain further.

How to install it?

Vayu is more like a plug-and-play device making it very easy to use. There are two parts to it - setting it up and using it. Setting it up involves attaching the tube to the device by just rotating the tube's end and securing them in place. Do note that the tube isn't long but sufficient enough to reach the tyre valve and the ground. And yes, before using this unit, you need to ensure it has been charged enough to start. The first button is to fire up the LED if you're in dark or low light conditions. Press the last button to set it in car mode that will be displayed on the screen. Long press the 'M' button to set it in 'PSI'. Now you can set the tyre pressure using (+/-) and press 'M' once to start it.

How does it work?

Once you press 'M', the device starts with a humming noise and these vibrations are quite minimal. If you've ever used a compressor, you'll find this device comparatively quieter. Vayu will fill in the air till the pressure is set and automatically stop when it reaches its set value. If the tyre pressure already is high, you can remove the air and then fill it through this device. This inflator works more or less in the same way as other air compressors by pumping out air. No, it doesn't have a tank to store compressed air but that's not required as it's a sufficient source of energy to fill tyres.

Does it heat while filling the air? Yes, it does but not enough to make you stop holding it or stop from filling the air. You can easily place it on the floor and it will stay in one place since it's not that shaky. A fully deflated tyre can be filled in under 10 minutes (0-35PSI), which is acceptable for a battery-powered inflator. Otherwise, just topping up car/bike tyre pressure is hassle-free. We easily managed to set tyre pressures right in two cars and three bikes at one time with still enough charge left to be used the following week. So, this is a great device to have handy, not only on a road trip but to be used in your garage once a week to keep a check on all your vehicles.

Conclusion

This device reminds you that filling the air in your car tyres isn't a complex process and will reduce your dependability on gas stations. Lest we forget, the Portronics Vayu inflator is a Presta Valve adapter enabled model, so it also comes with a few nozzles. These are of different sizes, shapes, and functions enabling inflating tyres of not only cars, but bikes, bicycles, and even different sports equipment like footballs and basketballs. Not something very unique available in the market, but still a device that not only has good battery power and output but is versatile as well. Instead of this plastic body, a metal casing or aluminium panels would have surely made it heavier, but it would have made it more robust for long-term reliability. Even if it’s not waterproof, covers for the USB port and inlets could have made it splash-proof. That said, it's one of the lightest devices around. Also, priced at Rs 2,899, it’s expensive, but then, the only other similar device is an MI inflator which is priced slightly higher. Nonetheless, it is a perfect device to have in your car accessories kit and worth recommending for the value it adds. You'll never be stranded on the road with a deflated tyre.