Ever been in the situation that you had to inflate your tyres somewhere during your ride? And even worse, every gas station you are checking has either no air pump at all or a non functional one. There is a solution to this – the MI portable air compressor.
What comes in very handy with this device is that it doesn’t need to be hooked up to an external power source, it has an embedded battery that makes the MI capable of inflating even car tyres and has a light included if you have to use it in darkness.
Disclaimer: I’ve acquired the product in this review for my own personal use, with my own money. I do not recommend products unless I believe they are of value for you and I believe in them and I do not receive compensation for this review in any form.
Overview
| Device | MI Portable Electric Air Compressor |
| Manufacturer | Xiamen Technology Co. Ltd., China |
| Dimensions | 124x71x45.3 mm (excl. air hose) |
| Weight | 439 grams |
| Inflation pressure range | 0.2-10.3 bar ( 3-150 psi) |
| Battery capacity | 2000mAh (14.8 Wh) |
| Charging port | Micro USB |
| Accessories | Schrader 11x20mm (standard) Presta 11x15mm (adapter) Ball needle (adapter) Short USB cable Pouch for the device and the accessories |
| Price | 40 – 50€ |
The MI has 4 different modes, a manual one where you can set the desired pressure between 3 and 150 PSI, a bicycle mode ( 30 – 65 PSI), a motorcycle mode (1.8 – 3.0 bar) and a car mode ( 1.8 – 3.5 bar).
A great feature is that you can set the compressor to the desired pressure and it will then automatically stop inflating. So you have not to closely monitor the pressure during the action. Plug it – set it – push the start button and wait for it to finish.
Performance
So now let’s see how the compressor performed when inflating different types of tyres.
| Mountain bike tyre, 27.5×2.80 | Inflating from 0 to 2.0 bar: 1.5 min |
| Motorcycle tyre, 140x80x18 90x90x21 | 0 to 2.4 bar: 5 minutes 0 to 1.8 bar: 4 minutes |
Caveats
It is important to note, that the compressor should not run for more that 10 minutes in one go, as it will overheat and thus will not increase the pressure any more. Let it cool down for 15min and then it will be good for another 10 minutes.
Overall the 2000mAh battery is good for a run time of approx. 25min. Do the math yourself on how many tyres you would be able to inflate with one battery charge.
Verdict
| Price | Not cheap, but ok given the value proposition |
| Quality | GOOD |
| Performance | Not very fast but very comfortable to use |
| Overall, does the MI hold it’s promise | YES |
| Would I buy it again | YES |
| Remarks | I am using this compressor mainly when on enduro rides. It is small enough to fit easily in my backpack. Changing the tyre pressure between on- and off-road sections becomes really easy and the battery is big enough to cover a whole day |
RIDING WITH PASSION 
The high precision alloy allows compression up to 150 psi to measure the necessary air force for road bikes as well as more common bikes. Preparation is key. Check tire pressure and anticipate unexpected problems. With the changing seasons and temperatures, it is important to keep your tire pressure up to date.
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