Best of · Tire Inflators
Road-Trip Emergency Kit: Inflators, Jump Starters and Power
Six picks for the trunk before a long drive: a tire inflator, a jump starter and a small station to keep phones and cameras charged.
By Watt Versus Editorial· Updated · 6 picks
This page was drafted with AI assistance from manufacturers' specs and manuals, and is checked by our editor.
The short list
| # | Product | Key feature | Pros / Cons | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump StarterBest Jump Starter for the TripEditorial score:8.2/10 | A 1,000-amp lithium jump starter rated for gasoline engines up to 6.0 L and diesel engines up to 3.0 L. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 2 | Fanttik X10 Cross Cordless Tire InflatorBest Cordless InflatorEditorial score:8.0/10 | A 2.3 lb, 150 PSI inflator with its own 28.86 Wh battery, five presets, a blower and deflate port, and a USB power-bank output. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 3 | AstroAI AIRUN H 12V Tire InflatorBest Plug-In InflatorEditorial score:7.4/10 | A 100 PSI inflator that plugs into a car's 12 V socket, with a preset auto shut-off, digital gauge and LED light. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 4 | Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power StationBest Device ChargerEditorial score:7.5/10 | A 288 Wh LiFePO4 station that weighs 8.27 lb and has two USB-C ports rated up to 100 W. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 5 | EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Portable Power StationBest Small Power StationEditorial score:7.9/10 | A 286 Wh LiFePO4 station of 10.4 lb with a one-hour recharge, a 10 ms UPS switchover and add-on batteries up to 858 Wh. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 6 | NOCO Boost Sport GB20 Jump StarterSmallest Jump StarterEditorial score:7.6/10 | A 500-amp, 1.65 lb lithium jump starter for gasoline engines up to 4.0 L, motorcycles, ATVs and lawn equipment. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
The three things worth packing
- A tire inflator to top up a slow leak or set pressure for a loaded car. The cordless Fanttik X10 Cross (paid link) needs no cord; the AstroAI AIRUN H (paid link) plugs into the 12 V socket.
- A jump starter sized to your engine, so a flat battery at a trailhead is a five-minute fix. The NOCO GB40 (paid link) covers gasoline engines up to 6.0 L.
- A small power station for phones, cameras, a laptop or a cooler at camp.
Before you leave
Charge everything, check tire pressure cold against the sticker inside the driver's door, and pack the clamps and nozzles with each tool.
Our picks in detail
Image: NOCO
NNOCO
1Best Jump Starter for the TripEditorial score:8.2/10
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter
NOCO · GB40
1,000 A for gasoline engines up to 6.0 L, in a 2.4 lb unit.
- Peak current
- 1,000 A
- Gas engines
- Up to 6.0 L
- Diesel engines
- Up to 3.0 L
- Jump starts per charge
- Up to 20
- USB output
- 5 V, 2.1 A
- Recharge time
- 3 hours at 2 A, 6 hours at 1 A
Pros
- Covers most cars, crossovers and half-ton trucks with gasoline engines up to 6.0 L
- Spark-proof clamps and reverse-polarity protection
- IP65 housing and a compact 2.4 lb body
- Up to 20 jump starts per charge, by NOCO's figures
Cons
- Diesel rating stops at 3.0 L, too small for most diesel pickups
- A 1-year warranty is short for this category
- Works with 12-volt lead-acid batteries only
Image: Fanttik
FFanttik
2Best Cordless InflatorEditorial score:8.0/10
Fanttik X10 Cross Cordless Tire Inflator
Fanttik · X10 Cross
Built-in battery, 150 PSI, five presets and a blower for air mattresses.
- Max pressure
- 150 PSI
- Power source
- Built-in battery (28.86 Wh)
- Battery
- Built in; 18 W charging input
- Auto shutoff
- Yes, at the set pressure; accuracy of ±1 PSI
- Modes
- Tire inflation with 5 presets; blower; deflate for storage bags (not tires)
- Display
- Digital
Pros
- No battery system to buy into: the battery is built in
- Fanttik says it fills a 25-inch tire from 30 to 35 PSI in 42 seconds
- Blower and deflate ports for air mattresses and vacuum storage bags
- 27 W power-bank output and an 80-lumen light
Cons
- One battery: when it is flat you wait for it to recharge
- Fanttik rates a full charge at about four tires from 0 to 35 PSI
- 12-month warranty, the shortest here alongside VIAIR's one year
Image: AstroAI
AAstroAI
3Best Plug-In InflatorEditorial score:7.4/10
AstroAI AIRUN H 12V Tire Inflator
AstroAI · AIRUN H
Runs from the car's 12 V socket and stops at the pressure you preset.
- Max pressure
- 100 PSI
- Power source
- 12 V car socket (120 W, about 10 A)
- Battery
- Not needed (runs from the car's 12 V socket)
- Auto shutoff
- Yes, at the preset pressure
- Duty cycle
- Up to 15 minutes, then rest for at least as long
- Display
- Digital, backlit; LED flashlight
Pros
- Plugs into the car's 12 V socket: no battery to keep charged
- Stops automatically at the pressure you preset
- 2.2 lb and small enough to live in the trunk
- LED flashlight for roadside use at night
Cons
- 100 PSI and a 15-minute run limit suit car tires, not large truck tires
- Needs the car running or the socket live, so it is no help away from the car
- AstroAI's page gives no warranty term
Image: Jackery
JJackery
4Best Device ChargerEditorial score:7.5/10
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station
Jackery · Explorer 300 Plus
288 Wh with two 100 W USB-C ports, at 8.27 lb.
- Capacity
- 288 Wh
- Battery chemistry
- LiFePO4 (LFP)
- Rated cycle life
- 3,000 cycles to 80% capacity, per Jackery's US buying guide
- AC output
- 300 W
- Peak output
- 600 W surge
- USB-C output
- 2 x up to 100 W
Pros
- 8.27 lb, light enough for a backpack or a carry-on-size bag
- Two USB-C ports rated up to 100 W for laptops
- LiFePO4 cells, the same long-life chemistry used in larger stations
Cons
- 300 W of AC output limits it to small electronics
- A 2-hour wall recharge is slower than larger stations that refill in about an hour
- Jackery's specifications say a separate adapter is required to connect a solar panel
Image: EcoFlow
EEcoFlow
5Best Small Power StationEditorial score:7.9/10
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Portable Power Station
EcoFlow · RIVER 3 Plus (EF-RV-H02-1)
286 Wh with 600 W of AC output and a one-hour recharge.
- Capacity
- 286 Wh
- Battery chemistry
- LiFePO4 (LFP)
- Rated cycle life
- 3,000 cycles to 80% capacity
- AC output
- 600 W
- Peak output
- 1,200 W surge (X-Boost 1,200 W)
- USB-C output
- 1 x 100 W
Pros
- Under 10 ms UPS switchover, quick enough for a router or a desktop PC
- Full recharge from the wall in an hour
- Can grow from 286 Wh to 858 Wh with an add-on battery
- 10.4 lb and small enough for a car footwell
Cons
- 600 W of AC output rules out kettles, hair dryers and most power tools
- Only one USB-C port
- 286 Wh runs a typical fridge for a few hours, not a whole day
Image: NOCO
NNOCO
6Smallest Jump StarterEditorial score:7.6/10
NOCO Boost Sport GB20 Jump Starter
NOCO · GB20
500 A for gasoline engines up to 4.0 L, at 1.65 lb.
- Peak current
- 500 A
- Gas engines
- Up to 4.0 L
- Diesel engines
- Not rated for diesel
- Battery capacity
- 24 Wh
- Jump starts per charge
- Up to 20
- USB output
- 5 V, 2.1 A
Pros
- 1.65 lb: fits a glovebox, a motorcycle bag or a mower shed shelf
- Covers gasoline engines up to 4.0 L, which includes most four-cylinder cars
- Spark-proof clamps and reverse-polarity protection
- Recharges in about 3 hours from a 2 A USB charger
Cons
- Not rated for diesel engines at all
- 500 A leaves little margin for a large engine on a cold morning
- Works with 12-volt lead-acid batteries only
Frequently asked questions
- What should be in a road-trip emergency kit?
- A tire inflator, a jump starter rated for your engine and a way to charge phones. This list picks one of each from the products we cover.
- Is a cordless or 12 V tire inflator better for a road trip?
- Cordless works away from the car and inflates bikes and mattresses; a 12 V plug-in never needs charging.
- Can a power station charge a laptop in the car?
- Yes. The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus has two USB-C ports rated up to 100 W.