If there is one word that can be used to describe inflatable rafts, it is convenient. It is extremely easy to squeeze it in absolutely anywhere, and then bring it out when necessary.
In order to make use of it though, it is crucial to find an equally convenient pump.
To choose the best possible raft pump, it is important to consider several factors, i.e., size, shape, style, feature, price, and many more. If you are interested to know more, read on and learn all about the best raft pumps from 2023 reviews.
Having a raft pump is key when blowing up inflatable items, whether it is a raft, camping, or other activities. Raft pumps come in various shapes, sizes, and styles. They also vary differently based on their prices and extra features.
Top 5 Raft Pumps Comparison
Name | Image | Editors Reviews | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Etekcity Electric Air Pump |   | ||
Electric Air Pump for Inflatable Pool Toys |   | ||
Etekcity Electric Portable Air Mattress Pump |   | ||
4. Airhead Hi Pressure Air Pump 120V |   | ||
Airhead High Pressure Air Pump 12V |   |
What is a Raft Pump?
A raft pump is a device used to pump air into an inflatable to achieve a desired shape and function. Some fat pumps are powered by electricity, while batteries power others.
List Of 6 Best Raft Pump Reviews To Buy
1. Etekcity Electric Air Pump 110-120 Volt
The Etekcity electric air pump is one of the best rafting pumps for inflatables. This electric air pump is designed with high pressure and Quick-fill, allowing efficient inflation and deflation with a 0.55 PSI and rated power of 130W, which is higher than the majority of raft pumps in the market.
It features an extra-long AC power cord length, measuring 5.3ft/ 1.6m. The air pump has three differently-sized nozzles, which work in various applications. The nozzles are also inter-locked, which prevents them from losing air.
The Etekcity pump compact in design and lightweight, meaning even kids can pack and transport the pump. It uses high-quality metal impellers and an advanced wheel design, which immensely lowers the noise level while in operation. You can set it up to inflate your mattress even when people are asleep nearby.
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2. Electric Air Pump for Inflatable Pool Toys -110V AC, Air Flow 26CFM
This raft pump features a top-performance 110-120V AC TG motor and 320W, which ensures strength and high accuracy when pumping. It pumps pressure up to 1.6 PSI and has an airflow of 26cfm, which is higher than the majority of standard pumps in the market. It weighs 1.4lbs, making it lightweight even for kids to carry around.
It comes with a long power cord measuring 4.9ft in length and also has an easy-handhold grip design, making it easier to use in wet conditions. The pump features three different nozzles, making it convenient to deflate or inflate other objects at once.
The pump has high power, as well as massive airflow and quick fill, making it suitable for pool toys, boats, pool floats, air mattresses, air beds, air sofas, bathtubs, and swimming rings, among others.
It is recommended for use indoors to minimize the risk of injury or electric shock. It also has a temperature controller, which automatically shuts off the pump when it goes above the set temperature.
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3. Etekcity Electric Air Pump Rechargeable Portable Pump 100-240V
This second air pump product from Etekcity is a powerful and versatile raft pump for inflatables. It is designed with three differently-sized nozzle, which work in different applications.
It comes with a 12V DC and 100-240V AC adapter. The DC power cord measures 4.6ft/ 14m in length and the AC power cord measures 5.3ft/ 1.6m in length. The pump can be charged at home on a wall socket and outdoors with a DC cigarette plug.
It uses NI-MH batteries that create less pollution and provides higher performance and extended battery lives compared to other pumps in the market. It is compact in design and lightweight, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor activities. It makes the deflation and inflation quick and easy with its easy-to-use design.
It helps save time when inflating different objects, for example, air mattresses, pool toys, inflatable pools, swimming rings, inflatable boats, and inflatable furniture, among many more.
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4. Airhead Hi Pressure Air Pump, 120v
The Airhead Hi Pressure pump is a top-performing air pumps, that inflates at favorable speeds. It has an accordion-style hose that locks onto the air pump, which eliminates annoying disconnections.
It has a 2.5 PSI peak pressure enough to inflate your inflatables nice and firm. It has a pressure release valve with an optimum pressure level of 1.4 PSI, thus preventing over-inflation.
The pump comes with seven universal adapters that fit almost all valves commonly utilized on towables, kayaks, boats, and other inflatables. It comes with a 10ft long power cord and a carry handle for added convenience.
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5. Airhead High Pressure Air Pump, 12v
This is another high pressure 12V air pump from Airhead that is powerful and fast with a 410 litres per minute volume.
It comes with a pressure release valve that is considered three times the pressure of similar 12V air pumps, which hinders overinflating past 1.4 PSI. This makes it suitable for inflating rafts, boats, and towable nice and firm for optimum performance.
It comes with adapters for the most common valves including Bravo, Leafield, Boston, Hulkey Roberts and many more. The pump draws too many amps, approximately 28 amps, too many to plug in a cigarette lighter.
It comes with alligator clips connected with a 10-foot-long power cord that you can use to hook the air pump to your truck, car, or boat battery. It weighs 2.75 pounds, making it light and portable for easy use.
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6. GoFloats Rapid Inflation Manual Air Pump
This brightly-coloured air pump is also a compact and efficient pump that ensures rapid inflation airflow.
This makes it suitable for inflating air beds and mattresses, pool toys, and even the largest boat rafts in a matter of seconds. It has dual action pumps, which means air flows out consistently when pumping in both down and up directions.
It comes with 4 universal nozzle adapters that ensure perfect fitting to all significant air valves and different inflatable types.
The pump is user-friendly, meaning it can be used even by kids and adults. It weighs 2 pounds. It has a reverse function, meaning you can get rid of the air when not using it.
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How to Install a Raft Pump for Inflatables
Once you already have your air pump ready to inflate your inflatables, follow these steps to install and use the air pump.
- 1Begin by selecting the inflation and deflation port.
- 2Select the air tube adapter.
- 3Install the adapter, inserting it to the air valve.
- 4Then press the switch.
It is as simple as that. However, there are things to note when installing that include;
Benefits of Having a Raft Pump for Inflatables
Why do you need an air pump for inflatables? While some people think it’s not such a vital unit to have, they are usually surprised when it turns out useful, especially if they have inflatables. Check out this list for some of the benefits of owning an air pump for your inflatable.
1. Timesaving
Having a raft pump will save you a lot of time in the end since inflating many objects will take a long time without a raft pump. The air pumps help to fill up your inflatables with air in a matter of minutes.
Whether it is for your pool or tire equipment, a raft pump is handy and will end up saving you a considerable amount of time.
2. Versatility
One of the best advantages of air pumps is how they can be very versatile. For instance, they can be used to inflate and deflate a lot of objects, such as pool toys, basketballs, inflatable boats, pools, pool toys, air beds, and air furniture among others.
Therefore, it is essential to choose a multi-purpose air pump that will ensure you get these benefits.
3. They are suitable for emergencies
If you are in the middle of a road trip and your tires fail you, it is not a pleasant experience. A raft pump helps mitigate this challenge. Luckily, some air pumps come with red warning/ SOS lights that will help announce your presence on the road to alert oncoming drivers.
You can also use the air pump if you go camping and you need to inflate, for example, a boat for quick travel.
What to Consider When Purchasing an Air Raft Pump
If you do not know what to look for in an air pump when purchasing one, check out this list below of factors to consider when buying an air pump.
1. Compatibility
To achieve maximum productivity from your air pump, it should be compatible with your inflatables and any other watercraft you wish to inflate it with. This means you need to consider the valves and adapters.
You should purchase a pump with a valve that can withstand very high pressure and is easy to service or replace, for example, a military valve, as noticed in high-pressure watercraft. The idea is to get a pump that matches your inflatable and every other necessary adapter for the rest of the equipment.
2. Functionality
Electric air pumps feature a couple of stages. A stage-one air pump model blows air into the inflatable until the desired pressure is obtained. The speed of the pumping varies depending on how powerful the stage-one model is.
The two-stage model begins by inflating at a high volume than in the second stage, increasing the pressure ratio to lower the overall inflation time.
Some other functional features you can take note of is the option to reverse the airflow to deflate the inflatable.
3. Power source
Most air pump manufactures design their pumps to fit movements. The pumps can connect to your car batteries or the cigarette lighter plugs. The majority of these pumps have a direct connection to a 12V battery or an external battery pack option. A few are designed to connect to the standard power outlets.
4. Auto shut-off and pressure gauge
If you have an in-built pressure gauge, you can keep track of the inflation process. Almost all pump models have a safety feature that allows you to input a target PSI and the pump deactivates automatically, making it easy for unsupervised inflation. A safety pressure valve is also essential.
5. Pressure range
Check your inflatable’s manual for the recommended gear pressure, then choose a pump that can deliver as much. The most recommended PSI value is between 10 to 15 Large inflatables may require more than that.
6. Power and hose cord length
Pumps come with different lengths. It would help if you calculated the distance between the power source and where your inflatable is, then pick a pump that matches the exact distance or more.
7. Inflation speed
If you are pumping up one inflatable, the speed may not be an issue. However, if you are inflating more, you should pick a raft pump that features a high CFM rating. The air pumps reviewed above are common for their fast inflation speeds.
8. Noise Levels
If you are in a park you do not intend to scare off animals and annoy other users; you should pick the raft pump that is noise-proof and has reduced vibrations.
9. Carry bag
It may not be as important as such, but a carry bag will keep you from losing parts and making it easier to move. You can also consider shoulder straps to keep your hand free when operating or transporting the air pump.
Who needs a Raft Pump and Why?
The main idea of a raft pump is to inflate and deflate an inflatable. Therefore, it is suitable for anyone who wants to inflate or deflate any inflatable, for example, air mattresses/ beds, air furniture, volleyballs, inflatable pools, pool toys, tents, and much more.
FAQs About a Raft Pump
Q: How long does an air pump take to inflate?
A: Inflation speed varies with the pump models. As a standard rule, an electric pump delivers 1 PSI per minute. Therefore, with most electric air pumps, inflations can last for 5-10 minutes, compared to hand pumps, which will take up to 20 minutes or more.
Q: Is it possible to over-inflate my inflatable with an electric pump?
A: It is possible to force excess air into your inflatable so that it exceeds the maximum capacity. However, the result could be permanent structural damage or a rupture. The optimum capacity beyond which it is safe to inflate the object is greater than the operational pressure.
However, the electric pump features an over-inflation feature that shuts the pump automatically when the desired pressure is achieved.
Q: Can I deflate an inflatable using an electric air pump?
A: It depends on the pump’s model. Some pump manufacturers include a reverse or deflate option, which swiftly retracts air from the inflatables. The feature helps one save time and tightly fold up the equipment.
Q: Should I store my raft inflated or deflated?
A: You can store your raft and any inflatable, either inflated or deflated. Ideally, you should clean and dry it after use, away from exposure to harsh elements. The advantage of deflating is the ease of transportation.
Bottom Line
In due time, you will find out how useful a raft pump is.
It comes in handy whenever you need to quickly blow some air into something, or perhaps take some of the air out. And it saves your time and energy.
Therefore, it’s really necessary to know about the kinds of raft pumps available, figure out the ideal one for you, and then invest in the best raft pump.