I had one just like that. It fell apart after a few months.

I've had one of these for about 8 years now, its quiet and nearly fast enough to seal tyres you fitted yourself (if you used a tourniquet it would) will fully inflate a normal size car tyre from flat in less than 2 minutes.

www.paddockspares.com/pm982-twin-cylinder-12v-comp...l

Crocodile clips so connect it straight to a car battery, i use my jump pack for this purpose so its fully portable.

edit, i see they offer a single piston version, half the output, for £43, haven't tried one.

Edited by gordonbennet on 14/09/2015 at 16:31

I had a Halford one like that and it fell apart, just like the twin cylinder Michelin. Both fell apart gradually, and I reckon the build quality of these things, which are most probably all made in one place, China, is appalling. Much Chinese stuff is top rate, some isn't. You'd think they could make a decent foot pump.

Yours might be better of course.

Recently, my cheapo electrical version from LIDL suddenly made a loud "crack" and a small piece of metal made a rapid exit sideways through the plastic casing. The device still worked, but I binned it rather than wait for the next bullet from the assassin.

I've researched the topic since and find self destruction is a common scenario, even with the more expensive ones. To take just one example, the fairly substantial-looking Ring RAC 700 doesn't exactly get a ringing endorsement on Amazon - out of 27 user reviews, only 13 people gave it 5 out of 5 and 7 gave it only 1 out of 5. I'm tempted by the single cylinder version of the one mentioned by GB, but it's not available on Amazon. On user websites, I found a few people praising it, but no one saying that it was rubbish.

I'm torn between buying one of those or getting another from LIDL for emergency use only. But I really hate wrestling with airlines on filling station forecourts and a footpump is out of the question.

I have a Hayner double cylinder foot pump, bought about a year ago. It seems to be of sturdy construction (better than a lot I have seen) and works quite well for me though at the moment the tyres on our cars rarely need pumping so has not been used often. Therefore its longevity will be unknown.

I would prefer a screw on connection to the tyre valve but the clip on thingy is OK and no doubt quicker but is awkward at times.

I use a Topeak Joe Blow Sport II Track Pump. From wiggle.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/?utm_source=transemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=order&utm_content=logo

I recently had to change my car's tyre foot pump (the previous-model Michelin double-barrelled pump currently going for about £25 in Argos, not the 'new' version available in Halfords) as it broke (presumably the cylinders failed) and I was about to drive to the West Country for a holiday. Needless to say I wasn't going to buy the same again after 'just' 4 years of ownership - it wasn't that sturdy, the flimsy plastic 'locks' ties broke within a fortnight of buying it and the locks themselves weren't very good. At least the intergrated (analogue) pressure was accurate and the screw on/off valve fitment was easy to use. Overall I'd give the unit a 2.5/5.

I've replaced it with a Draper equivalent obtained from my local motor parts & supplies shop for about £20. On the first few uses I found the unit to be far more robust than the Michelin one (it has the 'old school' locking arm, braded hose and clamp to fit the hose to the valve) and far less prone to moving around when using it. The only downside thus far is that after the initial connection to the tyre valve, the pressure dial reads correctly, but then goes haywire when you pump up the tyre. Not so much of an issue as I also have an old school (also a Draper unit, bought nearly 20 years ago when I bought my first car) analogue (cylinder with graduations) pressure guage which has always worked well. Let's hope my new Draper pump last a lot longer than the Michelin one and works better. Too early to give a definitive rating - maybe in a few months time.

I had two good footpumps that lasted for about 20 years. One was bought in the thrilling rush of newness that accompanied the passing of my test and the purchase of my first car, the second because being a bit OCD, I like to have two of everything in case one breaks down. Perhaps they lasted longer because each had only had half the usual useage. Nowadays I use a Ring 12v which is quietly efficient, though the air hose has an annoying and permanent kink. I bought a second 12v (not Ring) from Weebay for the reasons outlined above, but it was so horrendously noisy that I put it in a cupboard for a year and then threw it away.

I wasn't aware that you could still buy footpumps, but good luck in your search. Not only simple to operate but good exercise!