Woowind LP1 Portable Air Compressor

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by Larry Fuchtman, PCI #724T
Arizona State University Police Department

Have you ever read the book Bike Snob by Bike Snob NYC? I was amused by the descriptions of all the different types of cyclists. I was most amused when the author talked about the rigidity in the different groups. If that’s you, I am amused by you, sorry. I’m guessing my amusement and attitude amuses many of you. Or perhaps it frustrates you. Let’s go with frusmuses you.

So, let me frusmuse you with this product review. We were conducting a bike class in December 2023. Life in the desert has its perks. I was getting my personal bike ready because I use it for the off-road rides we do. I pulled my trusty 12-year-old pump off the wall, and it failed. Crap. Wait, it comes with a lifetime guarantee. I bought it at my local bike shop, which has since closed. Crap. Maybe I can get my new LBS to replace it. Nope. (They’re kind of snobby so I found a new one since then.) Crap. Well, Amazon sometimes has same day delivery and I’m crazy-busy on this day, so I don’t really have time to drive and find one.

As I browsed the products on Amazon, I saw compact electronic air compressors. My first thought was, “yeah, right.” I grew up on a farm. My dad was a traditionalist who grew up on a farm with ten brothers and sisters. If you could do it by hand, YOU DID! Automation be damned! Some of that has rubbed off on me. Also, I have found a lot of electronic gadgets to be of very poor quality. However, as I looked at ratings and prices, I became more intrigued. Cautiously intrigued. The five-star reviews today are given for merely acceptable products. People often say “perfect” instead of “okay.” I was still being cautious.

I could buy this product for $38.80 on sale. That’s the price for a mid-tier floor pump. Hmmm. Should I be that guy? Should I take the dare? I can get the cool thing and show it off or I can end up with the cheap piece of crap and get made fun of. Both of those are good options in my book. I don’t want to be one of those rigid people that amuse me. Yep, I bought it.

Okay, all storytelling aside, this thing has been awesome. It works on Presta and Schrader. (It also works on Dunlop, but I have no idea what that is.) It inflates athletic balls, bikes, motorcycles, cars – anything. You just put on the correct adapter, select the mode for the item you are inflating, set the desired PSI, and hit “start”. It shuts itself off when it reaches the target, which is very accurate.

It is rechargeable, recharges quickly, is small enough to carry in my hydration pack, and feels pretty durable – but I haven’t accidentally tested that quality yet. It does have a battery, so I keep it stored indoors to prevent damage from temperature changes. However, I added it to my travel list. I can charge it, put it in the glove box, and have it ready to go. I can bring the charging cord and recharge it right there in my car.

A few weeks ago, we were going on a family outing. I was getting bikes and electric scooters ready. I was able to attach the compressor to each tire and let it do its work for a minute or two. During that time, I was able to work on safety inspections of our rides, prep items, and get other tasks done. As an efficiency freak, I found that very rewarding.

Lastly, it has a 24-month warranty. That’s the same as what you get on Waverunners.

Larry is a lieutenant with the Arizona State University Police Department. He has been in law enforcement for 28 years. He has been an IPMBA instructor since 2005 and an Instructor Trainer since 2019. He can be reached at larry.fuchtman@gmail.com.

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