Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Affiliate, Automoblog earns from qualifying purchases. Any commissions from Amazon and different affiliate companions, like Fanttik, come to us at no further price to you. The X8 inflator seen right here was despatched to us by Fanttik for this evaluate.
Transportable tire inflators, just like the Fanttik X8 Apex, pack the comfort and performance of a bigger air compressor right into a cordless, handheld unit. Full with totally different adapters and adjustable presets for autos, bikes, bicycles, and balls, the Fanttik X8 Apex gives a most strain of 150 psi. Likewise, the X8 Apex is well-suited for any winter emergency package with an built-in flashlight and USB-A outlet, which is able to cost a telephone in a pinch.
On the time of this writing, the X8 Apex is out there by way of Fanttik’s official web site and by way of Amazon for $120. Under we cowl the primary options of the X8 Apex if you’re available in the market for a conveyable tire inflator.
Fanttik X8 Apex: What It Presents
The X8 Apex has a digital show display, a rubber air tube roughly 18 inches lengthy, a needle valve adapter, a Schrader-Presta valve adapter, USB-C charging cable, an proprietor’s handbook, and a material storage bag. Contained in the storage bag is a separate pocket for the adapters and charging twine. The adapters connect to the highest of the rubber air tube.
Air Tube
The air tube screws clockwise into the highest of the X8. For the reason that air tube is already fitted with a Schrader valve, you may inflate car tires with none further equipment as soon as the tube is hooked up (the Schrader valve, or “American valve,” is the usual valve on almost each motorized vehicle immediately). The rubber air tube is versatile and maneuverable, making it simpler to connect to the valve stem regardless of how your automotive is parked or positioned.
Presta & Needle Valve Adapters
Use the Presta valve for bicycle tires, together with mountain bikes and 700cc highway bike clincher and tubular tires. The Presta valve adapter makes the Fanttik X8 Apex a extra versatile software, particularly in case your car has a motorcycle rack put in. If wanted, the X8 Apex can inflate your car and bike tires on the go. The needle valve gives further comfort for inflating basketballs, footballs, volleyballs, and soccer balls on the spot.
Flashlight & Energy Financial institution
On prime of the X8 Apex is an LED flashlight for working at evening (the button for the flashlight is to the left of the ability button). It doubles as an SOS beacon within the occasion of an emergency. On the underside of the X8 is an extra USB-A port that serves as an unbiased energy supply when it’s not inflating tires. You should utilize this characteristic to cost your telephone, pill, or different digital gadget.
Fanttik X8 Apex Battery Life
The Fanttik X8 Apex takes between two to 2.5 hours to cost absolutely. In keeping with the proprietor’s handbook, the battery ought to final about 40 minutes on a full cost in superb circumstances. The battery’s precise life will rely on how demanding the inflation job is, the climate circumstances and ambient temperature, and when you use the flashlight concurrently.
Relying on the job, the Fanttik X8 Apex ought to present the air you want between 30 seconds and 6 minutes. Fast “top-offs” may be finished in underneath a minute, whereas filling a flat might take a couple of minutes. In keeping with Fanttik, on a full cost, the X8 Apex will deal with as much as 4 average-sized car tires, 17 bike tires, 12 bike tires, and almost 90 balls. It’s unlikely you’d ever want that a lot capability at one time, however Fanttik’s “over-engineering” makes the X8 Apex price each penny.
Show Display screen & Mode Choice
Press and maintain the ability button to activate the X8 Apex. The intense white textual content reveals the totally different modes, battery life, and the present and goal tire strain with a +/- two psi accuracy. The mode button, to the appropriate of the ability button, is indicated by a small “perpetual circle” icon. Faucet it to scroll by way of 4 preset modes: Automobile, Motorbike, Bicycle, and Ball, every indicated by a small icon on the show display.
Fanttik calls the person modes “managed inflation,” which means the X8 Apex delivers a default strain relative to the mode and no additional, stopping routinely as soon as mentioned strain is reached. For instance, the default strain in Automobile Mode is 36 psi, though you may manually modify the vary from 26 to 50 psi by way of the arrow buttons. Both method, the X8 Apex will cease working as soon as it reaches the set strain to forestall overinflation.
The Fanttik X8 Apex additionally has a handbook mode the place you may modify the goal strain from as little as three to 150 psi. Press the “perpetual circle” button till you don’t see any icons on the show display for the opposite preset modes. When you set the goal strain, faucet the ability button to start out the move of air. Just like the default pressures within the preset modes, the X8 Apex will cease routinely as soon as it reaches the goal strain laid out in handbook mode.
Fanttik X8 Apex In Motion
Once I obtained the X8 Apex from Fanttik, I had a gradual leak from a nail close to the sidewall in my proper rear tire. I’d usually use my Slime 12V Inflator for one thing like this, however it allowed me to check the X8 Apex as I waited for a substitute tire. Though I’m pleased with my Slime inflator and glad I purchased it, the cordless, handheld design of the Fanttik X8 Apex is extra advantageous when it comes to comfort and storage.
Granted, it’s not an actual apples-to-apples comparability – the Fanttik X8 Apex and the Slime 12V Inflator – but when it’s all the identical, I’ll go for a cordless unit whatever the model. With handheld, battery-powered tire inflators, you received’t problem with draping the 12V twine out your window and round your car (and Slime makes a cordless and moveable tire inflator). Merely put, a cordless tire inflator with an inside battery is less complicated to make use of.
The nail in my rear tire solely induced a gradual and gradual leak, however gradual and gradual equate to persistent and annoying. I’d see a low tire strain warning mild on my information display each few days. For me, that is the place the Fanttik X8 Apex proved its price, particularly because the substitute tire I wanted was on backorder. Whereas the X8 Apex can deal with a totally flat tire, it’s ease-of-use for fast, repeated fill-ups like this make it choice if you’re available in the market for a conveyable tire inflator.
The default sensor accuracy is probably our solely constructive critique of the Fanttik X8 Apex. In keeping with the proprietor’s handbook, when the X8 Apex will get a studying on a tire, it’s inside a +/- two psi accuracy. Against this, the smaller Fanttik X8 inflator has a +/- one psi accuracy. That is in all probability not a deal-breaker for the common particular person, particularly because the bigger X8 Apex is best for car tires versus the usual X8, however it’s one thing to remember. Correctly inflated tires will guarantee your car will get the very best gasoline mileage, and even a one psi drop can have a marginal impression.
Is The Fanttik X8 Apex Price The Cash?
Transportable tire inflators are a type of issues that you’d fairly have and never want than want and never have. It’s handy when you could have a sudden low tire from a nail or bead leak or have to air up the occasional inflatable raft or volleyball whereas out with the household. You may use a conveyable tire inflator extra ceaselessly when you handle a fleet of autos or have a number of vehicles and ATVs across the farm. If that’s the case, you’ll respect the strong and sturdy really feel of the Fanttik X8 Apex.
Residing in Michigan, I usually add issues just like the Fanttik X8 Apex to my winter emergency package. The X8 Apex can air up a low tire, has a built-in flashlight with an SOS beacon, and an extra USB port for charging a telephone. That’s a fairly strong characteristic set at an affordable worth. On the time of this writing, the X8 Apex is out there by way of Fanttik’s official web site and by way of Amazon for $120.
Carl Anthony is the Managing Editor of Automoblog and the host of AutoVision Information Radio and AutoSens Insights. He’s a Midwest Automotive Media Affiliation member and on the board of administrators for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Basis. Like many Detroiters, Carl is holding out for a Lions Tremendous Bowl win.
Fanttik X8 Apex Photograph Gallery
Pictures: Danielle Anthony.
