With the ability to run on a slide-in battery, a 12-volt car accessory outlet, or an AC plug, the Black & Decker 20V Max Inflator is as flexible as one would expect. Unfortunately, it comes at the cost of being quite large and heavy, making it somewhat inconvenient to carry around. Fortunately, Black & Decker has produced an inflator that can fill anything, whether it's a roadside tire or a park soccer ball.

However, it can only do so much; if you were expecting an inflator with extra gadgets like a USB port or a torch, you'll have to look elsewhere.

The Black + Decker Inflator costs $78 (without battery), slightly cheaper than the larger Craftsman V20 Cordless Inflator. On the other hand, if you purchase the inflator with a 1.5 amp-hour battery and charger, it will cost $180, about the same price as the V20 Cordless Inflator with a pair of 2.0 amp-hour batteries. Black & Decker also makes a more compact ASI300 air station that can be powered by a 12-volt or AC outlet.

The Black + Decker 20V Maxl air inflator, made of orange and black plastic, contrasts with the red Craftsman V20 cordless inflator.

At 9.6 x 7.8 x 5.6 inches, the Black + Decker is about the size of a small boom box, 13 percent smaller than the Craftsman V20; the B+D inflator is also a bit lighter, weighing 4.9 and 5.8 pounds with batteries, compared to the V20's 4.9 and .6 and 5.4 pounds with batteries, compared to 4.9 and 5.8 pounds for the V20.

Like the V20 cordless inflator, the B+D 20V Max inflator can be powered in three different ways, including a 12-volt car accessory adapter or AC plug. Additionally, it can be powered by the company's proprietary 20V Max lithium battery pack.

The center of attention is the B+D 20V Max inflator's 1.3-inch display. It displays the units as well as the current pressure in large numbers. It corresponds to pounds per square inch (PSI), kilopascals (KPA), and bar. Three buttons on the interface are for selecting units and increasing or decreasing the pressure that triggers the pump's automatic shutdown feature. It can pump up to 150 PSI.

Like the Craftsman Cordless Inflator, the 20V Max Inflator has two switches. One is a switch for AC or DC power, and the other is a switch for large or small capacity. In other words, you can choose between a tire or a common inflator such as a beach toy. On the side of the case is a place to fit accessories such as a needle for sports balls, a large tip for inflatable toys, and a tire adapter for bicycles. Unfortunately, the B+D inflator does not include luxuries such as lights or a power outlet.

It may be smaller and lighter than the Craftsman V20 Cordless Inflator, but the B+D 20V Max Inflator is still one of the largest and heaviest air compressors available. The pump's handle makes it easy to carry from tire to tire, but there is no case or bag.

All three power sources are well integrated. The battery slides to the side for storage, and the power cord can be wrapped around it when not in use. If the screen does not light up, tap the center pressure unit button to wake the device from sleep.

When using the 12-volt accessory connection, the cable and air hose together have a reach of 11.7 feet. There is also a wider 17-inch hose for filling larger inflatable items such as rafts and beach balls.

With a fully charged battery pack, the B+D 20V Max inflator immediately set to work filling the tires with air. Although the high-pitched whine was annoying, it took 3 minutes and 7 seconds to get the tires to 30 PSI. This is comparable to the Carsun's pumping time and well ahead of the similar Craftsman V20 Cordless Tire Inflator. Unfortunately, there is no battery gauge on either the battery or the pump.

It then took 9.6 seconds to fill the soccer ball. Once the pre-set shut-off limit was reached, the pump stopped. During use, the pump's digital pressure gauge was accurate and stable.

The B+D 20V Max Inflator includes a two-year warranty (including battery), which is a step up from the one-year warranty, but not as good as RoofPax's lifetime warranty.

Like the Craftsman V20 Cordless Tire Inflator, the V20 Max Inflator does the basics well and is flexible in use. It can be used with either an optional removable battery, AC plug, or the car's 12-volt accessory outlet.

Sadly, the inflator lacks other useful features such as built-in lights and a USB power socket. However, it is smaller and lighter than its competitors, making it easier to use when the need arises.