Skil Dual Function Inflator (Tool Only)

A cordless inflator that actually earns its spot on the shelf

I’ve used a lot of inflators over the years—12V units that tether you to a car battery, chunky pancake compressors, and a handful of cordless models that promised more than they delivered. The Skil inflator hit a different note for me. It pairs true cordless convenience with two distinct modes that cover most day-to-day inflation jobs without fuss.

Skil splits the tool’s operation into high-pressure and high-volume modes. That matters more than it sounds. High pressure is for tires and balls; high volume is for bigger inflatables like mattresses and pool gear, and it handles deflation as well. In use, that division made the tool feel purpose-built rather than a jack-of-all-trades.

Setup and power

The tool is “tool-only,” so you’ll need a PWRCORE 20 battery and charger if you’re not already in Skil’s 20V lineup. It runs at a nominal 18V (20V max) with a brushless motor, which is still uncommon on handheld inflators. The brushless drive shows up in a couple of practical ways: faster ramp-up to target pressure, good efficiency, and cooler running during longer sessions.

There’s no assembly beyond snapping in the battery and picking a hose. The high-pressure hose is attached at the nose; the high-volume hose is separate and connects to a dedicated port for inflation or deflation. The included adapters cover most bases: a Presta adapter for road and gravel bikes, a sports needle, and a pinch valve adapter. I didn’t have to hunt for oddball fittings.

Interface and accuracy

Skil keeps the controls simple: a backlit digital gauge, plus buttons to select mode, set target pressure, and start/stop. The display is easy to read outdoors, and the LED work light is handy if you’re topping off a tire in a dim garage or on the shoulder at dusk.

Target pressure setpoints are straightforward—tap up or down to your desired psi/bar and press start. The inflator runs to the set value and shuts off automatically. In practice, it didn’t overshoot on tires for me. For bikes, especially higher-pressure road tires, it also stopped right at the programmed value. That’s a confidence booster, especially when you’re juggling different targets for cars, trucks, and bikes.

High-pressure performance

Skil rates the high-pressure side up to 160 psi (11 bar). That covers automotive tires, light truck tires, and performance road bike setups. In real use, it’s quick enough to be practical. Topping an SUV tire from the high 20s to mid-30s psi took under two minutes. Airing a pickup tire a bit further was still a short wait rather than a coffee break.

The 0.68 m (about 27 inches) hose is on the shorter side, but because the tool itself is compact—roughly 12 x 7-5/8 x 5-5/8 inches—it’s easy to hold the body with one hand and connect the chuck with the other. Once connected, I could set the target and let the auto shut-off handle the rest. Compared to compressor-and-hose setups, the lack of dragging a line around the vehicle is a real quality-of-life improvement.

Where it’s not a substitute is for heavy-duty tasks like seating tubeless beads or recovering multiple large off-road tires from single digits to highway pressure. It will get the job done eventually, but that’s not the intent. For normal maintenance, seasonal temperature drops, or slow leaks, it shines.

High-volume performance and deflation

The high-volume side is rated at 14.4 CFM, and while no one is metering airflow on a pool toy, it’s clearly quick. Air mattresses, river floats, and similar inflatables went from limp to usable in a minute or two. The deflate port is equally useful. Being able to actively pull air out makes packing camp gear far easier than rolling and kneeling on it.

The separate high-volume hose is flexible and easy to attach; I would have loved onboard stowage for it and all the adapters in one place. Even without that, the included accessories covered every inflatable I needed.

Ergonomics and build

At about 4.05 pounds bare, the Skil inflator is pleasantly stable on the ground but not fatiguing to carry. The footprint fits cleanly on a shelf or in a trunk cubby. The handle is well-shaped, and the balance with a 2.0Ah or 4.0Ah battery installed felt right. I didn’t notice excessive vibration, and the noise level is what you expect from a small piston compressor—present but not shout-over-it loud.

I’m glad Skil went with a brushless motor here. It’s not just a spec-sheet boast; the motor comes up to speed quickly, doesn’t bog when approaching the target, and seems efficient. After inflating several car tires and a couple of bike tires in one session, the tool was warm but not hot, and the battery still had juice to spare.

Battery life

Runtime depends on what you’re doing, of course, but the tool is not a battery hog. With a 4.0Ah PWRCORE 20 pack, I topped off four passenger tires and then inflated a pair of motorcycle tires from the mid-20s to the high 30s with capacity left. For occasional users, a compact 2.0Ah pack is fine; if you plan to use the high-volume mode often for camping gear or do multiple vehicles back-to-back, a 4.0Ah pack is the sweet spot.

One practical note: because the tool is battery-only (no 12V cord option), keep a charged pack in the car if you want this as emergency insurance. Skil’s batteries have onboard fuel gauges, which helps with readiness.

Real-world conveniences

• Preset-and-forget operation is the standout feature. Set the pressure, press go, move on to checking lug torque or cleaning windows while it runs.
• The LED light is positioned well to illuminate the valve area without casting your hand into shadow.
• The digital gauge reads in both psi and bar. Switching units for bicycles vs. cars is quick.
• The included Presta adapter works reliably with modern bike valves; I didn’t run into slow leaks at the junction, which is common on cheaper adapters.

Limitations and trade-offs

• Tool-only means budget for a battery and charger if you’re not already on Skil’s platform. That can double the out-the-door cost.
• The high-pressure hose length is modest. It’s fine in use, but a slightly longer hose would provide more placement flexibility around larger wheels.
• There’s no hose reel or integrated storage cubby for the high-volume hose and adapters. Keep a small pouch with the tool to avoid losing the small bits.
• This is not a replacement for a shop compressor. It’s designed for mobile convenience and maintenance tasks, not air-hungry tools or rapid recovery from off-road pressures.

None of these are dealbreakers, but they’re worth knowing so you’re not expecting the wrong kind of performance from the right tool.

Who it’s for

• Drivers who want a reliable way to maintain tire pressure at home without firing up a compressor or hunting for quarters at a gas station.
• Cyclists who swap between Presta and Schrader and want accurate, repeatable psi without manual pumps.
• Campers and families who regularly inflate and deflate air mattresses, SUPs, and pool gear.
• Anyone already invested in Skil’s PWRCORE 20 lineup who wants a practical add-on tool.

If you’re primarily an overlanding or fleet user airing big tires from single digits regularly, you’ll want a higher-output, dedicated compressor system. For everyone else, the Skil inflator covers daily needs with minimal friction.

The bottom line

The Skil inflator succeeds because it focuses on the jobs most people actually do: topping up vehicle tires accurately, inflating sports gear without hunting adapters, and handling bulky inflatables quickly—including deflation. The brushless motor, auto shut-off, clear digital controls, and solid battery performance add up to a tool that’s easy to trust and easier to live with.

Recommendation: I recommend the Skil inflator. It’s dependable, quick enough for routine maintenance, and genuinely convenient thanks to its dual-mode design and automatic shut-off. If you’re already on Skil’s 20V platform, it’s a no-brainer addition. Even if you’re not, the combination of accuracy, usability, and the ability to handle both high-pressure and high-volume tasks makes the battery investment worthwhile for most households.