0–5 on published sub-scores
Avid Power AC/DC Portable Air Compressor vs VIAIR 88P
Both units have been through the same bench protocol. Avid Power AC/DC Portable Air Compressor takes 0 of the five sub-scores we publish, VIAIR 88P takes 5. The specs and the trade-offs below are what actually separate them.
This page compiles the hands-on testing we have already published in the individual reviews. It adds no new measurements: every score, spec and figure below comes from the linked review.
Avid Power
Avid Power AC/DC Portable Air Compressor
The most flexible compressor under $70: AC power at home for garage duty, 12V for roadside emergencies. It gives up a little speed and gauge accuracy for that versatility.
VIAIR
VIAIR 88P
The most honest 12V compressor for the money: fast, robust and reliable, as long as you accept a screw-on chuck and an analog gauge that reads about 2 PSI high.
Sub-scores from our reviews
The five dimensions behind every overall score on this site, taken verbatim from each review. A dash means the review does not publish that sub-score.
| Dimension | Avid Power AC/DC Portable Air Compressor | VIAIR 88P |
|---|---|---|
| Inflation speed | 4.2 | 4.8 |
| Gauge accuracy | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| Build quality | 4.4 | 4.8 |
| Portability | 3.6 | 4.3 |
| Value | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Overall score | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| Typical price | $59.99 | $64.99 |
Specifications both publish
| Spec | Avid Power AC/DC Portable Air Compressor | VIAIR 88P |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum pressure | 150 PSI | 120 PSI |
| Air flow | 1.4 CFM at 0 PSI on AC, 1.3 CFM on DC | 1.8 CFM at 0 PSI |
| Power source | 120V AC wall power and 12V DC cigarette plug | 12V DC, alligator battery clamps, 9 ft cord |
| Hose length | 3 ft hose with 1 ft extension | 16 ft |
| Duty cycle | 15 minutes on, 10 minutes off | 25 minutes at 30 PSI, 72°F |
| Weight | 4.9 lb (2.22 kg) | 4.5 lb (2.04 kg) |
| Included adapters | Presta adapter, ball needle, nozzle adapter, carry case | Presta valve adapter, sports needle, plastic storage case |
What you accept with each
Avid Power AC/DC Portable Air Compressor
- Analog gauge read about 2.5 PSI high in both modes
- Bulky and heavier than a pure 12V inflator — 4.9 lb
- No auto shut-off, so you still have to watch the dial
- AC cord is only 5 ft, which often means an extension cord
VIAIR 88P
- No auto shut-off, so you must watch the gauge and stop it yourself
- Analog gauge read roughly 2 PSI high against our calibrated tester
- Loud at close range; roughly 88 dB at one meter
- Battery clamps mean opening the hood rather than plugging into a 12V socket
Which one, for whom
Choose the Avid Power AC/DC Portable Air Compressor if you weight the trade-offs below more heavily, and the lower price ($59.99 against $64.99) matters.
Choose the VIAIR 88P if you weight inflation speed, gauge accuracy, build quality, portability, value more heavily.
Neither is a bad unit — both cleared the same protocol. Read the two full reviews before deciding: Avid Power AC/DC Portable Air Compressor review and VIAIR 88P review.