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Save yourself from being caught out when you order a football and it arrives deflated. Whether you need to pump up a whole school full of balls or just top up on air in between kickabouts in the park, there is a football pump out there that perfectly matches your needs.
Whilst all football pumps technically do the same job, some do that job better than others. There are also pumps out there to suit different needs. For example, if you have to inflate a lot of footballs every week you might consider getting a pump with a special speed deflation tool to save time.
How do you know how much air to put in your football? That’s easy, most balls have maximum pressure printed on the ball near the needle hole which is generally between 8-12 PSI. FIFA says professional balls should be between 8.5 and 15.6 PSI, but you will want to check how much your ball can take as there can be a difference in the quality of materials.
PSI means pounds per square inch and it’s just a way of measuring how much air pressure goes in something. You might opt to go for a pump that can also pump your car tyres, which means you’ll need one that can get to 35 PSI. Or a small pool inflatable for a child needs only 1-2 PSI. It just depends on how many different things you’ll need your pump for.
Extra tip: It’s useful to lubricate your needle first with a bit of glycerin or coconut oil, this helps protect the needle hole from damage.
From high powered plug-in compression pumps to dual action handhelds, there’s no need to get tired arms anymore. Here are 9 of the best football pumps currently available to buy.
1. Best mini electric ball pump: Deeplee Electric Ball Pump with LED Digital Display
This electric ball pump charges using a USB and even doubles as a handy flashlight. There’s no manual labour with this pump, just preset the optimum pressure for your ball and let the pump do the rest of the work. Once fully charged, it can easily inflate over 25 footballs.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable.
- Features accurate air pressure detection with automatic stop function.
- Doubles as an LED flashlight.
Cons:
- Only suitable for smaller balls with a low PSI.
2. Best stirrup ball pump: Mitre Stirrup Ball Pump
Pros:
- Heavy-duty and ideal for inflating groups of balls efficiently.
- Can be used with any sports ball, including football, rugby and netball.
Cons:
- Does not feature a PSI gauge.
This durable stirrup ball pump is great for those who have to pump up a fair few footballs, like a school or a team. Just put your feet on the steady footplate to hold in place and use your body weight to pump it up. It saves your arms aching from traditional style pumps so there is more energy left for playing football.
3. Best professional electric pump: Mitre Pro Inflator
This heavy-duty electric pump plugs into the mains so there’s no chance it’ll run out of power. It’s perfect for facilities like large schools or clubs that need a lot of balls pumped up as quickly as possible. It takes a few minutes to set up initially, but once it’s ready it’s good to go for as long as you need.
Get it from Total Football Direct for £113.60
4. Best dual-action pump: Adidas Air Pump
This pump uses a dual-action design which means it inflates on both the push and pull action. This is great for maximising kinetic energy which makes it a good option for those who don’t want to go electric. It also has a lock clasp so it stays put and protected in your kit bag.
5. Best foot pump: PHOENIX Foot Pump with Pressure Gauge
Want to save arm ache but don’t fancy going electric? This portable foot pump is the answer. It’s a great piece of kit to throw in your car as it can also be used to pump up your car wheels on the go. It has a pressure gauge so you know you’ve done the job correctly whether it’s a football or a tyre.
6. Best pocket-sized ball pump: Brotou Pocket-Sized Ball Pump
This tiny pump is perfect to carry in your pocket or bag to make sure your ball never loses pressure again. It’s great for on-the-go top-ups but can also pump a ball up from completely flat with no problems. It uses a dual-action energy-saving system to inflate with every movement.
7. Best budget football pump: DDUO Portable Ball Pump
As far as ball pumps go, this is a cheap and cheerful model. As expected, it doesn’t come with any bells or whistles but for someone who rarely needs to use a pump, this is ideal. It’s perfect for pumping up a football for a kickabout in the garden, and it can also be used to pump up balloons and paddling pools.
8. Best pump for speed inflation: AirSilo Electric Fast Ball Pump
This electric football pump will make quick work of inflating, with times of less than a minute for a standard football. Ideal if you have plenty to inflate and not much time. The large, clear LED pressure gauge screen is also easy to read in sunlight, so no squinting.
9. Best handheld electric ball pump: Oasser Cordless Compressor with Digital Pressure Gauge
This cordless compressor looks more similar to a power drill than a traditional ball pump, but it does the pumping job very well. It has a removable battery pack for charging and is powerful enough to pump up car and motorcycle tyres as well as your footballs. It’s perfect for those who want to use a powerful electric pump but aren’t near a power source.