Park Tool's INF-2 Shop Inflator is a highly recognizable tool found in many bicycle shops. While it is full-featured and has the distinctive blue Park Tool color, it is fairly expensive at $147.95. That's quite a bit for the home mechanic. A few other air compressor inflators sell for less than half of that!
The big selling point on the INF-2 is a flip-flop design that allows you to work on both presta and schrader valves without swapping parts - you just turn the tool over. That's a nice feature for high-volume bike shops, but it also adds cost for home mechanics who only care about presta valves and don't need a schrader fitting.
Each of these 5 alternative inflators uses a 1/4" I/M connector to fit standard air compressors and pneumatic line fittings, and a trigger that dispenses air and controls the rate of inflation, just like the Park Tool INF-2. Some offer the same functionality as the Park INF-2, while others achieve a much lower price, but also have reduced functionality. Let's take a look at 5 options:
Prestacycle Prestaflator Professional - $59.95
The Prestacycle Prestaflator Professional model is the closest direct competitor to Park Tool's INF-2 on the market. Like the INF-2, it has a built-in pressure gauge and handles both presta and schrader valves. The INF-2 has the advantage of changing between presta and schrader by simply flipping the tool over, while you change out a threaded tip on the Prestaflator Pro to switch between valve types.
The Prestaflator Professional does have a significant advantage over the INF-2, interchangeable tips. For example, you can change out the presta tip to an (included) blower tip, useful for using your air compressor for cleaning up dust in your shop, or inflating pool toys. This is a nice value-add that's impossible with Park's INF-2.
This same tool also comes in a Digital version at $79.95, which offers identical functionality to the Professional model, but adds a backlit, digital pressure gauge that's very easy to read - a nice upgrade for working in dark garages or basements.
Prestacycle Prestaflator Mini - $36.95
The stripped-down Mini Prestaflator from Prestacycle is one of the least-expensive inflator heads on the market. It reaches this price point by getting rid of the built-in pressure gauge as well as the dual presta/schrader compatibility. Instead, it comes in dedicated presta-only or schrader-only versions that can't be converted.
Most importantly, you still get the trigger-pull feature to control the rate of air flow. This model is appealing if you use your air compressor setup for seating tubeless tire beads and not daily inflation, thus making a gauge unnecessary. Similarly, if you use a floor pump with a gauge to set the precise tire pressure, you may not need a gauge on the inflator head at all. If so, the Prestacycle Prestaflator Mini is a good way to save some cash while still keeping the most important functionality.
Arundel Shop Inflator - $99.00
Arundel's Shop Inflator for Presta valves does one thing, and does that one thing very well. It uses a trigger-style design to control the release of air from the compressor, and features a built-in pressure gauge. It's sort of a hybrid between the Prestaflator Mini and Professional models, another competitor, and comes in at less than half the cost of a Park INF-2.
There is also a version of the Arundel Shop Inflator for Schrader valves. Each version of the Arundel Shop Inflator is a dedicated tool that handles a single valve type, and they are not convertible between valve types.
Arundel's Shop Inflator is a great compromise if you want a PSI gauge on your inflator, and your fleet of bikes all have the same valve type.
Arundel CNC Nugget - from $99.00
The Arundel CNC Nugget is the newest entrant into the bicycle inflator market. Inspired by the original Arundel Shop Inflator (I've sold more Arundel Shop Inflators than any other inflator, for what it's worth), the new CNC Nugget is smaller, more compact, and has a higher-end feel.
You can get the CNC Nugget 3 ways - as a bare tool with no gauge (for those who want to use a separate, more precise gauge), with an analog gauge, or with a digital gauge. You can swap between gauges or add a gauge later as an upgrade to the bare tool, a nice option.
They are more expensive, so I don't expect the Arundel CNC Nugget to entirely replace the Arundel Shop Inflator, but they are sure to be popular among home mechanics who want to invest in a higher-end tool with a premium feel.
VIAIR TLC - $69.95
VIAIR's TLC Inflator is a one-handed tool, similar in functionality to the original Arundel Shop Inflator. Out of the box, it's presta valve only, although it's possible to use it for schrader valves with an optional add-on component.
I like how the VIAIR TLC includes a carry bag, which is nice to protect the tool while you're on the road or from rattling around in your toolbox. It's also got a built in gauge, for those who want a gauge on their inflator.
5 alternatives to the Park Tool INF-2
Each of these 5 alternatives to Park's INF-2 is a worthy addition to your home workshop and worth considering if you're adding an inflator head and air compressor to your bicycle tool kit.