# Small compressor for Tubeless? **URL:** \ **Category:** What to Buy\ **Created:** [August 21, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826 "2026-08-21T16:58:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Henoch\_Getz](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/henoch_getz/32/4455_2.png) [@Henoch\_Getz](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Henoch_Getz)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/1 "2026-08-21T16:58:29Z")
I’m thinking of buying a small compressor to help with tubeless set up, I might only use a handful of times a year and live in a small apartment, so something small would be great, would something like this work?. > **[open prime modal](https://www.amazon.com/clp/B0GXRYMBCW)** > > Amazon.com: Rafeox Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor, Cordless Tire Inflator | Fast Inflation, Rechargeable Battery, Auto Shut-Off, Digital Pressure Gauge, Air Pump for Car, SUV, Motorcycle, Bike, Ball : Tools & Home Improvement ---
**Author:** ![Case\_Hultman](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/case_hultman/32/3648_2.png) [@Case\_Hultman](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Case_Hultman)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/2 "2026-08-21T17:17:43Z")
I’ve read good things about California compressors (I think @daverome). 1 gallon I think is enough. Haven’t pulled the trigger because I have a cheap Harbor Freight one that hasn’t gone bad. ---
**Author:** ![Changren\_Yong](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/changren_yong/32/1993_2.png) [@Changren\_Yong](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Changren_Yong)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/3 "2026-08-21T17:34:19Z")
To help with seating tubeless tires, you want a compressor with a reserve tank. Since you live in a small apartment, any compressor that fits that criteria will most likely be too noisy to use. I suggest getting a floor pump with a booster chamber (Lezyne, Topeak, Blackburn). If you already own a floor pump, perhaps something like a Schwalbe tire booster or Airshot tubeless tire inflator. ---
**Author:** ![Crosswind](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/crosswind/32/10643_2.png) [@Crosswind](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Crosswind)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/4 "2026-08-21T18:10:36Z")
Some of my tubeless road & gravel tires can be seated with just a floor pump. I’m not consistent with seating MTB tires. I just use a compressor to seat them. If you’re comfortable with mounting tubeless, then give the floor pump a chance. Generally, I have little problem with road or gravel tires. If you just want the ease of compress air that you don’t have to work for, then consider a compressor with a reservoir tank. You can find them pretty inexpensively. ---
**Author:** ![Ren\_S](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/ren_s/32/5224_2.png) [@Ren\_S](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Ren_S)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/5 "2026-08-21T18:26:17Z")
I agree. I’ve had the airshot for many years and it’s all I’ve ever used for tubeless setup on 4+ bikes in my garage: road, gravel, and MTB many times over — not enough air for the fat bike tho. It’s basically completely silent and portable for storing in a drawer. Plus, it’s easy to travel with to races or events. Fits in my race bag and weighs probably a pound. Highly recommend! ---
**Author:** ![JLM](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/jlm/32/3833_2.png) [@JLM](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/JLM)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/6 "2026-08-21T18:43:56Z")
As an option, consider just getting an air tank. They’re inexpensive and you can simply fill it up at a gas station or with an electric inflator. ---
**Author:** ![Derp\_Phillips](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/derp_phillips/32/4333_2.png) [@Derp\_Phillips](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Derp_Phillips)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/7 "2026-08-21T20:00:54Z")
I have a larger version of this compressor, but I think this would work well (if it’s small enough for you). 58 dB is pretty quiet and it’s also quite handy to have this type of compressor for various other tasks. [https://makitatools.com/products/details/MAC100Q](https://makitatools.com/products/details/MAC100Q) ---
**Author:** ![Maynard\_G\_Krebs](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/maynard_g_krebs/32/3661_2.png) [@Maynard\_G\_Krebs](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Maynard_G_Krebs)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/8 "2026-08-21T20:34:54Z")
I just got [this one](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-2-Gal-135-PSI-Portable-Electric-Oil-Free-Quiet-Jobsite-Air-Compressor-with-Dual-Pressure-Gauges-and-1-Quick-Coupler-3300241A/329281563) for the same purpose and situation. The fill motor is quieter than the sound of air going into the tire. You can definitely fill it inside an apartment. It fits in the bottom of a closet. ---
**Author:** ![Changren\_Yong](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/changren_yong/32/1993_2.png) [@Changren\_Yong](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Changren_Yong)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/9 "2026-08-21T22:14:44Z")
[https://www.lowes.com/pd/California-Air-Tools-Light-and-Quiet-1-Gallon-Single-Stage-Portable-Corded-Electric-Horizontal-Air-Compressor/5013979469](https://www.lowes.com/pd/California-Air-Tools-Light-and-Quiet-1-Gallon-Single-Stage-Portable-Corded-Electric-Horizontal-Air-Compressor/5013979469) I think this is the one that you were referring to. I think the 1-gallon reservoir should be sufficient to seat a tubeless tire and its small dimensions might work in a small apartment. And most importantly, it’s so quiet! Watch the video in the link to listen to the difference between a 90-dB pancake-style compressor (I have a similarly-loud Ridgid 6-gallon pancake-style compressor that when run in my garage, I can hear it two floors up) and the 56-dB California air compressor. ---
**Author:** ![Babs](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/babs/32/3783_2.png) [@Babs](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Babs)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/10 "2026-08-21T23:33:29Z")
Do you have this one and is the video representative of actual noise? ---
**Author:** ![Bela\_Bauer](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/bela_bauer/32/3028_2.png) [@Bela\_Bauer](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Bela_Bauer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 12:11pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/11 "2026-08-22T12:11:23Z")
I’ll add another vote for the Airshot canister. A few years ago, I was also researching small compressors, but decided to go with the airshot and am glad I did. No problems with any MTB tire up to 2.5” so far. ---
**Author:** ![Aussie\_Rider](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/aussie_rider/32/9456_2.png) [@Aussie\_Rider](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Aussie_Rider)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/12 "2026-08-22T13:56:00Z")
Nine times out of ten I’ve been able to seat my tyres with a standard floor pump. On the occasions that I haven’t, I used a co2 cartridge to seat the tyre, then deflated it before reinflating (is that a word?) with the floor pump (to remove the co2). ---
**Author:** ![Jordan\_Schneider](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/jordan_schneider/32/5771_2.png) [@Jordan\_Schneider](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Jordan_Schneider)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/13 "2026-08-22T15:26:33Z")
Airshot is what you need. I use it frequently. Reliable, simple, and relatively affordable. [https://www.airshot.bike](https://www.airshot.bike) ---
**Author:** ![Robert\_Yarlott](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/robert_yarlott/32/10360_2.png) [@Robert\_Yarlott](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Robert_Yarlott)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/14 "2026-08-22T16:45:14Z")
Strapping the outer perimeter with a fully-depreciated MTB tube has made the plain 'ol pump work at 100% success (at least for me). I have a small, quiet compressor but if there wasn’t shelf room in the garage for it, it wouldn’t be. Seems like it would be dead weight in an apartment… ---
**Author:** ![Koen\_Miseur](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/koen_miseur/32/7900_2.png) [@Koen\_Miseur](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Koen_Miseur)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/15 "2026-08-22T22:33:57Z")
As others have proposed, get a Tire Booster, I have a garage but still use a Schwalbe Tire Booster as it takes almost no place and is cheaper especially for 1 or 2 tubeless setups a year. ---
**Author:** ![Gregory\_Thomas](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/gregory_thomas/32/3386_2.png) [@Gregory\_Thomas](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Gregory_Thomas)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/16 "2026-08-23T02:03:22Z")
I don’t have that specific one, but I’ve owned several California Air Tools compressors. They are all very quiet, perfectly suitable for small apartment use. With the compressor running right next to me, I could have a normal conversation with someone without increasing my speaking volume. ---
**Author:** ![Yoln77](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/yoln77/32/5265_2.png) [@Yoln77](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Yoln77)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2026, 3:05am UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/17 "2026-08-23T03:05:28Z")
I’ve had an harbor freight in the past, it does te job for pretty damn cheap, but it’s LOUD now I have a California air (the smallest one) in our basement, and it’s dead quiet. I leave it on, rarely drain it (we live in a very dry climate) and that’s my daily pump now. Wouldn’t be possible if it was as loud as the other brands ---
**Author:** ![RobG](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/robg/32/8987_2.png) [@RobG](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/RobG)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2026, 3:28am UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/18 "2026-08-23T03:28:18Z")
I agree with all the airshot recommendations. I’ve been using one for around 10 years and it’s small, quiet, easy to fill with a floor pump & straightforward to use. ---
**Author:** ![Neil\_Buckley](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/neil_buckley/32/5836_2.png) [@Neil\_Buckley](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Neil_Buckley)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2026, 9:10am UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/19 "2026-08-23T09:10:12Z")
I’ve always just used a floor pump and taken out the valve core, it works probably 99.98% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Brother\_Maynard](https://community.escapecollective.com/user_avatar/community.escapecollective.com/brother_maynard/32/2852_2.png) [@Brother\_Maynard](https://community.escapecollective.com/u/Brother_Maynard)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2026, 6:41am UTC](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826/20 "2026-08-24T06:41:52Z")
If you are keen on a bit of DIY: i got an out of date CO2 (not foam or powder!) fire extinguisher for cheap. Added a brass pipe fitting (6mm dia 1/4 bsp male in my case) and a couple metres of PU air hose. It has a schrader valve as standard fill mechanism, fills off a xiaomi USB inflator pro (very happy with that one) and seats 2-3 mtb tyres easily before needing a refill 🙂 [Next page](https://community.escapecollective.com/t/small-compressor-for-tubeless/5826.md?page=2)