The Amazon Basics product line has made a name for itself with its simple, minimalist equipment and commensurately affordable pricing, and the Amazon Basics portable air compressor is one such product. This tire inflator may look like it was made in a time before automotive technology, but it still manages to offer a lightweight design and one of the longest air hoses available.

While this inflator can quickly inflate a tire or soccer ball, the Amazon Basics Portable Air Compressor connects directly to the car's battery terminal to provide power. This makes it especially difficult to use for those who try not to open the hood.

At a price of $66, the Amazon Basics portable air compressor falls somewhere between the more expensive three-powered models and the lower-priced inflators; Amazon Basics also sells car floor mats, roof cargo carriers, and cleaning supplies.

Looking like something out of a 1960s store class, the Amazon Basics portable air compressor is made of black steel and chrome with a pair of open pump cylinders. Compared to the Carsun and Prow air compressors, which are covered with covers, the Amazon Basics portable air compressor appears completely bare.

Although slightly smaller than the Craftsman V20 Cordless Inflator, its 10.2 x 8.5 x 4.5-inch design is huge compared to the handheld Fantik A8 Apex compressor. Its 6.0-pound weight is about the same as that of the Tri-Power Craftsman V20 Cordless Inflator.

Unlike the V20 Cordless Inflator and other designs, the Amazon Basic pump has no battery, AC adapter, or even a plug for the car's 12-volt accessory outlet. Instead, it is powered by a pair of clips that attach directly to the car's battery terminals. The clips are red and black in color and clearly marked with polarity so there is no mistaking what is connected to where. On the other hand, the insulated plastic clip covers come off easily.

The pump has a 12.7-foot power cable and air hose, which should be enough to inflate a car or light truck tire, but that's only the beginning. Amazon Basic's portable air compressor adds 16 feet of coiled hose, making its reach more than 28 feet. Unlike the Craftsman V20 Cordless Inflator, however, there is no place to coil the hose when stored.

The 1.2-inch monochrome screen is backlit and uses large numbers. Below it are three buttons with an "S" to set the maximum pressure and up and down arrows to adjust the pressure setting. The screen only displays PSI (Pounds per Square Inch), the highest being 120 PSI, but unless you are a bicycle racer, this should not be a problem.

The inflator has two switches, one to turn on the pump and one to turn on the 3-element LED light. In addition to the needle for inflating the sports ball, there is an adapter for inflating the bicycle tire and a 30-amp fuse to replace the one included.

Carrying the large, heavy Amazon Basic pump can be tricky. It has a handle for easy carrying and comes with a bag to hold the pump and accessories.

There is only one way to power the Amazon Basic portable air compressor: directly from a car battery using the included clip. This may reduce flexibility on the go and may not be the first choice for soccer tournaments - but a 12-foot power cable helps a bit.

Upon pressing the power switch, the Amazon Basics portable air compressor fired right up; although capable of pumping 15.8 gallons of air per minute (twice as much as a Carsun air pump), the Amazon Basics pump is limited to a peak pressure of 120 PSI limited to 120 PSI.

Amazon has succeeded in providing an ogre of speed in tire inflation, taking my flat tire to 30 PSI in just 1 minute and 29 seconds. It was as fast as 4.5 seconds to inflate a soccer ball to 10 PSI.

The digital pressure gauge on the portable air compressor was accurate and did not fluctuate wildly when the pump was turned on; as with the Carsun tire inflator, the instructions caution against using it for more than 10 minutes at a time. If you find yourself in that situation, you need to let it cool for 10 minutes first.

The inflator comes with a one-year warranty, but this does not extend to the lifetime warranty on the roof-pack pump.

While its appearance harkens back to the simpler days of automotive tools, the speedy inflation speed of the Amazon Basics portable air compressor makes it a great tool for those in a hurry to get back on the road. The maximum pressure is 120 PSI, but that's enough for most applications, and the cable and hose together add up to a whopping 28 feet.

The inflator comes with a storage bag and a light for nighttime work, and is priced at a middling $66. On the downside, Amazon Basics' portable air compressor can only be powered by connecting the pump directly to the car's battery, making it unsuitable for those who fear what lurks under the hood of their car.