Stanley FatMax Walltech Pro air compressor review

The Stanley tool company has been around since 1857. Founded in Connecticut, USA, it’s now part of the same group as Black & Decker and DeWalt.

Best-known for its hand tools, it makes power tools, too, including a range of air compressors.

The Stanley FatMax Walltech Pro (model number FMXCMD152WE) is a powerful unit that can inflate bicycle tyres in seconds, and makes tubeless set-up considerably easier.

It’s bulky, though, has to be wall-mounted, and isn’t without fault.

Stanley FatMax Walltech Pro air compressor details and specifications

The Stanley FatMax Walltech Pro is a chunky unit – measuring 450x241x642mm – with a 2l air tank.

It’s designed to be wall-mounted to save floor space. At around 12kg, you wouldn’t want to be lugging this thing around anyway.

The compressor’s 1.5-horsepower, 1.1kW motor pumps out 180l of air per minute, achieving pressures of up to 8bar (116psi).

It has a built-in 9m hose reel, which is compatible with many different heads, all of which have to be bought separately.

Our test unit was provided by Compressor Shop, who supplied it with the homologated (approved and certified) inflating gun kit with three ‘needles’ (£39.87) plus an air-dusting attachment (£13.71).

You can also get a standard inflating gun kit (£22.75 – more on this later) and a homologated gun without needles (£31.37). Stanley’s Oil-Less Technology means you shouldn't need to maintain the compressor, save for draining any water from condensation after use.

Stanley FatMax Walltech Pro air compressor performance

If you’ve had enough of struggling with stubborn tubeless tyres, this powerful compressor can work miracles.

Wall-mounting the compressor is an easy 10-minute job using the included paper template, although you will need a tape measure, pencil, spirit level and drill.

Once in place, you pull out the hose, add the attachment of your choice (securing it with a thumb lever), flick the ‘on’ button on the compressor body and get to work.

I tested the compressor mostly with the homologated inflating gun kit, which comes with a Presta valve head, a conical needle and a straight needle (suitable for pumping up balls).

This has a major flaw – its analogue dial only displays bar ratings, not psi, so you either have to attach an inline gauge or squint to see the dial on the compressor itself to get the precise tyre pressure you’re after.

Thankfully, Stanley also offers a standard inflating gun kit, with the same three needles, which has a gauge with psi markings.

Whichever head you use, the compressor provides the rapid burst of air required to seat stubborn tubeless tyres, inflating a Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5in Wide Trail mountain bike tyre on a 32mm wide (internal) rim to 1.5bar/22psi in just six seconds.

That’s incredibly fast, and much speedier than using even the best track pump or tubeless inflator.

The air-dusting attachment is useful, too, with a flexible nozzle that allows you to clean parts of your bike you can’t reach with a cloth or brush. I also used it to blow away excess water after washing my bike and help keep rust at bay.

Stanley's oil-less tech means there’s no lubrication oil to be kept manually topped up. It also ensures that the air that comes out of the compressor is clean. The brand says it’s maintenance-free, and I certainly had no problems during testing.

However, the lack of oil does contribute to the machine being quite loud.

Gauge and price aside, my only complaint is that the loose-fitting plastic hose-reel box detracts from the otherwise quality feel.

How does the STANLEY FATMAX Walltech Pro air compressor compare to a tubeless inflator?

Tubeless inflators – available as a standalone unit or integrated with a track pump – are another good way to get a lot of air into a tyre quickly.

However, they can’t match the Walltech Pro for speed or convenience, needing to be inflated manually and delivering a lower volume of air at a slower rate, which isn’t as effective at seating tubeless tyres.

They are quiet and portable, though, and substantially cheaper.

STANLEY FATMAX Walltech Pro air compressor bottom line

While overkill for most home mechanics, the Stanley FatMax Walltech Pro is a great bit of kit if you can afford it. It inflates tyres astonishingly fast, which makes tubeless set-up a cinch.

Yes, it’s pricey, but it’s worth factoring in that it can also be used to inflate vehicle tyres or stand-up paddleboards, or even to power a paint spray gun (£24.21).

Just make sure to opt for the non-homologated inflator kit.