These Are the Jump Starters That’ll Get You out of a Pickle

Specs:

Manufacturer: Noco 

Model Number: Boost Plus GB40

Starting Amps: 1,000

Pros:

• Highly consistent 
• Perfect for most car owners 
• Heavy-duty jumper cables are better than most

Cons:

• Poorly made storage bag
• Fewer additional power ports than most

The Noco GB40 is both a model that exists in our personal collections and is one that was subjected to hands-on testing. It's proven to be a reliable, consistent unit that's not soon to let you down when things get tough. That said, it's equipped with long, sturdy battery cables, it's easy to use, features reverse-polarity protection, and doubles as a power bank for your smart device. This model is rated to jump start up to six-liter gas engines and three-liter diesel engines, making it the perfect match for most car owners. I have even seen this jump a 440 cubic-inch V-8 countless times, and it's still trucking. 

As for the drawbacks, there are few to talk about. The storage bag it comes with isn't quite the right size for the unit and lacks in quality. It also lacks in the number of additional ports and features in comparison to many other models. 

Specs:

Manufacturer: Tacklife 

Model Number: T8

Starting Amps: 800 

Pros:

• Affordable price point 
• More than enough power for the average motorist
• Plentiful additional ports/functions

Cons:

• Clumsy safety protection box
• Poorly placed flashlight

The Tacklife 800A T8 is difficult to ignore. The low price is the first thing to capture your attention, but that shouldn't lead you to believe it's a slouch. My testing revealed this to be a true contender. Aside from being reliable, it packs quite the punch with the ability to jump start up to seven-liter gas engines and five-liter diesel engines. Still a little small for HD truck owners but more than enough for the average motorist. It also comes equipped with plenty of bells and whistles for charging up laptops, smart devices, and anything else with USB ports.

The primary issue with this unit is the bulky safety protection box at the base of the clamp leads. Its function isn't an issue. It's just clumsy in relation to other models. Also, the location of the light renders the flashlight somewhat useless when connecting the cables to your battery. 

Specs:

Manufacturer: Audew 

Model Number: AUDEW

Starting Amps: 1,000

Pros:

• Affordable price point 
• Surprising performance for price 
• Plenty of additional ports/functions

Cons:

• Relatively low durability 
• Bulky protection box on cables

The Audew portable jump starter just misses our pick for Best Value, and its overall performance claims make it a solid contender. Obviously, the price is lower than most will expect to pay for a jump starter, making its ability to jump up to an eight-liter gas engine or six-liter diesel utterly shocking. While it's safe to assume those numbers may be generous, my testing did prove it to be more than capable of servicing the average motor vehicle. It's also worth pointing out that this model also features two USB ports, meaning you and a passenger can charge up your phones in an emergency situation. 

While it will do just fine under normal circumstances, this may not be the most durable unit. We suspect it's strong enough to endure most anything you'll encounter on the road. That said, the bulky protection box at the base of the cables isn't exactly our cup of tea.  

Specs:

Manufacturer: Antigravity Batteries 

Model Number: ‎AG-XP-MS-3

Starting Amps: 200

Pros:

• Compact size 
• Impressive power output for the size 
• Plentiful additional features 

Cons:

• Relatively high price 
• Reviews indicate quality control issues may be present

If space is tight, then the XP-3 is what you're looking for. This model measures just one inch thick and is small enough to keep in your pocket. It's probably better to keep it in a backpack, though. Really, we'd suggest this to powersports enthusiasts and motorcycle owners, but its ability to jump startup to a five-liter gas engine makes it a good choice for most people. It also does feature two USB charging ports, which can prove handy for many situations. 

While this is a great option, there are some things we dislike about it. The price is a little high considering the relatively low power output and lack of features. There are several complaints about defective units, leading us to believe that there is a quality control issue. 

Specs:

Manufacturer: Gooloo

Model Number: GP2000

Starting Amps: 2,000 

Pros:

• Enough power for most vehicles 
• Plenty of charging ports for devices
• Can be used to power other automotive tools 

Cons:

• Bulky protection box on cables
• Poorly placed flashlight

The Gooloo GP2000 is certainly a heavy hitter. It has the juice to jump start up to nine-liter gas engines and seven-liter diesel engines, making it a solid contender for pretty much any vehicle owner. It features a total of three ports for charging: two USB, one type C. On top of that, it comes with a 5-volt/10-amp DC Output to power additional tools such as tire inflators and vacuums. These features easily make it one of the most well-equipped compact starters on our list. 

Unfortunately, this is yet another model stricken with a bulky protection box and poorly placed flashlight. These aren't serious problems for many, but better designs are to be expected for the money it brings in. 

Specs:

Manufacturer: Schumacher 

Model Number: SC1281

Starting Amps: 100

Pros:

• Can charge battery and run diagnostics 
• Long cables 
• Relatively low price 

Cons:

• Quality control issues are common 
• Not portable 

This Schumacher has a place in any DIYer's shop. It's more than just a jumper, as it can perform diagnostic tests to help you determine what killed the battery in the first place. Not only that, but it can also charge AGM, gel, and standard batteries. This model also has exceptionally long leads, which is perfect considering the size of the unit and that many battery chargers are stricken with frustratingly short cables. It also sits at a surprisingly low price point. 

This unit is great for the garage, but it does rely on 120-volt power and is not portable. Furthermore, there are a concerning number of complaints about faulty units reaching customers. 

Specs:

Manufacturer: Stanley 

Model Number: J5C09

Staring Amps: 1,000 

Pros:

• Built-in compressor 
• Can charge/power many devices 
• Affordable price point 

Cons:

• Takes up a lot of space 
• Relatively short battery cables

We've all seen something like this Stanley before. It's the kind of emergency roadside tool many were gifted as teenagers. It does have the power to jump-start a vehicle, but the built-in compressor makes it easy to air up the tires enough to get off the side of the road. It's priced perfectly for the average consumer, which isn't much of a surprise coming from Stanley. Also, the USB charging port and 12-volt DC port make it easy to power up or charge devices you'll want to keep handy in an emergency. 

This is a great unit, but it is large. Saving space is a big deal in modern vehicles. The cables are also relatively short, which can make it awkward for some car owners to use. 

Specs:

Manufacturer: Noco

Model Number: GB150

Starting Amps: 3,000

Pros:

• Superior performance 
• Can jump virtually any passenger car 
• Well-though cable design

Cons:

• Limited additional features 
• Premium price point 

This isn't a carbon copy of the GB40. In fact, you can call this its big, bad, hairy-knuckled brother. The GB150 has enough juice to crank dead nine-liter gas engines and seven-liter diesel engines to life. While it's not the only one on this list to do so, the consistency certainly is better than most. As to be expected, it's exceptionally easy to use, features protection from reverse polarity, and the cables are integrated into the body for simple storage. 

Let's not sugarcoat the price, though. This is about three times as much as many want to spend on a jump starter. Despite that, it only features one USB port, meaning it's relatively limited when it comes to additional features.