The 5 Best Jump Starters | Tested & Rated - Tech Gear Lab
The 5 Best Jump Starters | Tested & Rated - Tech Gear Lab
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Best Overall Jump Starter
Hulkman Alpha85S
OVERALL
SCORE
Peak Amps: 2,000 | Dimensions: 9" x 4" x 1.8"
REASONS TO BUY
- Digital battery display
- Impressive power output
- Long battery life
- Several accessories & adapters
REASONS TO AVOID
- No case
- Bulky for this style of device
- Pricey
If you're the type who demands high performance with lots of accessories wrapped up in a sleek design, we recommend the HULKMAN Alpha85S. During our power assessment, this model produced a higher voltage than any other jump starter in our review. Not only did the battery last much longer than the others, but the Alpha85S was also the quickest to charge. We love the design—a large digital display tells you the exact percentage of battery you have to work with rather than an LED meter that keeps you guessing and hoping. The integrated flashlight is bright, and the shape of this model easily slips under a seat or into a door panel. The Alpha85S has many configurations. It can be charged either by a USB or with the included power cord, it can charge USB devices, it can be charged by a 12-volt car outlet, or it can charge 12-volt car outlet devices.
With all of these bells and whistles, we found it a little surprising that the HULKMAN Alpha85S does not include, at least, a simple pouch to stash all the cords and adapters together. It is also quite a bit bigger than other models in terms of lithium-ion-powered jump starters of this type. It is notably smaller than any sealed lead acid battery model, but other lithium-ion jump starters are compact enough to fit in a center console or a glove box. There's also no tiptoeing around the fact that the Alpha85S is expensive. Despite our few complaints, the Alpha85S is the ultimate choice for excellent performance and cutting-edge technology. At half the price and in a much more compact package, the NOCO Boost Plus GB40 is a great alternative to the Hulkman. While it may not possess the same level of power performance, it still offers a high performing lithium-ion powered battery capable of jumping your vehicle immediately through its Boost mode option.
The HULKMAN Alpha85S offers our favorite kit in the lithium-ion-powered jump starter division.
Credit: Ross Patton
Best Bang for the Buck
GOOLOO 1200A Peak
OVERALL
SCORE
Peak Amps: 1,200 | Dimensions: 6.2" x 3" x 1.4"
REASONS TO BUY
- Affordable
- Steadfast power performance
- Lightweight and sleek
- Includes many built-in safety features
- Capable of boosting larger engines
REASONS TO AVOID
- Light-duty cables
- Small clamps
- Battery depletes quickly
Don't let the compact size of the GOOLOO 1200A Peak fool you. This unit is a small but mighty contender in the lineup—it delivers 1,200 peak amps while weighing in at just over one pound. It also happens to be one of the most affordable jump starters we tested. Beyond jump-starting, it also features two USB charging ports, a DC power outlet with a lighter adapter, and a small LED flashlight with several modes. The USB charge ports are 5V, and a Smart charging port will bump to 9V for rapid charging on compatible devices. The 66.6Wh lithium-ion battery can provide numerous boosts to a deep-cycle SLA or up to three iPhone charges before becoming fully depleted. In our testing, this unit was capable of jumping a 6.5-liter diesel engine, exceeding the manufacturer's suggested limit.
The GOOLOO 1200A might not be the flashiest option available; it lacks some of the build quality of the pricier brands, but it is just as capable as many of them. The clamps and cables are smaller and don't have the burliest build, but overall, we appreciate that the kit takes up minimal space in our vehicle. The included case won't withstand the rigorous lifestyle of an auto shop, but it manages to keep the cables and battery neat and tidy in your car. The reliable performance across the board at a fraction of the cost of other options makes it a prime pick for those searching for an affordable model with some oomph. If you do have the budget to splurge on something with even more powerful battery capabilities and superior build quality, the NOCO Boost HD GB70 might be worth the extra dough. It also provides a long-lasting battery life which provides peace of mind knowing your battery will be ready to go when you do encounter a dead battery.
The GOOLOO 1200A offers solid performance and many safety features wrapped up in a handy case.
Credit: Rob Woodworth
Best for Home or Shop Use
Dewalt DXAEJ14
OVERALL
SCORE
Peak Amps: 1,400 | Dimensions: 11.75" x 6" x 13"
REASONS TO BUY
- Very rugged and durable construction
- Higher-than-average peak amps
- 120 PSI air compressor with digital settings
- Can be charged via 12V DC or 120 AC
- Features dual USB ports and a 12V 10A outlet
REASONS TO AVOID
- Heavy and expensive
- Limited storage for cables and accessories
- Not capable of consecutive boosts
- Low watt hour battery
For an all-in-one home shop power station, the Dewalt DXAEJ14 delivers a range of features that do more than just jumpstart dead batteries. Need to air up your tires? Check your alternator? Charge your cell phone? We appreciated that the Dewalt proves useful even when we aren't testing jump start capability. The 120 PSI air compressor is a particularly nice feature. The LCD screen allows us to set the desired PSI and fill our tires to our preferred specification. In addition to supplying 1400 peak amps of potential current, it can also power accessories via its dual USB ports and 12V DC charging port. Though it isn't light and portable like some lithium-ion models, this unit can boost larger engines more effectively with enough power left to then charge your devices or inflate a tire.
It could be considered a nuisance that compared to the lithium-ion models, which can provide multiple jumps on one charge, you must recharge this unit after every jump. It's also important for sealed lead-acid batteries like this one to be charged regularly—Dewalt recommends plugging it in to top off at least once a month. However, the Dewalt DXAEJ14 outperforms the competition with a large-capacity 21 amp-hour battery compared to other SLA models. That power performance, coupled with its versatility (and its 35-pound weight), makes it a favorite for around-the-house and shop use. If you're in the market for a SLA style jump starter while keeping budget in mind, the Stanley JumpiT Portable Power Station is another viable option. With similar features such as a USB port and 120 psi air compressor, the Stanley provides some versatility while still having adequate battery performance all in a budget-friendly package.
The Dewalt DXAEJ14 is our favorite choice for a sealed-acid battery model that offers a compressor.
Credit: Rob Woodworth
Best Compact Model
NOCO Boost Plus GB40
OVERALL
SCORE
Peak Amps: 1,000 | Dimensions: 6" x 3" x 1.5"
REASONS TO BUY
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Boost mode
- IP65 waterproofing
REASONS TO AVOID
- No wall plug
- Not ideal for larger engines
- So-so battery life
- Limited capabilities
If you have limited space in your vehicle or don't want a big, bulky jump starter taking up a bunch of room we'd highly recommend the NOCO Boost Plus GB40. This powerful little device is tiny in comparison to much of the competition, yet it has proven to be able to start every vehicle that we've tested it with. Many jump starters require that you wait for several minutes for the power to "trickle down" before you start your vehicle. With the GB40, you can enable "Boost Mode" which delivers a quick burst of power to your battery so that, in many cases, you can start it immediately. For those that have a tendency to be rough on their gear, this model has a certified IP65 waterproof rating. Although you can't exactly go swimming with it, a little bit of rainwater and dust is no problem.
When it comes to versatility, the NOCO Boost Plus GB40 falls short. It can jump start a car battery and charge USB devices, but that's it. Also, the only way to charge it is with a USB cable, and if you'd like to charge it indoors, it does not come with a wall cube. At 1000 peak amps, the GB40 is not the most suitable choice for larger engines. On that note, the smaller size equates to a shorter battery life, so if you go with this option, be sure to keep up on your intermittent charging. While we found some flaws, we are still thoroughly impressed with the overall performance of the NOCO GB40, especially considering its impressively compact size. If the wallet permits perhaps take another look at the Hulkman Alpha85S. With a highly impressive battery and lots of accessories to go along with it, the Hulkman packs an impressive punch in the portable jump starter category.
If you want the peace of mind of having a reliable jump starter in your vehicle but don't want to know that it's there -- the GB40 is the way to go.
Credit: Ross Patton
Best for Powering Accessories
GOOLOO GP2000
OVERALL
SCORE
Peak Amps: 2,000 | Dimensions: 9" x 3.9" x 1.3"
REASONS TO BUY
- High-capacity battery with lots of charge potential
- High-rated peak amps (2000)
- Seventy-three watt-hour battery
- Options to power accessories via USB or 12V DC
REASONS TO AVOID
- Struggles on bigger engines
- Clunky carrying case
- 12V AC car adapter sold separately
If a robust portable power bank is your number one priority and jump starts are few and far between, the GOOLOO GP2000 will impress with its high-capacity lithium-ion battery and abundance of charge ports. This model comes with a 73Wh lithium-ion battery capable of delivering up to 2000 peak amps when jumping a car. It wasn't as powerful for boosting larger batteries on bigger trucks but had plenty of juice to handle eight consecutive boosts on a 2.5-liter engine before needing another charge. Where this model really excelled, though, was in charging electronics via its USB ports. In testing, we found that when using the 5V USB port, we could fully charge an iPhone up to 15 times without needing
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