Best Portable Jump Starters of 2020

Getting into your car and finding out the battery’s dead can really throw a wrench in your day. If you believe jumper cables are the only solution to that problem, think again. Portable jump starters will get your car going without needing another vehicle for a jump, making them a lot more convenient to use than jumper cables. These devices are compact enough to fit inside your glove box and give you a solution to jump start your vehicle in the case of an emergency.

There are plenty of options out there, and some of their specifications may look like a mix of random numbers and letters to you. We’re here to give you all the details you need to know about the best portable jump starters, so you can add this valuable tool to your car emergency kit.

1. Revolution and Supersafety: Autowit Supercap2 Car Jump Starter

Safe in Case of Emergency! No Need to Pre-charge, Next-generation Jump Starter - Autowit Super Cap 2, Autowit Super Cap 2 is the latest jump starter, does not need to be charged in advance, and has a supercapacitor. No internal batteries, built-in super capacitor activates in a physical way, keeping users from risks of spark or explosion. SuperCap 2 can work in extremely cold weather (-40℃/40℉) during snowstorms or blizzards and resist high temperature (70℃/158℉). Thanks to its built-in supercapacitors, SuperCap 2 can withstand more than 100,000 times frequently repeated use in its lifetime, longer life up to 10 years.

2. Versatile and Powerful: Audew 2000A Portable Jump Starter

This recommendation offers 2000A peak current and has a 20000mAh battery capacity with USB-C support and we came away impressed with the results. It’s capable of jump starting gasoline engines of any size and diesel engines up to 8.5 liters, making it one of the most versatile offerings out there.

3. Best for Large Vehicles: STANLEY Jump Starter (J5C09)

While it’s not as portable as the other jump starters we’ve look at so far on the list, the STANLEY Power Station Jump Starter offers 1000 peak, 500 instant amps along with a built-in 120 PSI air compressor. This is more of a heavy-duty jump starter geared towards truck owners with larger engines under the hood. What it does share in common with the other portable jump starters is that it features a USB output and a 12-volt DC outlet so you can charge other devices with it. There is also a built-in LED light that swivels 270 degrees, allowing you to adjust it accordingly.

It can also serve as an emergency air compressor with a brass-tipped SureFit nozzle for secure connections. For additional safety, this jumper has a reverse-polarity alarm that will alert the user if there’s an improper connection. It’s extremely easy to use—simply attach the clamps to the battery, turn on the switch, and start your vehicle.

Just keep in mind this is a larger jump starter, tipping the scale at nearly 18 pounds while measuring 11.2″ by 8″ by 13.5″.

4. Premium Features: TACKLIFE T8 800A Peak Car Jump Starter

Providing 800 amps peak current, this option from TACKLIFE is capable of jump starting 12V cars, SUVs, trucks, or vans up to 30 times on a full charge. It also serves as a compact battery bank with 18000mAh capacity, allowing you to charge your phone or any other devices. It has dual USB ports, one of which is a 5v/9v Quick Charge port, and can also be used to power other car accessories using a 12V 10A DC port.

One standout feature for this portable car jump starter is that you can manually turn it “off” to slow down its battery self-discharge. This allows the TACKLIFE T8 to hold its charge for up to 12 months when it’s not in use. It’s also equipped with super bright LEDs and a built-in compass, while the digital LCD screen clearly shows the remaining battery life. A specially designed indicator will notify you if the clamps are incorrectly being used.

5. POTEK Jump Starter with Tire Inflator/Air Compressor

This recommendation from POTEK delivers 900 peak amps and includes a 150 PSI air compressor, capable of inflating a regular car tire to 30 PSI in six to eight minutes. It’s equipped with a 9AH sealed lead acid battery and features a DC outlet socket and a 5V 2.4A USB port to charge other devices. An onboard storage compartment comes in handy, allowing you to store charging cables and other accessories, like the included nozzles for the inflator.

Safety features on this jump starter include an integrated LED light on the front, and a reverse polarity LED indicator, which warns you if the polarity is reversed. POTEK offers more powerful variants, with one charger featuring 1000 peak amps and a 12AH battery, while the range-topping variant has an 18AH battery and churns out 1500 peak amps. Grab one of the more powerful options if you have a larger engine under the hood of your car.