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Jump starter vs jumper cables
Updated
A jump starter lets you start your car alone, with no second car. Jumper cables never run flat, but they only work if a running car with a healthy battery is close by. If you often drive or park alone, the pack is the better fit, as long as you keep it charged.
Side by side
| Jump starter | Jumper cables | |
|---|---|---|
| Second car needed | No | Yes, with a healthy battery |
| Has to be charged | Yes, every few months and after use | No |
| Wait before cranking | NOCO says most vehicles start right away. Some need the pack connected up to 30 seconds | AAA says let the good car run 3 to 5 minutes first |
| Reverse clamp protection | Listed on all five of our picks | None. You must get the order right |
| Size limit | The maker's engine rating in liters | Cable thickness and the donor battery |
| Extras | USB charging, a light, on some an air pump | None |
When cables make sense
- You drive a big diesel that is past every small pack's rating. See jump starter for a diesel truck.
- You know you will not keep a pack charged.
- You travel with a second vehicle.
If you buy cables, AAA says thin cheap ones often fail on V6 and V8 engines and in freezing weather, and suggests a heavy six gauge set about 16 feet long. AAA also warns that most hybrids and EVs have electronics that can be damaged by jump starting another car, so do not use one as the donor.
When a pack makes sense
- You park in a garage, a lot or a road shoulder where no one can pull nose to nose.
- You want reverse polarity protection in case you mix up the clamps.
- You would like a phone charger and a flashlight in the same box.
For most cars and small SUVs we would start with the NOCO Boost GB40. Caveat: the bullets we read did not name a manual override mode, though NOCO's support site explains one. For a V8 truck, the NOCO Boost GBX75. Caveat: no wall charger in the box. Check your size with the size picker.
Neither one charges your battery
Both only get the engine running. AAA says a 20 to 30 minute drive is usually needed to recharge the battery after a jump, and that an old battery may not hold a charge overnight. Have it checked soon.
Safety: wear eye protection, remove metal jewelry, and never jump a cracked, bulging or leaking battery, as AAA advises. Follow your vehicle manual for where the clamps go.