NOCO Boost GB40 12V 1000A UltraSafe Portable Lithium Jump Starter

Why it's worth it

The GB40 is a 2.4-pound lithium jump starter that puts out 1000 peak amps, enough for gas engines up to 6.0L. It also charges your phone and has a 100-lumen light with an SOS mode, so it covers three emergencies in one brick.

The best thing about a lithium jump pack is that it needs nobody. Jumper cables require a second car, a stranger willing to stop, and enough space to park nose to nose. A pack skips all of that. You pop the hood, clamp on, wait a moment, and turn the key. For a new driver, someone who parks on a dark street, or anyone who'd rather not flag down help, that independence is the whole point.

NOCO rates the GB40 at 1000 peak amps and up to 20 starts per charge on engines up to 6.0L gas or 3.0L diesel. That covers nearly every sedan, crossover and midsize truck on the road. Owner feedback lines up with the spec: people report starting completely flat batteries, including after leaving a key on overnight, and helping several other cars on a single charge.

From our review of 6 car emergency kits, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +The best thing about a lithium jump pack is that it needs nobody
• +NOCO rates the GB40 at 1000 peak amps and up to 20 starts per charge on engines up to 6.0L gas or 3.0L diesel
• +It's small. At 2.4 pounds and roughly 7.7 by 6.6 by 3.1 inches, it fits a glove box or a door pocket, which matters more than it…
• +The safety design is what makes this one worth recommending to people who've never jumped a car

What to know

• –It's a jump starter, not a kit
• –Lithium packs lose capacity in deep cold, and the GB40 is no exception — cold-climate drivers should keep it inside the cabin…
• –It holds a charge for months, not forever