Own and drive cars for long enough, and you'll end up needing one sooner or later. A battery boost or jump-start, that is. An empty battery in your car can come from far too many reasons, from a battery nearing the end of its life to somebody accidentally leaving the dome light on.
Whatever the reason for your dead battery, if your car won't start there's one solution: You need a boost. You can get one by calling a tow truck, by relying on a set of jumper cables and the kindness of strangers, or you can get a portable jump pack. Only one of those options lets you get your car started immediately and by yourself, and it's the same option that actually can give you handy portable power whenever you're away from a wall socket.
Portable jump starters, also called battery boosters, jump boxes, and probably a handful of other nicknames all work the same way. They have a small 12-volt battery with enough power to crank over your engine enough times to get it started. From there, everything else is an added bonus feature. Some of those are great, and some of them aren't necessary, but what you want is up to you.
Our pro tip: A battery booster won't give you a boost if it's dead too. So check your portable power pack at least once a month and give it a charge as needed to make sure it's there for you when you need it. Some of the better packs have a light to tell you how much charge they have remaining.
There are several features to decide on, so we also posed the question to the SubaruOutback.org community. So, without further ado, here are the best portable jump starters for Outback owners.
Noco's jump boxes were recommended by a handful of users including Johnny Rotten, digo, SpinMap, and Longhorn. In fact, the brand was the most recommended across many of our sites.
The company's GB40 is one of the most popular options, with a 1,000 amp capability that can start gas engines up to 6.0 litres and diesels up to 3.0. Thanks to the lithium-ion battery, it is extremely compact but has enough charge for up to 20 jump starts. It has convenient USB charging (and can provide 5V power to your devices via USB), and easy to see lights to tell you power remaining and to make sure you're properly connected to your car. It even has a flashlight with three power levels to let you see your work, SOS, blink, and strobe functions. All with a convenient storage case.
User pgadams recommended the smaller JNC300XL, but we like the larger 660 model. Both are a more conventional jump pack that uses a sealed lead-acid type battery. Not the more modern tech, plenty of people prefer the old reliable. Big and bulky, that might take up more room in your trunk, but it's also reassuring compared with some smaller models. Knowing that it can bounce around in your trunk a few times without worry. With 1700 amps, it can start nearly any gas or diesel engine. 46-inch cables mean that you aren't straining to find somewhere to put your jump box where it won't come in contact with moving engine parts once you've started the car. It also has a 12V power plug and an easy-read voltage gauge to let you know when it's time to charge the pack up again before use. The 12V battery is also replaceable, so the unit isn't expensive and hazardous electronic waste down the road.
User OFFM recommended Hulkman, got one in each of their cars. The 85 offers 2000 peak cranking amps, enough to get your car fired up on even the coldest days. Thanks to the lithium-ion battery inside and clever electronics, Hulkman says that their charger can go 18 months in storage without losing charge. The large display tells you exactly how much power you have, if you're charging or discharging, and if you have your car's battery connected properly so you know it's ready to go. It will also give you USB-A, USB-C, and 12V car outlet power to let you charge your portable devices or give you some juice on the road. When it comes time for charging the pack, impressive 65W power lets it top up in under two hours. A fraction of the time of other options.
The Supercap2 recommendation comes from svxcess. Why? The innovative design uses a supercapacitor instead of a battery.
The big difference with a capacitor is that it can't help you if your car's battery is fully drained down to near zero volts. Fortunately, that rarely happens. Below 11 is where you'll probably need a boost, and below 9 volts your car is effectively "dead" as far as lights and gauges and the ECU are concerned.
A supercapacitor booster pack draws the low-voltage power remaining in your battery and stores it as 12V power. It can store up to 800-amps this way and can then deliver all of that power at once back to your car when you want to start the engine.
So as long as you have some power left in the battery, a supercapacitor converts that small voltage into the voltage needed to start your engine. It's fascinating, but also complicated. So we understand if you decide to stick with old tech. But this new option can start a gas engine up to 7.0 litres in most conditions without any of the risks of a lithium battery sitting in your trunk.
User stfsubaru recommended this one and freckles1219 suggested the same brand. The jump pack uses a lithium-ion battery and is small enough to store almost anywhere. It has over-current and short-circuit protection for the battery cables to help keep you safe and make your charge easy. It also has a digital power gauge, USB power outlets, and a built-in flashlight for making connections after dark.
Lead photo by Viktollio/Shutterstock.com
What is the best Portable Jump Starter for Subaru Outback owners?
Own and drive cars for long enough, and you'll end up needing one sooner or later. A battery boost or jump-start, that is. An empty battery in your car can come from far too many reasons, from a battery nearing the end of its life to somebody accidentally leaving the dome light on.
Whatever the reason for your dead battery, if your car won't start there's one solution: You need a boost. You can get one by calling a tow truck, by relying on a set of jumper cables and the kindness of strangers, or you can get a portable jump pack. Only one of those options lets you get your car started immediately and by yourself, and it's the same option that actually can give you handy portable power whenever you're away from a wall socket.
Portable jump starters, also called battery boosters, jump boxes, and probably a handful of other nicknames all work the same way. They have a small 12-volt battery with enough power to crank over your engine enough times to get it started. From there, everything else is an added bonus feature. Some of those are great, and some of them aren't necessary, but what you want is up to you.
Our pro tip: A battery booster won't give you a boost if it's dead too. So check your portable power pack at least once a month and give it a charge as needed to make sure it's there for you when you need it. Some of the better packs have a light to tell you how much charge they have remaining.
There are several features to decide on, so we also posed the question to the SubaruOutback.org community. So, without further ado, here are the best portable jump starters for Outback owners.
Noco's jump boxes were recommended by a handful of users including Johnny Rotten, digo, SpinMap, and Longhorn. In fact, the brand was the most recommended across many of our sites.
The company's GB40 is one of the most popular options, with a 1,000 amp capability that can start gas engines up to 6.0 litres and diesels up to 3.0. Thanks to the lithium-ion battery, it is extremely compact but has enough charge for up to 20 jump starts. It has convenient USB charging (and can provide 5V power to your devices via USB), and easy to see lights to tell you power remaining and to make sure you're properly connected to your car. It even has a flashlight with three power levels to let you see your work, SOS, blink, and strobe functions. All with a convenient storage case.
User pgadams recommended the smaller JNC300XL, but we like the larger 660 model. Both are a more conventional jump pack that uses a sealed lead-acid type battery. Not the more modern tech, plenty of people prefer the old reliable. Big and bulky, that might take up more room in your trunk, but it's also reassuring compared with some smaller models. Knowing that it can bounce around in your trunk a few times without worry. With 1700 amps, it can start nearly any gas or diesel engine. 46-inch cables mean that you aren't straining to find somewhere to put your jump box where it won't come in contact with moving engine parts once you've started the car. It also has a 12V power plug and an easy-read voltage gauge to let you know when it's time to charge the pack up again before use. The 12V battery is also replaceable, so the unit isn't expensive and hazardous electronic waste down the road.
User OFFM recommended Hulkman, got one in each of their cars. The 85 offers 2000 peak cranking amps, enough to get your car fired up on even the coldest days. Thanks to the lithium-ion battery inside and clever electronics, Hulkman says that their charger can go 18 months in storage without losing charge. The large display tells you exactly how much power you have, if you're charging or discharging, and if you have your car's battery connected properly so you know it's ready to go. It will also give you USB-A, USB-C, and 12V car outlet power to let you charge your portable devices or give you some juice on the road. When it comes time for charging the pack, impressive 65W power lets it top up in under two hours. A fraction of the time of other options.
The Supercap2 recommendation comes from svxcess. Why? The innovative design uses a supercapacitor instead of a battery.
The big difference with a capacitor is that it can't help you if your car's battery is fully drained down to near zero volts. Fortunately, that rarely happens. Below 11 is where you'll probably need a boost, and below 9 volts your car is effectively "dead" as far as lights and gauges and the ECU are concerned.
A supercapacitor booster pack draws the low-voltage power remaining in your battery and stores it as 12V power. It can store up to 800-amps this way and can then deliver all of that power at once back to your car when you want to start the engine.
So as long as you have some power left in the battery, a supercapacitor converts that small voltage into the voltage needed to start your engine. It's fascinating, but also complicated. So we understand if you decide to stick with old tech. But this new option can start a gas engine up to 7.0 litres in most conditions without any of the risks of a lithium battery sitting in your trunk.
User stfsubaru recommended this one and freckles1219 suggested the same brand. The jump pack uses a lithium-ion battery and is small enough to store almost anywhere. It has over-current and short-circuit protection for the battery cables to help keep you safe and make your charge easy. It also has a digital power gauge, USB power outlets, and a built-in flashlight for making connections after dark.
I have a BEATIT QDSP 800A Peak. It has worked great for me so far. Luckily I have not needed it on my own car yet. It has done the trick on everything else. Including a full size SUV.
They hold a charge for a long time and I've helped several people jump their cars (havent had to use it on our own). The cigarette lighter adapter is quite handy for inflating water toys and air matresses.
What bothers me about the various "best" lists plaguing the internet is that the vast majority of them are simply lists of paid promotions or amazon affiliate links, merely repeating marketing materials provided by the manufacturer or scraped from Amazon reviews. It's like finding a needle in a haystack to find lists where products were actually tested on a bench or specifications were verified beyond parroting manufacturer claims.
I get it that most media is about maximizing revenue while minimizing expenses (like doing real research) - it's just a sad state of affairs that low effort clickbait is mainstream.
What bothers me about the various "best" lists plaguing the internet is that the vast majority of them are simply lists of paid promotions or amazon affiliate links, merely repeating marketing materials provided by the manufacturer or scraped from Amazon reviews.
Buy NOCO GBC013 Boost Sport and Plus EVA Protection Case for GB20 and GB40 UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starters : Jump Starters - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
+1 to the NOCO Boost lineup as suggested by @Johnny Rotten and @digo . They're good quality, and have worked well for me for several years. Looks like they have a newer "Boost X" lineup, like the link from @Jimmy Patriot , that I don't know anything about.
I have their GB70 model, since I wanted one that also gives me a 12v out port (backup power for ham radio gear). But just for jump-starting a Subaru, any of their jump packs should work fine. Even the smaller ones like the GB20 are rated at 500A and say they'll start a 4.0L gas engine.
Amazon.com: Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter - 2500A Peak 20000mAH (Up to 8L Gas or 8L Diesel Engine) 12V Auto Battery Booster Portable Power Pack with LCD Display Jumper Cables, QC 3.0 and LED Light : Everything Else
Anybody who’s ever been set to drive to work and found their battery dead knows what a damper that can put on your day. If you don’t happen to have a set of jumper cables and another car nearby to help, it can get even worse. Unless, of course, you happen to have a portable jump starter to get your Subaru Outback up and running again.
A portable jump starter is essentially a battery pack that you can use to charge up your vehicle’s battery. They are small enough to leave in your truck and are a pretty affordable way to get a little peace of mind.
A portable jump starter can also be used to charge up things like your laptop, phone, or any other handheld electronics you have on hand.
To figure out the best available options, we wanted to ask the SubaruOutback.org members what they think is the best portable jump starter available to get their Subaru up and running again. Once we get some replies, we will follow up here and update the original post so the community can use this as a resource going forward.
I'll be watching this thread, especially given Subaru's propensity for battery failures. I have to keep mine on a Battery Minder trickle charger if I don't drive it for several days (common, as we have other vehicles.) I almost jumped at a portable jump starter when I heard and saw how well they work, until I read about their primary shortcoming: you have to throw them away every year if you actually expect them to ... you know ... WORK. The cost is bad enough, but if I need it at 366 days and it says ... weakly ... "Who, ME?" ... I'm not impressed.
Here's to older models and reworking newer! I started our '10 FXT and '15 WRX Sunday for the first time since March 22nd. Our dailes are an '05 LGT and until recently, a '99 OB which was just replaced with a '10 OB 3.6R.
The '19 Legacy would need attention for us around 4 weeks. After pulling the power to the head unit, we can go at least 2 months (we haven't tested longer.) One of my todos sooner or later is to replace the headunit.
I've got a Noco GB70. Used it almost daily when my Subaru battery was failing and I got around 20 jumps before having to recharge. Also has plenty of amps to start a those big V8s greater than 6L.
I don’t know about best, but this Loftek unit does the job and is a good value. Got it for about $45 on Black Friday and liked it so much I bought two more and put one in each car. I’ve gotten 3 jumps on my Element out of one without recharging, didn’t try for more so don’t know if it’ll do more. It jumped my 5.0L F-150 no problem. And it jumped the Outback no problem too of course. This reminds me that I should probably make sure they all get charged up.
You might think of what else you want to do with it. Ours is an older one that has an air pump, usb output for the phone, and 12v output I use for as a backup for a medical device. I think it's ~20A, which is just under the TSA limit for bringing a battery on a plane. I've also upgraded my battery and carry jumper cables. Paranoid, who me?
and u have hit on an important topic actually-- about fire hazard, which is why there are limits on TSA for transporting them with you/luggage on planes. Imho, this is a biiiig issue, and of course is related to overall quality of the product. So, the massive numbers of brands of these things means there will be some poor qualities units, and i've read of many incidents of fire. I don't think i'd bring one of these on a plane or worse, in my stowed luggage. It's not why i bought the ultra-capacitor type of jumper-- not the Autowit avg chinese type product shown in the comparo list, but a real brand name which some trucking co's actually use, called Rezervo, also on amazon. Highly recommend them. And highly disrecommend the Autowit which has many complaints for, including melting down. Ultracapacitor jumpers are complex and have to be made right. Only get a real brand in them, such as Rezervo, Schumacher , and the australian brands which are hard to get and very spendy.
I agree I love this thread. Question: does anyone have one that also has an ai compressor? I got my mom a Halo which worked when she needed it to add air. I just have my doubts about its longevity.
Yes, I have a Stanley that is a few years old. Heavy enough to be a pain to carry around and larger than I want to leave in the car. It has the air compressor, USB charger and even a 120v outlet. Recharge it occasionally but it never seems to need charged unless it has been used. I take it out when I get a call from a friend who is stuck with a dead battery. Safer, especially with a newer car, than jumper cables.
AUTOWIT SUPER CAP 2 Super Capicitor Jump Starter. Batteryless, never needs to be recharged. Store it in your car for 10 years and forget about it until you need it. Will start a 7.0L engine and delivers over 800A of cranking power.
This is the future.
Buy Autowit SuperCap 2 Portable Car Jump Starter, 12V Super Capacitor Jump Starter (Up to 7.0L Gas, 4.0L Diesel Engine), Super Safe Battery-Less Jump Charger with Carrying Case and Quick Charge, Orange: Jump Starters - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
i got the Rezervo brand partly bcuz read many reviews of Autowit including quite a few melters/failers. Rezervo is used by some trucking outfits and is/was sold by an electronics or transportation co directly too, or has been. It's also rebranded as Schumacher at Home depot--tho that is/was an older model and not necessarily good value. So, autowit may be solid, but i had distinct impression of it being relatively no-name and unknowable/unknown re quality--and these are very complex devices. AND importantly, the seller/s on amazon of the Autowit were not giving warranties and/or ppl were not given refunds on the failed units, after not very long ownership.
Holy Cow! I just jumped on Gadgetplus and ordered two Autowit Super Cap 2s (Honda Odysseys also have a charging problem around town). Saved $80 compared to Amazon after taxes and shipping, and GadgetPlus is Autowit's official outlet. We used this technology in directed energy weapons research in the '80s, and the same concept (although with enough power to melt a Subaru into a puddle) occupied a large building stuffed with capacitors and a stadium-sized outdoor array to fire off the lightning bolts.)
A short time ago there was a review of quite a number of these devices on a YouTube channel called Project Farm. Very informative! OOOPS!!! Just saw it was reviewed above and I missed it!
I bought a Die Hard about 5 years ago. It has a air compressor if I ever need to lower my pressure when off roading. I bought it for camping and running my CPAP machine. Works great for at least 3 nights. I keep it charged about every 3 or 4 months. In that time it will drop about 15 percent. I bought it as an alternative to a solar generator as it is cheaper.
On the recommendation of a friend I bought the DPower 2,000A/20800 mAh portable battery jumper. I gave it a charge, packed into the back of my Outback, and promptly forgot about it... for at least 1 year. A couple of months ago I opened the garage door to the sight of my Outback sitting there with the rear hatch open. I had evidently forgot to close it and now the battery was dead from all the interior lights being on all night. I looked at the DPower doubtfully as I knew it had been sometime since I had charged it, but gave it a shot anyway. To my surprise and delight the car fired right up. The DPower I have has since been discontinued, but they have introduced newer models to replace it.
search function must be busted,...and what is the difference between a jump pack for a subaru....and any other car,...vs. a stronger one made to start a giant truck.
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