NOCO Boost GB40 Lithium Jump Starter

A dead battery in a parking lot usually means flagging down a stranger with jumper cables. The NOCO Boost GB40 skips the stranger. It’s a 2.5-pound lithium jump starter sized for a glove box, and it puts out 1,000 peak amps, enough for up to 20 starts per charge on gas engines up to 6.0 liters and diesels up to 3.0 liters.

What makes it friendly for anyone to use is NOCO’s spark-proof design with reverse polarity protection, which guards against sparks and mixed-up clamps on any 12-volt vehicle. It also works as a USB-C power bank for a phone or tablet, recharges in 3 hours, and has a 100-lumen LED flashlight with seven modes, including SOS and strobe. The rubberized housing is rated IP65 against water and dust. In the box: the jump starter, heavy-duty clamps, a USB-C charging cable and a microfiber storage bag.

It suits the dad who acts as the family’s roadside assistance, the one everybody calls when a car won’t start, and it means he no longer needs a second car parked nose to nose to help.

The catch: it’s only useful when it’s charged, so it needs a top-up between emergencies. It’s made for 12-volt vehicles only, and the warranty runs one year.