Two Years With a Lithium Jump Starter
A NOCO Boost Plus that has lived in our reviewer's boot since 2023.
How this piece was assessed
- Format
- Long-term review
- Reviewed by
- Jules Béranger — Editor, Automotive
- Evaluation
- Real-world use over months or years. Hearthline does not lab-test or instrument-bench products. Read our methodology.
- Review date
- 15 March 2024
- Last reviewed
- 2026-02-28
A jump starter is a tool you hope to use twice in a decade and rarely the right tool when you need it.
Two years and three real jumps later, this one has worked.
We first published this piece in March 2024 and have revisited the recommendation through 2026-02-28. What follows reflects what survived that review window — the observations we still stand behind, the caveats worth knowing before purchase, and the small ways the piece has aged in ordinary use.
The summary
Lithium jump starters have replaced traditional booster cables for most owners. After two years, the NOCO has been quietly indispensable.
In its favour
- Compact enough to live in a glovebox.
- Genuinely jumps a depleted battery without finesse.
- USB-A output doubles as a small power bank.
Where it falls short
- Self-discharges over months — check quarterly.
- Cable length is barely sufficient.
- Cold weather reduces capacity, as with all lithium.
Who it's for
- — Drivers with older or marginal batteries.
- — Anyone living in cold climates with one car.
Who should skip it
- — Your vehicle is new and the battery is replaced on schedule.
- — You always drive in groups where another car is available.
Buying guidance
- Pick capacity for engine size, not for marketing.
- Recharge every three to six months.
- Store in the cabin, not the boot, in winter.
- Plan for the trade-off most new owners only notice in the second month: self-discharges over months — check quarterly. It is workable, but it is easier to design around at the point of purchase than to discover afterwards.
- Take the second caveat above seriously when comparing across price tiers — cable length is barely sufficient. The cheaper alternatives in the category usually share the same limitation, so paying more rarely solves it.
Alternatives we considered
NOCO Boost Plus GB40
Best-selling consumer model.
DBPOWER 800A Jump Starter
Cheaper, larger, similar function.
Reader questions
- Will it harm modern car electronics?
- Used correctly per the manual, no. Read the polarity reminder.
- How does NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter hold up over time?
- 2 years of ownership has produced no failures we would consider disqualifying. The wear patterns are visible — that is true of anything used daily — but the piece continues to do the work we bought it for. We last revisited the recommendation on 2026-02-28, and the verdict held.
- What maintenance does it actually need?
- Most of the upkeep is preventative rather than corrective. Follow the manufacturer's care notes for the first six months; after that, the routine you settle into matters more than the one printed on the box. The "Where it falls short" column above flags the specific points worth being attentive to.
- Is it worth the price compared with cheaper options?
- Sometimes. The alternatives section above lists the genuine contenders, not lookalikes. The cheaper options are not bad — they are different trade-offs. If the strengths in the "In its favour" column matter to your use, the price gap is usually justified; if they do not, the cheaper alternative is the right call.
Editorial verdict
A small, well-engineered tool that has earned its place. Recommended for any household with a marginal battery.
Update history
- 2026-04-10Editorial maintenance pass: cross-checked alternatives for stock status, validated FAQ against current reader correspondence, and re-confirmed recommendation with the desk editor.
- 2026-02-28Reviewer revisited the recommendation against current alternatives; the verdict held with minor copy refinements.
- 2025-03-07Short check-in revisit; no changes to the verdict, two minor copy corrections logged.
- 2024-03-15Initial publication after the reviewer's testing window concluded.
Written by
Jules BérangerEditor, Automotive
Jules covers the accessories, maintenance tools, and small electronics that quietly determine whether a car feels well kept — not the cars themselves.