The Best Gear for a Roadside Emergency – Reviews by Wirecutter

Wirecutter recommends our Weego Jump Starter 22s in their list of the best gear to keep on hand in case of a roadside emergency. Read the full list for their suggestions on gear you should never leave the house without.

“A breakdown or a flat tire can happen to anyone at any time, and what you have in your car can make the difference between getting back on the road quickly and enduring a long, trying, even dangerous ordeal by the side of the road. We spent more than 60 hours researching emergency gear and common roadside problems, and we talked with safety experts and mechanics to get their advice. Whether the problem is a flat tire, a dead battery, or something that you can temporarily patch with duct tape, here are the things you shouldn’t leave home without.

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Compact portable jump starters make starting a car that has a dead battery easy, without your having to call a roadside-assistance service or needing the help of a Good Samaritan and a set of jumper cables. Powered by lightweight lithium-ion batteries, these packs are small enough to fit in a glove box, capable of holding a charge far longer than old-style jump starters that use heavier lead-acid batteries, and available for less than $100. Beyond providing the power to start your car, portable jump starters can also recharge your phone, tablet, and other devices in a pinch.

After researching 40 portable, lithium-ion jump starters and testing 12 models, we recommend the Weego Jump Starter 22s as the best jump starter for most drivers. It delivers the most impressive combination of power, safety features, build quality, and value of any model in our test group. For an accessible price, the Weego offers enough oomph to start most cars and midsize SUVs, and it has the best safety features of any of the models we’ve tried.

A portable jump starter is also easier to use than traditional jumper cables, and in case you hook it up wrong, the Weego unit’s safety features, such as reverse-polarity protection and audible alarms, will protect both you and your car. The clamps are sturdier than those on most other models, and they make a solid connection to a variety of battery-post shapes and sizes. The battery pack, clamps, and USB-A–to–Micro-USB cable (for charging) all fit in a handy case that you can easily stow under your seat or in your trunk until you need it.”

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