If you’re out and about and your car battery hasn’t got enough juice in it to start your car, now would be the perfect time to rely upon the best portable battery chargers available. Sure, you could put on your charm and see if you can borrow a jump off a stranger or call a breakdown service, but the ability to do it yourself sounds much better.
Keep one of these portable battery chargers in your car, and you’ll be able to start your stricken car easily. Fitted with internal batteries and often doubling as a power bank, these devices are quickly replacing standard battery booster cables as an essential car accessory.
They’re especially useful during the colder months as well. Some batteries may become temperamental during the winter, and so maintaining it with a trickle charger is a useful idea. The best part about portable battery chargers is that a lot of them double as trickle chargers too – making a very comprehensive package overall.
The best portable battery chargers at a glance:
Editor’s pick: NOCO Boost X GBX45 – buy from Amazon.
Best solar-powered battery charger: AA Solar Car Battery Trickle Charger – buy from Amazon.
Best value portable battery charger: GOOLOO 1500A – buy from Amazon.
While these devices are fairly pricey, especially compared to a plug-in option, there’s no doubting the versatility of these handheld bricks of battery juice. Some also double as jump starters too, which is handy. We’re huge fans of these devices, and here we’re breaking down the best examples for you to keep in your boot.
The best portable battery chargers
Editor's pick
The GBX45 has a couple of USB ports which essentially means it can act as a power bank for your favourite devices. It can also jump start your car, should you need to do so when needed.
Pros
- Incredibly versatile
- Great quality
Cons
- Isn't a battery conditioner, if that's what you're after
Best value versatile battery charger
Rrp: £99.99
Rrp: £99.99
It's designed with larger trucks and commercial vehicles in mind as well as cars, so it can come in handy at many points. It also doubles as a great power bank for your travels.
Pros
- Plenty of handy power sockets
- Suitable in an array of vehicles
Cons
- Quality isn't as on-par as others
Best quality portable battery charger
Rrp: £179.78
Rrp: £179.78
Pros
- Can also act as a trickle charger
- Solar and mains rechargeable and via USB
Cons
- No storage case
Best value portable battery charger
Pros
- Can be used as a power bank for electronic equipment
- Very compact
Cons
- It does need to be charged occasionally
Best premium trickle charger
Rrp: £179.99
Rrp: £179.99
All that extra grunt, plus a charging current of 10A means it conditions and recharges the battery in a shorter amount of time than the others. But it does come at the extra premium, if you're willing to spend it.
Pros
- Charges and maintains your battery fast
- Fantastic quality charger
Cons
- No USB ports for multi uses
Best value solar trickle charger
Pros
- Keep your battery from going flat
- An amorphous solar panel means it'll charge without direct sunlight
Cons
- Will not restart a dead battery
Best value premium portable battery charger
It also has a 100 lumen torch, which is also seen on the GBX45, so either NOCO charger can be used as a makeshift torch.
Pros
- Great quality materials
- Handy USB ports
Cons
- Is mainly a very powerful jump starter
What you need to know about portable battery chargers:
What do I need to bear in mind?
Before you buy a booster, you should check that it’ll work with your engine. The bigger your engine, the more power and a bigger car battery will be required for it to work. Our picks will cover most new cars, meaning you’ll have peace of mind with one of these, but there are boosters designed for bigger engines. It’s also worth mentioning that some of these boosters will not work with cars fitted with Stop-Start. If you need a general guide, check out our picks for the best car batteries.
What other features should I look for?
Aside from charging your car’s battery, there are a number of useful features that you should look for in a portable battery booster. Look and see if it has a torch, most do, and it can be invaluable if you’re stranded at night. If you suspect your car’s battery might be at a low point, it will be worth investing in a battery tester.
Also, look for USB charging; this means you’ll be able to plug your phone in and charge it up. Again, a great feature if you’ve broken down and your phone battery is low. And if you need to assist in someone else’s breakdown, having a set of jump leads in your car is a useful accessory.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tool Editor for Parkers and CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. He also contributes to What’s The Best.
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