A car battery can die when you least anticipate it and keeping a jumper cable set in your vehicle is crucial if you want your car to operate again. There are two major types of jumper cables that cars need, including heavy duty and light duty jumper cables. When picking the best jumper cables, you will need to concentrate on the cable length, wire gauge, clamps, and other crucial factors.
A heavy duty jumper cable set will be costly but generally a better investment in the long run. While choosing the cheaper options can be tempting, a premium heavy duty option has great ease of use, durability, and reliability over time. Even though you need to own a vehicle that operates, this tool can be vital towards saving the day. Here are the buying guide and review of the best jumper cables.
Best Jumper Cables Buying Guide
There are various kinds of jumper cables present in the market. While there was no wide variety of jumper cables some years ago, technology has resulted in different options that allow consumers to work with more safety options and better results. You will have various features suitable for your use. However, here are some of the significant features you need to consider before buying a jumper cable.
1. Clamps
Clamps are an essential feature of jumper cables. They are the only feature that contacts the battery, which makes them significant. As you shop for jumper cables, be sure to check the teeth of the clamps. The clamps require being an ideal fit for your battery so that it can be safe and pass all the current. The best type of clamps is called the parrot clamps. They can cover the full terminals without an issue. In particular cases, the style of the battery is different and needs to be considered. The clamps also need to have a PVC or rubber grips.
These grips let the user take care of the clamps without getting injured. Rubber is also an excellent shock absorber when there is an emergency. Moreover, the clamps’ material requires being copper since it allows for the perfect flow of current. While steel is also an excellent option, it will rust soon.
2. Wire
The wires are the most essential parts of the jumper cables. The wires are the path for the current during its transfer in the cables. It is critical that you consider the thickness of the wires or the wire gauge. In this case, the wire means the contents of the insulator. Various wire gauges exist and start from one. The lower the figure, the better the results because the cables will be charged faster and more power will be passed.
Therefore, you need to go for anything under four, which is ideal for heavy trucks, passenger cars, and bigger cars. What’s more, the wire’s material is another critical aspect. The best material to pick is copper since it effortlessly passes heavy current. You can also choose aluminum copper material that costs even more. The combination of the two materials makes the wire extra durable.
3. Type of Insulation
The insulation type is also vital to keep in mind when carrying out your research. Normally, cables that have lower gauge have greater insulation. Insulation is important since it prevents the heat from going out during energy transfer, which makes the vehicle to charge quicker. It is also safer when the cables get hot because they can be hazardous to touch or melt if the situation is severe. Insulation of poor quality will also lose flexibility in time, which means the cables will fail to straighten out when you unfold them, and they will be hard to use. Such insulation could also crack when placed in a cold car for an extended period, which makes them dangerous to utilize.
4. Length
The cable length is very crucial since the shorter the cable, the harder it is to jump-start the vehicle actively. The ideal length of the cables is 12 feet, but the longer the better. Since you never know the situation that will require you to jump-start your vehicle, longer cables offer you more options that can assist you in getting your car to function during an emergency.
10 Best Jumper Cables Reviews
1. Cartman Booster 6 Gauge Jumper Cables
The Cartman Booster Jumper Cable has shielded surfaces to safeguard the consumers. Regardless of the type of vehicle that it will be used on, it remains as one of the most secure options of boosting a car. Its clamps are uniquely designed to have triple polarity identification. They also feature a T-Prene coating to ensure they are flexible and fail to tangle even at temperatures of Sub-Zero.
The clamps can easily be employed with both side-terminal and top-post batteries. They are heavy duty and the most powerful consumer-grade cables. Their length is 16 feet that allows it to reach from one car to another. You can depend on them even during emergencies. They are resistant to elements like rain, motor oil, and other chemicals. This makes them a suitable accessory for your vehicle.
Pros
- Highly-flexible and tangle-free
- Shielded surfaces for safety
- Long cables
- Resistant to elements
- Easy to use and store
- Triple polarity identification
Cons
- Issues at lower temperatures
- Problem starting a Ford engine
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2. Cartman Booster 2 Gauge Jumper Cables
These Cartman Jumper Cables are deemed as the safest power transfer method from a 12/24-volt car battery. They have an ergonomic design with shielded surfaces for increased safety. Due to a T-Prene coating that increases flexibility and an accompanying portable bag, the cables are easy to use. You can utilize the jumper cables with both side-terminal and top-post batteries with total ease.
The cables lack a tangled design and are powerful consumer-grade jumper cables. Additionally, the cables are 20 feet long that is sufficient to assist you to charge your battery from another car. These cables are ideal for use with SUVs, trucks, and cars. They are very robust and resist elements like chemicals, rain, and motor oil.
Pros
- Tangle-free and flexible
- An ergonomic design
- Resistant to damage by elements
- Safe to use
- Can be carried easily in a portable carrying bag
Cons
- Bad reviews of failed product
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3. Cal Hawk Auto Booster Jumper Cables
The Cal Hawk is an amazing jumper cable set. It features two gauge wires that offer current at an excellent rate while remaining safe. They work with almost every kind of residential car effortlessly. They are very safe without any CCA and are untangled to make them easy to use and handle. Moreover, they have a length of 25 feet, which is enough to perform at a suitable distance.
The cables are super flexible and are ideal for all weather types. What’s more, it has parrot jaw clamps that ensure the ideal grip on the battery. Their design allows them to offer a proper amount of current safely from the battery to the car and vice versa. The clamps feature a rubber coating to make it ideal for perfect handling without losing the grip or hurting you. Additionally, the cables can provide 600 amps of current, making them highly efficient. They are also color-coded for convenience.
Pros
- Tangle-free and weather-resistant
- Rubber grip on the clamps
- Parrot jaw clamps for maximum current flow
- 600 amps of current
Cons
- They fail to absorb shock
- They lack a pouch
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4. Energizer Jumper Cables
The Energizer Jumper Cables come in a gauge of two and a length of 20 feet. The two gauges make it ideal for bigger cars such as SUVs as well as passenger cars. They can offer current of up to 800 amps, which is perfect for smaller trucks too. They have a unique design that safeguards them from tangling even when in storage. The storage pouch furthers this benefit.
The cables are also very durable in severe cold. They feature heavy duty clamps that are professional-grade and that offer perfect results for your battery and travel needs. They perform on all types of directions for batteries and all battery kinds. Additionally, they are color-coded to ensure a perfect fit. The cables come with a two-year warranty.
Pros
- Two-gauge current offers proper stability
- The cables are resistant to cold weather and are tangle-free
- They can allow for 800 amps of current effortlessly
- Comes in a storage pouch
Cons
- Irreplaceable clamps
- The clamps lack a PVC grip
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5. Coleman Cable Jumper Cables
Coleman Jumper Cables have a great selection of sizes. They have been designed in two varying lengths for your preference and convenience. Since not very many firms provide length sizes, this is an excellent feature. The design of the cables is convenient, flexible, and unique. It normally fits on all the ends of various batteries. They also have T-Prene coating for flexibility and durability regardless of the weather. They do not lose their flexibility or break in colder climates and do not melt in hotter climates.
The clamps have a perfect-fit design. The cables contain ergonomic handles that allow the consumer to use them with ease. The clamps typically fit into both sides and have color coding. Even more, they are energized to safeguard against electrical accidents like short circuits. An excellent feature of the cables is that they glow in the dark to help with your vision.
Pros
- Different lengths for your preferred choice
- They glow in the dark for better sight
- Heavy-duty insulation that is weather-resistant
- Four-gauge wires for heavy-duty work and high power
Cons
- Irreplaceable clamps
- No safety bag
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6. FJC Professional Booster Jumper Cables
The FJC Jumper Cables have excellent features that match their professional use. They have a simple design of high-quality to make sure that the job is done effortlessly. The cables have color coding to enable ease of use even for beginners. Moreover, they feature a two-gauge system for perfect current transfer and are safe for both big and small cars. They are commercial-grade and reliable with parrot clamps that possess a firm grip for ease of use. The clamps also have color coding, and the cables allow for 600 amps of current, making them convenient for all car types.
Pros
- Commercial duty rating offers over 600 amps of current
- Efficient parrot clamps
- A two-gauge system that is easy to use and safe
- Color-coded clamps and cables
Cons
- Lack of a storage pouch
- Lack of rubber coating on clamps
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7. Performance Tool Jumper Cables
These jumper cables feature different current options and sizes. They also come in a variety of gauge sizes for plenty of results as well as different lengths. This specific set of jumper cables is four gauges. The four gauges assist in balancing the current and allowing a durable and smooth life. The cables have a length of 20 feet that make them ideal for distant jump-starting. Moreover, the cables are heavy-duty and are suitable for all types of vehicles including SUVs, trucks, and RVs. They have color coding to increase the ease of use. What’s more, the cables have a PVC coating for absorbing shock and ensuring high safety usage.
Pros
- Color-coded cables
- Different gauges, sizes, and current options
- Tangle-free
- Copper-made clamps
Cons
- Bulky cables
- Lack of a safety pouch
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8. Bayco Extreme Duty Jumper Cables
These cables are ideal for heavy-duty work and have high current bearing features. They have a length of 25 feet for distant jump-starting as well as one gauge cables for tangle-free functionality that is very convenient. They come with a safety bag uniquely designed for these cables. They are safe and highly durable.
Pros
- Safety bag
- Heavy-duty
- Long cables
Cons
- Steel clamps that rust fast
- Irreplaceable clamps
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9. Forney Jumper Cables
The Forney Jumper Cables are a safe and convenient way to jump-start your battery. These cables can be found in four different lengths for you to pick your preferred option. The cables are designed from premium copper for perfect passing of current from the battery to the vehicle. Moreover, they have clamps that are 500 amps on either side.
Pros
- Replaceable clamps
- Four cable length options
Cons
- Lack of color coding
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10. Iron Forge Tools Jumper Cables
These jumper cables have a length of 20 feet, which allows for distant jump-starting. It has copper teeth for excellent conduction and exceptional grip on the terminals. The clamps are amazing since they offer a good grip and lack any form of discomfort. The cables also come with a lifetime replacement warranty for better functionality and quality.
Pros
- Clamps have great grip
- Premium quality
Cons
- Small case
- Costly
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