The Emergency Tool That Got Me Out of a Dead Battery Situation Alone

I learned a lot about cars from my grandfather, who was an auto mechanic, but I never had to deal with car troubles on my own until I had to jump-start my car battery by myself. My beloved 2011 Toyota was making a weird sound when I turned the key, and it wouldn’t start. Like any responsible young adult, I immediately FaceTimed my dad and played the sound for him. He determined in less than a minute that I’d need to jump-start my car to get it running. (Spoiler: He was right.) 

Ever since then, I’ve been sure to keep several key items in my car in case of an emergency, and one of those is a portable jump starter. The Powrun P-One is the jump starter I keep in my trunk, and I recommend it to everyone I know.

This 12-volt portable jump starter battery pack can start my car in seconds without another car or anyone else’s help. Complete with mini jumper cables and instructions, it’s practically idiot-proof. (I say this proudly as a car idiot who has used this pack several times to jump-start my car.)

It’s incredibly easy to use. You prepare your car like you would if you were jumping it from another car. Pop the hood, locate the battery and attach the jumper cables. Then, using the black connector attached to the jumper cables, you plug the jumper cables into the battery pack, matching up the blue plug to the corresponding port on the battery pack. Then, you flip the switch to turn the battery pack on, and a green light on the jumper cable connector will signal you have a good connection. All you have to do is retry starting your car, and that extra charge bank should give you the juice you need to get it running.

This battery has enough juice to jump-start your car up to 25 times from a single charge and is compatible with 12-volt gasoline and diesel engines. Plus, it has an intelligent safety system (in the form of eight types of protection systems) to make sure you don’t electrocute yourself. In addition to helping you get moving, this battery also comes with a flashlight, compass and ports you can use to charge your phone or other devices. It also has a display screen that shows your usage and remaining battery power. It’s lightweight, compact and easy to store in your glove box or trunk.

Why I recommend the Powrun P-One to everyone

I don’t like to tout any product as life-saving, but this one really could be. Luckily for me, my car battery died during daylight hours in a relatively safe place, but the situation easily could’ve been much worse. Aside from the convenience of not needing another car to get a jump start, this portable jump starter is as much a safety tool as it is a car tool. I feel much better driving around knowing I have it in my trunk, ready to go if needed. If you use the Powrun P-One only once, it’ll probably provide relief that will justify its purchase. 

While you might not normally think of a jump starter as a gift, hear me out: It’s actually a great gifting idea for the young adults in your life. This jump starter may not be the “coolest” gift, but it’s practical, thoughtful and sets the recipient up for real-world adulting. Plus, if your giftee ever needs it, you can most definitely expect a thank you call or text afterward. 

For more ideas, check out our road trip checklist. And to see more deals like this, find our list of the best deals on portable jump starters going on now.