Cheap Jump Starters Can Catch Fire. Here's How to Buy One That Won't.

A dead battery at home is annoying. A dead battery at a trailhead or a freezing rest stop is the kind of problem that turns your whole day into a dumb story you never wanted. A modern jump starter fixes that, but only if you buy one that’s built like a safety device—not a cheap brick of lithium with a logo.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued multiple recall notices for portable lithium battery products that can overheat and cause fires. Extremely dangerous ones as they burn incredibly hot.