Two jump-starter brands, two different bets. NOCO bets on documentation and sealing: every pick here is IP65, the Boost X line charges over 60-watt USB-C Power Delivery, and every figure sits in a sell sheet, a manual or an item-details table. Hulkman bets on information and cold: a smart display on every Alpha, pre-heat technology that works to -40°F on the two big packs, the longest starts-per-charge claims in this comparison, and a 2-year line warranty against NOCO’s 1 year. We compare three verified models per brand — NOCO’s GB40, GBX45 and GBX75 against Hulkman’s Alpha 65, Alpha 85S and Alpha 100 — on the makers’ own figures, with every conflict printed. For the wider field, start with our pillar guide to the best portable jump starter and our other brand head-to-head, NOCO vs GOOLOO.
One warning before the tables: peak-amp numbers are not cross-comparable between brands — there is no shared test standard behind them — so this comparison routes on each maker’s own engine-litre ratings, starts per charge, charging inputs and temperature limits. Those are the figures our portable jump starters archive and jump starter comparisons use across the category, and they are the figures the finder below routes on.
How we researched this guide
We compared 6 jump starters, three per brand, all from verified sources: the NOCO GB40, GBX45 and GBX75 and the Hulkman Alpha 85S from this site’s research pools (NOCO sell sheets, manuals and Amazon item details; Hulkman’s official spec page), and the Hulkman Alpha 65 and Alpha 100 from fresh gap research on October 16, 2026 — Hulkman’s official Alpha 100 spec page, its Help Center lineup comparison, the Alpha 65 manual record and Amazon item details for each ASIN. Where sources conflict — the Alpha 65’s starts and DC output, the Alpha 100’s weight, the GBX45’s starts — the conflict is printed, not resolved quietly. We do not test jump starters, and no prices appear here.
We reviewed owner reports across 3 forum sources — Bogleheads, HDForums and AR15.com — paraphrased and linked below. NOCO coverage is deep; Hulkman long-term coverage is thinner, and the Hulkman blocks say so plainly rather than borrowing themes from other brands.
The 30-second answer
Most cars, smallest proven pack: NOCO Boost Plus GB40. Fast USB-C recharging in a compact: NOCO Boost X GBX45. The diesel NOCO, rated to 6.5L diesel with a 60-second timer: NOCO Boost X GBX75. A display and the wider entry ratings: Hulkman Alpha 65. Real cold, with pre-heat to -40°F and up to 60 starts claimed: Hulkman Alpha 85S. The biggest engines here, gas and diesel to 10.0L: Hulkman Alpha 100. Brand shorthand: NOCO for sealed, documented simplicity; Hulkman for displays, cold technology and longer paper warranty.
Best Compact (NOCO)
NOCO Boost Plus GB40
Best if you want the small, proven glovebox pack: 1.65 lb bare, IP65, a manual override for batteries under 2 volts, and the deepest owner history of any pack here.
Fastest Compact Recharge (NOCO)
NOCO Boost X GBX45
Best if turnaround matters: 60W USB-C PD in and out, a full recharge in about 48 minutes on NOCO’s claim, and jump-ready in about 5 minutes.
Best NOCO for Diesel
NOCO Boost X GBX75
Best NOCO for bigger engines: rated to 8.5L gas and 6.5L diesel, 74 Wh, a 400-lumen light, IP65, and a 12V USB-C fast charger in the box.
Best Entry Display (Hulkman)
Hulkman Alpha 65
Best if you want Hulkman’s screen on the entry tier: a 3.2-inch display, ratings to 6.5L gas and 4.0L diesel, and IP65 in the manual’s spec table.
Best for Cold (Hulkman)
Hulkman Alpha 85S
Best for winter: pre-heat technology with a -40°F working floor, a 3.3-inch display, up to 60 starts claimed, and a 15V/10A DC output.
Biggest Ratings (Hulkman)
Hulkman Alpha 100
Best for the largest engines in this comparison: maker ratings to 10.0L gas and 10.0L diesel, 118 Wh, PD65W in and out, pre-heat, and up to 80 starts claimed.
Quick compare — all six packs on the makers’ own published facts. Peak amps are each maker’s own claim and are not cross-comparable; the litre ratings are the rows to route on.
| Pack | Peak amps (maker) | Engine rating | Starts / charge | Charging in | Warranty | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOCO Boost Plus GB40 | 1,000A | Gas 6.0L / diesel 3.0L | Up to 20 | Micro-USB 5V/2.1A | 1 year | Check Price |
| NOCO Boost X GBX45 | 1,250A | Gas 6.5L / diesel 4.0L | Up to 6 (US) / 8 (UK) — conflict | USB-C PD 60W | 1 year | Check Price |
| NOCO Boost X GBX75 | 2,500A | Gas 8.5L / diesel 6.5L | Up to 12 | USB-C PD 60W | 1 year | Check Price |
| Hulkman Alpha 65 | 1,200A | Gas 6.5L / diesel 4.0L | Up to 30 or 60 — conflict | USB-C PD 18W class | 2 years (line claim) | Check Price |
| Hulkman Alpha 85S | 2,000A | Gas 8.5L / diesel 6.0L | Up to 60 | USB-C SC 65W / PD 18W | 2 years (maker-stated) | Check Price |
| Hulkman Alpha 100 | 4,000A | Gas 10.0L / diesel 10.0L | Up to 80 | USB-C SC 65W / PD 65W | 2 years | Check Price |
NOCO or Hulkman finder
Enter your engine size in litres and pick the fuel. Every answer recommends one of this article’s six packs with its button, routed only on the makers’ own litre ratings — never on peak amps, and never below the rating your engine needs.
How to choose between NOCO and Hulkman
Engine rating first — litres, not peak amps
Route on the makers’ litre ratings, because those are the claims each maker ties to its own pack. The peak-amp ladder here — 1,000A to 4,000A — looks like a clean ranking and is not: no shared standard sits behind peak-amp claims, so badges cannot be divided into each other. If your engine fits inside a pack’s litre rating, the rows below decide; if it fits only one pack’s, the choice is already made.
Cold: operating floor vs pre-heat
NOCO publishes operating floors of -20°C across these three packs. Hulkman’s Alpha 65 works to -4°F, but the Alpha 85S and Alpha 100 add pre-heat technology: the pack warms its own battery and works to -40°F. That is the single largest functional gap in this comparison, and it only exists on the two big Hulkman packs — cold-climate buyers should compare the 85S and 100 against the GBX75, not against the entry packs.
Charging: 60W NOCO PD vs Hulkman speed charge
The Boost X line is the charging benchmark for output: 60W USB-C PD in and out on both the GBX45 and GBX75, so the pack doubles as a real laptop-class power bank. Hulkman splits its approach: the Alpha 65 and 85S take a 65W speed-charge input but output only PD 18W over USB-C, while the Alpha 100 matches NOCO with PD 65W in and out. Read the in and out figures separately — the brands headline different halves.
Displays and information
Every Hulkman Alpha here carries a smart display — 3.2 inches on the 65, 3.3 inches on the 85S and 100 — showing charge, status and error codes before you crank. NOCO’s packs communicate with indicator LEDs instead: simpler, and enough for most owners, but the display is genuinely useful when a clamp error or a pre-heat cycle needs explaining at the roadside in the dark.
Starts per charge and reserve
Hulkman claims the bigger reserves: up to 60 starts for the 85S and 80 for the 100 on maker figures, against NOCO’s up to 20 for the GB40 and up to 12 for the GBX75, whose 60-second timer spends its 74 Wh deliberately. The GBX45’s figure conflicts between sources (6 US, 8 UK) and the Alpha 65’s conflicts outright (30 vs 60) — both conflicts are printed in their blocks. Treat all starts figures as best-case maker claims.
Warranty and documentation
Hulkman states a 2-year limited warranty across the Alpha line, with a further year on registration in its listings; NOCO states 1 year on all three packs here, documented in item details. NOCO counters with deeper paperwork overall: sell sheets, manuals, IP ratings on every pick and both unit and with-clamps weights. Decide which paper matters to you — the longer promise or the thicker file.
Which engines each brand covers
Each row is routed on the makers’ own litre ratings above. A pack is only recommended inside its rating.
| Engine | NOCO coverage | Hulkman coverage | Covered pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas up to 6.0L | GB40, GBX45, GBX75 rated | Alpha 65, 85S, 100 rated | Either brand — finder starts with the GB40 |
| Gas 6.0–6.5L | GBX45, GBX75 rated | Alpha 65, 85S, 100 rated | Alpha 65 (entry) or GBX45 (fast charge) |
| Gas 6.5–8.5L | GBX75 rated | Alpha 85S, 100 rated | GBX75 or Alpha 85S (cold) |
| Gas 8.5–10.0L | Not rated | Alpha 100 rated | Hulkman Alpha 100 |
| Gas over 10.0L | Not rated | Not rated | Neither — step up via the pillar guide |
| Diesel up to 3.0L | All three rated | All three rated | Either brand — finder starts with the GB40 |
| Diesel 3.0–4.0L | GBX45, GBX75 rated | Alpha 65, 85S, 100 rated | GBX45 or Alpha 65 |
| Diesel 4.0–6.0L | GBX75 rated | Alpha 85S, 100 rated | Alpha 85S or GBX75 |
| Diesel 6.0–6.5L | GBX75 rated | Alpha 100 rated | NOCO Boost X GBX75 |
| Diesel 6.5–10.0L | Not rated | Alpha 100 rated | Hulkman Alpha 100 |
| Diesel over 10.0L | Not rated | Not rated | Neither — commercial / shop equipment |
NOCO vs Hulkman by budget
| Tier | What you get | Example pick from this comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Entry, documented | The fully documented compact with an override and IP65 | NOCO Boost Plus GB40 |
| Entry, with a screen | Smart display, wider entry ratings, IP65 per its manual | Hulkman Alpha 65 |
| Fast-charge commuter | 60W PD in and out, full recharge in about 48 minutes claimed | NOCO Boost X GBX45 |
| Cold-country tier | Pre-heat to -40°F, display, up to 60 starts claimed | Hulkman Alpha 85S |
| Big-engine tier | The widest ratings here: 10.0L gas and diesel, PD 65W both ways | Hulkman Alpha 100 |
No prices appear in this guide by policy; check the live listing on each button. The budget question is which set of ratings, ports and paper you are buying — promotions move, specifications do not.
Types of jump starter, compared
| Type | What it is | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact lithium | Pocket lithium pack — the GB40 and Alpha 65 class | Light, glovebox-sized, holds charge for months | Smallest engine ratings; entry charging speeds | Cars and small SUVs |
| Fast-charge lithium | USB-C PD generation — the Boost X and Alpha 100 class | Recharges in under about 2 hours; doubles as a laptop power bank | Needs a PD charger to show its speed | Commuters and travellers |
| Display + pre-heat lithium | Screen-guided pack that warms its own battery — the 85S/100 class | Works to -40°F; errors explained on screen | Bigger and heavier; charger may not be included | Cold regions, diesel owners |
| Lead-acid shop box | Traditional heavy box with a big reserve battery | Repeated starts all day; simple and durable | Very heavy; self-discharges on the shelf | Shops and yards (covered in the pillar guide) |
| Inflator combo | Jump pack with a built-in air compressor | Two roadside tools in one case | Compressor drains the same battery | Drivers who also fight slow leaks |
Four of the five types have their own picks in this comparison or in our pillar guide to the best portable jump starter; the full model field is in the jump starter comparisons archive.
Detailed reviews
Each pack is judged on its maker’s own published specifications for the exact ASIN linked: ratings, starts, charging, temperature limits and warranty. Owner sections paraphrase real reports and link them; where coverage is thin, the block says so.
Best Compact: NOCO Boost Plus GB40
NOCO compact pick
Why the NOCO Boost Plus GB40 is our pick
The GB40 is the trust benchmark of this comparison. NOCO documents it completely — sell sheet, manual, IP65 housing, unit and with-clamps weights — rates it honestly for the cars most people own, and gives it the feature that matters on the worst morning: a manual override for a battery too flat for smart clamps to recognise. At 1.65 lb bare it is the only true glovebox pack of the six, and its owner record is years deep.
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 key specs
- Part number: GB40
- Peak current: 1,000A (NOCO rating)
- Engine ratings: gas up to 6.0L, diesel up to 3.0L (NOCO)
- Jump starts per charge: up to 20 (NOCO)
- Internal battery: 24 Wh lithium-ion (NOCO sell sheet)
- Charging input: Micro-USB 5V/2.1A
- USB output: 5V/2.1A
- LED: 100 lumens, 7 modes
- Housing: IP65 with ports closed; operating -20°C to +50°C
- Weight: 1.65 lb unit, 2.4 lb with clamps; 6.7 x 3.2 x 1.7 in
- Warranty: 1-year limited (Amazon item details)
NOCO Boost Plus GB40: fits and best for
Sedans, crossovers and small diesels inside NOCO’s 6.0L gas / 3.0L diesel ratings, plus motorcycles and powersports alongside them. It is the finder’s answer whenever the engine is modest and the priority is the smallest pack. The battery discipline around it is the same as our winch battery guide teaches: a healthy vehicle battery needs the pack rarely.
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 pros and watch-outs
Pros
- Smallest and lightest here: 1.65 lb bare
- Manual override starts batteries below 2 volts
- IP65 housing with ports closed — published, not implied
- Fully documented: sell sheet, manual, both weights
- Deepest owner history of the six packs
Watch-outs
- Diesel rating stops at 3.0L — most diesel trucks are out
- Micro-USB charging is slow and a legacy cable to keep
- No display — indicator LEDs only
- 1-year warranty is the shorter paper term in this comparison
NOCO Boost Plus GB40: what owners report
On Bogleheads, owners report repeated successful use over years and value the manual override, while warning that effectiveness falls as temperature drops — several households bring the pack indoors in winter.
Riders on HDForums carry the GB40 across cars, a Jeep truck and a motorcycle. The balance, from the pillar research: a forum counter-report of a GB40 running out of overhead on a totally flat battery in a large SUV, where a bigger pack was the right tool.
NOCO Boost Plus GB40: who should not buy
Skip it for any diesel beyond 3.0L or gas beyond 6.0L. Inside this comparison the covered step-ups are the NOCO Boost X GBX45 for charging speed or the Alpha 65 for a display.
NOCO Boost Plus GB40: pair it with
Pair it with the NOCO GBC013 EVA protection case, made for the GB20 and GB40: a glovebox pack earns its keep un-scuffed, with clamps and cable kept together.
We may earn a commission at no cost to you. Listing shown for the NOCO Boost Plus GB40, ASIN B015TKUPIC — confirm the part number on the listing before ordering.
Top the pack up every few months in storage; the routine is the same one our maintenance checklist sets for the rest of the truck.
Best Entry Display: Hulkman Alpha 65
Hulkman entry pick
Why the Hulkman Alpha 65 is our pick
The Alpha 65 is Hulkman’s formula at its cheapest tier: the smart display, the 10-protection clamp system and ratings a step wider than the GB40’s — 6.5L gas and 4.0L diesel against 6.0L and 3.0L. Its manual even publishes an IP65 rating. What it does not have is pre-heat or a settled spec sheet: two of its figures conflict between Hulkman’s own sources, and both conflicts are printed below rather than smoothed over.
Hulkman Alpha 65 key specs
- Part number: Alpha 65 (UPC 761062119757)
- Peak current: 1,200A (maker claim)
- Engine ratings: gas up to 6.5L, diesel up to 4.0L (maker)
- Jump starts per charge: CONFLICT — up to 30 (Hulkman comparison tables) vs up to 60 (retailer description)
- Internal battery: 44.4 Wh / 12,000mAh lithium-polymer
- Display: 3.2-inch smart screen (manual)
- USB: Type-C PD 18W class + USB-A QC3.0 (manual)
- DC output: CONFLICT — manual lists 12V/10A; Hulkman support comparison leaves it blank for this model
- LED: 200 lumens, 4 modes (Hulkman support)
- Housing: IP65 with ports closed (manual); working -4°F to 113°F
- Weight: 2.6 lb; about 7.84 x 3.74 x 1.77 in
- Warranty: 2 years (Alpha line claim; +1 year on registration in line listings)
Hulkman Alpha 65: fits and best for
Cars and crossovers to 6.5L gas and small-to-mid diesels to 4.0L, for owners who want the pack to explain itself on a screen. It appears in our budget jump starter guide class of picks and is the finder’s entry answer just past the GB40’s gas rating.
Hulkman Alpha 65 pros and watch-outs
Pros
- Smart display at the entry tier: charge, status, error codes
- Wider entry ratings than the GB40 on both fuels
- IP65 published in its manual
- Boost function for completely dead batteries (manual)
- 2-year line warranty claim doubles NOCO’s paper term
Watch-outs
- No pre-heat: -4°F working floor, the joint-warmest here
- Starts-per-charge figure conflicts between sources (printed above)
- DC output conflicts between the manual and Hulkman support
- Long-term owner coverage is thin (stated in its owner section)
Hulkman Alpha 65: what owners report
Long-term forum coverage for the Alpha 65 specifically is thin, and we say so plainly: no owner thread of GB40 depth surfaced in the pools or the fresh research. Listing-level themes centre on the display making first use simple — read them on the Alpha 65 Amazon owner listing.
The wider Hulkman context from our pillar research is that owner and review coverage of the Alpha line centres on the display, fast recharge and cold technology — the 65 carries the first two of those three themes, without the pre-heat of its bigger siblings.
Hulkman Alpha 65: who should not buy
Skip it in genuinely cold country — its floor is -4°F and it has no pre-heat. The cold answer inside this comparison is the Hulkman Alpha 85S, rated to the same gas figure with a -40°F working range.
Hulkman Alpha 65: pair it with
Pair it with the Hulkman Alpha Bagx EVA case made for the Alpha 65: a display-fronted pack travels better in a hard case than loose in a trunk. Check Price
We may earn a commission at no cost to you. Listing shown for the Hulkman Alpha 65, ASIN B09V1743PT — confirm the model on the listing; Hulkman sells several Alpha tiers under similar names.
Read the error codes on the display before retrying a failed start — the screen is this pack’s advantage, and our battery drain guide explains the drain faults it will keep reporting.
Fastest Compact Recharge: NOCO Boost X GBX45
NOCO fast-charge pick
Why the NOCO Boost X GBX45 is our pick
The GBX45 is what the GB40 grows into when charging speed becomes the point: the same IP65, glovebox-class idea, rebuilt around 60W USB-C Power Delivery in and out. NOCO claims a full recharge in about 48 minutes and a jump-ready charge in about 5, and the pack returns a full 60W to phones and laptops between emergencies. It is the commuter pick of the six — the one that is never the pack caught half-charged.
NOCO Boost X GBX45 key specs
- Part number: GBX45
- Peak current: 1,250A (NOCO rating)
- Engine ratings: gas up to 6.5L, diesel up to 4.0L (NOCO)
- Jump starts per charge: CONFLICT — up to 6 (US maker copy) vs up to 8 (UK listing)
- Internal battery: 31 Wh lithium-ion
- USB-C: PD 60W in/out (profiles to 20V/3A)
- USB-A output: 5V/2.1A, 10W max
- Recharge: full in about 48 min, jump-ready in about 5 min (NOCO claims)
- LED: 100 lumens
- Housing: IP65 with ports closed
- Weight: 1.30 lb unit, 2.16 lb with clamps
- Warranty: 1-year limited
NOCO Boost X GBX45: fits and best for
Cars and small SUVs to 6.5L gas, diesels to 4.0L, and any driver who will also use the pack as a daily power bank. It is the diesel finder’s step between the GB40 and the big packs. For the full mid-tier field, see our mid-budget jump starter guide, where the GBX45 also appears.
NOCO Boost X GBX45 pros and watch-outs
Pros
- Fastest compact recharge here: 60W PD in, about 48 min claimed
- Full 60W PD out — a real laptop-class power bank
- Lightest unit weight of the six at 1.30 lb bare
- IP65 with ports closed
- Jump-ready from empty in about 5 minutes on NOCO’s claim
Watch-outs
- Starts-per-charge figure conflicts between US and UK sources
- No display and no DC output published
- Diesel ceiling of 4.0L still excludes most diesel trucks
- 1-year warranty, like every NOCO here
NOCO Boost X GBX45: what owners report
Dedicated long-term owner coverage for the GBX45 is thinner than for the GB40, and we state that honestly rather than stretching GB40 reports across a different model: read the current owner record on the GBX45 Amazon owner listing.
The storage theme that does apply comes from AR15.com owners: NOCO packs in that discussion need a top-up every 3–4 months in storage — a routine the GBX45’s 48-minute recharge makes painless.
NOCO Boost X GBX45: who should not buy
Skip it for diesels beyond 4.0L and for cold-country pre-heat — it has neither the rating nor the technology. The diesel step-up here is the NOCO Boost X GBX75; the cold step-up is the Alpha 85S.
NOCO Boost X GBX45: pair it with
Pair it with a NOCO GENIUS5 maintainer on the vehicle itself: the cheapest jump start is the battery that never goes flat, and the GENIUS5 is a 5A 6V/12V charger, maintainer and desulfator.
We may earn a commission at no cost to you. Listing shown for the NOCO Boost X GBX45, ASIN B0924V8SPC — confirm the part number on the listing before ordering.
Keep one USB-C PD charger in the car kit, not just at home: this pack’s speed only exists with a PD source, the same planning point our amp draw guide makes for vehicle electrics.
Best for Cold: Hulkman Alpha 85S
Hulkman cold pick
Why the Hulkman Alpha 85S is our pick
The 85S is the pack this comparison tilts on. Hulkman gives it the Alpha line’s full cold system — pre-heat technology and a -40°F working floor no NOCO here approaches — plus a 3.3-inch display, up to 60 starts claimed, a 15V/10A DC output and 65W speed-charge input, in a 2.57 lb unit that is lighter than the GBX75 it competes with. Its official spec page, not its Amazon summary, governs every figure below.
Hulkman Alpha 85S key specs
- Part number: Alpha 85S
- Peak current: 2,000A (maker claim)
- Engine ratings: gas up to 8.5L, diesel up to 6.0L (official spec page; an Amazon summary prints 6.5L diesel — conflict, official governs)
- Jump starts per charge: up to 60 (maker)
- Internal battery: 74 Wh / 20,000mAh lithium-polymer
- Pre-heat: yes; working -40°F to 113°F, storage -40°F to 131°F
- USB-C in: SC 65W / PD 18W; USB-C out: PD 18W
- USB-A out: QC3.0 18W; DC out: 15V/10A, max 150W
- Display: 3.3-inch smart screen; LED: 400 lumens
- Weight: 2.57 lb product (official; kit weights vary); 9.64 x 4.05 x 1.81 in
- Warranty: 2 years (maker-stated; +1 year on registration in line listings)
Hulkman Alpha 85S: fits and best for
Gas engines to 8.5L and diesels to 6.0L in cold regions first, and any owner who wants repeated attempts on a stubborn winter start. It is also the display pick of the pillar field in our pillar jump starter guide, where it appears alongside both brands’ bigger packs.
Hulkman Alpha 85S pros and watch-outs
Pros
- Pre-heat to -40°F: the coldest working floor here by a wide margin
- Up to 60 starts claimed — repeated-attempt reserve
- 3.3-inch display explains status and errors
- DC output (15V/10A) the NOCO packs here do not publish
- Light for its class at 2.57 lb product weight
Watch-outs
- 65W wall charger NOT included (listing note)
- USB-C output is only PD 18W — input speed does not carry over
- No IP rating in the official spec material we verified
- Owner coverage thinner than NOCO’s (stated below)
Hulkman Alpha 85S: what owners report
Owner and review coverage of the 85S centres on the display, the pre-heat and the fast recharge, per our pillar research, with the missing wall charger as the recurring practical complaint — read current reports on the Alpha 85S Amazon owner listing.
Coverage is thinner than NOCO’s GB40 record, and we state that as a fact of this comparison rather than a verdict on the pack: the Alpha line is younger, and its long-term file is still being written.
Hulkman Alpha 85S: who should not buy
Skip it if your diesel is beyond 6.0L or you need a published IP rating and 60W of USB-C output — the NOCO Boost X GBX75 covers the first two of those inside this comparison.
Hulkman Alpha 85S: pair it with
Pair it with a NOCO GENIUS5 maintainer for the vehicle battery: pre-heat solves the pack’s cold problem, and a maintainer solves the vehicle’s.
We may earn a commission at no cost to you. Listing shown for the Hulkman Alpha 85S, ASIN B0FR9GFVTN — the 65W wall charger is not included with this model; confirm the box contents on the listing.
Let the pre-heat cycle finish before cranking in deep cold — the display shows it working. Our maintenance checklist covers the rest of the winter routine.
Best NOCO for Diesel: NOCO Boost X GBX75
NOCO diesel pick
Why the NOCO Boost X GBX75 is our pick
The GBX75 is NOCO’s answer to the big Hulkman packs: 74 Wh behind a 2,500A rating, the widest diesel rating NOCO offers here at 6.5L, a 60-second timer system that manages each start attempt, and the full Boost X charging set — 60W PD in and out, with a 12V USB-C fast charger included in the box. It trades the 85S’s pre-heat and display for IP65, output power and NOCO’s documentation depth.
NOCO Boost X GBX75 key specs
- Part number: GBX75 (UPC 046221200089)
- Peak current: 2,500A (NOCO rating)
- Engine ratings: gas up to 8.5L, diesel up to 6.5L (NOCO)
- Jump starts per charge: up to 12 (manufacturer description; 60-second timer system)
- Internal battery: 74 Wh lithium-ion
- USB-C: PD 60W in/out; USB-A out: 5V/2.1A, 10W max
- Recharge: full in about 1.8 h on PD; jump-ready in about 5 min; 12V USB-C fast charger included
- LED: 400 lumens, 7 modes
- Housing: IP65 with ports closed; operating -20°C to +50°C
- Weight: 3.77 lb; 6.83 x 3.28 x 2.08 in (retailer spec reproductions)
- Warranty: 1-year limited
NOCO Boost X GBX75: fits and best for
Gas V8s to 8.5L and diesels to 6.5L — the diesel band no other pack here except the Alpha 100 reaches — for owners who want NOCO’s sealed, documented pattern at full size. It is the finder’s diesel answer between the 85S’s 6.0L ceiling and the flagship tier, and it anchors the NOCO side of our jump starter comparisons.
NOCO Boost X GBX75 pros and watch-outs
Pros
- Widest NOCO diesel rating here: 6.5L
- IP65 and a fast charger included in the box
- Full 60W PD out, matching its input
- 400-lumen, 7-mode light matches the big Hulkman packs
- 60-second timer manages big-engine start attempts
Watch-outs
- Heaviest NOCO here at 3.77 lb
- Up to 12 starts is the smallest reserve claim of the big packs
- No display and no pre-heat: -20°C floor only
- 1-year warranty against Hulkman’s 2-year line claim
NOCO Boost X GBX75: what owners report
Long-term owner coverage for the GBX75 is thinner than the GB40’s deep record — stated honestly; read the current record on the GBX75 Amazon owner listing.
The applicable owner theme from Bogleheads is the Boost line’s storage pattern: packs that live indoors in winter and get topped up on a routine simply work when called on — the habit matters more as the pack, and the engines it serves, get bigger.
NOCO Boost X GBX75: who should not buy
Skip it in deep-cold country if pre-heat is the feature you are buying, and for engines beyond 8.5L gas or 6.5L diesel. The cold alternative is the Hulkman Alpha 85S; the beyond-ratings answer is the Alpha 100.
NOCO Boost X GBX75: pair it with
Pair it with a set of Energizer 16-foot 6-gauge jumper cables as the donor-vehicle backup: at this engine size, a second path to a start is cheap insurance.
We may earn a commission at no cost to you. Listing shown for the NOCO Boost X GBX75, ASIN B08WYKD6TY — confirm the part number on the listing before ordering.
Respect the 60-second timer instead of cranking through it: the pause protects the pack on big diesels, the same reserve logic our battery runtime guide explains.
Biggest Ratings: Hulkman Alpha 100
Hulkman flagship pick
Why the Hulkman Alpha 100 is our pick
The Alpha 100 is the ceiling of this comparison and the only pack rated for the biggest engines in it: 10.0L gas and 10.0L diesel on Hulkman’s figures, 118 Wh behind up to 80 claimed starts, pre-heat to -40°F, a 600-lumen light, and the one Hulkman charging set that matches NOCO’s best — PD 65W in and out, plus two USB-A ports and a 150W DC output. Its official spec page governs the figures below, including a weight its Amazon tables state three different ways.
Hulkman Alpha 100 key specs
- Part number: Alpha 100 (UPC 761062119504)
- Peak current: 4,000A (maker claim)
- Engine ratings: gas up to 10.0L, diesel up to 10.0L (support page; official spec page prints 10.0+ litres)
- Jump starts per charge: up to 80 (maker comparison tables)
- Internal battery: 118 Wh / 32,000mAh lithium-polymer
- Pre-heat: yes; working -40°F to 113°F, storage -40°F to 131°F
- USB-C in: SC 65W / PD 65W; USB-C out: PD 65W
- USB-A out: 5V/2.4A + QC3.0 18W; DC out: 15V/10A, max 150W
- Display: 3.3-inch smart screen; LED: 600 lumens
- Weight: CONFLICT — 3.57 lb product (official spec page) vs 3.76–3.8 lb (Amazon technical details) vs 6.91 lb (comparison table, package class); 10.66 x 4.81 x 2.60 in (official)
- Warranty: 2 years (manufacturer warranty description)
Hulkman Alpha 100: fits and best for
Large gas V8s and diesels to 10.0L, fleets of one big truck, and cold-region owners who want every Hulkman system in one pack. It is the finder’s answer for every engine past the GBX75’s and 85S’s ratings, and the step-up named in our mid-budget guide for buyers who outgrow the mid tier.
Hulkman Alpha 100 pros and watch-outs
Pros
- Widest ratings in this comparison on both fuels: 10.0L
- Pre-heat to -40°F plus the biggest reserve: 118 Wh, up to 80 starts claimed
- PD 65W in and out — the only Hulkman here matching NOCO’s output
- 600-lumen light is the strongest here
- Two USB-A ports plus a 150W DC output
Watch-outs
- Weight is stated three ways across sources (conflict printed above)
- Biggest and bulkiest pack here, whichever weight figure is used
- Long-term owner coverage is thin (stated below)
- Its ratings are one maker’s claims, like every pack here — no shared standard verifies them
Hulkman Alpha 100: what owners report
Alpha 100-specific long-term forum coverage was not found in the pools or the fresh research, and we say so plainly rather than borrowing the 85S’s file: read current owner reports on the Alpha 100 Amazon owner listing.
The general owner doctrine for flagship packs, consistent across the sources in this guide, is that reserve is what owners value on the largest engines — repeated attempts without a recharge — which is exactly the claim this pack’s 118 Wh and 80-start figure are built on.
Hulkman Alpha 100: who should not buy
Skip it if your engine fits a smaller pack and the pack will live in a glovebox — it will not. The same-brand step-down with pre-heat is the Hulkman Alpha 85S, and the compact answer is the GB40.
Hulkman Alpha 100: pair it with
Pair it with a NOCO GENIUS5 maintainer on the big vehicle itself: a flagship pack is emergency cover, and the maintainer is what keeps the emergency rare.
We may earn a commission at no cost to you. Listing shown for the Hulkman Alpha 100, ASIN B08TQFHW1C — confirm the model on the listing before ordering.
Charge it with a PD 65W source to get the recharge speed its spec sheet promises; a low-watt phone brick turns its fast-charge system into an overnight one, as our essential accessories guide warns for all vehicle electrics.
Spec comparison
Every figure is the maker’s published figure for the exact ASIN here. Where a maker publishes nothing, the cell says so; where sources conflict, the conflict is printed.
| Spec | GB40 | GBX45 | GBX75 | Alpha 65 | Alpha 85S | Alpha 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part number | GB40 | GBX45 | GBX75 | Alpha 65 | Alpha 85S | Alpha 100 |
| Peak current (maker claim) | 1,000A | 1,250A | 2,500A | 1,200A | 2,000A | 4,000A |
| Gas rating | 6.0L | 6.5L | 8.5L | 6.5L | 8.5L | 10.0L |
| Diesel rating | 3.0L | 4.0L | 6.5L | 4.0L | 6.0L | 10.0L |
| Starts per charge | Up to 20 | Up to 6 / 8 (conflict) | Up to 12 | Up to 30 / 60 (conflict) | Up to 60 | Up to 80 |
| Capacity | 24 Wh | 31 Wh | 74 Wh | 44.4 Wh / 12,000mAh | 74 Wh / 20,000mAh | 118 Wh / 32,000mAh |
| Charging input | Micro-USB 5V/2.1A | USB-C PD 60W | USB-C PD 60W | USB-C PD 18W class | USB-C SC 65W / PD 18W | USB-C SC 65W / PD 65W |
| USB-C output | Not published | PD 60W | PD 60W | PD 18W class | PD 18W | PD 65W |
| DC output | Not published | Not published | Not published | Conflict (see block) | 15V/10A | 15V/10A |
| Display | LED indicators | LED indicators | LED indicators | 3.2-inch screen | 3.3-inch screen | 3.3-inch screen |
| Pre-heat / cold floor | None / -20°C | None / -20°C class | None / -20°C | None / -4°F | Pre-heat / -40°F | Pre-heat / -40°F |
| LED light | 100 lm, 7 modes | 100 lm | 400 lm, 7 modes | 200 lm, 4 modes | 400 lm | 600 lm |
| Sealing | IP65 | IP65 | IP65 | IP65 (manual) | Not published (official page) | Not published (official page) |
| Weight | 1.65 lb unit | 1.30 lb unit | 3.77 lb | 2.6 lb | 2.57 lb product | 3.57 lb product (conflict) |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 2 years (line claim) | 2 years (maker-stated) | 2 years |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Using and jump-starting basics
Both brands follow the same safe sequence, and both protect you while you follow it: NOCO with its spark-proof, reverse-polarity UltraSafe clamps, Hulkman with its 10-protection smart clamps and a display that names the error. Connect positive to the dead battery’s positive terminal, negative to an unpainted engine ground away from the battery, then switch the pack on. If the battery is too flat for the clamps to detect, use the maker’s answer for that case: NOCO’s manual override on the GB40, Hulkman’s boost function, which the Alpha manuals describe for completely dead batteries — and on the 85S and 100 in deep cold, let the pre-heat cycle finish first, because cranking a cold-soaked pack early wastes the attempt the technology was warming up for.
Crank in short attempts and let the pack rest between them — the GBX75’s 60-second timer enforces exactly that discipline on big engines. Once the vehicle runs, remove the clamps in reverse order, drive long enough to recharge the vehicle battery properly, and recharge the pack itself the same day. A pack that keeps being needed is reporting a vehicle fault: diagnose it with the same method as our amp draw guide and battery drain guide, and keep a vehicle that sits on a maintainer, as our battery guide recommends.
Safety essentials
Six rules that outrank either brand in this comparison:
- 1. Connect positive first and negative to an engine ground away from the battery — the last connection is where a spark can happen, and it should never happen at the battery.
- 2. Never bypass the smart clamps casually: override and boost modes exist for genuinely flat batteries, and they remove the detection that protects you the rest of the time.
- 3. Keep lithium packs out of a hot parked car in summer and charge them indoors in deep winter — both makers publish temperature limits, and the pack you need is the one stored inside them.
- 4. A swollen, cracked or hissing pack is done: stop using it, do not charge it, and recycle it as hazardous waste.
- 5. Recharge the pack after every use and top it up every few months in storage; a flat pack beside a flat battery is the failure this guide exists to prevent.
- 6. A jump start is a reprieve, not a repair: a battery that needed one needs a test, and a repeated need means a drain, an alternator or a battery at end of life.
Three companions from this site’s verified pool pair with any of the six packs; the full kit list lives in our accessories hub:
NOCO GBC013 EVA protection case — made for the GB20 and GB40; keeps the compact NOCO pick, its clamps and cable together in the glovebox.
NOCO GENIUS5 battery maintainer — a 5A smart charger and maintainer for the vehicle battery itself, so whichever pack you chose stays an emergency tool instead of a weekly routine.
Energizer jumper cables, 16-foot 6-gauge — the donor-vehicle backup for the day a pack is flat too; cables never self-discharge on the shelf.
Build the rest of the kit from our essential accessories guide, not at the roadside.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pack clicks, beeps or shows an error and will not crank | Clamps cannot detect the battery (near-totally flat) or a protection has tripped | Check connections first; then use the maker mode: NOCO manual override, Hulkman boost function; read the Alpha display code |
| Error light or on-screen error code | Reverse polarity or a short detected by the smart clamps | Remove both clamps, confirm positive-to-positive, reconnect positive first |
| Engine cranks slowly once, then nothing | Pack charge low, cold-soaked pack, or clamps on corroded terminals | Clean the terminals, warm and recharge the pack, retry in short cranks; on an 85S/100 let pre-heat finish |
| Pack worked in autumn, weak in January | Cold-soaked lithium and storage self-discharge stacking up | Warm the pack indoors, top it up, and store it inside in deep winter |
| Starts the car, dead again next morning | Vehicle battery at end of life, parasitic drain or alternator fault | Test the battery and charging system; a pack is a reprieve, not a repair |
| Pack will not recharge at its rated speed | Wrong charger class (micro-USB, PD and SC inputs differ by model) | Use the maker-spec input for your model; a low-watt brick cannot feed a 60W or 65W input |
Who should NOT buy these
Your gas or diesel engine is bigger than 10.0L. Neither brand rates a pack here beyond that, and an out-of-rating start is a hope, not a plan. Commercial diesels belong with commercial equipment or a lead-acid shop box, both covered in the pillar guide.
You run a shop, a yard or a roadside service. Six glovebox-class lithium packs are not a repeated-starts tool, whatever their starts-per-charge claims. A lead-acid box with a big reserve battery, kept on its charger, is the category built for your day.
You want one tool that also inflates tyres. No pack here has a compressor. The Hulkman DC outputs can run a separate inflator, which we prefer to a combo unit; the combo type is compared in our jump starter comparisons.
You will never recharge anything. Every pack here is a lithium tool with storage habits: top-ups every few months and a recharge after use. If that routine will not happen, a maintained vehicle battery plus cables (Block 17 above) is the more honest kit.
Final verdict
Best compact — NOCO Boost Plus GB40: the documented glovebox pack for cars and diesels to 3.0L. Check its price.
Best entry display — Hulkman Alpha 65: the screen and wider entry ratings, with its conflicts printed. Check its price.
Fastest compact recharge — NOCO Boost X GBX45: 60W PD both ways and a claimed 48-minute full recharge. Check its price.
Best for cold — Hulkman Alpha 85S: pre-heat to -40°F, a display and up to 60 starts claimed. Check its price.
Best NOCO for diesel — NOCO Boost X GBX75: 6.5L diesel, IP65 and a fast charger in the box. Check its price.
Biggest ratings — Hulkman Alpha 100: 10.0L gas and diesel, 118 Wh and PD 65W both ways. Check its price.
Brand verdict: NOCO wins on sealing, documentation and USB-C output at the compact and mid tiers. Hulkman wins on displays, cold technology, starts claims and paper warranty, and owns the flagship tier outright. Pick your tier first, then your brand — and use the same method in our sibling comparison, NOCO Boost Plus vs AVAPOW.
FAQ
NOCO vs Hulkman: which brand is better?
Neither brand wins every tier. NOCO’s three packs are all IP65, carry the deeper documentation and, in the Boost X line, the stronger USB-C output. Hulkman’s three all carry displays, claim the longer 2-year warranty, and its two big packs add pre-heat technology NOCO does not offer here. At the flagship tier Hulkman also rates higher: 10.0L gas and diesel against the GBX75’s 8.5L and 6.5L. Choose by tier and by the rows that matter to you.
Are Hulkman’s peak-amp numbers really higher than NOCO’s?
The badges are higher — 4,000A for the Alpha 100 against 2,500A for the GBX75 — but peak-amp figures have no shared test standard between brands, so the ratio proves little on its own. The meaningful gap is in the makers’ own engine ratings, and there Hulkman’s flagship genuinely leads: 10.0L gas and diesel against 8.5L and 6.5L. Both facts are in the tables; route on the litre rows.
Which brand is better in cold weather?
Hulkman, on published figures, at the top of its line: the Alpha 85S and Alpha 100 pre-heat their batteries and work to -40°F. The Alpha 65 does not — its floor is -4°F, the joint-warmest here. NOCO publishes a -20°C operating floor across its three packs, with no pre-heat. Owners also report that any cold-soaked lithium pack weakens, so indoor storage in winter helps whichever brand you choose.
Which jump starter here is best for a diesel truck?
By rating: the Hulkman Alpha 100, rated to 10.0L diesel, covers every diesel pickup sold. The NOCO Boost X GBX75 follows at 6.5L diesel, then the Alpha 85S at 6.0L. The GB40 stops at 3.0L diesel — small car diesels only. Diesel cranking is the hardest work a pack does, so staying inside the maker rating matters more here than anywhere else in this comparison.
Do Hulkman jump starters really give 60 or 80 starts per charge?
Those are Hulkman’s maker claims for the Alpha 85S and Alpha 100 — up to 60 and up to 80 respectively — printed here as claims, not measurements. NOCO claims up to 20 for the GB40 and up to 12 for the GBX75, whose timer system spends its charge deliberately. Two figures in this comparison conflict outright (GBX45 and Alpha 65) and are printed as conflicts. Real counts fall with engine size, cold and battery condition for every brand.
Which brand charges faster?
It depends which half you mean. For input speed at the compact tier, NOCO: the GBX45 claims a full recharge in about 48 minutes on 60W PD. Hulkman’s 85S takes a 65W speed-charge input but outputs only PD 18W; the Alpha 100 is the one Hulkman that matches NOCO’s best both ways, at PD 65W in and out. The GB40 sits out this race entirely on micro-USB.
Why does NOCO only offer a 1-year warranty when Hulkman offers 2 years?
On the documents we verified, that is simply each brand’s stated policy: NOCO lists a 1-year limited warranty in the item details for all three packs here, while Hulkman states 2 years across the Alpha line, with a further year on registration in its listings. A longer term is a real Hulkman advantage; NOCO’s counter is documentation depth everywhere else. We print both as sourced and let the rows above carry their own weight.
Can these packs start a completely flat battery?
Yes — both brands build for that case, because smart clamps cannot detect a battery under their threshold. NOCO gives the GB40 a manual override for batteries below 2 volts. Hulkman’s Alpha manuals describe a boost function for completely dead batteries, with the display guiding the process. Overrides bypass detection protection, so connect carefully, stand clear of the cables and crank promptly.
NOCO GBX75 vs Hulkman Alpha 85S: which should I buy?
The two 74 Wh flagships split cleanly. The GBX75 gives you IP65, 60W PD output, a fast charger in the box and the wider diesel rating at 6.5L. The 85S gives you pre-heat to -40°F, a 3.3-inch display, up to 60 starts claimed, a DC output and a lighter 2.57 lb unit — but no charger in the box and only PD 18W out. Cold climate: 85S. Sealed, documented, diesel-first: GBX75.
Sources & changelog
Manufacturer and listing sources, and the owner sources paraphrased above:
- NOCO Boost Plus GB40 — Amazon item details: part GB40, warranty (NOCO)
- NOCO GB40 sell sheet: 24 Wh, weights, temperature range (NOCO)
- NOCO Boost X GBX45 — Amazon item details (NOCO)
- NOCO Boost X GBX75 — Amazon item details: part GBX75 (NOCO)
- Hulkman Alpha 65 — Amazon item details: model Alpha 65, UPC (Hulkman)
- Hulkman Alpha 65 user manual record: ports, IP65, boost function (Hulkman)
- Hulkman Alpha 85S — Amazon listing (Hulkman)
- Hulkman Alpha 85S official specifications: ratings, ports, temperatures (Hulkman)
- Hulkman Alpha 100 — Amazon listing: model Alpha 100 (Hulkman)
- Hulkman Alpha 100 official specifications: ratings, weight, ports (Hulkman)
- Hulkman Help Center: Alpha 65 / 85 / 85S / 100 lineup comparison (Hulkman)
- Bogleheads — owners: GB40 use, override and winter storage
- HDForums — owners: GB40 across cars, truck and motorcycle
- AR15.com — owners: NOCO storage top-ups and cold behaviour
Changelog — October 16, 2026: guide first published.
By Leo, Founder, WinchInsider
Leo founded WinchInsider to publish specification-first truck and recovery guides: every figure from the maker, every conflict printed, and no product recommended for a job its maker does not claim it can do. More about the site is on our about page.
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