WOLFBOX MegaVolt16 Air Review

Likes

The WOLFBOX MegaVolt16 Air is the best multi-purpose jump starter we've tested. We appreciate the big LCD screen, and its jump starting prowess is very good, but the included air compressor makes this model hard to beat.

Because driving with low tire pressure is a major safety issue, modern vehicles require Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems. These systems can alert you to a potential problem, like a nail stuck in a tire that creates a slow leak, or simply let you know that you need to top off a low tire. If you've ever tried to find a gas station with an air hose these days, you might see the value in having your own portable air compressor.

Despite needing extra space for the compressor components, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16 Air doesn't skimp on power performance. The manufacturer's peak amp rating is 3,000 amps.

Capable of jump starting 8-liter gas and 6-liter diesel engines, we like how we can trust this to jump start most pickups on the road. Mid-size SUVs and cars are easy-peasy. We jump started a 2010 Ford Explorer with a dead battery three times in a row in winter conditions and it never flinched. Our test starts were fast and crisp.

Some 2-in-1 jump starters with air compressors sacrifice battery capacity to help keep the units small and packable. The 59.2 watt hour battery in the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16 Air is larger than most standalone jump starters.

We love being able to top off our tires in the middle of a road trip without needing to worry about recharging the MegaVolt 16 Air in case we need to use it for a jump start. The large battery capacity truly keeps this working as a multi-purpose tool.

We're impressed by the fit and finish of the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16 Air.

The air compressor is rated up to a whopping 160 PSI, and while we're not sure what you need that much pressure for, it only took three minutes to add 5 PSI to our 275/70R18 all-terrain tires on a Ford F-150.

Overall, this model is easy to use. The large LCD screen reveals current tire pressure when you hook it up, and it's easy to adjust to the pressure you want. It automatically shuts off when it reaches your desired tire pressure.

However, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16 Air is not perfect. We do have a few minor annoyances.

Dislikes

The large LCD is great, but it isn't nearly as functional as it seems. It lets you toggle through some options for cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and balls for air inflation, but it doesn't have much jump starting information. For instance, instead of a large percentage readout for remaining battery life, we get stuck with a small, imprecise battery bar icon.

In addition, the boost button and green readiness light are placed on the cable plug. While many other jump starters use a similar system, the LCD screen attracts attention and seems like the most likely spot for this information. When you don't use a jump starter for months at a time, its easy to forget these little details and face a moment of confusion while you're trying to jump start a stranded vehicle in the dark.

Also, the included air hose is short. If you have larger tires, you might need to hold the unit up or drive forward or back to get the stem lower to the ground.

Should You Buy the MegaVolt16 Air?

Overall, we're very impressed by the power and capabilities built into the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16 Air. It's nearly as powerful as the top models we've tested, and it's the smallest option with a useful air compressor, making it surprisingly compact for its versatility. The battery capacity is generous enough to let you actually use the air compressor and still jump vehicles with dead batteries, plus the 60-watt USB-C input/output port makes recharging fast and painless.

What Other Jump Starters Should You Consider?

The NOCO Boost+Air AX65 has better clamps and longer, high-quality hose but it's a bit bulkier and has a smaller battery. It's a contender if you need to frequently top off leaky tires or really need more versatile clamps for jump starting vehicles with difficult battery terminal configurations. If you don't want an air compressor, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt24 is smaller and even more powerful with a bigger battery, but it might be far more jump starter than you really need. If that's the case, the NOCO Boost Plus GB40 is our favorite compact and affordable model. It's capable of jump starting most midsize vehicles and some full-size pickups, all in a package small enough to fit into a glove compartment.