In four years on the road through 21 countries, a single charge from Weego has given us a “get out of jail free” card four times. Once by resurrecting a depleted cell battery off road in mainland Mexico, and thrice stirring life back into the stator on Jason’s F800GS—deep inside Death Valley National Park, on an isolated sandy trail to the Mission San Borja on the Baja Peninsula, and inside the wilds of Yosemite National Park. Without the use of this nifty piece of kit, there’s no doubt in my mind that one of our bikes would have been stranded in a remote location. As full-time moto-travelers on a frugal budget, neither of us can afford roadside assistance, and because we love exploring in far-flung places off the beaten track, who knows when a Good Samaritan with battery cables would have jumped to the rescue.

Value-added features:

This jacket pocket-sized wonder will jump-start your motorcycle. In fact, it’ll swing practically anything on wheels up to a 5-liter gas or 2.5-liter diesel engine into jump-start action. That applies to boats, too. With a surprising amount of gumption packed into the handheld unit, Weego 22 steers you through an error-free process of lights, leads with tapered tips for hard-to-reach battery terminals, and idiot-proof alarms to guide even the least gadget-oriented person or the most mechanically challenged. Additionally, the unique, patented Smarty Clamps demand little exertion to open wide and clamp down securely compared to previous models used. The cables reach that little bit farther and, thankfully, don’t get tangled easily.

Living with Weego:

What I appreciate perhaps the most about this box of tricks (no bigger than a smartphone) is that no prerequisite expertise is needed. If you misuse the scissor-style clamps, no nasty spark will ensue; just a light bulb moment in your head thanks to the internal “anti-spark, reverse polarity, connection detection, over-heat and power surge protections.” Foolproof comes as standard. With an IP65 rating for water, dust and dirt resistance, it can be operated in almost any conditions—perfect for our rides through the elements. An added bonus is the weather-resistant pouch to keep all of the kit’s parts together. Indeed, it’ll work while it withstands temperatures from -4°F to 140°F. Use of a lithium-ion battery means a single 2.5-hour charge leaves you loaded with more than a year of standby power and 1,000 charging cycles at your disposal.

Handy for every day:

Overcoming urgent situations aside, the Weego 22 super-juices up any single USB device employing Detect-o-Matic technology. Namely, it charges faster than normal because it automatically detects the maximum speed allowable by a device. Smart. Agreeably, we speed-charge the smartphones, one at a time. Providing it can draw sufficient power, there’s an ability to charge mini-speakers, tablets and headlamps, as well—just about anything with a USB. Using the handy hook and lanyard, I also love hanging the bright 250-Lumen flashlight built into the unit around the campsite; it lasts seven hours in standard flashlight mode. Ideal when working on the bikes at night, too.

Conclusion:

Marketed within the high-performance jump-starters category, Weego 22 is designed for emergencies—powerful enough to kick-start your moto, car, ATV, SUV and boat but compact enough to stow in the tank bag. Beyond convenient when your battery is totally devoid of spark. Backed by an 18-month warranty and equipped with safety features that keep you and your vehicle out of harm’s way, it really is the Leatherman of portable power sources. It’s our roadside assistance insurance and I wouldn’t be without mine. MSRP: $99.99 MyWeego.com

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