If you don’t have a good battery in your snowmobile, you can struggle to start it up on a cold morning and even risk getting stranded somewhere in the snow.
For reliable starts, long-lasting performance, and maintenance-free use, the Yuasa YUAM620BH YTX20HL-BS Battery is my top choice.
I’ve spent hundreds of days on a snowmobile and have used many different machines and all sorts of equipment during that time. I’ve also spent more than a few days not snowmobiling because of a bad battery.
One of the easiest maintenance tasks you can do to your sled is to use a high-quality battery to help it perform when you want to have some fun in the winter.
This starts with using a high-quality battery, and the Yuasa option I recommended comes standard in many snowmobiles right from the factory. It’s an industry-standard battery because it works well even when the weather is extremely cold.
There are plenty of snowmobile batteries to choose from, so I’m going to highlight a few other excellent options here as well. You might not always have access to a Yuasa battery, but there are others that offer similar performance and reliability.
Let’s go ahead and get your engine started.
Table of Contents
The Best Snowmobile Battery Reviewed
You never want to get a cheap, unreliable battery. It’s worth spending a little extra money to make sure your snowmobile will start up strong every time. All of these batteries will give you that peace of mind and more.
1. Yuasa YUAM620BH YTX20HL-BS Battery
- Best for: Overall
- Key Features: 18-amp-hour, 310 cold crank amps, fully sealed and spill-proof, close to maintenance-free
- Weight: 13.9 pounds
- Battery Cell: Lead acid
- Warranty: Not specified
The best overall battery for your snowmobile is the Yuasa YUAM620BH YTX20L-BS. It is a very reliable, high-performance option and one that often comes included with your snowmobile right from the manufacturer.
This 12-volt battery gives you 18-amp hours of use to hold a charge easily in between trips out on the trail. 310 cold-cranking amps give you more than enough power to get your engines started each and every time.
Yuasa has made a lead-acid battery that is nearly maintenance-free. This gives you extra starting power without having to worry about the corrosive lead acid spilling or seeping.
It also uses advanced lead-calcium technology to retain specific gravity almost three times as long as other options. This means it will stay close to fully charged for a lot longer than the competition.
It is one of the most expensive options on the list, and even though it’s advertised as maintenance-free, I think that’s a bit of a stretch, especially after heavy use.
This is an all-around great snowmobile battery.
==> You can also get it on RevZilla.com, CycleGear.com or Walmart.
2. EarthX ETX12A Eco-Friendly Battery
- Best for: Lithium option
- Key Features: Lightweight, more eco-friendly, fast charging, over-discharge prevention, can be used in multiple machines
- Weight: 1.3 pounds
- Battery Cell: Lithium
- Warranty: 2-years
Lithium batteries may be getting a lot of attention for their use in electric vehicles, but they have a practical application as the power source for your snowmobile as well.
The EarthX EXT12A is a top option if you want to use this type of battery in your sled.
Weighing a feather-like 1.9 pounds, this can be a good option for snocross, racers, or anyone else looking to shed pounds and increase their top speed.
Lithium batteries also charge up very quickly compared to lead-acid batteries, and this one comes with over-discharge prevention.
You could easily change this battery out for use in a motorbike or ATV in the warmer months for versatile use. It comes with a decent 2-year warranty as well if any issues come up.
It won’t give you as much cranking power on really cold days as other batteries, so if you live in a very harsh area, I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s also another expensive option.
==> You can also get it at Walmart.
3. Power Source Lightning Start WPX20L-LS Battery
- Best for: Fast Starts
- Key Features: High-performance starting power, maintenance-free, OEM compatible
- Weight: 15 pounds
- Battery Cell: AGM
- Warranty: Not specified
If you want a battery that will start your snowmobile in a flash, the Power Souce Lightning Start WPX20L-LS is the way to go.
This is a high-performance option that uses an AGM type battery to deliver extremely efficient starting power. This cranking power is reliable and can give you the extra boost you need on cold mornings where other batteries might fail.
It’s fully sealed and maintenance-free, another benefit of being an AGM battery, so you’ll never have to fill up on acid or water to keep its performance at maximum capacity.
It also makes for a suitable OEM replacement when moving on from the factory battery.
The Lighting Start WPX20L-LS is really heavy, so it’s not going to help you win any races. But it will deliver powerful starting performance you can rely on.
4. Weize YTX20L-BS High-Performance Power Sports Battery
- Best for: OEM Replacement
- Key Features: Very efficient performance, maintenance-free, low shelf discharge, long life
- Weight: 12.8 pounds
- Battery Cell: AGM
- Warranty: 12 months
At some point, your OEM battery will wear down and need to be replaced. If you don’t choose to use the same battery, the Weize YTX20L-BS makes for a solid choice.
This AGM style battery gives you good cold crank amps to start up the engine in a hurry. It also has a low shelf discharge to keep its power when not in use.
It’s an option that will provide you with similar long cyclic life to an OEM battery while costing about half as much. That makes it a good value that a lot of snowmobilers will appreciate.
It also comes with a decent 12-month warranty if you happen to run into any issues the first year of use. Chances are, you won’t.
AGM batteries are heavy, and this one is no exception. It also has larger dimensions that might make it a tight fit in your sled’s battery compartment, depending on what machine you have.
This option will give you high-quality OEM performance and a more approachable price, making it the best replacement option around.
==> You can also get it at Walmart.
5. Weize YTX14-BS High-Performance Battery
- Best for: Budget Pick
- Key Features: Affordable, decent cold crank amps, fully sealed, comes with screws, easily rechargeable.
- Weight: 9.46 pounds
- Battery Cell: Lead acid
- Warranty: 12 month
I would never recommend sacrificing performance to save a few bucks, especially with something as crucial as your battery. However, saving money while still getting decent performance is entirely different.
The Weize YTX14-BS hits both of these marks and is my choice for the best budget pick.
It utilizes a lead-acid design for reliable performance that will keep a charge for a respectable amount of time while delivering enough power to start up your sled on cold mornings.
Wide compatibility makes it easy to use and install on just about any sled. It is also fully sealed for maintenance-free use.
The downside to a budget option is that you aren’t going to get extended use out of the battery. It will be good for a season or two at the most, and then you’ll need to get another.
==> You can also get it at Walmart.
6. PowerStar YTX20L BS Battery
- Best for: Warranty
- Key Features: Spill-proof, maintenance-free, high cold crank amps, long service life, reliable performance
- Weight: Not specified
- Battery Cell: Lead Acid, AGM
- Warranty: 3 years
Peace of mind is valuable. And the PowerStar YTX20L provides you with a generous 3-year warranty to give you just that.
This is the battery to choose if you want reliable performance backed by the ability to get a replacement for an extended period.
It also has a spill-proof and maintenance-free design that demonstrates a quality build that will work to your advantage when you ride.
The company wouldn’t offer such an extended warranty unless they were confident that the battery was reliable. And it certainly is.
You get a long life cycle and plenty of cold crank amps to get things fired up no matter how cold it is.
This isn’t a well-known brand in the world of snowmobile batteries, so that might make some people a little hesitant to purchase it.
The warranty makes it more than worth giving a shot if you ask me.
==> You can also get it at Walmart.
Best Snowmobile Battery: What to Consider
Take the following factors into consideration when shopping for a snowmobile battery that best fits your needs.
Maintenance
You most likely won’t be riding your snowmobile all year round. This means that the battery will be sitting for extended periods without use and will need to be maintained for reliable performance when the snow starts to fall.
You should buy a high-quality battery tender to charge up any battery left sitting for a while. There are some other tips and tricks you should learn, like cleaning up corrosion and checking for signs of wear.
Cold Crank Amps
Since snowmobile batteries are used exclusively when the weather is cold, you need a battery that can perform in these conditions. Cold Crank Amps give you the power to turn the engine over from a dead start in cold weather.
The higher the number of Cold Crank Amps, the better your snowmobile will start. Always look for battery options that have these amps listed.
Lead Acid, AGM, or Lithium
The main types of snowmobile batteries available are lead-acid, AGM, and lithium. Learn the differences between these here.
- Lead acid batteries are more affordable but use corrosive chemicals and require more maintenance.
- AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries are more expensive but require little maintenance and usually have higher cold crank amps.
- Lithium batteries are lighter in weight and more earth-friendly but don’t do as well with cold starts.
My Verdict
The best snowmobile battery you can buy is the Yuasa YUAM620BH YTX20HL-BS Battery. It will give you plenty of cold crank amps for reliable starts in the winter and will last for years of regular use if well-maintained.
There is a reason so many snowmobiles come with a Yuasa battery straight from the manufacturer. If you can, keeping that same brand in your sled will help with its lifetime performance.
About Chaz Wyland
Craig
You forgot interstate….better than yousa and the rest. I have put over 100000 miles on 4 stroke sleds and no battery will start a large 4 stroke in extreme cold or last longer than an interstate.
Chaz Wyland
Hi Craig,
Interstate is definitely another solid option, and I’m happy to hear you’ve had success with using them. Thanks for sharing, and I’ll keep that in mind here.