Best Deep Cycle Batteries for Marine & RV Use (2024)

Generally, people use deep cycle batteries for their boats since these kinds of batteries are great for marine applications. Aside from being environmentally friendly, they also excel in the efficiency, durability, and maintenance departments.

If you’re looking to buy one but not sure how to make an educated decision since there are so many choices, we’re here to help. We reviewed today’s most popular deep-cycle batteries and shared our user experience with you.

Check to see which unit works best for your own needs!

Our Top 5 Picks on Deep Cycle Batteries Reviewed

01 Power Boat Pontoon Electric Trolling Motor Deep Cycle Battery (Best Overall)

Why It Stands Out to Us

This one takes the top spot and is our choice for the best overall product you can buy. It has plenty of power and comes in a well-built high-quality package.

We loved this one since it worked perfectly well for us in all kinds of different scenarios.

Our Experience with the Mighty Max 12V 55Ah Power Boat Pontoon

• We took this battery out for a spin in very low temperatures. It was almost freezing. And thankfully, we can attest to the resilience of this thing. It operated without any troubles and held up pretty well.
• Although we didn’t have the luxury to test it in very hot temperatures, the battery was thoroughly tested during long operating hours. It kept up optimal performance levels. We think it’s safe to say that this one will work just as well in hot climates.
• Another thing we loved is just how well-built the outer case is. It handles minor shocks with ease. Of course, we didn’t go crazy on it and hit it with a baseball bat or anything. Small to medium shocks were a non-issue.
• You can mount it in different positions as well. This came in handy for us during testing when we needed to mount it in a particular position.
• All is not fine and dandy though. There aren’t any mounting accessories or wire harnesses included here. That would have made this a great deal.

What We Didn’t Like

• Not having some sort of mounting accessory or harness included is a bit disappointing.

Who Is It Great for

• Anyone looking for a top-notch and solid deep cycle battery with a high capacity will easily be satisfied with this one. It works for almost all people, and that’s why it’s the best overall choice here.

What Could Be Improved and Why

• We would love to see some included mounting accessories and harnesses.

Our Recommendations

• Get this one if you don’t want to waste time comparing products and want something that’s just solid and works seamlessly.

Specifications

Pros

• Durable build quality
• Can be mounted in different positions
• Easily rechargeable
• Works in low and high temperatures

Cons

• Doesn’t come with any harnesses or mounting accessories

02 Mighty Max Battery ML35-12 U1 Deep Cycle (Top Budget Choice)

Why It Stands Out to Us

Okay, let’s get one thing clear right off the bat. A lot of deep cycle batteries might look very similar in the features. While that may be true in some cases, there are subtle differences you need to keep an eye out for.

Our Experience with the Mighty Max Battery ML35-12

• When we say the quality of this one is the same, we mean it. The ML35 deep cycle battery held up very well for us, even in harsh testing conditions. We had the opportunity to run it for extensive periods of time in cold temperatures, and it didn’t break a sweat.
• The 12 Volt SLA battery also didn’t require much maintenance from our side either. It worked perfectly during our testing. Of course, we didn’t test it for years, but by the looks of it, this battery seems pretty low-maintenance.
• And yes, it’s rechargeable, if you’re wondering. The charging rate was fair, and we didn’t really have any complaints in that department.
• Just like the previous one, we were able to mount it in different positions, and shock absorption was stellar as well.
• Overall, the quality and the robustness of this battery impressed us. The best part? It isn’t as costly as some of the others, making it a great budget choice.

What We Didn’t Like

• These aren’t the best for using with electric vehicles or scooters. That’s a bit of a bummer.

Who Is It Great for

• Buyers who are looking for a budget option but still packs a punch will love this deep cycle battery.

What Could Be Improved and Why

• Making it more friendly for electric motors and vehicles is something we are looking forward to.

Specifications

Pros

• Robust build quality
• Lightweight
• Budget-friendly
• Works in high and low temperatures
• Can be mounted in different positions

Cons

• Not the best for electric motors

03 Weize Deep Cycle AGM SLA VRLA Battery (Best for Trolling Motor)

Why It Stands Out to Us

If you want to buy a battery for a trolling motor, Weize has you covered with this one. Although they are a small brand, that didn’t stop them from making a top-notch battery for electric vehicles or RVs. Want a solid and reliable battery for those road trips? This is it.

Our Experience with the Weize 12V 100AH Deep Cycle AGM SLA Battery

• A cool feature that we appreciated is the deep discharge recovery. Now, what does that mean? Well, it meant that we could run the battery until it was completely out of juice. This one won’t suddenly die on you with a 10% or 5% charge still inside. Once it’s completely drained, only then will it stop working.
• Thanks to the AGM technology, which stands for Absorbent Glass Mat, we didn’t need to worry about any leaks whatsoever. As you can probably tell, that was good news for us when we tested it on the road in our RV.
• You need to be a bit careful using it though since it’s a lead-acid battery. But given how well made and durable that is, it isn’t a major issue.
• You aren’t just limited to using it for electric motors and RVs. This little trooper ran some of our tools in the workshop like an absolute champ!
• The charging time isn’t that bad. You just need a couple of hours before it’s fully juiced.

What We Didn’t Like

• Contains some toxic substances, mainly lead. This isn’t a new thing with high-performing deep cycle batteries. But someone with little experience will need to be careful.

Who Is It Great for

• Anyone looking for a battery that will work well for their RVs and trolling motor will just love this one. It’s durable and reliable — exactly what you need on the road.

What Could Be Improved and Why

• Figuring out a way to make the battery not use any kind of toxic materials like lead would be the obvious next step. But that isn’t always possible. Good warning labels are also appreciated.

Our Recommendations

• If you find yourself on the road with your beloved RV a lot, get this one. You won’t regret it in the slightest.

Specifications

Pros

• Decent capacity
• Allows for complete discharging
• Great for RVs and electric motors
• Not that expensive

Cons

• Contains lead

04 ExpertPower EXP1233 Rechargeable Deep Cycle Battery (Best for Home Use)

Why It Stands Out to Us

Users who want a good deep cycle battery for normal home use don’t need to look any further than the ExpertPower 12V 33Ah battery. With a name like that, you would expect it to be quite the product.

Furthermore, it has around 15 hours of runtime and comes with DOT certifications as well.

Our Experience with the ExpertPower 12V 33Ah Battery

• Customer opinions on these were very good. But you know us; we don’t just take things at face value and like to test the claims. And that’s the treatment this one got. Let’s get to the chase, it fared pretty well.
• The first thing that grabbed our attention was just how well-built this battery was. Of course, it isn’t going to survive a 5-story fall. But there were no signs of any dents or cracks anywhere in the package. Everything was tightly sealed.
• We loved how accessible and easy to use it was. The thing is enclosed in an ABS casing and uses AGM technology, which made it perfect for us for use in UPS, security systems, and a whole lot of other home uses.
• And it’s fairly lightweight too! That made it quite portable and definitely something you will love.
• Overall, you can get this one for its dynamic home-friendly performance.

What We Didn’t Like

• The backup isn’t that impressive. You will get a backup of around 10 to 15 hours. That’s not bad for something that is mostly meant for light home use, but a longer runtime would have made it better.

Who Is It Great for

• Users who want a reliable battery for home use and don’t have very demanding needs will be the perfect candidate for this battery.

Our Recommendations

• If you’re hunting for a deep cycle battery that works perfect for home use, you can get this one.

Specifications

Pros

• Low maintenance
• Good durable casing
• Reliable and consistent power
• Great for home use

Cons

• Not the best for trolling motors

05 Ampere Time LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery (Best for Outdoor Use)

Why It Stands Out to Us

We covered home use, but what about the outdoors? Well, for that, the Ampere Time 12V battery is the one you should get. It has fantastic durability, thanks to its automotive-grade build quality and also efficient operation.

Our Experience with the Ampere Time 12V 300Ah LiFePO4 Battery

• The brand Ampere Time has garnered a reputation for making solid batteries that utilize the LiFePO4 cells. They are exceptionally robust and durable, thanks to the automotive-grade manufacturing process they use. One thing is for certain, you don’t need to worry about the build quality with this one.
• Another thing you don’t need to worry about is leaving extra juice inside it. The battery has a 100% discharge. This means it will only stop providing power when it’s completely out of charge. Not one second before.
• Ampere Time managed to make one of the safest deep cycle batteries you can find right now. We didn’t feel like this would break down or cause any major problems during operations and testing. That’s also thanks to LiFePO4. And that makes it an even better choice for outdoor use.
• One thing you need to be wary of though is the discharge cycle. It will go strong for 4000 cycles. After 4000 cycles are over, you will experience some drop in the overall capacity. Don’t be too concerned, however. The charge will still be plenty for most uses, at least that was the case for us.
• The IP65 rating is just the cherry on top of what is already a fantastic deep cycle battery. We tested it with minor to medium water spills, and it held up pretty well.

What We Didn’t Like

• The BMS or Battery Management System is a bit odd. Especially for the low-temperature cut-off protection.

Who Is It Great for

• This battery will be perfect for heavy outdoor use and those who want a really safe and robustly built unit.

What Could Be Improved and Why

• We would love to see a more solid BMS with future updates.

Specifications

Pros

• Very high capacity
• 4000 discharge cycle is still pretty decent
• Exceptional build quality
• Waterproofing makes it great for outdoor use

Cons

• Iffy BMS can be improved

Deep Cycle Battery Buying Guide: Things to Remember

1. Size and Weight

Size is an important consideration when picking out a deep cycle battery. A smaller battery is, of course, portable, and you can carry it around easily. It wouldn’t add much extra weight either if you were to use it in your RV, for instance.

2. Amp Hours

A very important metric is the hours of use. This is basically how many hours you can use the battery before you need to recharge it. Obviously, the higher the rated hours of use, the better it is. It means you will get more use per charge.

3. Rate of Volt

In simple words, the volt rating determines how powerful the battery is. For heavy-duty uses, a higher volt rating is good.

4. Duration Needed for Charging

This one is pretty self-explanatory. A shorter charge time means it will take a shorter time to fully juice up, and you’ll be able to use the battery fast.

5. Depth of Discharge

DoD or depth of discharge specifies the amount of energy that is discharged from it. It is the percentage of the whole power capacity. Remember, the more you discharge the battery, the lower the lifespan will be. We recommend you use the manufacturer’s DoD rating in this case.

6. Discharge Cycle

Discharge cycle is the cycle of charging and discharging a specific battery can go through before it starts to lose its peak capacity. The more discharge cycles there are, the longer-lasting the battery will be and will work at its full capacity.

7. Functionality

Sophisticated batteries will give you greater functionality. You can get dual-purpose batteries for starting engines, use with UPS, and more.

8. Shelf Life

Shelf life means how durable and long-lasting the battery is. It depends on three factors. They are the idle time, the chemicals that you’ll find in the cells, and also temperature. Get one that has the highest shelf life, which will make your battery last longer.

9. Compatibility

You might be getting a deep cycle battery for EVs, UPS, RVs, or security systems. Whatever you get it for, make sure it’s compatible with the work you’re doing.

10. Charging the Battery/Solar

Charging the battery can be done through solar, shore power, etc. Get a battery with a good controller that will help you charge it safely.

11. Power at Low and High Temperatures

This one is pretty important and is something you will thank yourself for later. A battery that can withstand different temperatures will give you versatility. If you live in a cold climate, make sure the battery can withstand low temperatures.

The same applies to users who live in hot climates, and the best thing you can do here is to pick one that does well in all sorts of temperatures. Some batteries are perfectly capable of running in both cold and hot weather. Those are the ones you need to get.

12. Vibration Withstanding Ability

A well-made battery will be able to take a beating. Of course, there is a limit to it. But most high-quality batteries should come with some level of shock and vibration resistance. Those will last you longer and will even save you some money down the line.

Types of Deep Cycle Batteries

Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)

These are a class of lead-acid batteries. These work by absorbing the electrode into the fiberglass mat. Furthermore, the internal resistance is lower compared to traditional batteries. This means they can handle higher temperatures.

Flooded Lead-Acid

Flooded lead-acid batteries may come in unsealed cases. These batteries are sort of becoming an outdated type since there are newer and modern versions available. It has lead-acid chemistry with lead plates that are submerged in distilled water and sulfuric acid.

Gel

The most notable thing about gel batteries, or sealed gel batteries, is the semi-solid gel electrolyte. There are rarely any worries of leaks since the case is sealed and does not release hydrogen either. These are fairly small in size and also feature a robust design. And it can work in different temperatures as well.

Lithium-Ion

Lithium-ion batteries are pretty common and can also fully charge and even discharge. This means they can be used till they are completely out of juice. They are reliable and very safe.

Tips to Get the Best Performance from Deep Cycle Batteries

1. Batteries Need to Rest Too

If you want the most out of the deep cycle batteries, make sure you let them rest once in a while. That will increase its lifespan. Once you start using the battery, you will notice it’s getting warm.

Before your next use, make sure to let it cool down completely. Also, don’t use the battery immediately after you charge it. That’s a big no-no and can lead to grid corrosion.

2. Look Out for Sulfation

If you keep your batteries charged every once in a while, this will help prevent sulfation. Even if you know you won’t use it for some time, it’s recommended you keep the battery charged a bit.

3. Monitor Level of Charges

Another good way to ensure you get the best performance out of the deep cycle battery is to closely monitor the charge levels. As a rule of thumb, don’t let a battery go below 20% charge.

And it’s recommended you start charging the battery when it’s at 50% charge. A digital multimeter is a great tool to know exactly what the charge levels of your battery are.

FAQs

1. How long will a 100Ah deep cycle battery last?

This one is a bit tricky. On paper, it should last about 10 hours or so. But you may not get the same result because of several factors.

2. Can I connect different batteries?

The short answer is no. You should only connect the same type, capacity, and aged batteries.

3. Is it ok to use a deep cycle battery in my car?

Deep cycle batteries aren’t really designed to give you a high current which is needed during startup. You can end up damaging the battery or even the car. So, we recommend not to use deep cycle batteries in your car.