We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
Power stations are ideal to help you get through a power outage and for off-grid camping. They provide a compelling alternative to a loud and smelly generator. And, unlike gas-generators, power stations don't emit potentially lethal carbon monoxide fumes. When outfitted with optional solar panels, all the models in our test can be recharged each day.
After considering more than 40 models, we purchased and tested the top 8 power station competitors. Our extensive side-by-side tests measured the runtime delivered with everything from phones & laptops to camping gear & home refrigerators. We also measured the number of recharges you can deliver to an iPhone, a laptop, or even a cordless drill. We measured other things you'll want to know, too, like how long they take to recharge, their weight, and how easy they are to use.
The Jackery 2000 v2 is the best power station for most people who need ample power when off-grid camping, at home, or for an extended blackout. Recently price-reduced, it can now be found for under $800 on Amazon. At 39 lbs, it is light enough that most people will find it easy to pack and move around, and you can easily add solar recharging. It's our favorite option for off-grid camping and can deliver power anywhere you need it when at home.
If your primary goal is home backup power, step up to the EcoFlow Delta Pro. It is designed specifically for home backup power use, and can be wired directly into your home breaker panel with an optional transfer switch kit. It has an impressive 3.6 kWh power capacity, which can be expanded to up to 25 kWh.
Looking for something that can fit in your pocket to recharge your phone? Check out our power bank review. If you are looking for a solar panel to augment your power station, take a look at our review of solar panels for power stations.
The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 offers plenty of power to support both off-grid camping needs and allow you to get through a blackout with comfort. It delivers quiet operation and is relatively easy to tote around at 39 lbs. It offers an impressive 2,042 Wh capacity, of which we measured 1,710 Wh available as usable AC power output. The 2000 v2 provides fast-charging capabilities, reaching 100% in 2.5 hours through AC input. It offers easy-to-use solar panel support, ideal for handling extended off-grid camping or sustained power outages. Paired with (1) or (2) 200 watt solar panels, it is easy to recharge the 2000 v2 on sunny days. One tester noted, “The Jackery 2000 v2 is my go-to for camping. Small and light enough to be easy to use, it offers plenty of power for a cool campsite with string lights, an electric cooler, and recharging devices.”
One drawback of the Jackery 2000 v2 is the lack of an expandable battery capacity option. We don't consider that a deal breaker, since you can simply buy another one if you need more power down the road. While it provides plenty of power for off-grid camping needs, or powering lights or tools wherever you need it, the v2 does not offer sufficient runtime for multi-day cooking on an electric burner or to run a space heater (less than 2 hours of runtime). And, if you need to fully recharge an e-bike, that will drain more than half of the v2's capacity. Solar panels are an easy-to-use option to extend the v2's capacity, and Jackery solar panels are well-made and extremely easy to use. For those with existing non-Jackery-branded solar panels, buying an adapter cable is required (about $25 on Amazon). Despite these minor drawbacks, the Jackery 2000 v2 remains our top choice for providing ample power wherever you need it.
If your power needs are modest, it's hard to beat the Anker Solix C1000. Compact yet powerful, the C1000 has enough power to get you comfortably through a multi-hour blackout. And, it excels in off-grid applications where portability and size need to be prioritized. At only 29 lbs, the C1000 can be lifted and carried easily by one person. And with six 110-volt outlets in this unit, along with multiple USB-A and USB-C outlets, there's no shortage of plug options. The C1000 is quick and easy to recharge. During our timed charge test, the Anker took just 1.4 hours minutes to recharge a fully drained battery. If that's not fast enough, you can toggle ultra-fast charge mode through their app to cut charge time down to 65 minutes. Sentry Kelly, our lab tester, noted, “I really appreciate the UltraFast charge option that I found useful while about to head out on a trip, and I realized I forgot to juice up the station.” While it is best to use ultra-fast mode sparingly to avoid battery degradation, having the option to recharge quickly in a pinch is a huge plus.
The Anker Solix C1000 isn't without its faults. One of the biggest is its noisy fan. In certain scenarios, such as using your power station overnight a CPAP machine, a loud fan can ruin a good night's rest. The C1000 does not offer enough battery capacity for sustained use of a space heater, which it will only run for about half an hour. And at 1800 watts max AC, it is not well suited to electric cooking options like a portable stove burner, which may require 2,000 watts. Despite these downsides, the Solix C1000 is our recommendation if your power needs are modest and portability is a key goal.
The EcoFlow Delta Pro is uniquely designed to serve as a home power backup system in the event of a blackout. It offers compelling power, with the ability to take on almost any appliance, tool, or gadget you throw at it. It's the largest unit we tested, with a 3600 kWh capacity, and supports optional expansion to up to 25 kWh capacity. The Delta Pro is aimed at those with serious power needs. As our lab tester notes, “the Delta Pro offers the kind of robust power and expandability that I consider crucial for home backup.” The EcoFlow Delta Pro also impressed with its fast recharge time. A full recharge from zero to 100% took less than 3 hours. Although it's a big and heavy station, its well-designed handle and wheels make it reasonably mobile.
EcoFlow has released the Delta Pro 3 since our testing period. The upgraded model boasts more power with 4 kWh output and more expansion, up to 48 kWh. It also includes more unique home backup features, such as a 240V plug, continuous output while charging, and a transfer switch kit to connect it directly to your home breaker panel.
Despite the beefy wheels and handle, the glaring downside to the EcoFlow Delta Pro is its large size and weight. At 97.24 lbs, the Delta Pro is better suited to your home's garage than it is out on a camping trip. Even with a telescoping handle and wheels, this power station takes up considerable space and is difficult to haul around. This unit is also quite pricey. While you get what you pay for, the sticker shock associated with the Delta Pro is real. But if you're looking for a large, capable power station for home backup during a sustained power outage, the Delta Pro is a compelling option.
If you are searching for a compact and portable power station that is primarily going to be used to recharge phones and laptops, the Jackery Explorer 300 is our recommendation. This unit is ideal for charging phones and laptops or running low-wattage things like LED lights. Its small form makes it an extremely easy power station to transport and use. Whether you're using it for camping, outdoor work, or to keep devices charged and operating during a blackout, the Jackery 300 is a great solution. We love that it's super portable; it's easy to grab and go. With a 300-watt AC inverter and a 500-watt surge, this unit still packs plenty of power for device charging and a little more.
While we have no major complaints with the Jackery 300 — so long as your power needs are modest — there are a few issues to be aware of. The first is the absence of a built-in LED light. While not a deal breaker, having a light on a smaller power station is handy during power outages or for the inside of your tent while camping. Secondly, having a built-in function to estimate discharge time would prove useful in understanding how much battery remains when a device is plugged in and drawing power. But if your key goal is keeping your phone and laptop working during a blackout or while off-grid camping, it is tough to beat the Jackery 300's small size and weight. It is our favorite for device charging and low-watt options like LED lighting.
The Jackery Explorer 300 is great for device charging and running a limited amount of low-wattage electronics.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Compare Products
We built a giant bank of light bulbs to be able to run each power station with a precisely measured power load. Our light bar test jig allows us to determine the exact amount of usable AC power each product can deliver under real-world conditions.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
How We Tested
Our testing process for power stations is extensive. We subject each product to hundreds of hours of hands-on use and testing to evaluate power output, runtime, device compatibility, and ease of operation.
We do not rely on manufacturer claims or specifications to determine things like each product's actual usable AC power output. We use sophisticated power measurement equipment, along with some creative test jigs of our own custom design, to stress test each product and measure its real-world capabilities.
None of the products we tested actually delivers usable AC power output that matches their claimed capacity. For example, a 2,000 watt-hour power station will not provide you with 2,000 watt-hours of usable AC power — only 60% to 93% of the claimed capacity is actually delivered and usable to power your devices through the AC outlets. Since products vary so widely in the actual usable power they deliver, we consider the usable AC power output to be the single most important information to help guide your purchase decision-making.
We use precision power measurement equipment to measure runtime and charging speeds. You can learn more about our power station testing protocol and process, in our How We Test article.
Our tests inform our rating scores, which reflect the four key factors we believe are most important for you to make a smarter purchase decision:
Power Output (60% of overall score weighting)
Portability (25% weighting)
Charge Speed (10% weighting)
Features (5% weighting)
We tested each power station with a variety of common devices and appliances.
Why Trust GearLab
Our power station test team have a combined 20 years of experience using power stations in conditions ranging from power outages to off-grid camping to remote tool use. Our review team includes experts in electronics, off-grid power and solar charging, and consumer-electronics review and testing.
GearLab co-founder RJ Spurrier, a Robotics Engineer educated at UC Berkeley's Engineering school, has been using power stations for more than 15 years, starting from the time he organized an off-grid movie night with friends on San Francisco's Ocean Beach. Today, RJ is a dedicated off-grid camper with his family, using solar panels and power stations to enable extended outdoor adventures across the mountains and deserts of the US West. RJ also uses power station batteries and solar panels to power his net-zero home, which combines a 45-panel solar array with a 20 kWh power station system for home backup.
Senior Research Analyst, Sentry Kelly boasts a formal education in Applied Manufacturing Engineering, Sentry has the knowledge and training to analyze just about any mechanical or electrical product out there. In his free time, Sentry and his wife travel far and wide in his custom-built van that is outfitted with solar panels and a power station as the primary power source for their extended off-grid camping adventures.
Research Analyst Kenji Mowrey leads our field testing of each power station. Kenji earned his bachelor's degree in Outdoor Product Design from Oregon State and has a lifelong passion and curiosity for discovering what separates good consumer products from the great ones. Kenji blends his analytical and science-based testing with a pursuit of electronics and outdoor equipment that are simply a joy to use, never let you down, and work just as expected.
Analysis and Test Results
In the following section, we share our findings from our extensive testing of each competing product.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
The Jackery 300 is the winner of our Best Buy award because it is small, affordable, and a great solution for keeping your phone and laptop recharged. However, it won't be a great value if your goal is to power higher-wattage devices or appliances — for example, you can't power a space heater, stove burner, or even a hot water kettle with the Jackery 300.
Figure out how much power you need. From our perspective, the best value strategy for power stations is to focus on what you want to power and avoid overspending on more capacity than you actually need.
Make sure you choose a power station that is the right size for your power needs.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
While it is tempting to jump to higher power output, keep in mind that doubling power capacity will double the cost (and the weight). It might not be worth it. (Although we admittedly find ourselves wanting more power now for off-grid camping than we did in the past.)
Adding Solar Can Save You Money
A 2,000 Wh power station like the Jackery 2000 v2 might be all the power you need for a weekend camping trip. But you are unlikely to get 5-7 days of off-grid camping power out of it. Going to a 4,000 Wh power station could solve that problem, but it will cost you another $1,000. A more economical solution? Consider adding a 200 watt solar panel for less than $400, which might extend your runtime for days.
The good news is costs are coming down. Unlike most consumer electronics categories, power stations and solar panels have become much more affordable over the last year. In 2024, each 1,000 Wh of power station capacity would cost you about $1,000, or $1/Wh. Today, many of the most compelling power station products can be found for less than half that cost — around $0.40/Wh.
Power Output
The most important consideration when buying a power station is to get a product that can power the devices and appliances you need to run, and provide sufficient runtime to meet your needs. Our testing provides you with objective measurements to help you dial in the right product to meet your needs.
The chart below shows the maximum AC wattage supported for each product.
Make sure you get the wattage support you need. Match the wattage required by the devices and appliances you want to run, and ensure the power station you buy offers the maximum Watts needed to power those devices.
Watts Required by Common Devices and Runtime Estimates
Maximum Wattage Supported
Four LED Lights
(20W)
CPAP
(60W)
Home Refrigerator
(600W)
Hot Water Kettle
(1,500W)
Space Heater
(1,500W)
Induction Stove Burner
(1,800W)
EcoFlow Delta Pro
3,600 watts
148 hr
49 hr
14.8 hr
2.0 hr
2.0 hr
1.6 hr
Jackery 2000 Plus
3,000 watts
87 hr
29 hr
8.7 hr
1.2 hr
1.2 hr
1.0 hr
Jackery 2000 v2
2,200 watts
86 hr
29 hr
8.6 hr
1.1 hr
1.1 hr
1.0 hr
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X
2,000 watts
65 hr
22 hr
6.5 hr
0.9 hr
0.9 hr
0.7 hr
BioLite 1500
1,200 watts
56 hr
19 hr
5.6 hr
✖
✖
✖
Anker Solix C1000
1,800 watts
43 hr
14 hr
4.3 hr
0.6 hr
0.6 hr
0.5 hr
Jackery 300
300 watts
13 hr
4 hr
✖
✖
✖
✖
Anker 521
200 watts
10 hr
3 hr
✖
✖
✖
✖
Our light bar test jig allows us to set a specific AC power load to precisely test the AC power output capacity of each product.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Will you be able to recharge your devices enough times? The table below shows how many times each power station can recharge commonly used devices. This is especially important to consider with less expensive power stations, which many people use to keep their phones and laptops working during a blackout or while camping.
How Many Times Can I Recharge?
iPhone 16
(20 Wh)
LED Lantern
(25 Wh)
Drone
(30Wh)
iPad
(30 Wh)
Laptop
(96 Wh)
eBike
(1,000 Wh)
EcoFlow Delta Pro
148x
118x
98x
98x
31x
3x
Jackery 2000 Plus
87x
70x
58x
58x
18x
2x
Jackery 2000 v2
86x
68x
57x
57x
18x
2x
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X
65x
52x
43x
43x
14x
1x
BioLite 1500
56x
45x
38x
38x
12x
1x
Anker Solix C1000
43x
34x
29x
29x
9x
1x
Jackery 300
13x
10x
9x
9x
3x
✖
Anker 521
10x
8x
6x
6x
2x
✖
Manufacturer claims on power capacity can't be relied upon. Each manufacturer's marketing prominently features a claimed power capacity (in watt-hours), but our tests show that the usable power does not match the claimed power capacity in any product we tested — the percentage of usable power is as little as 60% of claimed in some products, and as high as 93% in others. We carefully measured the actual usable power capacity for each device so you know what to expect before you buy.
Usable AC Power Output
Claimed Capacity
Usable %
Measured AC Capacity
Power Output Rating
EcoFlow Delta Pro
3,600 wh
82%
2,950 Wh
1
2
3
4
5
Jackery 2000 Plus
2,043 wh
85%
1,740 Wh
1
2
3
4
5
Jackery 2000 v2
2,042 wh
84%
1,710 Wh
1
2
3
4
5
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X
1,516 wh
86%
1,300 Wh
1
2
3
4
5
BioLite 1500
1,521 wh
74%
1,125 Wh
1
2
3
4
5
Anker Solix C1000
1,056 wh
81%
860 Wh
1
2
3
4
5
Jackery 300
293 wh
89%
260 Wh
1
2
3
4
5
Anker 521
256 wh
75%
192 Wh
1
2
3
4
5
The EcoFlow Delta Pro has enough power to help you comfortably get through a multi-hour blackout with low stress.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Standout power output for home backup. The EcoFlow Delta Pro is our favorite for those concerned with multi-hour power outages. It can power your fridge for 14.8 hours, but only a couple of hours of space heater power. Their optional Transfer Switch kit allows you to pick the home circuits you want to power (such as the refrigerator, outlets, and designated lights), and in a black out easily switch to have those powered by the EcoFlow. At a hefty 99 lbs, we consider it impractical for camping, but it is well designed for home backup. And, you can conveniently upgrade it to provide >3x longer runtime with optional battery expansion units.
The Jackery 2000 v2 is a bit heavy at 39 lbs, but it is small and relatively easy to pack and move around. We like its power output for off-grid camping, and it is handy at home too during a blackout or for powering devices away from an outlet.
Credit: Chris McNamara
Well-suited for off-grid camping and home backup too. The Jackery 2000 v2 is small enough to take camping, yet robust enough in its power output to cover you during an extended power outage. It has sufficient power to make off-grid camping a dream, dressing up you campsite with LED string lights, powering an electric cooler, recharging your devices, and even watching a movie. And, while it is a bit heavy at 39 lbs, we had no problem moving it around. During a power outage you can power lights, recharge devices, provide limited use of appliances, and run two CPAP machines all night. Jackery does not offer a battery expansion option for the 2000 v2, but that isn't a dealbreaker; you can purchase a second 2000 v2 to economically double your power, which actually costs less than Jackery's official battery expansion option for the similar 2000 Plus. And, you can easily add up to two 200 watt solar panels to significantly extend your off-grid camping duration when the sun is shining.
The Jackery 300 is lightweight and convenient, making it our favorite for low-power needs like charging devices and a few LED lights.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Just enough power for lighting and devices. If you are only concerned about short-duration blackouts, lasting less than an hour, and you don't intend to use electricity to cook, refrigerate, or run a space heater, then a less expensive power station with 300 to 1,000 watts is a great solution. A low-end power station can give you enough power for LED lighting and phone/laptop recharging for a much lower price. If that is all you need, then save some money by buying a 1,000 watt power station like Anker Solix C1000, which has more than enough power for LED lights and most common devices, and while it has enough power to run a CPAP machine all night we don't recommend it for that use since its fan is noisy. If you all you need is power for a few LED lights and recharging your devices, then the Jackery 300 is an even better solution: convenient to move around, lightweight, and affordable.
Charging Speed
Our next metric focuses on the required time to charge your power station from 0% to 100% when plugging it into an AC outlet. Charging speed can matter if you are getting ready to head out the door for a weekend camping trip and realize you forgot to charge up the power station — being able to plug it in and get it fully charged before you drive away is important. But if recharging takes 12 hours, you are likely out of luck.
As the chart above shows, charge times between each model and brand can vary significantly. Some of the best-performing power stations could achieve a full charge in under two hours, while others took more than 12 hours.
The Anker C1000 can be fully charged in less than an hour and a half.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
The Anker Solix C1000 was one of the more impressive units in terms of charging time. With a charge time of 83 minutes, it was, without a doubt, the fastest station to charge. The C1000 also has an ultra-fast charge option that can be toggled through its app. This reduced charge time even more, taking only 65 minutes to achieve a full charge.
Charging Speed
Measured Time to Charge
Claimed Battery Capacity
Measured Charging Speed
Charging Speed Rating
EcoFlow Delta Pro
2.6 hr
3,600 Wh
1,412 Wh/hr
1
2
3
4
5
Jackery 2000 Plus
1.6 hr
2,043 Wh
1,290 Wh/hr
1
2
3
4
5
Jackery 2000 v2
2.5 hr
2,042 Wh
817 Wh/hr
1
2
3
4
5
Anker Solix C1000
1.4 hr
1,056 Wh
763 Wh/hr
1
2
3
4
5
BioLite 1500
12.8 hr
1,521 Wh
119 Wh/hr
1
2
3
4
5
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X
13.4 hr
1,516 Wh
113 Wh/hr
1
2
3
4
5
Jackery 300
4.0 hr
293 Wh
74 Wh/hr
1
2
3
4
5
Anker 521
4.1 hr
256 Wh
62 Wh/hr
1
2
3
4
5
When you get to higher battery capacity models, the charging speed becomes increasingly important and determines the charging time. Charging speed varies widely between models.
We were impressed by the Delta Pro's recharge time and the multitude of different ways you can charge it.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The EcoFlow Delta Pro had the fastest charging speed and a recharge time of 153 minutes. When factoring in its battery size, it was the most impressive power station in terms of charging capabilities. Another thing that sets the EcoFlow apart is the plethora of different ways to recharge. With a separate EV plug adapter, you can recharge the Delta Pro at level 2 EV charging stations in under 2 hours. You can also buy an alternator charger kit from EcoFlow to recharge your power station in the car at 800W, meaning a much quicker recharge than traditional AC powered charging and the ability to use the energy produced by your vehicle while you drive to a destination.
Considering both the speed and time to charge, below are our ratings for charging speed:
Portability
Our Portability metric looks at the effort required to lift and carry, the ability to roll over different surfaces, and the different dimensions and weights necessary to stack and store your portable power station. Most higher capacity models will use wheels and handles to account for their larger form. Others are inherently more portable due to the nature of their battery size. To separate the good from the great, I analyzed the difference in handle comfort/material, assessed the weight distribution while carrying, and even considered each model's ability to fit within common spaces.
The Jackery 300 and Anker 521 ran away with the best mobility scores, thanks to their small form and light weight.
However, for larger power stations, it was hard to ignore the impressive weight-to-power output ratio of the Anker Solix C1000. With power output that rivals other units with almost double the weight, the Anker was a favorite for off-grid camping and travel-friendly adventures. The ability to stash the Anker C1000 in the backseat and be lifted comfortably with only one person is a huge plus.
The C1000 is portable and easy to carry, given its larger battery size.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
The Jackery 2000 v2 offers an even better power-to-weight ratio than the Anker C1000, coming in with 2,042 Wh at 39 lbs — delivering double the power with only a 34% increase in weight over the Anker.
While we liked the ergonomics of Ecoflow's wheels and handle design, there is just no way to consider this 98 lbs product to be easy to move around.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Although we were fans of the Eco Flow Delta Pro's ergonomic handle design and robust telescoping pull handle, it is a beast at 98 lbs, and just not very portable in practice.
Features
Our Features metric covers those features we consider practical in day-to-day use, and the overall user-friendliness of each power station.
The most important features are the basics, such as knowing how much battery % you have used, the estimated time to 0% based on your current power use, and, when charging, knowing how long it will take until it is fully recharged. While many power stations offer an app, we consider a power station to be a device you shouldn't have to pull your phone out to operate.
Basic Features
Large Easy to Read Screen?
Displays Battery Charge %
Estimates Time Until Power is 0%?
Displays Power Flow In/Out?
Displays Time Until Fully Charged?
Touchscreen User Interface?
Anker Solix C1000
EcoFlow Delta Pro
BioLite 1500
Jackery 2000 v2
✖
Jackery 2000 Plus
✖
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X
✖
✖
Anker 521
✖
✖
✖
✖
Jackery 300
✖
✖
✖
✖
✖
We prefer a large, easy-to-read touchscreen panel on the power station that can provide you with all the basic info at a glance.
A good display is important to manage your power usage. The Anker C1000 is our favorite — simple, easy to use, and provides all the basic info at your fingertips!
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Less stress to manage your power usage. A good display goes a long way to avoid unnecessary stress during a power outage, or when off-grid camping, when making sure you have sufficient power available becomes critical.
The Anker Solix C1000 impressed us not only with its large, easy-to-read screen, but it also displays all the important functions discussed above. The Anker C1000 also functions as an uninterrupted power supply.
Will you need any "Specialty Features"? Some of the higher-end units offer advanced features such as the ability to expand the battery capacity or a smartphone app. These are important to be aware of if you want those features. But in practice, most of these Specialty features are not required. We feel the ability to expand the battery capacity is the only specialty feature that deserves significant consideration in your purchase decision; you may find, as we do ourselves, that you desire more power capacity down the road than you calculate you need today.
Speciality Features
Battery Expansion Option?
Smartphone App?
AC Power Bypass Feature?
Uninteruptible Power Supply (UPS) Feature?
Anker Solix C1000
Jackery 2000 Plus
✖
EcoFlow Delta Pro
✖
Jackery 2000 v2
✖
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X
✖
✖
BioLite 1500
✖
✖
✖
✖
Jackery 300
✖
✖
✖
✖
Anker 521
✖
✖
✖
✖
The EcoFlow Delta Pro offers a compelling range of high-end features. Between its dialed display, massive expansion capabilities, and a plethora of add-ons, this power station checks off all the boxes.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Considering all of the above factors, with more weight placed on the basic features, here is how we rated the products on Features:
How to Choose A Power Station
Before deciding which power station will be right for you, there are a few key factors to consider. Below are some key questions that summarize key points from our buying advice article.
An electric cooler is very convenient for camping. But, be sure to bring it to a cool temperature at home or when plugged into your car 12v plug while driving, since the initial cooling is when it draws the most power.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Power stations are more limited in the maximum AC wattage and runtime they can provide, which is intuitively obvious. We are all accustomed to plugging in whatever we want into an AC outlet, and it just works. But, off-grid camping power or managing through a multi-day blackout requires planning about what kinds of devices you run to avoid fully depleting your power station prematurely. Dialing in your power station requirements takes discipline: you may need to pull back from what you want, to think about what you really need.
The Power Output section above includes some tables to help you determine what power station capacity will best meet your requirements.
Note that certain kinds of devices, like space heaters, cooking appliances, and charging ebikes, are much more demanding of power than most other common devices. If you desire to run these higher-power devices, you'll want to calculate your power needs more carefully to ensure you have capacity for the runtime you need.
For multi-day power needs, adding optional solar panels may be helpful. Read on below for more info on solar panels.
One of our Editors has invested in a large-scale solar panel system for his home, with 45 solar panels on his roof, and an integrated power station battery capacity of 20 kWh. He notes, “Our home puts more power into the grid each year than we use, and the power station batteries allow us to pull power when needed during lower-rate cost times of the day. And, we push power onto the grid in the summer during the highest rate for reimbursement times of day.” Yet, even with that large-scale home backup system, it does not provide enough power for a 24-hour power outage during winter unless he turns off the breakers for all non-essential circuits. The reality is that providing the daily power most on-grid homeowners are accustomed to is beyond the capability of most solar + power station systems.
We are unabashed fans of electric camping. It can take a yeoman camping trip in the middle of nowhere and turn it into a magical romantic experience or a family fun adventure everyone will remember for years to come. Here's a list of some of our favorite gear and their power requirements:
LED String Lights — ok, we've got to start with this, because whether it is romance, or a magical family experience, it is all about the lighting. For less than $20 for our best buy winner in string lights, which consumes less than 30 watts of power, you can dress up your campsite with 25 warm glowing LED lights. Oooh. So nice. We love it! And, learn how to play guitar too (acoustic, please) for the full monte.
Electric Cooler — we started reviewing electric coolers years ago, but only recently have they become truly awesome. Skip that stop at the store to buy ice, skip all the space taken by the ice, and eliminate the yucky pool of melted water getting in your food on Sunday morning — welcome to the new core tool for camping: the electric cooler. It is a game changer. Pro tip: extend your power station runtime by cooling down your electric cooler using AC power at home, or on the drive plugged into your car 12v plug --it is when cooling down that a powered cooler requires the most electricity.
Outdoor Projector — yeah, that is a thing too. Family camping experience: check! Remote location: check! Pixar movie at your campsite: coolest parents ever! But, do have your power station handy and not fully drained. A quality outdoor projector like the XGIMI Halo+ is a great choice and has its own battery, but if that battery runs out 10 mins before the movie ends, you will go from coolest parents ever to a total meltdown — the power station might save the day (and let you watch more than one movie too)!
LED Lanterns — while there may be some who have nostalgia for old-school kerosene or white gas mantel lanterns, at GearLab we love modern LED Lanterns for safe and quiet task lighting when preparing meals. Even if you have a full set of LED String lights, it is great to have a bright rechargeable LED Lantern (or two) when preparing meals or putting a band-aid on a kiddo.
Induction Electric Burner — not everyone is ready to give up their old-school fuel-based Coleman camping stove, but we think they are going away in the future too. The full electric camping experience embraces an induction burner (1800W) to replace old-school propane and white gas camping stoves (note you'll need induction-compatible pots and pans to go with it). An induction burner is safer when camping with kids, more efficient with power usage than an old-school electric burner, and you'll rid yourself of the fuel, the fumes, and the fire risks associated with an old-school fuel camping stove.
Electric Kettle — boiling water is a recurring task when camping, whether it's for coffee, tea, oatmeal, hot chocolate, or instant “just-add-water” foods. A basic electric kettle (1500W) just makes it so easy and fast.
Electric Griddle — Another slick addition to your electric camping dream set-up is an electric griddle (1500W). They are great for cooking pancakes, eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches, bacon, sausage links, and more.
Keep in mind the power you'll need, which adds up fast. You'll want at least a 2,000 Wh power station, and one with at least 2,000 AC watt support. The cooking devices are high AC Watt so you'll need to run them one at a time unless you buy a higher capacity power station. We love having all three — a kettle, an induction burner, and a griddle — but if space is tight, a burner alone will do. Adding one or two 200 watt solar panels will greatly extend your battery runtime by recharging your power station on sunny days.
No. Many people do not need to invest in solar panels for their power station. The only reason to consider a solar panel is if you need more power over multiple days than your power station can provide. For most people, a suitable power station, like the Jackery 2000 v2 will provide you with adequate power for comfort during a multi-hour blackout and/or a typical weekend camping trip. Obtaining a 12v car adapter charging cable for your power station is a low-cost way to recharge anytime you use your vehicle when camping.
In our experience, it is when you need support for 3 or more days without grid power that a solar panel becomes a necessity.
A 3-day weekend off-grid camping trip can easily drain your power station and leave you with no power halfway into your trip.
For example, we recently did a 3-day family camping trip in the Sierra Nevada mountain range using the Jackery 2000 v2. Our off-grid campsite included amenities such as LED string lights, an electric cooler, an inductive stove, two ebikes, recharging phones and iPads, and a SpaceX Starlink system. That camp setup draws too much power each day to make it through a 3-day trip. But, by using two 200 watt solar panels, we were able to fully charge up each day. One tester said, “It was liberating to camp off-grid, in the middle of nowhere, and with such a cool camp setup. My family had a blast! In fact, we had plenty of power to be out there for a week or more of off-grid camping, so long as the sun kept shining.”
If you want to add solar panels for a power station with a battery capacity in the range of 1,000 Wh to 3,000 Wh, we recommend starting with a 200-watt solar panel, which is a good size for most power stations and sells for less than $400. If that is insufficient, consider adding a second 200-watt panel, which will meet the needs of most people for extended off-grid camping or power blackouts.
Solar Panel Charging Time Estimates
The amount of time it takes a solar panel to charge your power station will depend on the weather, the size of the solar panel, the efficiency of the solar panel at charging, whether you just need to top off charge to 100% or fully charge from 0%, and lastly, the watt-hour capacity of your power station. Our tests of solar panels reveal the following rules of thumb, which we've used in the table below:
4-6 hours of peak sun a day — a good rule of thumb is that you can get 4-6 hours of peak sun charging on a clear, sunny day. Your mileage may vary, but in our experience, those are good numbers for planning your power on an off-grid campning adventure.
80% solar charging efficiency — we've extensively tested solar panels for charging efficiency, and the results vary widely, from as low as 50% to as high as 90% efficiency. For our calculations in the table below, we assume 80% efficiency based on the results of testing of the better quality 200 watt solar panels.
200-watt solar panels for most people — We consider the 200-watt solar panel to be the sweet spot for most people with power stations in the popular size of 1,000 Wh to 2,000 Wh. The 200 watt size packs well, and there is a lot of competition, which means you can get a quality panel for a good price.
Solar Panel Time to Fully Charge
Solar Panel Watts
300 Wh Power Station
1,000 Wh Power Station
2,000 Wh Power Station
3,000 Wh Power Station
4,000 Wh Power Station
100W Panel
3.8 hr
12.5 hr
✖
✖
✖
200W Panel
✖
6.3 hr
12.5 hr
✖
✖
(2) x 200W Panels
✖
3.1 hr
6.3 hr
9.4 hr
12.5 hr
500W Panel
✖
2.5 hr
5.0 hr
7.5 hr
10.0 hr
(2) x 500W Panels
✖
1.3 hr
2.5 hr
3.8 hr
5.0 hr
As you can see in the table above, a 100-watt solar panel is the only option for a low-end power station in the 300 watt or lower capacity, and we consider 100 watt solar panels impractical for any power station with a capacity of 1,000 Wh or higher. We recommend 200-watt panel(s) as the right solution for 1,000 Wh to 2,000 Wh capacity range. A typical need is just to top off your charge each day (rather than providing 100% full recharge), and for that scenario a single 200-watt panel will likely do the job. If you find you need more solar charging, then add a second 200-watt panel. The GearLab team often brings (2) x 200-watt solar panels for our off-grid camping, using a 2,000 Wh power station, since we tend to be more aggressive in our power utilization, using higher-demand devices like electric cooking stovetops and ebike charging.
Conclusion
Our breakdown of portable power stations aims to simplify the confusing and continually evolving information involved in purchasing one. After months of extensive testing and research, we hope our portable power station review provides the necessary knowledge and guidance to help you make an informed decision about your power needs.
The right portable power station can help supplement your power needs, whether you're on the road, at home, or anywhere in between.
