Top Portable Power Stations

If you want to prepare for blackouts, work on construction sites, and travel off-grid, consider getting a portable power station. The right pick can act as a power bank for multiple devices, including small fridges, laptops, drones, CPAP machines, and grills.

However, finding the right one is easier said than done. With so many brands and types on the market, choosing the best portable power station for you can be incredibly time-consuming and exhausting.

That’s why we’ve written this comprehensive guide to help you find your dream portable power station. Read on to learn more about what you should consider when looking for one and our review of the top portable power stations. We’ll also cover some frequently asked questions about portable power stations. 

The 5 Top Portable Power Stations

Now that you know what to look for when buying portable power stations, let’s take a look at the five best power stations in 2022.

EcoFlow River Pro Portable Power Station

Google’s Rating: 4.7

Our pick for best overall is the EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station RIVER. Budget-friendly, powerful, and portable, this power station delivers 412 watt-hours or 114,000 milliamp-hours of power.  At only 11 pounds, this product is incredibly portable, making it a great pick for home use and traveling. Use it on the go and to power your house or office during blackouts. You can also use it to power your CPAP devices while camping or RV’ing.

This model lets you power 11 devices at the same time with the following outlets:

• Two USB Quickcharge 2.0
• Two USB
• Two USB-C ports
• Two AC outlets
• Two DC outlets
• One 12-volt car port

Other standout features include:

• An advanced battery management system that holds a charge for up to a year
• Compatibility with ECOFLOW solar panels and generators
• An advanced thermal management system that delivers optimal performance in extreme conditions
• A user-friendly display that monitors performance

In short, the EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station RIVER has everything you need to power appliances during blackouts, trips, and more.

Every purchase of this product comes with:

• An EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station RIVER
• An AC wall charger
• A car charger
• A DC cable
• DC tips
• A USB Type-C cable
• A user guide
• A quick-start guide

Here’s what customers had to say about this product:

Goal Zero Yeti 1500X Portable Power Station

Google’s Rating: 4.3

Our pick for the best solar power station is none other than the Yeti 1500X Portable Power Station Solar Generator. This model only requires four hours to fully recharge in the sun. In contrast, charging it from a 120-watt wall outlet or car charger takes 14 hours.

What’s more, it provides a whopping 1,500 watt-hours of lithium power, making it as powerful as many portable generators. As such, you can use this portable power station to:

• Run a full-size refrigerator for 28 hours
• Charge your phone 127 times
• Run a 60-watt pellet grill for 26 hours
• Run a 65-watt CPAP machine for 24 hours
• Run a 42-inch LED, 100-watt TV for 15 hours
• Power 11-watt lights for 138 hours

This beast has been field-tested in a wide variety of environments, from the home and job sites to the Arctic. It’s also incredibly safe, with the following types of protection:

• Temperature protection
• Over and under-voltage protection
• A battery management system to monitor cell and battery health

This model boasts the following output ports for running refrigerators, laptops, coffee makers, medical devices, power tools, phones, and other devices:

• Two USB-A
• An 18-watt USB-C
• A 60-watt USB-PD
• A 12-volt power port
• Two 120V AC inverters

Every purchase of this product comes with:

• A Yeti 1500X Portable Power Station Solar Generator
• 120W power supply (AC wall charger)

Goal Zero Yeti 400W Portable Power Station

Google’s Rating: 4.5

The best indoor power station on this list is the Goal Zero Yeti 400 Portable Power Station. A convenient power station with a 396 watt-hour capacity, this product can:

• Run small appliances for several hours
• Charge a phone over 30 times
• Charge a laptop over five times

Since this product doesn’t use gasoline and doesn’t emit toxic fumes, it’s completely safe to use in your car, home, or tent. It’s also silent, making it a great portable generator alternative for any event.

It also provides a versatile mix of powerful outputs, including:

• A USB port (output) 
• A car port (output)
• An AC inverter (output, pure sine wave)
• A high-power charging port (input)
• A high-power chaining port

No matter where you are, you can keep this baby charged in three simple ways:

• In 13 hours using a car charger
• In five hours using a wall outlet
• In eight hours using Goal Zero’s monocrystalline solar panels

Every purchase of this product comes with:

• A Goal Zero Yeti 400 Portable Power Station
• A wall charger

Westinghouse iGen160s Portable Power Station

Google’s Rating 4.4

The best small power station is the Westinghouse iGen160s Portable Power Station. Weighing only 3.75 pounds, this lightweight power station is incredibly easy to carry around. Don’t underestimate its size, however — this power station supports charging all of your electronic devices and necessities, from speakers and GoPros to lights and drones.

This beast also has nine versatile outlets:

• Two 120-volt outlets
• Four USB ports including a QualComm Quick Charge 3.0 USB outlet and a USB-C
• Three DC outputs

Additional features include:

• Three-mode lighting: This portable power station comes with a built-in reading lamp and a dual-mode front flashlight for blackouts and overnight hikes.
• Four charging styles: This model boasts solar panel capability. It also comes with a cigarette lighter plug and AC outlet accessories for generators, cars, and walls.
• Built-in handle: The Westinghouse iGen160s Portable Power Station comes with a handle for maximum portability. Use this handle to carry the device or hook it onto your gear.
• Clear display: This product’s display shows AC/DC status and battery capacity. It also includes USB, DC, AC, and charging indicators. 

Every purchase of this model includes:

• A Westinghouse iGen160s Portable Power Station
• A car charger
• A cigarette lighter plug
• A wall outlet charger
• A user manual

Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station

Google’s Rating 4.3

The best portable power station for camping is the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000, 1002Wh Solar Generator. At 22 pounds, this model is one of the most lightweight heavy-duty power stations. Use it to power your computers, CPAP devices, grills, cameras, and other gadgets while off-grid.

With a staggering 1,002 watt-hours of capacity, it can supply over 1,000 watts of power or 2,000 watts of surge power through multiple output ports. As such, it meets the power supply needs of most high-power electrical appliances. 

This product boasts the following output ports:

• Two USB-C
• One DC cart port
• Two USB
• Three pure sine wave AC outlets

Other standout features include:

• Efficient and eco-friendly solar charging when paired with SolarSaga 100-watt solar panels
• Durable exterior and interior
• Four ways to recharge: solar panel, electric generator, wall socket, and car output

Purchasing this model will give you:

• A Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000, 1002Wh Solar Generator
• An AC adapter
• A car charger cable
• A SolarSaga parallel adapter cable
• A user manual

Choose the Best Portable Power Generator For You

Picking the best portable power generator can be a challenge. With so many competitive options on the market, it’s hard to know which is the best for you.

That’s why you should use our guide as a starting point. Take notes as you read through our section on the factors you should consider when looking for a portable power station. Then, look at our reviews and think about which portable power stations best fit your goals.

For instance, if you’re a camper who wants to power laptops and phones, consider getting the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000, 1002Wh Solar Generator. This lightweight yet heavy-duty portable power generator has everything you need for RV’ing, camping, and hiking excursions.

Or, if you’re an avid hiker living in a sunny area, consider getting a solar portable power station like the Yeti 1500X Portable Power Station Solar Generator. This powerful inverter generator draws power from the sun to provide 1,500 watt-hours of lithium power. Because it’s as powerful as many portable generators, you can use it to run full-size refrigerators, charge pellet grills, run TVs, and power CPAP machines for hours at a time. You can even use it to power lights.

After you’ve made a list of the goals you want to achieve with your portable power generator, make a list of required and “nice-to-have” features. 

Here’s an example:

Required Features	Nice-to-have Features
Lightweight	App connectivity
At least seven outlets	Solar panel ready
Safe for electronics
Capable of powering appliances like mini-fridges

After creating the list, look at your budget. If you have a limited budget, buy a portable power station that has all of your required features. But if you have the budget for it and you want all or some of the “nice-to-have” features, buy a portable power station that checks off most or all of the features on your list.

What You Should Consider When Looking for a Portable Power Station

Before we dive into our reviews of the top five portable power stations, let’s take a look at the factors you should consider when buying one. Carefully evaluate these factors before you buy a model — doing so will save you a lot of money, time, and energy.

Total Power Output and Battery Capacity

First, you need to look at your power station’s total power output and battery capacity. These ratings show you how many and what types of devices your station can power.

It can be difficult to understand the different power ratings for portable power stations. Depending on the vendor, some devices may use watt-hours, while others use watts. So here’s a breakdown of the most common ratings and what they mean:

• Watts (W): This unit shows the actual power rating of the station — in other words, the station’s maximum output.
• Watt-hours (Wh): Watt-hours measure how the battery capacity of your power station, or how long it’ll last. To determine the ideal watt-hour rating, think about the devices you want to power and how much energy they require. If you want to power multiple devices, look for higher watt-hour ratings, like 25 kilowatt-hours (kWh). However, these stations tend to be quite heavy and may be difficult to carry around, especially if you’re living or traveling alone. 
• Milliamp-hour (mAh): As with watt-hours, the higher the milliamp-hour rating, the more devices you can power. However, this is a less accurate measure of the battery capacity compared to the watt-hour. 

Number of Outlets or USB Ports

Besides power output and battery capacity, you also need to consider the number of outlets or USB ports. If you’re going to be charging multiple devices at once, get a station that has more than enough outlets and ports. This way, you can continue using your station as your device collection expands.

Hours of Power Provided

Next, you need to look at how many hours of power the power station provides. Make sure it provides more than enough hours for your trips. If you’re buying a portable power station for blackouts, make sure the device provides at least three to nine hours of power. For longer blackouts, you may have to buy a larger generator. 

Price of the Model and Budget

You need to consider the price of the model and your budget. Look at your budget and make a list of the features on this list that you require versus ones that would be nice to have.” If your budget is limited, just get a budget-friendly portable power station with all of your required features. But if you have a larger budget, you could consider buying a more expensive model that has some or all of your “nice-to-have” features. 

Charging Time

Another factor to consider is charging time. The longer your device needs to charge, the longer you’ll have to wait to use it. Unfortunately, most portable power stations take six or seven hours to charge. However, there are some models that only take four to five hours to charge. 

Portable Design and Size

You should also consider the design, size, and weight of the product. Is it portable? If you need a small team of people to lift and move around your power station, it may not be the best choice, especially if you’re planning to use it for RV’ing, camping, and other highly-mobile situations. 

Display Screen

Finally, you need to evaluate the display screen of the portable power station. Is it easy to read? Does it show the information it should show? If the user interface is confusing and hard to read, consider getting a model with a clearer display. A clear interface should make it as easy as possible for you to understand:

• How much power is left
• The power input
• The power output

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