My camping life has really changed since I met my partner. He loves being outdoors, but since he used to be in the military, he’s had enough of roughing it. He likes enjoying creature comforts like a Keurig, LED mood lighting, and a portable toilet — all of which (well, sans toilet) require portable power on our travels.
It’s been a few years since portable power stations enabled our luxe camping lifestyle and only about 6 months since Anker’s Solix C1000 entered our lives, but in that time, it’s become a solid member of our family. It’s the perfect size but still stores enough power to run all of our gadgets, including our e-bikes. It also comes with an impressive 1,800W inverter, which means it can even handle most power tools.
In our quest to find the perfect station for our needs, we’ve tested almost all of the options on the market. Time and time again, we keep tossing the C1000 in the van.
In short: Versatile, powerful, and expandable, the Anker Solix C1000 is a great pick for tent and truck campers who have a modest amount of electronics to run. It’s also ideal for running the electric cooler on day trips and picnics, or powering off-grid entertainment, like a guitar amp or a movie projector. Spoiler alert: get one of these, and you’ll forever be … well … spoiled.
To see how the Anker Solix C1000 compares to other portable power options on the market, check out GearJunkie’s Best Portable Power Stations Buyer’s Guide.
- Watt Hours: 1,056, expandable to 2,112
- Output: 1,800 W (2,400 W surge)
- Battery Composition: LiFePO4
- Max Solar/AC Input: 600 W/1,300 W
- Ports: 6 AC, 1 car, 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C
- Dimensions: 14.8” x 8.07” x 10.5”
- Weight: 28 lbs., 7 oz.
Pros
- Fast charging
- Large inverter for its size
- Expandable
- Quality components
Cons
- Expansion battery cable is bulky
Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station: Review
First Impressions
When we first got the Solix C1000, my partner was a bit skeptical. He’s partial to large power stations and doesn’t mind the hassle of hauling the extra weight around. On the other hand, I (or, rather, my back) am not too fond of those lunkers, so I was particularly excited to try this one out.
Over the last couple of years, we’ve tested every model of Anker power station, and all with excellent results. In a market where many products are over-hyped, Anker quietly goes about its business, making first-rate products that use particularly high-grade components.
Around every turn, the brand’s power stations are well thought out, even with little details like having a pleasant warm-toned light bar instead of those obnoxious blue-white ones. I also particularly like the aesthetic: It’s more welcoming and less robotic than most of the other brands. This model also carries particularly well, with comfortable handles on both ends that balance the weight.
After months of testing the Solix C1000, it’s clear that it has won a place not just in my heart but in my partner’s heart as well. Here’s what we’ve learned while testing it out.
Versatile and Expandable Power
From the dirt roads of Baja to the alpine valleys of Colorado, we’ve put the C1000 through the wringer. It’s held up well to bumps and spilled drinks, chilly nights, sweltery days, and even a full-on tumble off the tailgate — sorry, little guy!
The C1000 had no problem running everything we’ve thrown at it, from a coffee maker and electric cooler to e-bikes and an electric drill, and of course, it’s great for charging up laptops, cameras, drones, etc. It’s also worth noting that not all power stations have an IP67 weatherproof rating, which is a great bonus if you leave it outside while you’re off on a hike and it gets rained on.
What I’ve come to really appreciate about this Anker is its versatility: It has a 1,800W output with a 2,400W surge, which is the highest I’ve seen in its class. That means it can run some pretty beefy appliances and tools like a reciprocating saw and a microwave. At around 28 pounds, it’s also one of the lightest power stations per watt-hour.
What really sets it apart, though, is its expandability, a feature usually reserved for the heavyweights. One expansion battery doubles its capacity to 2,112 Wh. I love this because when we’re tent camping overnight or having a beach picnic, we can bring the power station solo without having to hassle with the extra weight and space of more watt-hours. But on longer trips, we can bring the expansion battery along to have the added comfort of more power.
Topping Off the Tank
As for recharging, it takes in 1,300 W from the wall, which is also the fastest I’ve seen in its class. It can go from dead flat to full charge in about an hour. This is important if you’re not using solar, because you can stop for a coffee and a pain au chocolat, plug it in at the café, and it will be full by the time you finish reading the headlines and catching up on Wordle.
If you are using solar panels, Solix C1000 will take 600 W of input (but we usually only pack 400 W because portable panels get pretty bulky in the vehicle). According to the math, 600 W would fully recharge it in under 2 hours (and 400 W in 2.5 hours).
It’s important to note that in the real world, it’s more like 3 or 4 hours by the time you factor in occasional clouds, the fact that it’s a pain to move them frequently enough to track the sun optimally, and the fact that solar panels usually only generate about 80% of their claimed watt-hours.
Battery Chemistry and Class-Leading Chips
The Solix C1000 uses LiFePO4, aka LFP, lithium-ion battery composition, which is what most reputable brands are using these days — but not all, so do your research! It’s definitely what you want to have, as it’s safer and lasts much longer than the older NMC lithium-ion battery technology.
Anker also packs quality under the hood, including an internal aluminum frame and unibody design (which is probably why it survived its tailgate tumble) and industrial-grade electronics. Anker also uses gallium nitride-based transistor chips (GaN) for more efficient charging, which is an advanced technology that only one other manufacturer we know of is using (the Yoshino B4000 SST).
What that means to you is that the power station won’t get as hot, so its circuitry will have a longer lifespan, and you won’t have to endure listening to the cooling fan whirring as much. Anker also makes a nice electric EverFrost cooler and quality portable solar panels in 30W, 100W, 200W, and 400W sizes. The brand is also somewhat famous for power banks (small electronics chargers) and leading-edge home backup power systems.
Almost Perfect (With One Small Hiccup)
Our biggest gripe with the C1000, which is pretty minor, is just that the expansion battery cable is massive. It sticks out of the side at least a foot. It would be a pretty easy fix if they just put 90-degree connectors on it. But since there’s no need to travel with them connected, it’s really not an issue.
Also, while we use this power station a lot, Anker’s bigger model, the Solix F2000, and its 2,000Wh expansion battery are often our go-to, especially for more established van camping. That’s because even with the expansion battery, the C1000 can only run our dual-zone electric cooler along with all of our other electric needs for about 24 hours, which means we’d have to hassle with charging it every day.
Anker Solix C1000: Conclusion
After many nights under the stars together, I’ve come to see our sweet little Anker Solix C1000 as less of a utilitarian tool and more like a mini friend, complete with its own amicable personality. If I had to have only one power station for needs large and small, the C1000 would be my pick.
It has enough watt-hours to cover modest car and truck camping needs without constantly needing recharging. It does this while still being small enough to easily lift and stow. It’s also helpful for running work lights, perfect for picnics and day trips with electric coolers, and even adequate as a mild home backup option in emergencies.
It’s a bit of overkill if all you need is to charge your phone and laptop. On the flip side, its expansion capability makes it an ideal choice if you’re entering the portable power station world and aren’t yet sure how many watt-hours you’ll need. It’s also great if you know you’ll want more watt-hours but can’t afford them all in one shot.
As for quality, the Solix C1000 is ahead of its class in nearly every feature, including inverter output, fast charging, weather-proofness, and overall quality components — all wrapped in a neat little package for under $1,000. For the indecisive, let me make it easy: this is the power station to snag.
