The Best Portable Power Stations of 2026

We awarded the Anker Solix C1000 ($999) our overall best in show because Anker really nailed it with a versatile balance of size, power, portability, and functionality — all wrapped up into an aesthetically appealing package. With a price under $1,000, it’s also a decent deal.

A thousand watt-hours is enough to run 90% of what most people need a power station for, while still being easy to lift and stow. In our tests, it had plenty of inverter to run the reciprocating saw for chopping firewood, the single-pod coffeemaker, and the Instant Pot. Combined with portable solar, it can keep up with a dual zone electric cooler on a multi-day trip. Or, if you’re near a wall outlet, you can fully recharge it in less than an hour. 

The C1000 carries well, too. We can lift the 28 pounds without worry of straining our back, plus there are solid handles on both ends, which balance the weight well. It’s actually the third-lightest power station per watt-hour in this guide. That makes it practical to bring to the beach or park. It’s handy for running work lights and the perfect size for fully charging e-bike batteries. A nice bonus is the light bar on the front, with three settings including a particularly soothing warm tone.

Under the cover, the C1000 has all of Anker’s signature quality components, including industrial-grade electronics and a unibody design with an internal aluminum frame for when you drop it (to our horror, we unwittingly put this to the test, and it passed).

Anker also uses GaN, an advanced technology using gallium nitride-based transistor chips, which allows it to charge more efficiently than traditional silicon chips. That translates into two major practicalities: a longer lifespan and less fan runtime. In other words, more birdsong, less whirring. So far, Anker and Yoshino are the only brands touting GaN technology.

If you need more power down the road, you can add an expansion battery to double the watt hours to 2112. This is great for people who would rather have 2,000 Wh but can’t afford to buy it all at once or for those who are usually fine with 1,000 Wh but want the option to expand that for extended trips. 

Our only complaint with the C1000 is the cable that attaches the expansion battery to the main unit. It’s thick and heavy, so it sticks out quite a ways, nearly doubling the width requirements when the two are connected. It seems likely they could fix this by using 90-degree plugs. 

The bottom line, though, is that the Anker’s Solix C1000 is excellent for day trips, light car/truck/van camping, as a mild home backup, or even running the outdoor projector for movie night. It’s affordable, versatile, lightweight, and fast to charge both on and off-grid.

The EcoFlow River 3 Plus ($299) didn’t get our best budget designation just because it’s one of the smaller and more affordable power stations in this lineup. It earned it because, for its size, it’s also packed with standout and unconventional features.

For starters, it can accept up to 220 watts of solar, which is slightly more than the Goal Zero Yeti 300 and more than double the Anker Solix C300 DC or BougeRV JuiceGo. It recharges quickly from the wall, at 380 watts. It’s expandable with either a 286Wh or a 572Wh battery. The expansion batteries also have an unusual design in that they link together via pins, which means there’s no bulky expansion cable.

The River 3 Plus also makes a good backup power source for computers and WiFi routers, with a UPS rating under 10 ms. It’s also the only power station we’ve seen with a USB-B port. Another plus: it uses GaN technology, which means it can run low-wattage devices for longer, while also being more compact, quiet, cool-running, and reliable in the long term.

Its 600W output is exceedingly large for a power station of this size, and with its surge technology, it can continuously handle large wattages, such as a small heater. This makes it more versatile than the competition, however, this over-jacked output is both a boon and a bust. Yes, it can run your house fridge, but only for 15 or 20 minutes.  

Other features include a fire-retardant shell, app control, a built-in light, optional solar panels, and a drop rating of 1 meter. It’s also light for its size, coming in around one-third less than the Yeti 300, but heavier than the JuiceGo or Solix C300 DC. EcoFlow actually makes a more affordable model still, the River 3, which is $60 less. But in terms of bang for your buck, the River 3 Plus is worth the step-up given its higher output plus expansion capabilities.

After testing the River 3 Plus on an extended road camping trip, and around the house on various electronics, the only gripes we could come up with is that it only has an IP54 “light protection” weather rating, and that it could use another USB-C charging port.

Bottom line: The EcoFlow River 3 Plus is a quality unit from a reliable brand. If price, expandability, high-wattage output, and solar charging are at the top of your list, this is a solid tool that will get the job done. You can bring it camping to charge up personal electronics, and if your power goes out at home, it’ll also power the TV and Wi-Fi router, plus keep the fish alive, at least for a little while.

Before we get into why the new BougeRV Rover2000 wins our “Best Solar Generator” category, we have to tout its other merits. Its $1,699 price is a great deal (just $0.85 cents per watt-hour, and even better when you use a 20% off code like AFF20), and at 47 pounds, it’s a full 15 pounds lighter (30%) than its closest competitor. That’s partly because the Rover2000 is the first portable power station that we know of using semi-solid-state NCM battery technology.

Without going down a battery composition rabbit hole, this means it’s safer than the standard liquid-based NMC technology, lighter than LiFePO4, and more compact than either. With this model, BougeRV has seriously jumped into the portable power station tech race. 

As for solar, the Rover2000 won our solar accolade for one obvious reason: it can take in more watt-hours from the sun in a shorter amount of time than its competitors of similar watt-hour size. Another win is the company’s range of portable solar panels.

Along with typical 100W and 200W styles, BougeRV also sells a 100W solar “blanket” that folds to roughly 14” x 10.5” x 1”, slips into a slim carrying case, and uses CIGS, an emerging solar panel technology that’s lighter with higher output. 

The Rover2000 has a lot of other perks, too. It is housed in an aluminum case for durability and includes a five-setting light bar. It’s also crazy expandable, taking three 2,008Wh batteries. That means it’s also a good candidate for a camper/van build. We gave it all of our standard charging and discharging tests and put it through the wringer with power tools and appliances, and it passed with flying colors.

On the downside, it doesn’t have wheels, though BougeRV sells a sturdy hand truck that works decently, even in the dirt. (The expansion battery tends to slip off of the top of the main unit, though, so don’t wheel around the combo without strapping it down). Also, there’s no 30A (RV) outlet, and its various other outlets are on the short ends of the rectangle, which means you have to keep access space open on both ends.

Finally, the battery is good for roughly 3,000 full recharging cycles. That’s better than regular NMC but only about half the longevity of LiFePO4. Will you need to recharge it more than 3,000 times? Probably not. And by the time you get there, new battery technologies will probably have stolen the spotlight anyway. 

The BougeRV Rover2000 is great for kicking the truck camping comfort level up a few notches. It can power space heaters, run electric coolers and grills, and realistically recharge in a couple of hours of strong sunshine. Plus, it comes with good bragging rights, as the only semi-solid state power station around.

Anker’s second-largest portable unit, the Solix F2000 ($1,999), is a great mix of portability, durability, and serious power, which is why it wins our “Best for Van Life & Overlanding” category. Because it can simultaneously run multiple high-draw appliances, you don’t have to worry about disconnecting the electric cooler or space heater when it’s time to brew a cup of coffee and run the reciprocating saw to cut firewood.

Another major plus of the Solix 2000 is the collapsible handle and built-in wheels. It’s the only power station in its class with this feature, which is a big deal because otherwise, these can be a bit formidable to lug around. The wheels are also large and sturdy enough to roll through dirt and gravel, which is nice when you’re moving it about camp or into a sunny spot for solar recharging. (A side note: In our opinion, anything over 25 pounds should have wheels to truly be considered portable, but few actually do.)

The Solix F2000 includes a wealth of high-grade components, including an EV-grade battery, commercial-grade electronics, a sturdy unibody design with an internal aluminum frame, and GaN, a next-level charging technology that keeps it running cooler, thus helping it last longer and with less annoying fan noise. It will recharge in well under two hours, plus there’s just something soothing and welcoming about Anker’s look. 

For about two years now, the Solix F2000 has been our go-to power station for both van camping and overlanding. It’s survived a lot of washboard and off-road jostling in our Xterra, plus dust bombs from two separate window blow-outs. Even though we have built-in solar in the van, we usually bring this along when we’re planning to be off-grid for an extended time. If the house batteries get low, we can plug the van into it, recharge the onboard batteries, and then move the power station and a portable panel to a sunny hillside.  

If you want a van/truck/camper solar power system, but don’t want to go through the hassle of installing one, the Anker Solix F2000 is a quick, easy, durable solution. We know we’re supposed to include a con, but we haven’t found anything to complain about except the hassle of lifting it into the van after an epic hike.

Read Review: Juiced Up, Maxed Out, and Drop Tested: Anker PowerHouse 767 Review

The new Goal Zero Yeti Pro 4000 ($3,999) is another star addition to the brand’s portable power station lineup. It wins our “Best for RVs & Campers” category partly because Goal Zero really delivered with a camper and van-specific design, complete with companion integration/solar kits. The Escape Towable and Escape Drivable kits make it relatively easy to install a Pro 4000 into a traveling home or workshop, and the unit has proper DC 30-amp receptacles. The kits also have some of the nicer wall display control panels we’ve tried.

But the bigger reasons the Pro 4000 wins this category are its performance and dimensions. It is not top-heavy, even with the Tank Pro 4000 expansion battery on top. That makes it highly packable. It also takes a whopping 3,000 W of solar input.

Clearly, that’s too many panels to carry around conveniently, so why would you want that? For the apocalypse, of course, when solar electricity will be more valuable than gas (fuel only has about a one-year shelf life, so contrary to pop culture, Mad Max will not be out searching for unleaded, he’ll be driving an EV and pirating solar panels). 

But seriously, if you’re going somewhere remote with no power and bringing along your high-power needs, the Yeti Pro 4000 is the bee’s knees. Pair it with an occasional campground AC outlet recharge or a gas-powered generator, and you could comfortably live off of it indefinitely. It’s rated for portable outdoor use (not for a rainstorm, but it can survive a splash or two). It is also the only power station we tested that has a 90-degree elbow on the expansion battery plug, which makes that aspect of it less bulky.

This generation of Yetis also marks the company’s embrace of LiFePO4 battery technology (though some current models still use NMC). That’s not to say their old ones are bad — we used an NMC-battery-powered Yeti 1500 on the first overlanding trip — but the new models are superior, with other details like integrated charging cables and faster charging without add-on cable upgrades. 

Because of its massive watt-hours, the Yeti Pro 4000 can also effectively run air conditioning, at least for a little while. Depending on your portable AC’s efficiency, it’ll last roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. It is also set up to work for home backup, up to 10 circuits using Goal Zero’s Haven 10 Manual Transfer Switch. It performed as expected on our standard tests, but definitely requires a team lift to move it anywhere. Our only complaint: the wheels are too small to effectively roll in the dirt, and the collapsible pull handle feels a little flimsy for the system’s weight.

It performed as expected on our standard tests, and we have now used it in our camper for dozens of nights and many thousands of miles, with few glitches. but It definitely requires a team lift to move it anywhere. Our only complaint: the wheels are too small to effectively roll in the dirt, and the collapsible pull handle feels a little flimsy for the system’s weight.

Yoshino Power’s B4000 SST ($3,299) is truly in a class of its own and could even be called the most avant-garde portable power station out there. At north of $3,000, it’s a little pricey per watt-hour, but that buys an unrivaled level of sophistication.

For starters, it’s the only power station we know of using solid-state battery technology, which is what the next-generation EVs will be switching to. That means it’s immune to thermal runaways, plus extremely lightweight per watt-hour. Its 4,000W inverter is also huge for its size, rivaling the largest power stations in this guide. That means it can power pretty much everything, all at the same time. 

Other plusses: It uses GaN transistor technology, which is hugely more efficient at reducing energy loss, thus keeping its internals cooler and the fan running less often. It also has a speedy wall (AC) charge rate, two convenient wireless phone charging pads on top, a 30A RV plug, an LED light bar, and a water-resistant, shatterproof interface and faceplate.

This year, Yoshino also started offering 2,562 Wh expansion batteries, and you can add up to three. As a bonus, each can function as an independent battery unit, recharging at 1,200W from solar, so you could also use their DC outputs to charge other brands’ power stations as well. 

In addition to all of its excellent technical features, the B4000 SST is literally a work of art. Its matte finish and mellow green and gray tones, along with honeycomb-shaped accents, represent “a symbol of nature, hard work, and nonstop energy.” Fashion jokes aside, it is actually exceptionally elegant, and one of our friends in particular can’t seem to stop ogling it. Best of all, it’s not just a pretty face. Not surprisingly, it performed exceptionally well during the course of our testing. 

Yoshino debuted its line of power stations in 2023, which also includes smaller 241 Wh, 602 Wh, and 1,326 Wh models (also now with expansion capability). The brand’s solar panels are also of high quality. On the downside, the B4000 SST doesn’t have massive solar input like some other stations, but its 600W is adequate. We’ve found it impractical to cart around more portable panels than that, anyway. Also, at 53 pounds, it would also be very helpful if it had wheels, though the handles are decently ergonomic. 

If you enjoy having the most unique and advanced toys, want to cultivate your inner haute-couture self, and have the extra cash, you gotta get the Yoshino B4000 SST. Period. It’s a spectacular unit. It narrowly escaped winning our overall best award, simply because of its price, plus lack of wheels — both of which are not important deciding factors for some people.

Anker really nailed it with their new Solix C300 DC ($249). They ditched AC power (wall outlet) to focus solely on USB ports. That allowed them to axe the AC inverter, making for a lighter, more compact power station. But that’s not the only reason it grabbed our honors for best power station for backpacking.

This little pal has six USB ports, including three 140W USB-C ports. In contrast, the BougeRV JuiceGo and EcoFlow River 3 Plus only have three USB ports, and max out at 100 W. Assuming you have a USB cable and a device that can handle the full 140 W (like a newer MacBook), the difference is that recharging would be 42 minutes vs. an hour.

Now, realistically, how many of us need to backpack with a power station? I don’t know, but Bluetti and BougeRV have both jumped in the game with the Handsfree 2 and JuiceGo, respectively. So for testing, we took the Solix C300 DC out for a hike, to see what it was like to bring power into the backcountry. We found it fit nicely in a climbing day-pack, and the extra weight wasn’t actually all that noticeable.

We also now use it regularly at home for tasks like running Bluetooth speakers and recharging the drone. Features we particularly like include: a built-in pop-up light with dimmable settings and a warm tone, a smart app, and a carrying handle (you can buy a shoulder strap separately). It has smart temperature control and impact resistance, but unfortunately, no IP weather rating.

One aspect we aren’t thrilled with is that while it can recharge at 280W, it requires using two USB-C chargers simultaneously, which is a bit clunky. It also doesn’t come with an AC block, but it can be recharged from a car socket. If having UPS capabilities is important in your world, go with the River 3 Plus. Alternately, if you’re a pro photographer, your better bet is the Bluetti Handsfree 2.

Finally, keep in mind that not having AC means you can’t charge devices that require a wall outlet, like some camera batteries and camp lights. But if that’s an issue, you can remedy it by going with the slightly heavier and more expensive Solix C300 model instead.

Bottom line: Lightweight and ultra-portable, the Anker Solix C300 DC is an ideal power buddy, not just for backpacking, but also for camp, house, and shop. It can run a projector for movie night and a USPB-powered coffee grinder in the morning, plus its glut of high-powered USB ports is a game-changer for light-duty photo and video shoots. Pair it with Anker’s PS100W or 60W solar panels, and you’ve also got an indefinite supply of backcountry power.

Goal Zero is on its sixth generation of power stations, and after all of those iterations, they’ve definitely hit gold with the Yeti 300. With a price of $299, it’s among the smallest and most affordable in the lineup, and it packs many standout features for its size. 

This little powerhouse can run everything from an air pump to the TV. It takes 200W of solar and can be controlled via the smart app. It’s also uncommonly rugged, with rubber coverings over the ports to keep out mud and sand. Pair it with Goal Zero’s Nomad portable solar panels and Goal Zero’s durable, soft carrying case for extra protection.

We recommend the 100W panel, as the 50W isn’t big enough to be practical to recharge it in one day, and the 200W is unnecessarily bulky for this little guy. This is also the first generation of the Yeti 300 to have LFP battery chemistry (versus NMC), and we’re thrilled to see Goal Zero make this step in its product line.

As a company, Goal Zero also works on humanitarian efforts, donating power stations for disaster relief and funding sustainable power projects around the world, including in the Navajo Nation. They also strive for corporate sustainability and require their factories to maintain a standard of human rights and wage benefits.

The Yeti 300 tested well with an array of electronics, including laptops, speakers, and Goal Zero’s Skylight, which it powered all day with ease. During testing, we uncovered only a couple of tiny gripes: because the weatherproof cover over the ports is one piece (versus having separate coverings for each port), it puts a bit of pressure on the plug heads; and plugging one cord in partially exposes all of the ports to the elements. Also, the plastic lid has a concave curve on the top, which collects some debris every so often. 

Even still, the Yeti 300 is an ideal companion for keeping laptops, phones, speakers, and lights charged on camping trips. It’s also great for powering an electric cooler or pellet grill on a beach picnic and adding a few home comforts during a power outage.

The new Anker Solix F3800 Plus ($4,799) is a power leviathan. It comes with almost 4,000 watt-hours, expandable to more than 5,300. More importantly, no other portable power station comes close to touching its 6,000W inverter, and when you put two of these together, you end up with a 12,000W inverter, which means when the power goes out, you can still run your central air conditioning, fridge, microwave, hot tub, and probably the neighbor’s house, too.

Recently updated from the original F3800, the F3800 Plus can also handle 30% more solar input, for a total of 3,200W, which jumps to unlimited when your home is integrated with Anker’s plug-and-play Home Power Panel. The new model can also charge up in 1.5 hours from a 240V gas generator, at which point you can turn off all of that noise to enjoy the many hours of quiet electricity that follow.  

But pigeonholeing this power station for home use would be a mistake. It’s great for the road, too. Most excitingly, this (as well as the Yeti Pro 4000) is the first semi-practical solution for the air conditioning dilemma. If our in-home tests are accurate, we could bring this, plus two expansion batteries, to run the AC through the night. Unfortunately, effectively recharging that setup via solar on a daily basis isn’t practical. But it would get us comfortably through one boondocking night before having to recharge at a campground. 

Despite its weight — a formidable 137 pounds — it’s remarkably nimble thanks to a well-thought-out transport design. With four caster wheels and an extendable handle, it pulls along nicely, like a piece of carry-on luggage. A bottom handle also makes team carrying easier.

Other plusses: the internals are first-rate, including GaN transistor technology, a “drop-proof” anodized aluminum frame, and an EV charging plug. We’re also fans of Anker’s straightforward marketing.

What we’re really drooling over, though, is its 25A, 240V split-phase outlet. That isn’t a big deal for most people, but for those of us who weld, it opens up a world of opportunities for mobile workshops. We’ve been using it with our Miller 180 aluminum welding machine without issue. It also easily runs the chop saw, power drill, lawn mower, and more. We even used it to do a load of laundry, which it completed on less than a single charge. 

There are a few downsides. While the upright design is desirable for some situations, like stowing it in a corner and keeping you from having to hunch over to grab the handle, it does make it top-heavy in a vehicle. Also, only two of the 120V receptacles work when it’s in UPS (uninterrupted power supply) mode. Note: Some of the early models came with some bugs, so if you have one of those, make sure to update the software. 

If you have a larger RV, mobile workshop, or mobile air conditioning needs, the Anker Solix F3800 Plus is what you need. It’s a great option for replacing noisy gas and diesel-powered generators, and once you get off the road, it’s an easy plug-and-play for home backup or a solar setup to save money on your power bill. It’s heavy but not unwieldy, durable, reliable, and aesthetically appealing. We wish we’d had one of these during the last hurricane we weathered.

It’s rare to see such a specialized power station, but Bluetti is fully banking on the outdoor photography market with its Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Station ($599). It even comes with a camera-centric backpack, so you can charge multiple devices, as well as the power station itself, during your hike into the wilds.

You may be wondering, if this is the only power station that’s been integrated into a backpack, then why did the Anker Solix C300 DC win our best for backpacking category? The only reason is that the Handsfree 2 is sooo specialized, and so large, that it’s not a fit for most people’s lightweight backpacking and hiking needs. But, if you’re a pro shutterbug or otherwise need heavier-duty power on the go, then consider this your best backpack category winner.

First, let’s address the bull elk in the room. If a 500W power station typically costs about $500, then that whopping extra $100 must translate into a flimsy pack, right? Happily, that is not the case. The 60L pack is well-thought-out and rugged.

We put it to the test on a 5-mile hike, camera gear included, and while it wasn’t as nimble as our regular packs, it was decently comfortable. The pack also functions like a camera bag, with configurable compartments and a front that zips open for easy access. A zipper on the side gives access to the ports, and the rain cover is included.

As for the power station itself, the Bluetti Handsfree 2 is a solid piece of gear. It’s IPX4 waterproof rated, which means splashes and a light rain are no biggie. You shouldn’t take it for a swim, but it would be a great fit for milder boat-based excursions. With 514 Wh and a 700W output, it can do some serious lifting, too.

The Handsfree 2 can take in 350W of solar, and Bluetti’s PV60L 60-watt panel folds into 6 pieces, making it ultra compact. You can also hang it off the pack to charge the power station while you’re hoofing along. Of course, you can also use the power station without the pack.

The only feature the Handsfree 2 is missing is a 12V port for charging it through a vehicle. Of course, it’s also heavy to carry, but us photographers are used to lugging things around. If you want something a little lighter, try Bluetti’s Handsfree 1, which has a 300W output, 268 Wh, and a 42L pack.

Bottom line: The Bluetti Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Station combines a quality power source with a rugged backpack at a very fair price. If you’re a professional photographer or videographer who tends to run out of juice in the wilds, this is a game-changer. It would also be great for boating excursions that don’t involve whitewater, and a fit for wildland fire fighters and other remote jobs.

The sleek Anker Solix C800 Plus ($649) is a new hotshot on the market. Its 1,200-watt inverter delivers 20% to 50% more than similar-size offerings from competitors. That opens up the range of appliances without having to upgrade to a larger station. Plus, its sub-$700 price includes something no other power station has: a telescoping light that attaches to the top. 

When we first heard about the light part, it sounded a little gimmicky. Who actually needs this? Turns out, we do. Even though we have ample solar lighting and headlamps, the C800 light is handy for camp cooking. It also delivers on ambiance and utility with modes including a 4,500K color-temperature floodlight/flashlight and a pleasant, warm 3,000K candle tone. Since the light mounts via magnet, it doubles as a grab-and-go flashlight, then charges automatically once stowed in its case under the top lid. 

Other notable features include Anker’s unibody aluminum frame for durability, a three-temperature light bar on the front, and enough AC outlets to get you into trouble (there are five, so please refrain from plugging in everything you own all at once). Another plus: Anker excels at aesthetics, so the C800 doesn’t make you feel like Robot from Lost in Space is staring you down from across the campfire all evening. 

Our only complaints are small— the grab handles stick out the sides, making it slightly bulkier than it needs to be, and it only takes 300W of solar input (though it has faster AC input than the competition, and with 300W, you can still charge it in less than three hours). Also, if you need to save $50, buy the straight Solix C800, which has an empty top storage compartment, instead of the light accessory.

If you like a few higher-powered luxuries but don’t have a lot of cargo space or budget, the Anker Solix C800 Plus is perfect for opening up the world of coffee makers and small space heaters normally reserved for bigger units. It’s also perfect for newbie campers who haven’t yet acquired a lot of lighting, or someone who needs power to work in dim spaces, like a mechanic, DJ, or film set data wrangler. 

The BioLite BaseCharge 1500 ($1,299) is one of the lightest power stations in this lineup, based on watt-hours per pound. It’s also one of the most compact. Recessed handles make it easy to pack around in a vehicle, plus it doesn’t take up extra space on a shelf. It has wireless cell phone charging on the top, which is really convenient, a built-in and resettable energy odometer, and BioLite accessories like the Solar Home 620+ lighting kit for off-grid living. 

We particularly like BioLite’s 100W solar panels, which fold up a little smaller than most, and include a level-bubble so you can align them more accurately with the sun. As a bonus, they’re also a certified climate-neutral brand, that does a lot of humanitarian work bringing renewable energy to developing countries. 

We’ve been testing the updated BaseCharge 1500 for nearly 6 months now, and it has worked quite well. It does have a few downsides, though. It uses NMC battery technology, which means that it doesn’t have nearly the charging lifespan of the others in this lineup. It only comes with a 2-year warranty, as opposed to everyone else’s five-ish-year warranties.

It’s also one of the only ones without an app (the DJI Power 1000 being another), though we very rarely have the need to use power station apps. It also has a bulky external power cord. But perhaps the biggest downside is a slow AC (wall) charge rate of 400 W. Strangely enough, wall-charging speed is one of the main upgrades in the improved BaseCharge (it was 100W), but at 400W, it’s still on the low side.

Per watt-hour, the BioLite BaseCharge 1500 is as light and compact as they come; and with 1,500 Wh, it’s got enough juice to power most anything for a solid weekend outdoors. In this day and age, we’d suggest going with a more modern LiFePO-powered station, but if a light weight (and that sweet wireless phone charger) are essentials, this unit can make good sense. 

Bluetti’s Elite 200 V2 ($1,699) is a workhorse for camping, emergency home backup, and remote job sites. While its output and watt-hours are similar to the BougeRV Rover 2000 and Anker F2000, it can charge faster from the wall than either, plus it takes up less space, with nearly half of the cubic-inch volume of the Anker.

During testing, we decided to put its powerful inverter through a stress test by running a portable air conditioner. It cranked along for a solid 30 minutes without showing any signs of overheating. The Elite 200 V2 can run most other appliances, too, from toasters to refrigerators.

On its website, Bluetti claims it can even power your dishwasher for an hour, which made us chuckle — when the power goes out, I’m not sure who would put that task in the priority column, but hey, if you can, then why not?

Internally, the Elite 200 V2 also pushes technological boundaries with the industry’s first automotive-grade battery, which guarantees high performance and safety standards, even though it’s NMC composition. A dual-layer outer shell gives it drop protection, and an advanced battery management system prioritizes a quiet fan. Most impressively, the AC inverter only takes up 10W of power while it’s engaged, which leaves more power for running stuff around camp — and allowed us to get a full 3 more hours of electric cooler use.

Other pluses: It recharges quickly from both wall and solar. It can charge nine devices at the same time, and functions as a UPS, with a 15 ms rating and four modes. It has smart app control and can be paired with Bluetti’s new car charger, the Charger 1, for 562W charging while driving.

Bluetti also makes 200W and 250W portable solar panels to pair with it. As a side note, we’re also excited about Bluetti’s new Apex 300, which has a 240V outlet and is on par with Anker’s Solix F3800 Plus for home backup and EV charging.

After testing the Elite 200 V2 for several months now, the only downsides we’ve found so far is that it’s not expandable and it doesn’t have an IP weather rating. But if you need expansion, try Bluetti’s AC200L, which also has a NEMATT-30 port charger.

Bottom line: If saving space and having high output are your priorities, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is a solid product with excellent components, perfect for heavy use in a workshop, emergency backup situation, or extended camping excursion. It’s a solid product from an innovative company, with an excellent dollars-to-watt-hours price.

When DJI announced its entry into the power station game, it was a head-scratcher. Why would the world’s most recognized drone maker go sideways like that? But after we thought about it, it did make sense. Drones need to be recharged, and they are everywhere in outdoor and action sports. More than just a drone fuel-up station, this first foray into power stations impressed us.

The DJI Power 1000 ($999) is on the higher capacity side of the outdoor-oriented power stations in our current testing stable. It houses 1,024 Wh and can push it out at 2,200W continuously, 2,600W for 30 seconds, and peaks at 4,400W. This is an impressively large inverter for a 1,000Wh power station (even our top-pick Anker Solix C1000 can’t touch it), and it’ll run many household appliances with ease.

The first thing we noticed was how fast it charged — just over an hour, and it was at full capacity. We loaded it into our van and used it to power a refrigerator, computer, and personal electronics for an overnighter. The two USB-C ports can supply 140W, which came in handy for our computer and a kid’s iPad, charging both quickly. One of the two AC ports connected to the fridge, and we intermittently plugged into other ports.

The Power 1000 successfully powered the 75L dual-zone fridge and all the personal electronics for about 15 hours and had some power to spare when we got back home. It was also noticeably quiet — DJI claims it hums along at 23 dB — a huge boon for campers looking to keep a low profile. The bright display clearly indicated battery life status and other vital metrics, and we never felt the unit get overly hot.

We did try to supplementally charge the DJI Power 1000 with a Zignes 100W panel that the brand provided, but we felt like it was an inappropriate size for a power station with this kind of capacity. A deeper dive into the solar input ranges reveals the reason: this power station, combined with the accessory Solar Adapter, can input up to 400W but do it at only 12-30 V — a good bit low for using larger panels.

Besides the solar snafu, this power station also requires a grip of different cords and dongles to alter the “Smart DC” ports that DJI uses to cover the spread of different outlets out there. The upside here is that DJI drones charge incredibly quickly using these ports, and this is where the unit truly shines. A number of newer DJI drone model batteries will fully charge within half an hour on the Power 1000.

Still a fresh design, DJI has carved out a solid niche with the Power 500 and 1000 stations. If you are already a DJI drone operator looking to expand your horizons, it’s a natural way to go. As an option for more general use, we still find it to be a bit lacking due to the accessory cord and solar charging issues — but could well see these issues being addressed in later iterations.

At $209, the slim BougeRV JuiceGo has the lowest retail price of any power station in our lineup. It’s not packed with bells and whistles, and its looks are throwback to bit-mappy 1980s tech, but if you’re getting into the power station game, this is as good a place as any to start.

Weighing in at slightly more than 6 pounds, the JuiceGo is another good candidate for a backpack. At every turn, from output to charging ports, it’s less impressive than the Anker Solix C300 DC, but it’s also 30% less money. And while it’s not IP rated, it feels sturdy enough to kick around in the back of the car without worry. BougeRV also sells a waterproof carrying bag for extra protection.

Its 240 watt-hours is 15% less than the Anker Solix C300 PD and the EcoFlow River 3 Plus, but still ample to charge a computer two or three times, or even run an electric cooler for the afternoon. It has a handy emergency LED light and comes with a carrying strap. Its display is tiny, but it adequately delivers the necessary information. BougeRV also makes quality foldable solar panels in 50W and 100W, which pair nicely with the unit, plus come with small carabiners, which we found were useful for securing them on a windy day.

The JuiceGo can power devices up to 150W, which is ample for small electronics, but not the coffee grinder. It recharges slowly, at just 100W, and if you want to do that using a wall outlet, you’ll have to buy the AC adapter separately. Also, the DC power cable that comes with it is chintzy, so it only charges it at 54 W out of the box. We ended up using one of our own cables, and that got to the full 100W speed. But, again, for the price, it’s a solid little power station.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for an affordable power station from a reputable company, the BougeRV JuiceGo is a good choice. It’s a simple, hassle-free way to keep your personal electronics charged on the road or at camp, plus it makes a good companion to have on site for roadside emergencies, or at home for low-watt backup power during an outage.