The Best Portable Power Stations of 2024

Goal Zero is on its sixth generation of power stations, and after all of those iterations, they’ve definitely hit gold with the new Yeti 300. With a price of $299, it’s the smallest and most affordable in the lineup, but the reason we awarded it “Best Budget” is because it packs so many standout features for its size. 

This little powerhouse can run everything from an air pump to a fridge. 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.

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 100-watt 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 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 2 hours, plus there’s just something soothing and welcoming about Anker’s look. 

For about nine months 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 1-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.

If you need serious boondocking power in your van/RV/camper or if you want enough energy to create a portal in the time-space continuum, the Goal Zero Yeti Pro 4000 is a great choice. It’s also the way to go if you want your power station to double for home backup use, or if you rely on Starlink, which consumes a stellar 1,000 watt-hours every day.

The new Anker Solix F3800 ($3,999) is a power leviathan. It comes with almost 4,000 watt-hours, expandable to nearly 30,000, which is one reason it won our “Best Home Backup” category. 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 12,000-watt 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.

The F3800 can also handle a respectable 2,400 watts of solar input, which jumps to unlimited when your home is integrated with Anker’s plug-and-play Home Power Panel. (As a side note, Anker is jumping into the home backup market with both feet, with its new X1 Energy Storage System, which debuted this year).

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 132 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 25-amp, 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 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.

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 (Anker is the only other brand advertising this tech). It also has a speedy wall (AC) charge rate, two convenient wireless phone charging pads on top, a 30-amp RV plug, an LED light bar, and a water-resistant, shatterproof interface and faceplate. 

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. 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 and expandability — all three of which are not important deciding factors for some people.

While not the first to market with a hot-swappable battery, the Bluetti AC180T Power Station ($1,499) is the idea executed excellently and gives the station the ability to run from one or both 716 Wh modular batteries — and even use them for different appliances like a newly released fridge.

The AC180T is a 1,433 watt-hour unit that’ll put out 1,800 watts, and distributes it across four 15A outlets, a cigarette outlet, and USB-A and USB-C ports. It’ll receive 500 watts of solar input (about on par with the smaller Bluetti AC70, but not quite as capable as the Anker Solix C1000), and is all controllable from the Bluetti app, where you can monitor charging status, outputs, and turn on the Power Lift mode.

But the really exciting aspect of this power station is what’s under the hood: two removable and modular battery cells with handles that slot into a port on the top of the unit. These batteries open up a world of possibilities, and we recently used this functionality on a shorter road trip, where we only needed some juice and were able to save a bit of weight in our already overloaded rig.

Bluetti doesn’t specifically call it out, but we think that the biggest upside to user-replaceable cells is the ability to keep your power station going long into the future. While the AC180T is rated for 3,500 cycles, all LiFePO4 cells have a functional lifespan, and when our station gets a little long in the tooth, it’s nice to know that we can simply replace the battery packs instead of the entire unit.

In our testing, the AC180T was able to power a 1,200 W home air conditioning unit for just over an hour, as well as a small hobbyist welder (at half power) for 30 minutes before tapping out. Both of these tests were high-stress uses of the power station, but it didn’t stumble along the way.

The downside? The finer points of building a hot-swappable unit are still being sussed out, and the batteries certainly contribute some added heft to this unit (this unit is a good bit heavier than the similarly-specced BioLite BaseCharge 1500).

Furthermore, like any fledgling tech, it’s a bit of a dice roll when it comes to the industry settling on any type of standard for swappable cells. While Bluetti has already rolled a portable fridge unit that uses the same cells (and has plans for additional accessories), it’s anyone’s guess whether this will be the design that moves forward.

Even still, it’s obvious that the brand put in the hours to bring the design of the Bluetti AC180T Power Station to market, and this is one versatile unit. Looking forward, it’s exciting to imagine units like this that will be able to not only swap in fresh batteries without waiting to charge them, but also use those batteries for other applications.

The BioLite BaseCharge 1500 ($1,359) is the lightest power station 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 cellphone 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 BaseCharge 1500 for nearly a year 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 5-year warranty.

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 peculiarly slow AC (wall) charge rate of 100 watts — we’re guessing this is the input rate, based on calculating the charge time, though we can’t find the actual specs in their literature.

Per watt-hour, the 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. 

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 decent 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 3000K 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 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 3 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. 

Bluetti’s AC200L ($1,999) is a workhorse for camping, emergency home backup, and remote job sites. Overall, it’s a solid product from a well-respected company. 

One of the toughest of our tests on it was trying to stress out its 2,400W inverter with a portable air conditioner. It cranked along for a solid 30 minutes, draining down most of the way (what we expected based on our watt-hour calculations) without showing any signs of overheating or other stress.

For another test, we loaned it to a friend for his bucket-list drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. He and his partner both rely on CPAP machines, which run all night. When they finally decided to come back to Colorado three months later, they were in love with it. They now have a small army of Bluetti products, including several expansion batteries.

One major disappointment, however, is that it doesn’t actually recharge at a rate of 2,400 watts from AC (wall) power like the brand’s advertising merrily touts. We initially spotted that claim as a red flag, as 2,400 watts is significantly higher than any other portable power station claims.

After we couldn’t get it to charge at more than 1,416 watts, the brand explained that we would need a special 20A charging cable (unavailable yet) to reach the maximum charging rate of 2,400W. We’re not sure when this 20A cable is coming out or if they’re planning on sending them to everyone who bought one of these once it does. You can, however, get it to charge at 2,400 watts by combining wall power with a bunch of solar panels.

Looking past the charging snafu, the Bluetti AC200L is a solid product for heavy use in a workshop, emergency backup situation, or extended camping excursion. Just don’t buy it because you think it has faster wall AC input than the competitors.  

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 volts — 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 a half-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.

Of the three Mongo power stations in this guide, the Ecoflow Delta Pro ($3,600) is the smallest, lightest weight, and least expensive. It’s still a grueling 99 pounds, but that’s 16 pounds lighter than the Yeti and 33 pounds lighter than the Anker. It’s also the only one that claims to be rechargeable from EV charging stations, up to 3,400W per hour, which would be handy on a road trip.

You could fill it up in a little more than an hour, plus use it to get a few emergency miles out of your EV (about 10 to 20 miles). It can also be used as a home backup system when integrated with Ecoflow’s Smart Home Panel, adding up to six expansion batteries to get the total watt-hours to 25,000. That’s enough to run an average whole house for 24 to 48 hours. 

The Delta Pro offers up a couple of other unusual features. It can be paired with EcoFlow’s Smart Generator, which can charge it via a propane tank (like from a gas grill) or using unleaded gasoline. That feature would be great in a disaster situation, on a trek across lands without reliable services, or if you’re generally into survivalism (it’s worth noting, however, that dual-fuel generators are available from outside manufacturers, so you can add them to any power station).

Also, by combining two Delta Pros together with a special adaptor, you can get a functional 240V outlet while also doubling the output to 7,200 watts. That’s a nice option, but a little bit of an inconvenient and costly way to get there versus just buying the Anker Solix 3800 or the Delta Pro Ultra, though the latter isn’t practically portable.

Ecoflow also offers an “incredible 6,500W MultiCharge.” To get to those rates, however, you must combine 1,600 watts of solar with the 1,700-watt Smart Generator and either a 240V outlet, an EV charging station, or the Home Smart Panel. But that could be handy if you’re using it for a home backup system with integrated roof-top solar panels. 

And that brings us to our biggest complaint with the Delta Pro: while it is capable of doing a lot of things, in some cases, it’s clunky and impractical to get there. For example, the backup batteries come in the same housing shell as the Delta Pro main unit, which makes them rather bulky. That’s fine if they’re for home backup use, but it makes them not as good for a vehicle. Also, the Delta Pro only accepts 1,600W of solar, which is low compared with the other systems.  

If you want a large system for your RV/camper, which also doubles for home backup, the Ecoflow Delta Pro is a good option since it’s the smallest and lightest of the big dogs. When it comes to going big, however, we more often suggest leaning into it and snagging the Goal Zero Yeti Pro 4000 or Anker Solix F3800.

Read Review: Power Pretty Much Anything With the EcoFlow Delta Pro

A new offering to the market, the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus ($1,199) is a great place to start if you know you’re going to need some power but aren’t sure where your electric desires and wallet will max out. That’s because you can start by buying just the 1,200W unit, then adding up to three expansion batteries for a total of 5,000 Wh. It also has good solar input and can power some heavier-duty appliances, like a microwave, toaster oven, or larger space heater (but not all at the same time).  

This also marks Jackery’s evolution into LiFePO4 battery chemistry. The company still offers a number of NMC products, however, so shop other models with attention to that (they label their NMC products as “lithium-ion” versus “LiFePO4”).

On the downside, the Explorer 1000 Plus has below-average AC input (wall charging), but you can still charge it up in under 2 hours. Also, while the expandability sounds amazing, it’s not super practical for travel use. Moving, stacking, and re-stacking that many batteries at each stop might get a little tiresome.

On the flip side, breaking down your system into smaller batteries makes packing and lifting easier. Also, a big note on the warranty: it’s only three years unless you buy it from the company’s website, then you automatically get an additional two-year extended warranty. 

The Explorer 1000 Plus offers a decent bang for the buck, especially if there’s a chance you’re going to want to expand your capabilities in the future. It’s not quite the hottest thing we’ve tested comparatively, but it does tick a number of the standard boxes we’re looking for going forward.

The EcoFlow River 2 Pro ($599) takes the cake for weight and price. At 17 pounds, it’s a full 5 pounds lighter than other models with similar watt-hours. Its sub-$600 price is also a good $50-100 cheaper. Price and weight aside, which no trivial matters, the River 2 Pro is a quality unit from a reliable brand, if not otherwise a tad unremarkable. 

It’s lacking on solar input capacity, with just 220W, and it has at least 20% less inverter output than its competitors (but still enough to amply power most rechargeable items). It also has a bulky handle that sticks out of the back, making it less compact when it comes to packing around it in the car. The screen is rather basic but sufficient.  

Bottom line: If price and weight are at the top of your list, the River 2 Pro 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.

Read Review: Perfect Portable Power Station: EcoFlow River 2 Pro Review