Portable power stations are becoming essential tech to take along on camping and road trips. They are also super useful if you live in an area with an unreliable power-grid (us South African's are somewhat experts in this department!).
Here I take a look at seven of the best portable power stations currently on the market. I've based my choice on their ability to run devices and appliances as well as power output and storage capacity.
As an avid outdoor adventurer myself, I have been more biased on features that suit weekends away in the outdoors. These are also great products for digital nomads and others who need a back-up electrical supply.
With so many choices, and temptingly cheap options popping up every day, I hope these detailed reviews help you find what you're looking for.
Best Portable Power Station (Top Picks)
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Best Value
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Best High Capacity
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8 Best All-Purpose Portable Power Stations
1. BLUETTI Portable Power Station EB3A - Best Overall
The BLUETTI EB3A pack a punch in terms of power supply for its size. Overall, it takes the prize as the best portable power station due to its high output capacity, fast charge technology and range of uses.
This portable power supply has 248Wh battery which can be charged from your vehicle, the plug or solar panels (BLUETTI sells these separately - see the BLUETTI PV200 review).
It has a power capacity of 600W which can be surged to 1200W to power larger appliances. There are multiple charging ports including two very useful AC plug points. The device can also function as a UPS to protect computers or essential machines during power drops.
Its super compact and perfect to take with on camping trips or as a back-up power supply in your vehicle. This is also a great buy if you live somewhere with an unreliable grid power supply.
Read our detailed BLUETTI EB3A review.
Main Features
What we like
What we dislike
Key Takeaway
All in all, the BLUETTI Portable Power Station EB3A has a great capacity-to-size ratio. It's a good investment for campers and those who need a back-up power source. Read the full review on this device here.
2. BLUETTI EB70S Portable Power Station- Best Value
The BLUETTI EB70S has enough power to keep your devices charged on a weekend away, plus run small appliances for a few hours.
It may not be the lightest machine on the market (9,.7kg), but the foldable handle makes it easy enough to move around when you need to.
The 716Wh battery has a capacity of 800W which can be sustained for several hours. You can charge it from the wall, with solar panels or from your vehicle's cigarette socket. All these adapters and cables come included.
The device is extremely user friendly with multiple USB ports as well as AC points. lights and and LCD screen tell you exactly what's on and how much power you are drawing.
The LiFePO4 battery has a long life of 2,400+ cycles. It also has inbuilt battery protection to protect from overloading, overheating and surges.
Overall a great buy and an asset to have around the home office or on a road trip!
Main Features
What we like
What we dislike
Key Takeaway
The BLUETTI EB70S is more heavy duty than your average small power station. Its a great back-up energy source for living in areas with unreliable electrical power. Its also perfect for those who want to do more than charge phones while camping.
Interested? Read our full review of the BLUETTI EB70S.
3. Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300
The Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300 is a solid pick for a portable energy supply.
The Nomad 10 is ultra lightweight at only 7.1lbs (3.2kg). The Sinewave AC inverter produces clean energy that is is safe for sensitive devices.
It has a 300W capacity which can be sustained for several hours. You also have a surge option to push power supply to 500W for a short period.
When plugged in to the wall, te device is fully charged in 2hrs. It can be charged simultaneously through the wall charger (90Wh) and the USB- C point (60W). This can cut charging time down to an hour.
The Jackery Power station can be charged with solar energy. Jackery sells panels separately.
There are six charging ports including a fast charging USB 3.0 port. The battery management system (BMS) will also protect the power station and connected devices from surges.
The Jackery Explorer 300 is solidly built and has a carry handle. Unfortunately this handle doesn't fold and can take up some extra space
Main Features
What we like
What we dislike
Key Takeaway
The Portable Power Station Explorer 300 is ideal to keep small devices running on a camping trip. Its not going to support anything heavier than 300W but it will do the job if you need more capacity than a power bank.
4. EF ECO FLOW Portable Power Station Delta Pro 2 - Best High Capacity
The ECO FLOW Delta 2 may be bigger than other portable power stations but that's because it has a lot more power capacity.
This device weighs a hefty 12kg and has a capacity of 1024Wh. With the handles, its still possible to haul around on a camping trip.
This power station has an output capacity of 1,800W. On the X-Boost setting its as much as 2,400W.That's enough to power just about anything!
This LiFePO4 battery is ultra durable and should last 3000+ charges. The 1kWh capacity can be expanded all the way to 3kWH.
Despite its size, this device can charge up to 80% in 50 minutes. It is also compatible with solar panels, up to 500W input.
It has 15 outlets including UK 3-prog plug points, USB, USB A and USB c. You can control the charge rate with a downloadable app for this device.
Main Features
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Key Takeaway
The Nekteck 28W Solar Charger is a durable, lightweight solar panel charger that is good value for money and works efficiently, provided there is sunlight.
5. Anker 521 Portable Power Station
If you are looking for a small and simple power station, the Anker 521 is an affordable option that will work for you.
This little power station has a 256W capacity and a 200W output. This is somewhat less than competitors but is reflected in the lower price. It can recharge phones up to 20X and will also recharge drones, laptops and camera equipment.
There are 6 outputs including a 60W, fast charging USB-C port which is multifunctional as an input and output port. It also has 2 AC ports.
It has a high-quality battery which can be recharged about 3000X and still reach 80%. The LED display shows the battery percentage as well as how long to full charge/ remaining power.
The LED light is a bar which is much better for lighting up a work area or campsite than a focused beam. I also prefer this light to those on other power supplies as it is less blinding.
The device has a battery saver mode. It can also be recharged by solar (maximum 65W input)
Main Features
What we like
What we dislike
Key Takeaway
TheAnker 521 Portable Power Station Upgraded with LiFePO4 Battery, 256Wh 6-Port PowerHouse, 300W (Peak 600W) Solar Generator (Solar Panel Optional), 2 AC Outlets, 60W USB-C PD Output, Outdoor Generatoris on the lower end of power capacity but is a step up from power banks. If you only need to power and recharge low capacity electronics, this device will get the job done. Its great for a weekend camping trip. If you need more capacity for coffee makers, fans etc. best consider something bigger.
6. FlashFish 300W Portable Solar Generator
Although sold as a solar generator, the FlashFish 300W works well as a portable power supply.
It has a 350W output which will power a range of devices. You can run air-compressors, tvs, CPAP machines, car vacuum cleaners and even small fridges.
It's compact and powerful enough to take with for a few days camping. This also makes a good emergency power supply to keep under the seat of a vehicle. Its got a nice, suitcase shape with a retractable carry handle.
Compared to the other power stations we reviewed, this one takes a long time to recharge (about 6hrs). This won't be a problem if you can charge it overnight or in the car on a long road trip to the campsite.
It can be recharged with solar power. Unfortunately, you cannot use the device as a power source while its recharging.
Main Features
What we like
What we dislike
Key Takeaway
The FlashFish 300W has a good power capacity for its size and price range. The rectangular design is attractive with ports on both ends. The device takes up to 6 hours to fully charged and cannot be used as an output during charging. If you are looking for a power supply that will run continuously plugged into solar panels, this is not it. Otherwise, good value for a decent output.
7. Westinghouse iGen200s Portable Power Station - Best Budget Option
The iGen200s from Westinghouse gives you unbeatable value for its price. At just under $140, It is our pick for the best budget Portable Power Station.
This device has been designed for outdoor use. The bright blue case is tough enough to survive a camping trip or music festival. It has a bright inbuilt flashlight.
The iGen200 has 6 charging outlets including a USB. USB-C and fast charging USB 3.0 port. There are also two AC ports . The AC and DC compartments can be manually powered on and off by switches.
The 300W maximum capacity charges phones, speakers, cameras and drones multiple times. This is also enough capacity to run a humidifier or small fridge for 1-2 hours.
The downside to this cheaper device is that it takes about 4 hours to recharge from a plug. This is a lot longer than power stations that have fast charging technology. It takes 5 hours if you want to recharge from the car or solar panels (sold seperately).
Main Features
What we like
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Key Takeaway
The Westinghouse iGen200s Is a great buy if you are looking for a budget friendly, entry level power supply. It has a 300W battery which, when full can recharge multiple small devices without issue. Despite its small size, it boasts a variety of output ports. Good as a power supply for festivals, camping and fishing trips.
8. Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240 - Buyers Choice
Even though we already have one Jackery explorer on this list, it would be unfair to leave off the Explorer 240 which is one of the most popular small power stations on the market.
This is the simpler version with a smaller capacity. The explorer 240 has a battery capacity of 240Wh and an output of 200W.
The second difference the 240 model is that it only has one AC output plug. It has two standard USB ports (no USB 3 port).
The explorer 240 portable power station is solar compatible. It can be recharged faster using a combination of sola and AC input. Jackery recommends using their panels which are sold separately.
Main Features
What we like
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Key Takeaway
Jackery is a reliable brand with a good name across the globe. No matter which of their products you buy, you will get quality. Its worth noting that at full price, the Jackery Explorer 240 costs only only a little less (at the time of writing, around $30) than the 300 Explorer option.
Its worth spending a few extra bucks to get the extra capacity, speed charge function and additional outputs on the upgrade.
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See more reviews of outdoor equipment and our detailed hiking technology guide. Or check out these reviews:
I've operated a factory authorized inverter repair center for over 23 years and can tell you from experience that these power stations all use lightweight, high frequency, transformerless inverters, and cannot tolerate the surge that is generated when trying to power inductive loads such as refrigerators, power tools, motors and microwave ovens. You might be lucky and be able to sart such loads when these power stations are new, but every time you do, you're damaging the FETs in your power station and your power station will fail, sooner rather than later. If you want a power station that's going to last, you should buy a low frequency transformer based power station instead.