$279.00
Jackery
Power your gear anywhere, anytime with these portable power stations
These portable power stations can power your fridge, campsite, or RV road trip
The Jackery Explorer 300 is a great, low-cost choice for smaller energy needs. With a 293Wh capacity, you’ll get a few hours of use for power-hungry camping equipment or several days of charging for basic smartphone devices. At 7.1 lbs, it’s a lightweight option that you can easily carry with the hefty built-in handle, and it’s also impact-resistant and made of flame-retardant material.
You can also get the Jackery Explorer 300 with a Jackery SolarSaga 100-watt portable solar panel bundled together at a steep discount compared to buying them separately. The solar panel folds in half for convenient storage and is IP68 dust and waterproof, so you can use it outside without worrying too much about the weather.
Anker is one of our favorite brands for smaller charging needs, but it also makes some of the best portable power stations. The Anker Solix C1000 strikes a great balance between power, weight and price. It can power large appliances like refrigerators, microwaves and electric stoves, but is easy to take camping or road tripping due to its portable size.
It’s also high-tech: you can connect it via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and monitor its performance and power levels in the Anker app.
Pair the Anker Solix C1000 with an Anker Solix PS200 200-watt solar panel, and you can get unlimited power as long as the sun is shining. The PS200 solar panel is more powerful and more adjustable than the Jackery SolarSaga, with a kickstand that you can set at different angles. It has four panel segments that fold down for storage.
If you need even more battery capacity and power, consider this station from Ecoflow. It has nearly double the total capacity of our Anker pick and even higher maximum output, making it well-suited for home backup and RV use. Like the Anker Solix, you can control and monitor the power station manually or through the EcoFlow mobile app.
Ecoflow also makes the larger, more powerful Ecoflow Delta 3 Ultra, but it’s pricier and weighs nearly 75 pounds, stretching the definition of “portable” in my mind.
For some folks, bigger is better — pair the Ecoflow Delta 3 Max with this EcoFlow 400W Solar Panel, and you have seriously effective solar power wherever you are. The solar panel is rated at 400 watts, meaning it should convert more energy faster than our other, smaller recommendations.
If you’re not totally sold on the idea of a portable power station and want to try one out without spending too much, consider this option from Westinghouse. It costs much less than our other recommendations and is also the lightest. The trade-off is that it has a lower total capacity, meaning it is best suited to smaller devices like smartphones, cameras, speakers and lights.
Unlike our other top picks, Westinghouse does not offer a station plus solar panel bundle, so you’ll have to purchase the Westinghouse 60W Solar Panel separately if interested.
Portable solar power banks combine the compact convenience of a power bank and the recharging capabilities of a solar panel. At least, on paper. In reality, portable solar power banks are far less efficient than separate power and solar equipment.
“All-in-one solutions like portable solar power banks go against everything I know about batteries, namely that batteries don’t like to get hot,” says Mike Kreis, a product, sales and customer service specialist at REI. A regular power bank is much more convenient and effective for charging small electronics on the go, without the fuss of a solar panel. Solar panels are great for when you are truly off the grid, and don’t want to rely on, say, a vehicle to power your devices, says Kreis.
If you’re often in situations where you have significant energy requirements without access to electricity — say, when running an RV or hefty home appliance at a camping site — then a portable power station could be well worth the investment.
A major benefit of using portable power stations is that they operate quietly (if not silently) and can be used indoors, unlike gas generators, says Nate Wade, a former merchandise manager at Batteries Plus. They are great to use in lieu of an extension cord or AC outlet, whenever you’re off the grid or in the event of a power outage.
A portable power station is essentially a large battery that can charge and power devices small and large — think smartphones, speakers, microwaves and even refrigerators.
A solar generator is typically a portable power station that includes a solar panel in the box or integrated into the station itself, says Kreis.
There’s a world of difference between power banks and portable power stations. Power banks are usually compact devices with a handful of charges available for small electronics, such as a smartphone or laptop, when you’re short of other energy sources throughout the day. A portable power station is going to be considerably larger and is aimed at powering more energy-hungry devices, such as a fridge, RV, or even an off-grid cabin — with heavy-duty applications for those outdoors.
Unlike a gas generator, which you can simply add more fuel to, a portable power station needs to be recharged from an electricity or solar source. You should know how long your portable power station is likely to last and plan your activities accordingly, says Wade.
It’s not recommended due to the risk of overheating and shortened battery lifespan.
This largely depends on the station’s battery capacity and power output. Larger power stations have greater battery capacity and can theoretically run for longer, assuming you are powering similar devices. Portable power stations, like all rechargeable electronics, slowly lose capacity over time, so an older one may not run as long as a newer one.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Henry St. Leger has been a gadget reporter since 2017, covering the latest developments in consumer hardware, from TVs and projectors to gaming consoles and VR headsets. He also reports on games for GamesRadar, The Times and IGN.
Harry Rabinowitz is the tech reporter for NBC Select, covering technology and fitness, including stories on smartwatches, wireless earbuds and air purifiers.
Leger and Rabinowitz interviewed battery, power and energy experts to better understand the intricacies of portable power stations and solar power.
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