Portable power stations are a great choice for campers and travelers, giving you a portable battery pack to charge any handheld devices, speakers, lights and appliances you take with you on the go. But a portable power station is even more versatile than most people realize. You can use a portable power station within your home to funnel power to a device without easy access to a charging point or even on a camping site hundreds of miles from home.
Portable power stations are a natural alternative to diesel power stations, with the benefit of being able to charge them from your own AC socket or you can top up the battery with solar panels in the great outdoors. This guide has the best portable power stations, from affordable, lightweight models to heavy-duty options with built-in solar panels.
SKIP AHEAD The best portable power station | How to shop for the best portable power station | Why trust NBC Select?
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How we picked the best portable power station
When picking these suggestions, I drew on the advice of hardware and computing experts — as well as my own experience as a gadget reporter and kept the below criteria in mind:
- Connectivity: Portable power stations must be able to connect to the devices you need charged. I deliberately chose devices with multiple charging outlets that catered to a mix of cable standards (USB-A, USB-C, MicroUSB and AC plugs) as well as compatibility with solar panels.
- Rugged design: A portable power station is very often going to be used outdoors, meaning you’ll ideally want water, weather, dust and impact resistance so it can shoulder a mix of environmental conditions.
- Portability: How portable should a portable power station be? I looked at the weight of prospective models, whether they came with a handle, and if there were other intuitive design choices to help with traveling.
The best portable power station
Anker Solix C1000
- Anker smart app
- Five year warranty
- Can be loud
Anker is a good household name for both compact power banks and heavy-duty power stations like this one. The Anker Solix C1000 has an impressive 4.5 Amazon rating across over 400 reviews and is a great choice for charging small gadgets or camping equipment, with the option to boost its 1800W AC output to 2400W for more power-hungry devices. It also comes with a handy companion app for smartphones and (as the ‘Solix’ name suggests) sockets to connect solar panels.
Manufacturer: Anker | Capacity: 1056Wh | AC Output: 1800-2400W | Number of outlets: 11 | Dimensions: 14.8 x 8.07 x 10.5 in. | Weight: 28.44 lbs
Jackery Explorer 300
- Lightweight and portable
- Ideal for small devices
- Limited power
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 a hefty handle, and it’s also impact-resistant and made of flame-retardant material.
Manufacturer: Jackery | Capacity: 293Wh | AC Output: 300W | Number of outlets: 6 | Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.2 x 7.8 in. | Weight: 7.1 lbs
EcoFlow Delta 2 Max with 400W Solar Panel
- 15 charging outlets
- Solar panel included
- Pricey
EcoFlow makes a wide range of quality portable power stations, but this Delta 2 Max model is particularly worth a look. At $1,800, it’s one of the pricier models on this list, but with a 2400-3400W AC output, 15 charging outlets and IP68 water resistance to protect it from the great outdoors, this is a great choice as a rugged, portable power station for some hefty power demands. This particular model has a 4.6 Amazon rating across 577 reviews.
Manufacturer: EcoFlow | Capacity: 2048Wh | AC Output: 2400W (3400W boost mode) | Number of outlets: 15 | Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.7 x 20 in. | Weight: 35.3 lbs
EcoFlow Delta 2
- 15 charging outlets
- Fast charging
- Solar panel not included
The EcoFlow Delta 2 has 4.3 stars on Amazon across 1,252 reviews, however it is a little less advanced than the Max model above. It has a slightly weaker 1800W AC output, but it still has 15 charging outlets and EcoFlow’s rugged, outdoor-ready design. There’s no foldable solar panel included in this price, meaning you’ll have to buy one separately or make do charging the Delta 2 through an AC outlet, but it does come with a hefty waterproof bag so you can transport the power station with ease.
Manufacturer: EcoFlow | Capacity: 1024Wh | AC Output: 1800W | Number of outlets: 15 | Dimensions: 8.3 x 11.1 x 15.7 in. | Weight: 27 lbs
Westinghouse iGen200s
- Compact, portable design
- Ideal for small devices
- Low wattage
The Westinghouse iGen200s has a 4.4 Amazon rating across over 3,000 reviews, no doubt thanks to its low $130 price and convenient form factor, weighing just 4 lbs. This is on the smaller side of portable power stations, with a maximum 194 AC output that makes it best suited to charging smartphones, DLSR cameras and Bluetooth speakers. According to the brand, it can fully charge a smartphone up to 21 times, making it useful for primary handheld devices over a long trip.
Manufacturer: Westinghouse | Capacity: 194Wh | AC Output: 194W | Number of outlets: 6 | Dimensions: 8 x 3.6 x 7.36 in. | Weight: 4.03 lbs
Anker Solix F2000
- Anker smart app
- Luggage case design
- Heavyweight
If you need a portable power station that’s capable of charging larger devices but still easy to carry around, consider the Anker Solix F2000, which uses a luggage case design that lets you easily wheel it around — ideal for travel. The 12 charging outlets allow you to connect a variety of different devices, and as a Solix model, you can link up the F2000 with a solar panel to charge in the great outdoors.
Manufacturer: Anker | Capacity: 2048Wh | AC Output: 2400-2800W | Number of outlets: 12 | Dimensions: 20.7 x 15.5 x 9.8 in. | Weight: 67.3 lbs
How to shop for the best portable power station
In a market full of portable power stations of different shapes, sizes and battery capacities, there are a few key metrics to keep in mind.
Battery size: We spoke to Nate Wade, the Merchandise Manager at Batteries Plus, which sells power and charging equipment from flashlights and generators to solar panels and portable power stations. Wade says, “When shopping for a portable power station, you should first consider what devices and how many of them you need to power or charge. Depending on those devices, you should consider the capacity, wattage, number of output ports (USB-A, USB-C, AC Outlet, etc.), the time it takes to recharge and the weight of your power station.”
Smart features: Jon Williams, energy expert and CEO of Viridi, adds that a benefit of portable power stations is that they’re often smarter than the older gas generators they’re replacing, with improved connectivity so that “a user can control their battery, and receive instantaneous data concerning their battery health, load profile and fuel savings.” So keep an eye out for your power station’s smart features and how easily you can track their battery status over time.
Overheating: You’ll want to make sure that any power station you’re using has been tested using the UL 9540A standard, which ensures that the battery won’t start a fire in the case of overheating, or ‘thermal runaway’.
Recharging: Lastly, you should be fully aware of how to recharge your power station between uses, especially if you’re out in the wild. “This can come from a number of sources,” says Williams, “including the power grid, renewables such as portable solar or wind, as well as a combustion generator using diesel or natural gas.”
Meet our experts
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.
- Jon Williams, energy expert and CEO of Viridi, has been in the energy storage industry for over a decade. Viridi develops energy storage systems for use in industrial, medical, commercial, municipal and residential building applications.
- Nate Wade is the Merchandise Manager at Batteries Plus, working across flashlights, power equipment (generators, inverters, Back UPS), solar panels and portable power stations.
Why trust NBC Select?
I have been a gadget reporter since 2017, covering the latest developments in consumer hardware, from TVs and projectors to gaming consoles and VR headsets. I also report on games for GamesRadar, The Times and IGN.
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