Large capacity and cheap outdoor power supply

Should you buy a portable power station?

Over the past few years, as people have turned away from gas-guzzling generators, portable power stations have enjoyed a meteoric rise. Whether you’re camping for the weekend, living off-grid, or protecting against power outages, these big batteries can help. You can buy tons of power stations with varying portability and capacity.

What devices can a portable power station run?

So long as your portable power station has the right ports and enough capacity, it can run a massive range of devices, including phones, laptops, and desktops. Higher capacity units will also let you power appliances and charge electric vehicles. Check which ports your preferred model has, including USB Type-A and Type-C, AC and mains sockets.

What is the best portable power station?

By far the most portable power station in our guide, the EcoFlow River 2 Pro weighs just 17 pounds and has a large handle along the back. The LiFeP04 battery inside is good for 768 watt-hours, and I managed to squeeze a little more out of it in my tests. The ports are great for camping trips, with everything you need to charge small gadgets.

Are portable power stations suitable for camping?

Almost all compact portable power stations will be suitable for camping, but I rather like the Bluetti Handsfree 2 for this role - mostly because many of them are big, boxy, unwieldy units that take up a fair amount of space.

How do I choose a portable power station?

Price: Portable power stations can be very expensive, but discounts, sales, and deals are common. If you can afford to wait, you can very likely get your chosen power station for less. Capacity: Figure out how much power you need. The capacity is listed in watt-hours (Wh) or sometimes kilowatt-hours (kWh).

What ports does a portable power station have?

Ports: While you will find certain ports across the board with portable power stations, from AC outlets to USB-A, it is crucial to check the maximum charging rate and supported charging standards to avoid disappointment. You might find USB-C ports, car ports, barrel ports, and maybe inputs for solar, but assume nothing.