Why portable power stations are becoming a must-have camping staple

Editor’s top portable power station pick

Compact, clever and quietly capable, the Anker SOLIX C300 proves that good things really do come in small packages. This is a power station made for spontaneous weekends away, road trips and minimalist campers who want dependable power without lugging around anything bulky. It slips easily into a boot or storage tub, yet still delivers enough juice to keep phones charged, lights on and essential gadgets running well into the night.

As a model that I have personally tried and tested, I can’t recommend the C300 enough. Those who read my article on camping during a heatwave already know that my last outdoor adventure would have ended terribly if not for my portable power station. After all, how else could I have charged my phone, powered my self-inflating mattress, kept my tent cool with a full-sized fan, and run a projector all at once?

Power outputs: USB, USB-C, & wall outlet/AC ports

Power capacity: 288Wh Output | 300W Surge

Key features:

• Built-in light strip
• 7 ports for USB, USB-C, and wall plugs
• 2-way fast charging
• Bluetooth & WI_FI connectivity
• Recharges to 80% in under an hour
• Solar panel add-on available
• Warranty: 5 years

Available at:

• $399 from Amazon (best price)
• $499 from Anker SOLIX

Best portable power station for camping trips

If you’re the kind of person who likes to be prepared for anything, from long weekends off-grid to unexpected blackouts or just the satisfaction of knowing the fridge will stay cold no matter what, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is a seriously reassuring piece of kit. With enough capacity to run larger appliances, charge multiple devices at once and keep essential electronics ticking along, it’s designed for people who don’t want to compromise when it comes to power.

Despite its impressive output, it’s intuitive to operate, quick to recharge and quiet enough that you’ll forget it’s even running. With 4.7 stars, it’s also a model you can trust; one review states, “Absolutely a stellar battery pack. I have 2 smaller ones and the larger one, and this is enough to keep me in power for ages. So happy,” and another adds, “Great unit. Would give 5 but the AC input requires a 3-pin plug, which means for any 2-pin charger, I need an adaptor.”

Power outputs: USB, USB-C, & wall outlet/AC ports

Power capacity: 1,500W Output | 3,000W Surge

Key features:

• Smart app compatible
• Can power a 60W portable fridge for up to 15 hours
• 59-min ultra-fast emergency charge
• LiFePO4 battery for 4000 cycles up to 10 years of daily use
• Warranty: 3 years (+2-year extended warranty if bought through the Jackery site)

Available at:

• $799 from Jackery (additional warranty if bought direct)

Best portable power station for whole home backup

This isn’t merely a portable battery you throw in the boot for a camping weekend; it’s a next-level whole-home backup powerhouse with modular expandability and rugged endurance built into its core. At its heart, it’s about turning unpredictability into reliability and giving you confidence that lights, fridges, medical devices and even heavy appliances won’t skip a beat when the mains do.

The DELTA Pro Ultra starts with around 6 kWh of stored power, enough to cover essential loads, and can be stacked up to a staggering ~30 kWh with additional batteries. That means keeping the essentials running for days or even weeks, depending on how you set it up and what you’re powering.

Customers are truly happy with the investment, too, with one writing, “Top quality product and very good and safe packaging! Arrived within days of payment with communications informing you of progress. So easy to set up out of the box, just remember to lift with your legs and not your back because that 6.1 k/watt battery is 50kgs+.”

Power outputs: Connects to home electrical panel

Power capacity: 6kWh Output | 30kWh surge

Key features:

• Solar compatability: 1 hour of solar = 1 day of charge
• Silent during operation
• Covers even energy-hungry household appliances
• Operating temperatures: -20 to 45 degrees
• Dustproof and splashproof
• Warranty: 5 years

Available at:

• $7598 from EcoFlow
• $7598 from Amazon

Best for high-maintenance campers and caravans

This is the kind of powerhouse that makes you rethink what a portable station can really do. With a whopping ~2048 Wh capacity and a robust 2400 W inverter, it’s built to handle heavy loads: think refrigerators humming, microlights buzzing, power tools turning, and a bundle of gadgets all going at once without breaking a sweat.

Better still, it’s a model you can trust. With an impressive 4.95-star average and over 140 5-star reviews, plenty of customers are raving about the Anker SOLIX F2000; one writes, “Wow! Straight outta the box, this is impressive. Superb build quality – a real consumer-grade product. The Anker PowerHouse will power our internet, laptops, phones, TV and refrigerator, and even recharges from the car cigarette lighter port. Peace of mind, at last. And if we go away on a trip, it’s coming with us. Couldn’t be happier!”

Whether you’re outfitting a DIY van conversion, supporting a backyard event, or preparing for extended blackout scenarios, this is a station that feels like power on your terms rather than a compromise.

Power outputs: USB, USB-C, & wall outlet/AC ports & more

Power capacity: 2,048Wh Output | 2,400W Surge

Key features:

• Powers up to 12 devices at once
• Longest-lasting 10-year lifespan with Anker’s Proprietary InfiniPower Tech
• Smart App Energy Control
• Solar input capacity
• Portable & durable design
• TT-30 Port for RV
• Warranty: 5 years

Available at:

• $1799 from Anker SOLIX

Best portable power station under $350

The VoltX E600 is a refreshingly straightforward option that focuses on covering the basics and doing them well. It’s ideal for households wanting a dependable emergency power source, or campers who need enough capacity to keep lights, phones and small appliances running without splurging on a larger, more expensive model. Practical and unfussy, it’s designed to be easy to store, simple to operate and ready to go when you need it.

It won’t replace a full home backup system, but for everyday emergencies and casual adventures, it delivers solid performance and excellent value; just ask Tec, a satisfied customer who writes, “Wow! Wow! It works perfectly I’m using VoltX Topband 1200w to connect a 32″ monitor, gaming laptop, and various devices, and the power of more than 1kWh is enough to cover it.”

And if you’re more outdoorsy, this review may be more helpful: “Great unit, light enough to carry in Ute into remote locations using various devices with the ability to jumpstart the Ute and a backup light if required.”

Power outputs: USB, USB-C, & wall outlet/AC ports & more

Power capacity: 600W Output | 1200W Peak

Key features:

• Versatile charging options
• SOS & emergency relief
• High-quality LiFP04 battery
• 4-5 hours charging time
• Warranty: 2 years

Available at:

• $349 from Amazon
• $449 from Outbax