Unless you want to pay the electric hookup fee at a campground, a portable power station is the best way to stay powered while camping. Luckily, power stations have gotten a lot cheaper over the past few years and there are many more options. I’ve been lucky enough to test out several during camping trips with my family. Here are my picks for best camping power stations, as well as info as my 7-step guide to choosing a power station for camping (including how to calculate your power needs).
Choose because: Very affordable (especially for the amount of capacity you get), runs quietly, and has a very long lifespan
The Deeno X1500 (1036Wh/1500W/3000W surge) is a fairly new power station on the market. Full disclosure that the brand sent me one for free to try out. Considering how cheap it is compared to other 1,000Wh capacity power stations, I was expecting something to be wrong with it. So, I was surprised at how well it works.
Deeno covered all the bases with the X1500 in terms of usability, LCD screen, charging methods and outputs. The reason I love this power station for camping though is because it is QUIET. The fans don’t constantly run and, even when they do kick on, aren’t loud like with other camping power stations. You can use the Deeno X1500 in a tent without it annoying you. It retains 80% capacity for 3,500 cycles — which is more than most other LiFePO4 power stations.
Right now Deeno only has the X1500 power station. But they are coming out with two other power stations this year.
Read my full review of the Deeno X1500 power station for camping here.
Get the Deeno X1500 Here
Choose because: Brand has a proven reputation, lots of capacity options, a long lifespan and the high-capacity models are expandable
EcoFlow is one of the best known brands when it comes to camping power stations. Their newer models of power stations use LiFePO4 battery technology and have cool features like Bluetooth connectivity and an app. When you compare the price per Wh, EcoFlow tends to win for cost.
Other than their reputation, the main reason to choose EcoFlow power stations is because they recharge quickly. They also support larger solar panels than similar-capacity power stations. The main downside of the EcoFlow power stations is that the fans get very loud, which can be annoying when camping.
There are tons of EcoFlow power stations to choose from. IMO, the ones below are best ones for camping because they use the newer LiFePO4 battery technology. The older EcoFlow power stations use Li-ion batteries!
Get EcoFlow Power Stations Here at Amazon or at REI
Choose because: They are lightweight and budget-friendly power stations for low-power needs
If you want a cheap power station for camping, then Westinghouse is a good choice. They have several lower-capacity power stations which still have AC outlets.
Because Westinghouse power stations use Li-ion batteries, they are lightweight and affordable. I wouldn’t recommend getting one of their higher-capacity models though: if you need lots of capacity, then you are better off paying for a brand of power station which uses LiFePO4 battery technology.
Buy Here
Best because: They have wireless charging and their AC200Max model has a lifespan of 3,500 cycles
Bluetti is another one of the most well-known brands for camping power stations. Their products are known to last a long time and use the latest technology when it comes to things like inverters.
Most Bluetti power stations are very well-designed and user-friendly. Note that I say most. I have the Bluetti EB70 (the brand sent it to me to try) and hate the LCD screen: it only shows charging in increments of 20%, which is ridiculous. The other models of Bluetti power stations have better LCD screens which show precise info, hence why the EB70 isn’t recommended here.
When it comes to cost, EcoFlow products are usually more affordable per watt-hour. Unless you can find Bluetti on sale, EcoFlow is probably the better choice. The exception is with the Bluetti AC200Max power station. Even though it’s probably going to be pricier than the EcoFlow power station of similar capacity, the Bluetti one has a lifespan of 3,500 cycles. If you use it frequently, then it’s a better long-term investment.
Buy Here at Amazon or at Bluetti.com
Choose because: Fans are quieter than most other power stations and their large power station is on wheels
I really love Anker power banks. They are lightweight and very reliable. Their power stations are also great – but not as good as Bluetti or EcoFlow IMO. Right now, Anker power stations are simply too expensive compared to similar models from these brands. They also don’t has as many outputs and are heavier.
The only reason I can see someone choosing Anker over EcoFlow is if you require lots of capacity and need it to be portable. The Anker AC200Max comes on wheels, so is very convenient to move around camp. However, for the price difference, you could just buy yourself a dolly to put the EcoFlow power station on.
ModelCapacity (Wh)Watts/Surge# OutputsWeight PowerHouse 521256200/45068.2lbs PowerHouse 535512500/750916.75lbs PowerHouse 55510241000/15001229.8lbs PowerHouse 75712291500/24001343.9lbs PowerHouse 76720482400/36001267.3lbs
Get Here at Amazon and Here at Anker.com
For me, a power station was a good investment because it allows me to work while camping (I can set up my laptop with a portable internet hotspot and work in the wilderness!).
If you don’t have high power demands though, you might be better off with a lightweight power bank. If your power demands are very high though, a power station might not be adequate and you’d be better off paying the electrical hookup fee at a campground.
For more, read: Is a Power Station Really Worth It for Camping?
Portable power stations come in various capacities, but the range is usually 150Wh to 2000Wh. Anything over 2000Wh is probably too large and heavy to be considered portable. And, IMO, power stations under 200Wh are a waste of money. If your power needs are that low, you are probably better off bringing a few power banks.
For more campers, a power station with a capacity of approximately 700Wh is going to be the best choice. This is enough power to keep small gadgets charged and run some appliances like a 12V cooler for a weekend trip.
Remember:
To figure out what size power station you need for camping, you’ll need to follow these steps:
1. Figure out how much power each device requires to run or recharge. First, find out how many watts your devices need to run. This number is often listed somewhere on the device. But if you only see a measurement for amps, you can multiply that number by the item’s voltage to convert into watts
2. Calculate how many hours you will use the device per day. Or how many times per day you will need to recharge it per day. Multiply this number by the amount of power it uses. If you need to recharge a phone once every two days (1/2 per day), then your total would be (Wh x 0.5).
3. Tally up the amounts for each device.
4. Divide the number from step 3 by 0.81. This is to account for energy inefficiency.
5. Multiple the number in #4 by how many days your camping trip will last.
6. Factor in how often you will be able to recharge your power station during your trip. Divide the number from step 5 by this.
For example, you calculate that you will need 1000Wh of power for a 6-day camping trip. But you will recharge the power station in your car on the third day. That means you only need a power station which is 500Wh.
To figure out how long a device will run on a power station, use this formula:
Capacity in Wh × 90% × 90% ÷ Wattage of appliance ≈ Run time
In addition to watt hours, power stations are also sized by watt output. This basically means how much energy the power station can deliver at the same time.
For example, if a power station has 1000 watt output, it could power (up to) 10 devices of 100 watts each. Or 5 devices of 200 watts each.
Common wattages of camping devices/appliances:
Note: It’s unrealistic to run appliances like electric grills (1,700 watts), space heaters (1,500+ watts) and AC units (1,500+ watts) with a camping power station. They simply use too much energy. Even if the power station can handle the wattage requirements, the battery will drain very quickly.
Some devices – especially those with motors – require a higher amount of energy just to get them started. For example, a 200-watt RV fridge might require 1000 watts just to get it going.
Because of this, many power stations have higher “surge power” or “peak power.” This is the amount of energy the power station can handle for a short period of time.
For example, the Deeno X1500 is capable of running 1500 watts continuously. But it can also deliver 3000 watts of surge power. By contrast, a power station with a low surge power won’t be able to deliver enough juice to get the fridge going.
If you want to use the power station with motorized appliances, then you’ll need a higher surge power.
Power stations for camping are made with either lithium ion (Li-ion) or (LiFePO4) battery technology. Li-ion batteries are cheaper and are lighter weight. However, LiFePO4 power stations last for many more cycles, so they are more affordable in the long run. Unless you are on a very tight budget, I only recommend choosing LiFePO4 power stations for camping.
*You’ll note that no Jackery power stations made my list because all models currently use the older Li-ion battery technology yet are still pricy.
As a general rule, you should buy the highest-capacity power station that you can afford. The more capacity you have, the more use you will get out of the power station. And the more likely you will be able to use it for things other than camping, such as during power outages.
But camping power stations are still really expensive. Instead of just looking at the overall price, I suggest you calculate the price per watt hour. This will give you a better price comparison.
For example:
In these examples, the 1030Wh power station is actually the best deal (assuming similar battery technology and features).
Finally, decide whether there are any features you really want and how much extra you are willing to pay for them.
For example, you might want your camping power station to have these features:
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