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We live in a powered world. Even when we’re tucked in the deepest corner of the woods on a backpacking trip, we want our phones, cameras, and watches charged. The best portable power stations and power banks let us go off the grid while staying safe and connected, capable of powering a backcountry cabin sans electricity, sub in for weak camper batteries, and juice up an entire house after a natural disaster.
Recharging options are also more robust than ever, ranging from traditional wall outlets to solar power. I’ve been testing power stations for years and rated my top picks for Men’s Journal‘s 2025 Tech Awards.
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Keep reading for my portable power station hero products.
Best Power Stations at a Glance
- Best Power Station Overall: Goal Zero Yeti 500
- Best Portable Power Station: Biolite Charge 100 Max
- Best Value Power Station: Dometic PLB 15
- Best Power Station for Hiking and Camping: Nestout Power Bank 15000mAh
- Best Power Station for Whole Home: Anker Solix F3800 + Smart Home Power Kit
Best Power Stations of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
Best Power Station Overall: Goal Zero Yeti 500
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Why I Chose It
Some power stations are too big and bulky to pack for a casual outing, while others are small but don’t have the juice to last the weekend or power a portable fridge. At 16 pounds, Yeti 500 is light and compact enough to grab for any adventure—whether grilling on a pellet smoker oceanside or running an air pump to inflate a SUP—thanks to a 500-watt AC power output with a 1,000-watt surge.
Yeti 500 is Goal Zero’s sixth take on this popular unit, and it’s the best yet. The car battery-sized power station now uses an upgraded LiFePO4 battery that has over 4,000 cycles. Used daily, that’s 10 years of charges if you follow our advice and only charge to 80 percent. It also has two charge modes: fast and slow. The unit ships in slow-charging mode, which takes about three hours. If you’re in a pinch, check Goal Zero’s website for the series of button clicks that changes the charge mode to fast, which takes about 1.5 hours.
Yeti 500 is one of the easiest power stations I’ve had the pleasure to test. The back has a single power button right next to the input plug port. The front of the battery has a display window indicating input, output, and battery charge level in percentage and hours of power remaining.
A rubberized cover protects the plug inputs when not in use. Lift the flap to reveal two wall style outlets, two USB-C ports, two USB ports, a car charger, and a place to plug in solar panels. Independent switches on the front of the unit turn on the various ports. There’s also a button that lets you pair Yeti with the Goal Zero app and one that turns the display on and off.
Not that we think you should intentionally abuse your power station, but this Yeti has a rugged case that can take a beating. It passed testing for particulates and UL2743 requirements. It also has an IPX4 rating for water resistance and can handle extreme temperatures as low as -4 degrees.
In my nine months of using Yeti 500, I can say it’s a solid and dependable performer. While I wish it lasted long enough to power my Goal Zero fridge for a full weekend, it did almost everything else I needed it to, and more often than not had plenty of capacity to spare.
The stable battery gave me peace of mind even when it was getting jostled around in the back of my UTV on the way to a campsite. It also helped me make friends. It turns out a lot of folks don’t pack power when they’re headed to a remote campsite and regret it. After nine months of regular use, this unit looks and performs as good as the day I got it. I’ve been impressed with its ability to handle the cold.
In conclusion, if you spend your time outdoors, and you’re looking for a power pack that’s not too big, not too small, but just right, Yeti 500 is a great option. It has reasonable re-charge times, a compact form factor, is easy to use, and looks cool wherever you put it. The concave top is a great place to rest devices while they’re charging.
It’s not cheap, but it’s not exorbitant. It’s a power bank that has your back on excursions and adventures that’s just as useful at home.
Specs
- Power Capacity: 499 Wh
- Outlets: 2 USB-A, 1 USB-C 100 W, 1 USB-C 30 W, 1- 12V 6mm port, 1x 12V Car Port: 12 A, 2x AC 500 W, 1000 W Surge
- Size: 11.32 x 7.84 x 7.8 inches
- Weight: 16.09 pounds
Best Portable Power Station: Biolite Charge 100 Max
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Why I Chose It
There are plenty of portable chargers that can top off your phone or bump your watch out of the red zone. But few chargers are small and powerful enough to replenish a computer, earbuds, watch, and other small devices simultaneously, including via wireless pad.
This handheld brick can power up to five devices at a time, and quickly. The grippy exterior is easy to hold onto, which makes it a good a choice to stash in a commuter pack for extra laptop run time. It takes a mere 1.5 hours to fully re-charge with a wall plug using the unit’s 65-watt USB-C PD port and a 65-watt charging cord (Biolite sells a fast-charging cable separately); moreover, it takes five hours to recharge it with an 18-watt USB-C cable.
Many smaller charging blocks are plug and play. This one is nearly that simple. Press the ”on” button once to charge whatever you have plugged in and check power levels. Press it twice to charge it from the wall.
Biolite Charge 100 Max is FAA approved, so toss it in your carry-on. When full, it charged my laptop twice, and my phone about seven times. And there’s a feel-good aspect to buying from Biolite. For every product sold, a person living in energy poverty gains access to safe lighting and charging through Biolite.
Specs
- Power Capacity: 25,000 mAh
- Outlets: 2x USB-C PD, USB-C, USB-A, Wireless Pad
- Size: 5.4 x 4.4 x 1.4 inches
- Weight: 20.46 ounces
Best Value Power Station: Dometic PLB 15
Why I Chose It
Less is more when it comes to devices in your glove compartment and gear in your backpack. That’s what makes Dometic PLB (which stands for “portable lithium battery”) a great choice for hiking and camping. It’s the perfect unit to keep in your car or at home in case of emergencies.
At nearly four pounds, it’s not the lightest power pack you can buy, but this lithium iron phosphate battery is rugged. It not only charges small electronics, but it also doubles as a flashlight with both focused and ambient light options. Charge your devices via 12-volt, USB-C, or USB-A outlets. Then re-charge the PLB15 via wall charger, car charging cable, or with a solar panel. LED indicators let you know how much charge is left. It powered my laptop three times, tablet and phone six times, and it kept my Dometic CFX3 35 cooler cold for nearly 24 hours. Bonus: It’s semi-waterproof when the protective port cover is on.
Specs
- Power Capacity: 15,000 mAh
- Outlets: 12v, USB-C, or USB-A
- Size: 3.35 x 3.35 x 8.76 inches
- Weight: 3.86 pounds
Related: The Best Gear for a Great Night’s Sleep While Car Camping
Best Fast-Charging Power Station: EcoFlow Delta Pro 3
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Why I Chose It
If you’re looking for a portable, do-everything power station, one that can run your home appliances, electronics, and everything else in an emergency, EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 is an excellent choice. With 120- and 240-volt options, and 4,000 watts of power in a single, rolling unit, it can power everything—and fully recharges in about an hour.
I used this unit as a “plug-and-play power station,” but it also interfaces with your household’s transfer switch, inlet box, or EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2. Delta Pro 3 is an independent unit, but can be expanded—both storage capacity and power output—when connected with other batteries.
A gas generator sounds like a small plane taking off, but this one is quieter than a bathroom fan. And when it’s time to re-charge, you can re-fill this wheeled, 114-pound battery seven ways, including from a wall outlet, solar panels, an electric car charger, and more. Unlike a gas generator, this battery can live inside your home. There are no fumes or noise. And an app lets you monitor the battery even if you’re not home.
The Delta series has been in Ecoflow’s line since the company launched in 2017, and this is the most powerful Delta yet. It’s expandable from 4,000 Wh to 48,000 Wh to power as many appliances and devices simultaneously as you need. If you do expand the system, the extra batteries stack on top of the main unit saving space.
I used this battery to power lights, devices, power tools, and an induction stovetop at a backcountry cabin and could not have been happier with its performance.
Specs
- Power Capacity: 4,000 to 48,000 Wh
- Outlets: 2 USB, 2 USB-C, 3-120v outlets, 2-240v outlets
- Size: 27.4 × 13.4 × 16.1 inches
- Weight: 114.64 pounds
Best Power Station for Hiking and Camping: Nestout Power Bank 15000mAh
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Why I Chose It
It looks like a small canteen, but this 15,000mAh battery packs a punch. Not only is it a great value, but it’s one of the most convenient batteries I’ve used. Two screw caps cover two USB and one USB-C charging ports. The caps make the battery dust-proof, and its hard plastic case make it shock-resistant, waterproof, and keep it primed to charge your smartphones, tablets, lanterns, and more. Add Nestout’s dimmable Lamp-1 ($38, sold separately) or Flash-1 flashlight accessory ($40). Both come with mini tripods that turn the power bank into a USB dimmable lamp that shines for up to 12 hours. Even with the light on, you can still charge your phone and other devices.
Nestout Power Bank 15000mAh has a military-grade battery protected by a six-circuit system against temperature changes, short-circuits, over-charge, over-discharge, over-voltage, and over-current. It’s not the fastest to recharge—3 hours and 35 minutes—but it’s one of the few power banks that comes in a choice of colors. Plus, it’s compact—about the size of a pack of cards. And it weighs less than a pound.
Specs
- Power Capacity: 15000 mAh
- Outlets: 2 USB-A and 1 USB-C
- Size: 5 x 2.4 x 3 inches
- Weight: 0.8 pounds
Best Power Station for Whole Home: Anker Solix F3800 + Smart Home Power Kit
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Why I Chose It
A whole-home system can take the stress out of power outages, and give you peace of mind, while also protecting electronics that are always plugged in like a desktop computer, refrigerator, and dryer. Anker SOLIC F3800 is easy to install, and even easier to use. This rolling modular battery links to your home circuits to save money, whether that’s taking the load off during peak electrical hours when prices are higher or saving the food in your freezer when power lines are down for days.
The system keeps your whole home running for days or weeks depending on how many expansion batteries you add. Washers, dryers, hair dryers, electric stoves, refrigerator, and freezers can also plug directly into the battery unit, which has both 120- and 240-volt plug options, as well as USB and USB-C plus for smaller devices.
Connected to your home grid, Solix F3800 auto switches in a power outage while offering overcharge protection to keep your computer, modem, and appliances from getting fried by a power surge. (You could also qualify for a 30 percent tax credit if you buy this unit.) The system has an expected 10-year lifespan, and it comes with a five-year warranty.
Anker says it’s quick, easy, and much cheaper to install than a Tesla Powerwall. The newest version has 30 percent increased solar Input. It now supports up to 3,200 watts of solar, allowing the unit to fully recharge in 1.5 hours under optimal conditions. This means faster, more efficient charging to keep homes powered during outages. It also has seamless generator compatibility. Add a generator input adapter, and the F3800 Plus integrates with all 240-volt gas generators for continuous power during extended outages.
Specs
- Power Capacity: 6,000W, 3,840Wh expandable to 53.8 kWh
- Outlets: 6X 120v AC, 2 x 120/240 outlets, 3 USB-C, 2 USB
- Size: 27.6 × 15.3 × 15.6 inches
- Weight: 132 pounds
Best Power Station for Overlanding: GoBlock
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Why I Chose It
Overlanding—or taking a 4×4 car camping—is becoming increasingly popular. One essential is a portable power station. There are a wide range to choose from that do the job adequately, but I found REDARC GoBlock is the toughest and arguably the smartest high-capacity battery.
Its rugged bona fides include a fully sealed recycled aluminum chassis that holds the LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) battery; an outer case with an IP52 protection rating for resistance against dust and water; recessed ports on top covered with tough plastic panels to protect from weather and snagging; and the Anderson port for solar panels has an integrated velcro band for securing the cables. The handles are also well thought out: they smoothly slot into the top of the battery for a seamless profile when not in use.
The battery itself and the electronics that manage power are a step above most cookie-cutter, bargain-bin power stations. The 12-volt LiFePO4 battery can pump out up to 1,280 Wh (100 Ah) of power and with Redarc’s proprietary charging tech, it can recharge at 50 amps, which means it takes about two hours to fully recharge. The app (Android or IOS) uses Bluetooth to connect and worked well, showing battery charge, input info, system diagnostics, and access to a battery recovery mode.
Other features that made it the ideal overlanding companion include the ability to pair with solar panels and inverter to power household devices that draw up to 600 watts. It can also be hooked up to your truck’s alternator (old school or a modern “smart” unit) to give you a dual battery setup. Add the GoBlock PowerDock Kit and the battery is easily taken in and out. The PowerDock will rapidly recharge the battery and, when hooked up to solar, will prioritize that over vehicle power. And with the the Smart Battery Recovery Cable, you can easily and safely charge up your (or a stuck buddy’s) truck’s battery in about 15 minutes. A master switch on the back allows you to turn it off totally so it won’t discharge at all, perfect for long-term storage—just don’t forget to turn it back on when ready for use (don’t ask me why…).
Specs
- Power Capacity: 1,280 Wh (100 Ah)
- Outlets: 4 USB, 7.5A accessory, 15A Engel/fridge, 50A Anderson
- Size: 9 x 16.7 x 7.7 inches
- Weight: 41.88 pounds
Best Power Station for Wireless Charging: Denvix PowerX
Why I Chose It
Wireless charging has changed the way we use our digital devices, most often our smartphones. Now, you can tote around a small power station, set it on a table, then pop your phone on and off to keep it topped up all day and night. No messy cables or hunting for the right cord type to charge up.
I’ve tried a lot over the years, but Denvix PowerX is my top choice right now. It’s hefty at 3 pounds, but still portable with practically the same dimensions as an iPhone 15 Pro—just about five times thicker.
The first thing I noticed when charging my phone for the first time was the strong magnet. That creates a solid lock so your phone won’t slide off inadvertently. It also chimes when attached and charging to give you more peace of mind. The wireless pad pumps out a solid 15 watts of power.
It also boasts a bunch of power when using the two-way USB-C ports or USB-A port with 25,000 mAh of capacity and 250 watts total output. The company claims you can charge an “iPhone 14 up to 4.3 times, a MacBook Air (M2) 1.2 times, a DJI Air 3 drone once, or a Vision Pro 1.9 times.” And it supports rapid recharging with the USB-C port and included 140-watt adapter. Internal temp control tech adjusts the charging rate in real time to prevent overheating or other sparky accidents.
Specs
- Power Capacity: 250W, 25,000 mAh
- Outlets: 2 two-way USB-C ports, 1 USB-A port, and 1 magnetic wireless charger
- Size: 6.69 x 3.26 x 1.39 inches
- Weight: 3.08 pounds
What to Look for in the Best Portable Power Stations
With so many options and sizes on the market, there’s a steep learning curve when it comes to portable power. It’s best to cover some basics before diving into the right choices for every type of adventure.
The portable power banks and stations included in this article use lithium-ion batteries of varying sizes to supply juice. In essence, these units are all just batteries, but they utilize a battery management system (BMS)—much like the ones found in electric cars—and an inverter to send electricity to outlets, from which you can charge or run other electronics.
The inverter changes the direct current (DC) power of the battery to the alternating current (AC) power our devices utilize. The safest inverters deliver pure sine wave power (essentially, high-quality electricity that’s similar to what you’d get from an outlet at home).
Power Banks vs. Power Stations
While some brands use the terms “power bank” and “power station” interchangeably, most differentiate the two based on size, output, and capacity. Portable power banks are smaller and often measure their output in milliamp hours (mAh), whereas portable power stations are electrical generators that measure their increased output in watt-hours (Wh) or kilowatt-hours (kWh).
These stats will help you compare different models. A measurement of watt-hours tells you how much power output (in watts) the unit is rated to supply for one hour.
Solar Power
One of the key advantages of many power stations and power banks is you can recharge their batteries via solar power. While solar panels don’t come cheap, most of the big brands in portable power sell coordinating panels you can use to charge up your power station.
Solar is useful for both off-grid and home backup applications. It gives you freedom and independence. I have a panel for my Ecoflow Delta and it works great even though I live in Vermont, which isn’t known for its bluebird days.
Capacity
The capacity and output you need out of your portable power station or bank depends entirely on what devices you need to power up. Luckily, most companies give a good rundown of what devices can be powered, and for how long, on their product pages.
It’s common practice to coordinate the capacity and peak output in a relatively linear fashion: as amp or watt output goes up, amp or watt capacity goes up. In other words, a high-usage device like a microwave, induction cooktop, or chop saw will spike the power station’s watt output, so your unit will need to have a high watt output rating (north of the 1,000-watt range). That output often coordinates with the battery’s capacity, so many units with a 1,000-watt peak output will be rated for around 1,000Wh (in theory, they should be able to steadily deliver 1,000 watts for an hour).
Many new power stations even offer surge peak output, so the max output can go over what they’re rated for (this helps when hooking up multiple devices or devices that draw a lot of power).
For home backup applications, I’d recommend 1,000-watt (and 1,000Wh) units as a low end: That will do for short outages and keep things like your fridge, freezer, and modem powered. That’s also right around where I think even the most electronic-laden car campers and RV campers top out. The exception is if you plan to charge your camper’s batteries with your power station, or if you plan to use your power station to power your camper or van, especially if you’ll be using air conditioning or a microwave.
For most weekend trips—and for greater portability—I recommend power banks of around 300 watts or less. No matter what your needs are, one of the power banks and portable power stations above should work for you.
Pro Tip
Don’t over-charge. Every power bank has an anticipated life–often around 1,000 charges. If you only charge the battery partially, say to 80 percent, you can trick it into giving you more charges and a longer life.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’m an avid outdoors person based in rural Vermont who’s been using portable power devices for years. I recently built an off-grid, backcountry cabin using Ecoflow batteries to power my table saw, chop saw, and other tools. I live at the end of a dirt road, where power outages are common, so I regularly need to plug my fridge, freezer, modem, and other household power-hungry devices into portable power to keep them running.
I do a ton of camping, bikepacking, and travel, and I almost always bring a charging brick to stay connected on the road. I’m not gentle on gear either. I became a professional gear reviewer after breaking enough stuff that companies asked me to use and abuse their items pre-release to make sure it stood up to the test.
