Rechargeable portable power stations and solar generators have evolved into must-have outdoor gear for many outdoor enthusiasts and off-grid camping fans. They let you recharge all your mobile devices, including lanterns, headlamps, and satellite communicators.
But outdoor generators also powerful enough to run small appliances and tools, which makes portable power stations great for emergency home use during power outages and/or natural disaster situations.
Solar generators are basically portable power stations that you can charge and recharge through solar panels. This means you can use your portable power station at your base camp for many days in off-grid camping on public land while you roam the outdoors. Unlike gas-powered camping and RV generators, solar rechargeable portable power stations make awesome camping generators because they’re nearly silent and don’t disturb neighboring campers. So cool.
Best Portable Power Stations & Solar Generators
The portable power station market has expanded rapidly in the last year, but not all portable power stations are created equal. These are the best rechargeable power stations from brands we know, trust and recommend for 2023 and beyond. Meanwhile, solar generators make great gifts for outdoor enthusiasts who like spend time off the beaten path. If you’ve been considering a portable power station, the pricing is excellent:
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 with 2xSolarSaga 100W Solar Panels
The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 with 2xSolarSaga 100W Solar Panels delivers 1000 watts of output, which makes it powerful enough to run 90% of household appliances. Jackery says the two included solar panels can recharge the battery in about 8 hours.
Upgrade Option: The newer Jackery 1000 Plus Solar Generator has more capacity (1264Wh vs 1002Wh) and a whopping 2,000W output!
Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro Portable Power Station
The Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro Portable Power Station doesn’t include solar panels for charging (but you can add those later as accessories if you want them). The biggest benefit of the Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro Portable Power Station is its rapid charging — you can refill the 1512Wh capacity in just 2 hours of charging at home. Because it’s powerful and charges fast, it’s a one of our favorite outdoor gift ideas for off-grid camping enthusiasts.
Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro Power Station with 2x200W Solar Panels
This bigger, heavier portable generator has power output that rivals some gasoline powered portable generators. The biggest benefit of the Jackery Solar Generator 3000x Pro Power Station the fast 2.4 hours charging rate at home and higher capacity for home emergencies. You get a 3024Wh capacity with a massive 3000W power output. For also great for RVers who want near silent operation without the hassle of fuel-based generators.
Shop all Jackery Outdoor Generators and Solar Panels at Amazon here!
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station
The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Portable Power Station is an excellent all-around portable power station. You get 768Wh and fast 70-minute charging at home, four 800W AC outlets and a max output of 1600W.
Upgrade Option: Grab the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro with a 160W Portable Solar Panel.
Goal Zero Yeti 500X Portable Power Station
The Goal Zero Yeti 500X Portable Power Station is one of the most popular camping power stations. Its rugged build quality keeps it running outdoors in less than pristine conditions. You get 497Wh with two 330W AC outlets with a 1200W surge capacity.
BioLite BaseCharge 1500
The BioLite BaseCharge 1500 is the larger of two options form BioLite: We tested the smaller BioLite BaseCharge 600 and were fans of its ease of use. While the BaseCharge 600 is best for device charging, the bigger BaseCharge 1500 is better as a camping generator and for emergency home use. You get a 1521Wh battery capacity with three 1200W AC outlets and a 2,400W peak output.
Accessory Options: BioLite offers multiple solar panel and emergency lighting kits as well.
Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station
The Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station gives a solid 1056Wh capacity with six AC outlets, 1800W of total charging with a 2400W surge capability. The biggest benefit is Anker’s UltraFast Recharging — up to 80% in 43 minutes at home (and 58 minutes to 100%).
Goal Zero Yeti 3000X Portable Power Station
The Goal Zero Yeti 3000X is a monster portable power station that will run a refrigerator for up to 43 hours, run a CPAP machine for 47 hours, or recharge your phone 253 times! You get 3,032Wh of capacity with two 2000W (3500W surge) AC outlets. Because of its size and capacity, it’s best for RVers or home emergency use — but it would also make an awesome addition to most any base camp out in the wild.
Bonus: Portable Power Station for Home Emergencies
For double the capacity, go with the Yeti 6000x with 2 Boulder 200W Briefcase Solar Panels and don’t look back!
