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Amphourly

Best Power Stations for Camping, Ranked by Data

The best power stations for camping under 30 lb, ranked by our rubric, with weekend runtimes for 12V fridges, lights, fans and phones plus solar pairings.

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The EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus is the best power station for camping by our scoring: 1,024 Wh of LiFePO4 rated for 4,000 cycles, 1,000 W of solar input, a 56-minute wall recharge and a 27.6 lb body. It scores 9.0, the highest of the 19 stations between 250 Wh and 30 lb. By our math, it runs a 12V fridge for about five days.

Our picks at a glance

  1. Best overallEcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus9.0EcoFlow
  2. Best for high-draw gear (highest surge in scope)OUPES Mega 18.4OUPES
  3. Lightest top-scoring 1kWh (1,000Wh+ under 26 lb)BLUETTI Elite 100 V28.1BLUETTI
  4. Best ultralight (top score under 500Wh)EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus7.7EcoFlow
  5. Best mid-size (top score 500–999Wh)BLUETTI AC707.5BLUETTI

How we picked

We ranked every station in our catalog with at least 250 Wh of capacity and a weight of 30 lb or less, the most one person carries comfortably from car to campsite. That’s 19 models. Each is scored on the published rubric explained on our how we evaluate page: chemistry, cycle life, inverter output, energy per pound, recharge speed, solar input, expandability, UPS switchover, warranty and app control. “Best overall” is the top score; every other label states the filter behind it.

#19.0Amphourly Score
Battery chemistry
LiFePO4
Rated cycle life
4,000
AC output
1,800 W
Energy density
37.1 Wh/lb

A 1024Wh LiFePO4 power station with an 1800W inverter, dual 500W solar inputs and a 10 ms UPS, suited to home backup, off-grid solar charging and RV use, expandable with extra batteries.

Strengths

  • 1000W solar input across two 11-60V ports
  • Full AC recharge in 56 minutes at 1500W input
  • Two 140W USB-C ports and two 36W USB-A ports
  • Expandable up to 5kWh with compatible DELTA extra batteries

Watch out for

  • 27.6 lb with no wheels
  • Extra batteries connect via an Alternator Charger XT150 Output Cable
  • Same 1024Wh capacity as the DELTA 3; the Plus mainly adds solar and USB power

The DELTA 3 Plus scores 9.0 because it has no weak metric. Its 1,024 Wh LiFePO4 battery is rated for 4,000 cycles to 80%, and its 1,800 W inverter (3,600 W surge) runs everything from a 12V fridge to a 1,300 W coffee maker. The camping-specific strength is solar: 1,000 W of input across two 11–60 V ports, so two 400 W panels can refill it in under two hours of good sun. It also takes up to 800 W from a car with EcoFlow’s Alternator Charger, has two 140 W USB-C ports and expands to 5,000 Wh. The trade-off is weight: 27.6 lb with no wheels. If you don’t need the extra solar, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 (8.5) shares the same battery and inverter with a single 500 W solar input.

#2

Best for high-draw gear (highest surge in scope)

OUPES Mega 1

8.4Amphourly Score
Battery chemistry
LiFePO4
Rated cycle life
3,500
AC output
2,000 W
Energy density
36.83 Wh/lb

A 1,024Wh LiFePO4 power station with a 2,000W inverter and 1,400W fast AC charging, expandable to 5,120Wh, suited to camping, RV trips and short home outages.

Strengths

  • 2,000W continuous / 4,500W surge on a 1,024Wh battery
  • 1,400W AC charging, about 58 minutes to full
  • 800W max solar input
  • Expands to 5,120Wh with two B2 batteries

Watch out for

  • Car charging is limited to 12-15V/8A, about 12.8 hours to full
  • UPS switchover rated under 20 ms
  • 27.8 lb, heavier than many 1kWh units

The OUPES Mega 1 has the biggest inverter headroom of any station under 30 lb: 2,000 W continuous and 4,500 W surge on a 1,024 Wh LiFePO4 battery rated for 3,500 cycles. That surge matters for motor loads: an electric chainsaw needs 2,400 W to start and a 1 HP air compressor 4,500 W, per Champion’s chart. It recharges from the wall in about 58 minutes at 1,400 W and expands to 5,120 Wh. Two watchouts for campers: car charging is limited to 12–15 V at 8 A, about 12.8 hours to full by OUPES’s figures, and solar input tops out at 800 W. The upside is a 12–78 V solar window, more voltage headroom than the 60 V inputs on the other 1kWh picks.

#3

Lightest top-scoring 1kWh (1,000Wh+ under 26 lb)

BLUETTI Elite 100 V2

8.1Amphourly Score
Battery chemistry
LiFePO4
Rated cycle life
4,000
AC output
1,800 W
Energy density
40.96 Wh/lb

A 1,024Wh LiFePO4 portable power station with an 1,800W inverter, four AC outlets and a 140W USB-C port, aimed at campers, van users and short home-backup needs.

Strengths

  • AC charging to 100% in 70 minutes.
  • 1,000W solar input (12-60V) also charges to full in 70 minutes.
  • 140W and 100W USB-C ports plus two DC5521 outputs.
  • UPS switchover of 10ms or less.

Watch out for

  • No battery expansion port is listed in the manual or spec sheet.
  • Cigarette lighter and DC5521 ports share a 10A total limit.
  • 25 lb is heavy for a 1kWh-class unit.

At 25 lb for 1,024 Wh, the BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 delivers 41 Wh per pound, the best energy density among our 1kWh picks. It matches the DELTA 3 Plus on inverter (1,800 W, 3,600 W surge) and solar input (1,000 W at 12–60 V), and BLUETTI says that solar input fills it in 70 minutes, the same as its AC charging. Its 4,000-cycle LiFePO4 battery, 10 ms UPS and five-year warranty round out an 8.1 score. What it gives up is expansion: no battery port is listed, so 1,024 Wh is what you get. Its 12V car socket and DC5521 outputs also share a 10 A limit, which is enough for a 12V fridge plus lights but not much more. The Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 (7.9) is the close alternative at 24.9 lb for 1,024 Wh: a bigger 2,000 W inverter (3,000 W peak) and a 49-minute wall recharge with UltraFast mode enabled, but only 600 W of solar input and no expansion either. It launched at $799.

#4

Best ultralight (top score under 500Wh)

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus

7.7Amphourly Score
Battery chemistry
LiFePO4
Rated cycle life
3,000
AC output
600 W
Energy density
27.5 Wh/lb

A 286Wh LiFePO4 power station with a 600W inverter and a 10 ms UPS, aimed at desk backup for routers and PCs or light camping use, with an optional stack-on extra battery.

Strengths

  • Expandable to 858Wh with the EB300 or EB600 extra battery
  • UPS switchover under 10 ms with a USB-B port for PC/NAS shutdown signaling
  • 600W rated output, 1200W surge/X-Boost
  • 220W solar or car input over an 11-55V range

Watch out for

  • Only one USB-C port, limited to 100W
  • USB-A ports are 12W each
  • Base capacity of 286Wh runs a 600W load for well under an hour

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus is the pick when every pound counts. At 10.4 lb it carries 286 Wh of LiFePO4 rated for 3,000 cycles, with a 600 W inverter (1,200 W surge) for small AC loads. By our math, it runs a Dometic CFX5 45 12V fridge for about 35 hours or a laptop for about 4.9 hours. Its 220 W solar and car input (11–55 V) is generous for its size, so a single 220 W panel refills it in under two hours of good sun. An extra battery stacks on to reach 858 Wh. The limits are real: one 100 W USB-C port, 12 W USB-A ports, and no coffee maker or kettle on a 600 W inverter.

#5

Best mid-size (top score 500–999Wh)

BLUETTI AC70

7.5Amphourly Score
Battery chemistry
LiFePO4
Rated cycle life
3,000
AC output
1,000 W
Energy density
34.13 Wh/lb

A 768Wh LiFePO4 portable power station with a 1,000W inverter, two AC outlets and two 100W USB-C ports, suited to camping, RV trips and small-appliance outage backup.

Strengths

  • 950W Turbo AC charging, 1.3-1.6 hours to full.
  • Two 100W USB-C ports.
  • 500W solar input with a 12-58V range via XT60.
  • Capacity expansion with B80, B230 or B300 batteries in Power Bank Mode.

Watch out for

  • Only two AC outlets.
  • Expansion works through Power Bank Mode, not a dedicated expansion port.
  • Bluetooth-only app connection; UPS switchover is 20ms or less.

The BLUETTI AC70 sits between the ultralights and the 1kWh class: 768 Wh of LiFePO4 rated for 3,000 cycles, at 22.5 lb. Its 1,000 W inverter (1,500 W surge) covers a 12V fridge, fans, lights, a laptop and a Starlink Mini, though not a coffee maker. It charges from the wall in 1.3 to 1.6 hours at 950 W and takes 500 W of solar at 12–58 V through XT60. Two 100 W USB-C ports handle laptops directly. Watchouts: only two AC outlets, a Bluetooth-only app, and expansion that works through BLUETTI’s Power Bank Mode rather than a dedicated expansion port.

How much capacity does a camping trip need?

Start with a daily energy budget. We built two typical camping kits from our appliance wattage table:

Load Draw Hours per day Energy per day
12V fridge (Dometic CFX5 45), averaged over its cycle 7.0 W 24 168 Wh
2 LED bulbs (60 W equivalent) 18 W 4 72 Wh
2 phones charging 20 W 2 40 Wh
Light kit total 280 Wh
Laptop 50 W 2 100 Wh
16-inch fan 95 W 3 285 Wh
Comfort kit total 665 Wh

Divide each station’s usable energy (85% of rated) by the daily total to see how many days a full charge lasts:

Station Usable Wh Light kit (280 Wh/day) Comfort kit (665 Wh/day)
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus 870 Wh 3.1 days 1.3 days
OUPES Mega 1 870 Wh 3.1 days 1.3 days
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 870 Wh 3.1 days 1.3 days
BLUETTI AC70 653 Wh 2.3 days 1.0 day
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus 243 Wh 0.9 days 0.4 days

So a light weekend fits on the AC70 or any 1kWh pick with no recharging. A comfort weekend fits on a 1kWh station only with a solar panel or a recharge from the car. The fan is the big variable: 95 W is modest for a household fan but heavy on a battery, and a 12V or USB fan would cut it sharply.

What the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus runs on a full charge
ApplianceDrawInverterRuntimeRuntime as a share of 24 hours
12V portable fridge (Dometic CFX5 45)58 Wavg 7 W cyclingRuns5.2 days
12V portable fridge (Anker EverFrost 40)50 Wavg 6 W cyclingRuns6.0 days
LED bulb (60 W equivalent)9 WRuns4.0 days
Smartphone charger10 WRuns3.6 days
Laptop computer50 WRuns17 h
Oscillating fan (16-inch)95 WRuns9.2 h
Starlink Mini33 WRuns26 h
ResMed AirSense 11 CPAP56 WRuns16 h
Electric blanket (single)60 WRuns15 h
Drip coffee maker1,300 WRuns40 min

Runtime = usable energy ÷ average draw. We count 85% of the rated 1,024 Wh as usable (870 Wh) to cover inverter and DC conversion losses. Fridges and freezers are averaged over their compressor cycle. An appliance runs only if its running watts fit the 1,800 W inverter and its start-up surge fits the 3,600 W surge rating. Wattages come from our appliance wattage table; try your own mix in the runtime calculator.

What the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus runs on a full charge
ApplianceDrawInverterRuntimeRuntime as a share of 24 hours
12V portable fridge (Dometic CFX5 45)58 Wavg 7 W cyclingRuns35 h
12V portable fridge (Anker EverFrost 40)50 Wavg 6 W cyclingRuns40 h
LED bulb (60 W equivalent)9 WRuns27 h
Smartphone charger10 WRuns24 h
Laptop computer50 WRuns4.9 h
Oscillating fan (16-inch)95 WRuns2.6 h
Starlink Mini33 WRuns7.4 h
ResMed AirSense 11 CPAP56 WRuns4.3 h
Electric blanket (single)60 WRuns4.1 h
Drip coffee maker1,300 WOver inverter—

Runtime = usable energy ÷ average draw. We count 85% of the rated 286 Wh as usable (243 Wh) to cover inverter and DC conversion losses. Fridges and freezers are averaged over their compressor cycle. An appliance runs only if its running watts fit the 600 W inverter and its start-up surge fits the 1,200 W surge rating. Wattages come from our appliance wattage table; try your own mix in the runtime calculator.

If you camp with a CPAP, our CPAP runtime data works through nights per station, humidifier settings and DC cords.

Weight vs capacity: the carry test

Every station here is under 30 lb, but energy per pound varies widely. Higher is better: more watt-hours for the same carry.

Station Capacity Weight Wh per lb
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1,070 Wh 23.8 lb 45.0
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 1,024 Wh 24.9 lb 41.1
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 1,024 Wh 25 lb 41.0
Anker SOLIX C1000 1,056 Wh 28.4 lb 37.2
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus 1,024 Wh 27.6 lb 37.1
OUPES Mega 1 1,024 Wh 27.8 lb 36.8
BLUETTI AC70 768 Wh 22.5 lb 34.1
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus 286 Wh 10.4 lb 27.5

Every station here uses LiFePO4 cells; our LiFePO4 vs NMC guide explains why that matters for weight and lifespan. The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 wins on density, carrying the most energy for its weight in this group. It scores lower overall (6.2): Jackery rates its 4,000 cycles to 70% capacity rather than the 80% the others quote, it isn’t expandable and its solar input tops out at 400 W. If carry weight is your top priority and you’ll rarely use solar, it’s worth a look.

Small stations always lose on density because the case, inverter and ports weigh about the same regardless of battery size. The RIVER 3 Plus pays for its compactness with fewer Wh per pound, but at 10.4 lb it’s still the one you can carry in one hand down a trail.

Running a 12V fridge at camp

A 12V compressor fridge is the most valuable load a camping station runs, and the cheapest to power. OutdoorGearLab measured the Dometic CFX5 45 at 58.2 W while pulling down to 35°F and 6.8 W at steady state. Once it’s cold, the compressor runs only about 12% of the time.

That means a 1kWh station runs it for about 5.2 days, an AC70 about 3.9 days and a RIVER 3 Plus about 35 hours, by our math. The Engel MT45 averages more, about 10.8 W, and drops a 1kWh station to about 3.3 days.

Three ways to stretch it:

  1. Pre-chill at home. Pull-down from warm is when the compressor runs flat out. Load it cold from the house fridge and start the trip on steady-state draw.
  2. Use the 12V socket, not AC. These fridges run on DC natively. Plugging into the station’s car socket skips the inverter, so our AC-based figures are the floor. On the Elite 100 V2, keep total 12V loads under its 10 A shared limit.
  3. Shade the fridge. A cooler in direct sun works harder, and the duty cycle rises with the temperature around it.

Solar recharging at the campsite

Solar turns a weekend station into a week-long one. Our model assumes a panel delivers 75% of its rated watts in good sun, capped by the station’s solar input:

Station Max solar input One 220 W panel One 400 W panel
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus 1,000 W 6.2 h to full 3.4 h to full
OUPES Mega 1 800 W 6.2 h 3.4 h
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 1,000 W 6.2 h 3.4 h
BLUETTI AC70 500 W 4.7 h 2.6 h
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus 220 W 1.7 h 1.3 h (capped at 220 W)

The more useful number is daily harvest. A 220 W panel delivers about 165 W in good sun, or about 660 Wh across four peak sun hours. That replaces a full day of the light kit on any station here, and nearly a full day of the comfort kit. For the math by season and region, see our guide to how many solar panels a power station needs.

Here’s which panels fit the DELTA 3 Plus’s 11–60 V inputs:

  • Solar input up to 1,000 W
  • Voltage window 11–60 V
  • Connector XT60i
Solar panels that fit the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus
PanelRatedVocConnectionSolar-only rechargeBuy
Renogy 400W N-Type Portable Solar Panel Blanket400 W39.2 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.4 hRenogy
Renogy 400W Lightweight Portable Solar Panel Suitcase400 W47.2 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.4 hRenogy
Anker SOLIX PS400 Portable Solar Panel400 W57.6 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.4 hAnker SOLIX
EcoFlow 400W Portable Solar Panel400 W48 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.4 hEcoFlow
EcoFlow 400W Rigid Solar Panel400 W37.1 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.4 hEcoFlow
EcoFlow NextGen 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel220 W21.5 VAdapter: MC4 to XT606.2 hEcoFlow
Renogy 220W Lightweight Portable Solar Panel Suitcase220 W23.3 VAdapter: MC4 to XT606.2 hRenogy
BougeRV 200W Foldable Portable Solar Panel200 W21 VAdapter: MC4 to XT606.8 hBougeRV
Renogy 200W N-Type Portable Solar Panel Blanket200 W19.6 VAdapter: MC4 to XT606.8 hRenogy
Anker SOLIX PS200 Portable Solar Panel200 W57.6 VAdapter: MC4 to XT606.8 hShopSolar
BLUETTI SP200L 200W Portable Solar Panel200 W24.6 VAdapter: MC4 to XT606.8 hBLUETTI
BougeRV 200W N-Type ShadePower Solar Panel200 W36.4 VAdapter: MC4 to XT606.8 hBougeRV
Rich Solar MEGA 200 Portable Briefcase Solar Panel200 W22.2 VAdapter: MC4 to XT606.8 hRich Solar
EcoFlow 125W Bifacial Modular Solar Panel125 W50 VPlugs straight in11 hEcoFlow
EcoFlow 110W Portable Solar Panel110 W21.8 VAdapter: MC4 to XT6012 hEcoFlow
BLUETTI PV100 FX Flexible Solar Panel100 W41.4 VAdapter: MC4 to XT6014 hBLUETTI
EcoFlow 100W Flexible Solar Panel100 W20.3 VAdapter: MC4 to XT6014 hEcoFlow
BLUETTI SP100L 100W Portable Solar Panel100 W24.62 VAdapter: MC4 to XT6014 hBLUETTI
EcoFlow 100W Rigid Solar Panel100 W20.3 VAdapter: MC4 to XT6014 hEcoFlow
Rich Solar MEGA 100100 W22.8 VAdapter: MC4 to XT6014 hRich Solar
BougeRV Yuma 100W CIGS Thin-Film Flexible Solar Panel with Pre-Punched Holes100 W30.5 VAdapter: MC4 to XT6014 hBougeRV

Recharge time is from empty with one panel in full sun: 1,024 Wh ÷ the lower of75% of the panel's rating or the station's solar input limit. A panel rated above the input limit is safe as long as its Voc fits, because the station only draws what it can take. MC4 panels need a standard MC4 adapter cable, which many stations include. Wiring two panels in series doubles the Voc, so check the total against the voltage window. Try any pairing in the solar panel matcher.

6 panels that don't fit

And the RIVER 3 Plus, whose 55 V ceiling rules out a few higher-voltage panels in series:

  • Solar input up to 220 W
  • Voltage window 11–55 V
  • Connector XT60i
Solar panels that fit the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
PanelRatedVocConnectionSolar-only rechargeBuy
Renogy 400W N-Type Portable Solar Panel Blanket400 W39.2 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.3 hinput capped at 220 WRenogy
Renogy 400W Lightweight Portable Solar Panel Suitcase400 W47.2 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.3 hinput capped at 220 WRenogy
EcoFlow 400W Portable Solar Panel400 W48 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.3 hinput capped at 220 WEcoFlow
EcoFlow 400W Rigid Solar Panel400 W37.1 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.3 hinput capped at 220 WEcoFlow
EcoFlow NextGen 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel220 W21.5 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.7 hEcoFlow
Renogy 220W Lightweight Portable Solar Panel Suitcase220 W23.3 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.7 hRenogy
BougeRV 200W Foldable Portable Solar Panel200 W21 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.9 hBougeRV
Renogy 200W N-Type Portable Solar Panel Blanket200 W19.6 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.9 hRenogy
BLUETTI SP200L 200W Portable Solar Panel200 W24.6 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.9 hBLUETTI
BougeRV 200W N-Type ShadePower Solar Panel200 W36.4 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.9 hBougeRV
Rich Solar MEGA 200 Portable Briefcase Solar Panel200 W22.2 VAdapter: MC4 to XT601.9 hRich Solar
EcoFlow 125W Bifacial Modular Solar Panel125 W50 VPlugs straight in3.1 hEcoFlow
EcoFlow 110W Portable Solar Panel110 W21.8 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.5 hEcoFlow
BLUETTI PV100 FX Flexible Solar Panel100 W41.4 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.8 hBLUETTI
EcoFlow 100W Flexible Solar Panel100 W20.3 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.8 hEcoFlow
BLUETTI SP100L 100W Portable Solar Panel100 W24.62 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.8 hBLUETTI
EcoFlow 100W Rigid Solar Panel100 W20.3 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.8 hEcoFlow
Rich Solar MEGA 100100 W22.8 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.8 hRich Solar
BougeRV Yuma 100W CIGS Thin-Film Flexible Solar Panel with Pre-Punched Holes100 W30.5 VAdapter: MC4 to XT603.8 hBougeRV

Recharge time is from empty with one panel in full sun: 286 Wh ÷ the lower of75% of the panel's rating or the station's solar input limit. A panel rated above the input limit is safe as long as its Voc fits, because the station only draws what it can take. MC4 panels need a standard MC4 adapter cable, which many stations include. Wiring two panels in series doubles the Voc, so check the total against the voltage window. Try any pairing in the solar panel matcher.

8 panels that don't fit

Browse all our ranked solar panels or test any pairing in the solar panel matcher.

Side-by-side specs

SpecEcoFlow DELTA 3 PlusOUPES Mega 1BLUETTI Elite 100 V2EcoFlow RIVER 3 PlusBLUETTI AC70EcoFlow DELTA 3Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
Score9.08.48.17.77.58.57.96.2
Battery chemistryLiFePO4LiFePO4LiFePO4LiFePO4LiFePO4LiFePO4LiFePO4LiFePO4
Rated cycle life4,0003,5004,0003,0003,0004,0004,000—
AC output1,800 W2,000 W1,800 W600 W1,000 W1,800 W2,000 W1,500 W
Energy density37.1 Wh/lb36.83 Wh/lb40.96 Wh/lb27.5 Wh/lb34.13 Wh/lb37.1 Wh/lb41.12 Wh/lb44.96 Wh/lb
AC recharge time56 min58 min70 min60 min78 min56 min49 min60 min
Solar recharge rate0.98 W per Wh0.78 W per Wh0.98 W per Wh0.77 W per Wh0.65 W per Wh0.49 W per Wh0.59 W per Wh0.37 W per Wh
ExpandableYesYesNoYesYesYesNoNo
UPS switchover10 ms20 ms10 ms10 ms20 ms10 ms10 ms20 ms
Warranty5 yr5 yr5 yr5 yr5 yr5 yr5 yr3 yr
App controlwifi+bluetoothwifi+bluetoothwifi+bluetoothwifi+bluetoothbluetoothwifi+bluetoothwifi+bluetoothwifi+bluetooth
Launch MSRP——————$799$799

Which camping station should you buy?

  • Car camping with a 12V fridge and a panel: the DELTA 3 Plus. Five days of fridge, a 1,000 W solar input and enough inverter for a coffee maker.
  • Power tools, compressors or a microwave at camp: the OUPES Mega 1 for its 2,000 W continuous and 4,500 W surge.
  • Carrying it farther from the car: the Elite 100 V2 at 25 lb for a full 1kWh, or the RIVER 3 Plus at 10.4 lb for overnight trips.
  • Weekends without solar on a mid-size budget: the AC70’s 768 Wh covers 2.3 days of the light kit.

Want a smaller unit? Our best small power stations covers everything under 500 Wh, and best mid-size power stations goes up to 1,500 Wh with no weight cap. For your own gear list, run the numbers in our runtime calculator, or browse every model in our power station rankings.

What you'll plug in

  • Full-size refrigerator (ENERGY STAR)160 W, cycles 32% of the time
  • Wi-Fi router6.5 W
  • LED bulb (60 W equivalent)9 W
  • Smartphone charger10 W

Runs all of it for about 8.3 h on a full charge.

Runtime
8.3 h
Running watts
214of 1,800 W inverter
Start-up peak
214of 3,600 W surge
Average draw
105W after cycling

Runtime = 85% of the battery's rated Wh (usable after inverter and DC losses) ÷ the average draw. The start-up peak assumes one motor starts at a time.

Smallest stations that run this load

StationBatteryInverterRuntimeBuy
EcoFlow RIVER 3245 Wh300 W2.0 hAmazon
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus286 Wh600 W2.3 hEcoFlow
Anker SOLIX C300288 Wh300 W2.3 hAnker SOLIX
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2288 Wh600 W2.3 hBLUETTI
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus288 Wh300 W2.3 hAmazon
BLUETTI AC50B448 Wh700 W3.6 hBLUETTI
Goal Zero Yeti 500499 Wh500 W4.1 hGoal Zero
DJI Power 500512 Wh1,000 W4.2 hDJI

Frequently asked questions

What size power station do I need for camping?

For a weekend with a 12V fridge, lights and phones, about 660 Wh of rated capacity covers two days without recharging. Add a laptop and a fan and you need about 1,560 Wh for two days, or a 1kWh station plus a solar panel.

How long will a power station run a 12V fridge?

A Dometic CFX5 45 averages about 7 W once cold, so a 1,024Wh station runs it for about 5.2 days and a 286Wh station about 35 hours, using our 85% usable-capacity rule.

What is the best lightweight power station for camping?

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus scores highest among stations under 500 Wh in our ranking: 286 Wh of LiFePO4 at 10.4 lb, a 600 W inverter, 220 W of solar input and expansion to 858 Wh.

Can a camping power station run a coffee maker?

Only if its inverter handles about 1,300 W. Our 1kWh picks, with 1,800 to 2,000 W of continuous output, can run a drip coffee maker for about 40 minutes of brewing on a full charge. The RIVER 3 Plus and AC70 can't.

How many solar panels do I need to recharge at the campsite?

One 220 W panel delivers about 165 W in good sun, roughly 660 Wh over four peak sun hours. That replaces a full day of a light camping kit on any of our picks.