When you’re on a long trip or on holiday, portable power stations in your car or campervan can be a fabulous accessory. Simply put: they provide enough power to charge up multiple devices for a much longer period of time than a standard camping power bank.
They can keep your phones charged, your speakers charged, and can even power much bigger things, depending on which one you go for. In peak camping season, portable power banks with wide breaths of capabilities are not only useful to have, but also cool if you’re travelling with friends.
What’s more, unlike the relatively short lifespan of camping lanterns, some last for so long, that you won’t necessarily have to worry about running out of power. Depending on the power output and quantity, you can rely on the things keep your phones, tablets and laptops charged up for days on end.
The best portable power stations 2024 at a glance:
The best portable power bank: BioLite BaseCharge1500 – buy from Amazon
Editor’s pick: EF EcoFlow River 2 Pro – buy from Amazon
Best budget portable power station: Anker 512 Portable Generator – buy from Amazon
They’re as useful and as nice to use as portable camping showers. However, there’s a lot to choose from in the world of portable power stations, so we’ve done some digging and found our favourites. They range in price, breadth of capabilities, and even power source.
The best portable power stations 2024
Best wireless charging portable power station
The warranty only lasts for two years as opposed to five, but the unit has a battery capacity of 1,521Wh and weighs comparably lighter than the others at just 12.9kg.
Pros
- Has a wireless charging platform on the top
- Ten power outlets in addition is useful
- Isn't too heavy to carry at 12.9kg
Cons
- Only has two year warranty, which is less than some others
| Power | 1200W |
| Dimensions | 37 x 31 x 21cm |
| Weight | 12.9kg |
| N.O outlets | 12 |
Editor's pick
It also has a five-year warranty, which is incredibly reassuring to buyers, as well as weighing just 7.8kg, which undercuts the other, more premium power stations. This makes it easier to move around on the campsite, while still being mightily capable at providing power to you and your friends' devices.
Pros
- Sits in a sweet spot of power capability and value for money
- Has a total of ten power outlets
- Comes with a five-year warranty
Cons
- Isn't quite as powerful or comprehensive as premium products
| Power | 1600W |
| Dimensions | 26 x 22.6 x 27cm |
| Weight | 7.8kg |
| N.O outlets | 10 |
The best equipped portable power station
It's capable of powering a 1300W lawn mower for 1.3 hours, so it should have no trouble charging up multiple phones at once. It has an AC output of 2,200W and a total capacity of 2,048Wh - making this an immensely powerful unit.
Pros
- Very powerful unit capable of powering many devices
- Has 15 ports of varying cable types
- Comes with a 24-month warranty
Cons
- Solar panels are extras
| Power | 600W |
| Dimensions | 25 x 25 x 18cm |
| Weight | 28.1kg |
| N.O outlets | 15 |
Best budget portable power station
It has a single 3-point socket, two USB ports and one USB-C port as well as a car socket. So, it isn't as comprehensively-equipped as the others, and can only charge up a few devices at a time, but this is reflected in the price point.
Pros
- Good value for money at under £200
- Has enough ports for a few essential devices
- The screen is easy to read
Cons
- 200W output is very small compared to the rest
- Only has five total ports
| Power | 200W |
| Dimensions | 21.6 x 14.4 x 21.2cm |
| Weight | 3.7kg |
| N.O outlets | 5 |
Best mid-range portable power station
It also generates 2400W, and claims to have a ten-year battery life. It's clear that for value alone, this is an incredible portable power station to consider.
Pros
- Better value for money than the Bluetti station
- Has 13 ports to power devices
- Long warranty which adds reassurance
Cons
- Slightly short on outlets compared to the top-end models
| Power | 2400W |
| Dimensions | 39.8 x 28 x 31.5cm |
| Weight | 22kg |
| N.O outlets | 13 |
FAQs and things to remember with portable power stations
Why should I upgrade to one over a more compact power bank?
Simply put, portable power stations are very expensive. A lot of camping gear including compact tents is expensive. but they can provide power to a plethora of items at a level that a small power bank couldn’t ever dream of. Keeping things like laptops, multiple people’s phones, and much more on the go while camping is a huge service to your circle of friends or family.
But even away from the standard phones or laptops, they provide power for a lot of remote entertainment. Need to keep a speaker on charge while simultaneously charging people’s phones? A portable power station is your answer. Need to hook up a projector and media player to watch something as the light fades? If you’re very thorough, you might even want to plug in an air conditioning unit. Again, a portable power station is useful for it.
How long do they last on a charge?
It all depends on how you use it, but on average, a powerful one should be several days, and a smaller one more-or-less a weekend. The Bluetti AC200MAX, with an AC output of 2,200W, has a claimed capability of charging your phone up 170 times (if you were to use it for only that or perhaps a small kettle), which gives you an idea of how powerful these things can be.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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