The best portable power stations for camping off-grid and dealing with power cuts

Jackery was founded in California in 2012 by an ex-Apple engineer, and it soon established itself as one of the leading names in outdoor power generation – and with good reason. The stylish black-and-orange Jackery explorer 1000 is the best all-round portable power station we’ve tested.

The hefty 1,000W power output can comfortably handle recharging high-draw tech such as laptops and phones dozens of times over, but it’s also got enough capacity for running larger home appliances such as refrigerators for 10-14 hours – all while remaining portable at just 10kg.

There is a plethora of connections – from USB ports to a pair of standard three-pin plug sockets – to ensure complete compatibility with electronics inside and outside the home. A pure-sine wave converter replicates the alternating current of the UK power grid, meaning appliances will behave just as they would if they were plugged into the mains. This conversion comes at the expense of efficiency, but the Jackery explorer 1000 is one of the more efficient generators on the market.

The explorer 1000 can be bought as part of the Jackery solar generator 1000 package (£1,637.99, Jackery.com), a fully off-grid solution that includes two 100W solar panels capable of recharging the station to full. This takes as little as eight hours in direct Californian sunshine, but in the UK it might take days.

The highest power output of any of the portable power stations in our list, the Ecoflow delta kicks out an impressive 1,800W – as much as some small petrol generators. That output is shared across the delta’s generous range of connections: no fewer than four USB-A ports (two of which are fast-charging), two USB-C ports and four UK plug sockets.

Should the worst-case scenario come to pass this winter, and we’re faced with potential blackouts or energy rationing, the delta’s 1,260Wh battery capacity will keep large appliances ticking over when mains power isn’t available. A 150W fridge can be powered for up to 10 hours, for example, making it a great choice for emergency backup power.

The Ecoflow delta’s standout feature is its fast recharge time. The power station can be charged to full in just 1.6 hours, using mains power, and like the Jackery model above can be packaged with a bifacial 220W solar panel (£549, Hampshiregenerators.co.uk) to deliver endless free energy when camping or caravanning (British weather permitting).

This 200W outdoor generator from Anker produces just a fifth of the power of the next most powerful station in our list, but that means it can stay small, lightweight, quiet and super portable. The Anker 521 powerhouse is an ideal travel companion for recharging phones and cameras and running small appliances when you’re miles away from mains power, but its built-in striplight, three-pin plug and 256Wh battery pack make it a useful piece of kit at home too, should you ever lose power unexpectedly.

That 200W output is enough to juice up laptops and other devices using USB-C fast charging, and the capacious battery can be recharged to full in around two and a half hours. The LiFePo4 battery technology – a cut above regular lithium-ion battery tech – is rated to last for a decade, with sustained use, and the station comes with a five-year warranty

Like other entries in our list, the Anker 521 can be recharged using mains power or any standard solar charger.

The Bluetti EB70 has the best price-to-wattage ratio of any of the portable power stations we’ve tested, and uses long-lasting LiFePo4 technology that promises no noticeable deterioration of battery cell performance for at least 2,500 charge cycles.

The 716Wh capacity is a little less than you’ll get with the more-expensive Jackery and Ecoflow models included in this round-up, but that slimmer battery size leaves the EB70 lighter, easier to take on road trips, and faster to recharge. Using mains power, it can be charged in around four hours.

Connectivity is great. You’ve got your essential USB ports for juicing up your devices, and a pair of three-pin sockets with an AC inverter for delivering mains-style power off-grid. The EB70 can run any appliances rated 1,000W or below, such as a fridge, laptop, PC, outdoor projector, TV or lights.

It’s also got a 15W wireless charging pad built into the top of the station, a small addition that could be a lifesaver if you’ve lost your charging cable.

The smaller Anker 521 is all about portability but, at the opposite end of the range, the Anker 757 is all about power. The 1,500W output is enough to handle all but the most energy-hungry equipment, whether camping or at home, and the long-lasting LiFePo4 1,229Wh battery capacity can recharge phones and laptops dozens of times over before the unit itself needs to be recharged.

For home use, the continuous 1,500W output and 2,400W surge power means you can keep essential appliances such as your freezer and microwave running during a blackout, while simultaneously powering your TV and wifi router.