A quality portable power station helps you enjoy the great outdoors without having to give up on the appliances that sustain your daily life.
Whether it be a fridge for your food, a c-pap machine for sleeping, or even just keeping your smartphone charged up, portable power stations make it possible to have the best of both worlds.
This guide is meant to serve as a comprehensive review of the best portable power stations available for camping in 2022.
When evaluating each portable power station we took five factors into account: battery chemistry, battery size, outputs, charging methods, and warranty.
After extensive research and hands-on testing, we concluded that the best portable power station currently available in Australia is the Bluetti Portable power station.
There are many quality and feature-rich power station options to consider, but the robust casing, variety of battery sizes, pricing, number of outputs, and wireless charging pad make the Bluetti a standout amongst the other power stations currently available.
The following portable power stations have been reviewed in detail throughout this article, following a brief explanation of the important things to consider when choosing a portable power station.
- Companion Rover (Best Value For Money Power Station)
- Blackhawk BHBP501-230 (Best Budget Power Station)
- Dometic PLB-40 (Shock Resistant Power Station)
- Goal Zero Yeti (Best Overall Power Station)
- Baintech Off Grid Freedom Power Station (Best Warranty)
- Bluetti Portable Power Station (Best Lithium Portable Power Station)
- EcoFlow River (Modular Battery Power Station)
How to Choose A Portable Power Station
The best portable power station for you is going to depend on a variety of factors. Based on your personal use case, and what you need from a power station the below characteristics are important factors you should consider when deciding on the best product for you.
Battery Chemistry
Portable power stations vary in the type of battery chemistry that is used to store the electricity. The two main types of battery chemistry used in portable power stations are lead-acid batteries and lithium batteries.
Lead-acid batteries, specifically Absorbent Glass Matting (AGM) varieties, are what you have in your car, to help it start. But they have also been used in battery boxes and power stations for a long time.
More recently though, Lithium batteries have become increasingly common power stations. The benefit of lithium batteries is that they are lighter, and you are able to use more of the stored power. For example, with lead acid batteries is not advisable to ever use more than 50% of the stored power (or you risk damaging the battery). Whereas Lithium batteries can safely be drained to a lower level.
Battery Size
Different power stations have different battery sizes which can store different amounts of electricity. It is important to think about the kind of devices you will be powering with your battery station, how much power they need, and how many devices you might want to power at any one time, and then get a power station with a battery big enough to meet those demands.
Outputs
Outputs refer to the different connections each unit has that you can hook your devices and appliances to. The most common outputs you will find are 240v AC inverter, 12v DC port, USB ports but some also include ‘Hella’ sockets and Anderson plugs. Make sure you have considered the different devices and appliances you will be needing to connect and ensure the power station you chose can power those.
Charging Methods
Each of the power stations has different combinations of charging methods. Ranging from 12v cigarette adapters to 240v transformers to Anderson plug connections for solar power. Pay attention to these options and make sure you have thought through how you plan how to charge your battery back while camping and whether the unit you are looking at will accommodate that.
Also, pay attention to how long each device takes to charge as some power stations are equipped with quick charge functionality that accelerates the charging process by hours.
Best Portable Power Station – In-Depth Reviews
Companion Rover (Best Value For Money Power Station)
The Companion Rover Power Station is an all-in-one portable battery pack that gives you a combination of 12v and USB outlets to keep you powered up in the outback without having to install an auxiliary battery in your car.
With sturdy housing and a handy carry handle, it is great for basic camping power needs. For a combination of lights, fans, a portable hot water system, and phone charging, this could serve you well.
- Convenient Carry Handle
- Inbuilt Torch
- LCD Voltage Display With Warnings
- Anderson Plug Connection
- Huge Battery Storage Capacity
- No 240v Inverter
The Companion Rover Lithium Power Station comes in two models, that differ primarily on the amount of included battery storage. There is a 40ah model and a 100Ah model. Both would provide ample power for basic campsite needs over multiple days, however, if you are going to be powering fridges and other devices, then the 100Ah would be more suitable. Regardless of the battery size, they are both made from the latest lithium technology which is lightweight and allows access to 80% of the battery’s storage capacity.
The Companion rover also includes a useful LCD display and low voltage warning lights to make sure you don’t run out of power or harm your battery.
There are three ways you can charge the Companion Rover Power Station:
- Wall Charger (at home before you leave)
- While Driving (12v cigarette adapter)
- Solar Panel (directly into the unit while camping)
There is a range of power outputs available on the Companion Rover. Both units include Anderson plug, USB-A, USB-C, 12v DC, and cigarette plug outputs. The 100AH Rover model includes a double Anderson plug and USB connection, compared to only a single of each on the 40Ah model. The only thing missing from these units is a 240v Inverter.
These power stations have been very popular with Australian campers, and they rate them very highly. Though some have wished for a quicker charging process (8-10 hours at least), in terms of performance we haven’t seen a bad review, with average ratings coming in at five stars.
It could be used in a power outage dep
The Companion Rover is covered by a 12-month warranty. If you have any issues in the first year after purchase, take the unit back to the place of purchase with your receipt to initiate the follow-up process.
Blackhawk BHBP501-230 (Best Budget Power Station)
The Blackhawk Portable Power Station is one of the cheaper lithium portable power station models on the market, especially one of the cheap models to include dual 240v AC outputs, with a pure sine wave inverter.
If you are looking to spend less than $500 and you really want access to 240v power off-grid, then the Blackhawk should be on your list of products to consider.
- 240v AC Inverter
- Carry Handle
- In-Built LED Torch
- Limited Battery Storage
The battery in the Blackhawk Power Station has 518Wh of capacity, which translates to about 42Ah of 12V DC electricity. Charging the Blackhawk does take longer than some other units, with a projected charge time of 16 hours with the car charger, and around 8 hours using the other available methods.
The Blackhawk unit comes with a 3.5mm DC input for charging. There are adapters included for 240V power, a 12v DC car adapter and you could potentially convert your solar panel to this as well, with the right adapter. The solar panel could also be connected to charge it via its USB-C output which has input/output capability. This could easily be connected to your solar panel regulator, as most of them have USB outputs.
There are three groups of outputs (AC/DC/USB). 240v AC power is delivered via the two standard power point connections, with power from the pure sine wave inverter. DC power is provided by a single 12vDC cigarette output and 2 x 5.5mm pin plugs. In terms of USB connections, there are three USB-A outputs and one USB C port. The usb port and ac outlet can both be used at the same time
The Blackhawk power station includes a one-year manufacturer’s warranty, in case you experience any issues within the first 12 months.
Dometic PLB-40 (Shock Resistant Power Station)
The Dometic PLB40 makes powering your off-grid appliances a breeze. The PLB 40 is shock, heat, and UV resistant, so you can take it anywhere.
It’s lightweight and equipped with a stainless steel carry handle, so it’s easy to get in and out of the car or ute. The Dometic PLB 40 is designed to power multiple devices including your fridge, and USB devices, and can even support small inverters (up to 150w). Our main concerns with the unit are not with the quality, but what you get for your money.
- Stainless Steel Carry Handle
- Shockproof
- Limited Outputs
- Limited Storage
The Dometic PLB-40 battery is composed of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4), which has numerous advantages over traditional lead-acid batteries. One of the key advantages of Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries is that they do not reduce in charge under high load. The battery pack is designed to handle over 2000 charging cycles in its lifetime. So even if you recharged it every day, you should theoretically get over 6 years of use out of it.
There are three ways you can charge the Dometic PLB-40 Power Station:
- Wall Charger (at home before you leave)
- While Driving (12v cigarette adapter)
- Solar Panel (directly into the unit while camping)
There are surprisingly few power outputs on the Dometic PLB-40, given its premium price. The unit is equipped with an Anderson plug, a 12v cigarette socket, a 12v dual-pin socket, and two USB-A ports. There is no USB c port on this device. This is an extremely limited set of outputs, given the price of the unit in comparison to the other units available. Even though it can power multiple devices, the limited battery capacity is going to be inconvenient.
There are many happy customers who have bought the PLB-40. A look around at various ratings and reviews shows they tend to average out at around four stars after taking into account a small number of very low reviews, with a majority of quite positive experiences.
The Dometic PLB40 comes with a 12-month warranty, like many other Dometic products. If you have any problems with this device in the first 12 months, take your unit back to the place of purchase with the original purchase receipt.
Goal Zero Yeti (Best Overall Power Station)
Though they are in no way the cheapest, the Goal Zero Yeti power station series are some of the most popular portable power stations in the world.
Thanks to some innovative features including a fast charge port, smartphone app, and USB-C direct connection possibilities, the Goal Zero Yeti offers some benefits not found in other power stations.
- Smart Phone App
- 240v Inverter
- Robust Construction
- Small Battery for Price
There are six different Yetu power station models, starting off with the 200x and going up to the 6000x.
Goal Zero Yeti power stations use Lithium Ion NMC battery technology. The smallest unit (200x) includes a 13Ah battery, which is small for the price, so make sure you have considered your power needs before investing in a Goal Zero Yeti. You can get larger batteries to suit your needs, but the price goes up proportionately.
There are three ways you can charge the Goal Zero Yeti Power Station:
- Wall Charger (at home before you leave)
- Driving Portable Charger (12v cigarette adapter)
- Solar Panel (directly into the unit while camping)
- USB-C Direct Input (rare inclusion!)
The Yeti includes a 12v car port, 12v DC pin port, dual USB-A ports, dual USB-C ports, and a 240v AC power point. This is a solid collection of outputs, but less than you receive for a similarly priced alternative.
Goal Zero offers a 12-month warranty for Yeti power stations, in line with industry standards.
Baintech Off Grid Freedom Power Station (Best Warranty)
Baintech products are made by an Australian company called Bainbridge, from Queensland. The Off Grid Freedom Power Station is their latest power station product.
Baintech products don’t have a reputation for being the most stylistic, but they do have a great reputation for being functional, and of very high quality. The Off Grid Freedom Power Station is no different.
- 5 Year Warranty
- Very Long Battery Life
- Sturdy Aluminium Casing
- No 240v Inverter
The Baintech Off Grid Freedom Power Station is powered by a 75Ahm Lithium battery. This is a very usable amount of electricity storage but it is the quality of this battery, that is one of this product’s defining features. This battery is rated for up to 3000 charging cycles when draining to 20% depth of discharge and up to 5000 cycles when draining the battery to 50% depth of discharge.
Many comparable products are only rated for 500-1000 recharge cycles at 80% depth of discharge, so the fact that the Baintech model is designed for up to 3000 cycles, gives you an indication of the durability of this unit.
This power station is charged via the two included Anderson ports. So you could potentially charge it with anything that can send power through an Anderson plug (at the right voltage). Common options would be a solar panel, DC to DC charger on your car, or even a 240v charger at home with an appropriate Anderson plug adapter.
The unit is equipped with a small but effective number of outputs. The Anderson plugs that are used to charge it, can also be used as outputs. In addition to these, the units also have four USB ports and two 12v cigarette plugs, making eight outputs in total.
The Off Grid Freedom Power Station is covered by a generous five-year warranty. This is at least double the length of any other power station. This shows the confidence that Bainbridge has in their products and conveys its approach toward quality and longevity.
Bluetti Portable Power Station (Best Lithium Portable Power Station)
- Rapid Charging Capacity
- Charge and Use Simultaneously
- Wireless Charging Pad
- 240v Inverter
- 2 Year Warranty
- N/A
Bluetti produces a comprehensive range of portable power products, with their portable power stations being one of their most popular items.
The Bluetti Portable Power Station range are equipped with LifePO5 lithium batteries, starting at 55Ah in size on the Bluetti EB55, and going up from there.
There are three ways you can charge the Bluetti Power Station:
- Wall Charger (at home before you leave)
- While Driving (12v cigarette adapter)
- Solar Panel (directly into the unit while camping)
Where the Bluetti models set themselves apart from the market is that they are designed to take in 2 x 200W charging current at one time, so if you have solar and car 12v plugged in, or 240v and solar, can double the speed at which you charge the power station. As a result, you can recharge the unit in 2-3 hours potentially, instead of the 8-10 hours it takes to charge most models.
The Bluetti also stands out when comparing the outputs the unit provides. There are 11 outputs in total, including four USB-A ports, one USB-C port, dual 240v AC power points, a wireless charging pad, and 12v DC pin ports for LED lights and other 12v devices. All of these different sections can be isolated to save power. The in-built battery management system (BMS) ensures your battery is optimised and safe regardless of what is connected.
Nearly all reviews and user feedback for the Bluetti give it a five-star rating. The worst I could find online was a single four-star rating, but otherwise, the consensus is the Bluettit Portable Power Stations are high-quality and well-designed units.
In the event of a power outage or problems with your mains power, the Bluetti could be used as a backup power source, as long as the battery lasted.
In addition to all the positives already discussed, the Bluetti power station, also includes a 2-year warranty for their power stations which is double the standard 1-year warranties offered for most other power stations.
EcoFlow River (Modular Battery Power Station)
The EcoFlow River Power Station strikes us in a similar way as the Goal Zero Yeti. It is clearly a high-quality unit, with some great features, but really lacking in storage and features that you get for a similar price with the Bluetti models.
EcoFlow has a large range of portable power equipment, including a range of power stations designed to support the home environment if the power goes out, and the ‘River’ series that we are reviewing in this article.
- Modular Battery System
- Smartphone Status App
- X-Boost High Output Option
- Inbuilt Torch
- Limited Outputs
- Limited Storage
The base model EcoFlow River has multiple different models, each adding extra battery storage and outputs as the price goes up. The 600w model has 24Ah of storage capacity (low for the price) but this can be expanded with additional add-on batteries thanks to the modular nature of the EcoFlow River design. It also incorporates a sophisticated battery management system for battery enhancement and protection.
They utilise Lithium Ion technology, designed to handle at least 500 recharging cycles. This is a low number of cycles, especially compared to the Baintech, which can handle 3000 recharge cycles.
There are three ways you can charge the EcoFlow River Power Station:
- Wall Charger (at home before you leave)
- Driving Portable Charger (12v cigarette adapter)
- Solar Panel (directly into the unit while camping)
Charging can be sped up using the EcoFlow X-Stream technology, and the ability to charge your power bank in hours, instead of needing a whole day, can be very handy in some situations.
For a small power station, the EcoFLow River is equipped with more outputs than you would usually get at that price point. The unit includes dual 240v AC power points, a DC 12v cigarette output, two 12v DC pin outputs, and four USB outputs (including two fast charge ports).
In the event of a power outage or problems with your mains power, the EcoFlow could be used as a backup power source, as long as the battery lasted.
The EcoFlow power station has a 2-year warranty, which is double that of many products that only have a 1-year warranty.
Portable Power Station Tips
If you have just picked up your new power station and are taking it out for the first time, there are a few things you need to be mindful of, to maximise the longevity of your unit.
Connecting a Solar Panel to Your Portable Battery Pack
Many camping power packs have an Anderson plug which allows a solar panel connection. Solar is a great way to power your off-grid campsite, but you need to connect to your power station safely or else damage can be caused.
If you care to connect a solar panel to your power pack, make sure there is a solar panel regularly connected between your panel and your power pack. In some panels, this is built into the circuitry, and in some power packs, this is built into the unit itself (so you can hook up directly), but in some cases, you will have a separate device you need to connect in the power cab;e in between the two units. Just make sure there is a regulator there somewhere, as the direct connection of an unregulated solar panel could put very high voltage into your power station and cause significant damage.
Understand Depth of Discharge (DoD)
The batteries in our portable power packs are not designed to be drained fully and then recharged. They each have a level (called the ‘Depth of Discharge’ which they are designed to be drained down to, before needing charging.
This varies between battery chemistry types. For example, most Lithium batteries have a Depth of Discharge of 20%, meaning they can be drained down to 20%, before being re-charged, whereas lead-acid/AGM batteries are not supposed to be drained below 50%.
In both cases, if you drain a battery below this level, it could harm the battery and reduce its performance on going.
So make sure you are familiar with your battery’s chemistry and understand how low you can drain it, and keep an eye on the voltage throughout your trip.
12v Charging Limitations
Many units include 12v chargers that you can insert into a cigarette socket for charging, which is very handy when driving. But it is important to understand most vehicles do not provide enough voltage from the alternator to charge the battery pack to 100%. They often charge to about 80% of the battery level and you will need another source of power 240v/solar to reach 100% capacity.
Best Portable Power Station – Summary
You really are spoilt for choice when looking for a new portable power station. Most new power stations include a lithium battery these days, so from there the main thing to figure out is how many outputs you need, and the amount of battery storage you will need to power your off-grid campsite.
We really love the Companion Rover Lithium Power Station for most applications, with the only drawback being that it does not have an inverter to run 240v appliances.
If you want a similar quality power station, with an inverter and 100Ah of battery storage the price you need to pay will jump significantly and you will need to consider something like the Bluetti.
If you are trying to spend as little as possible and are willing to risk it on a potentially lower-quality unit, the Blackhawk or Aimtom will be well worth considering.
Portable Power Station FAQs
Are Portable Power Stations Safe?
Are Portable Power Stations Worth It?
Can A Portable Power Station Charge a Car Battery?
Can A Portable Power Station Run A Coffee Maker?
Can You Charge a Portable Power Station With A Portable Generator?
How Do You Charge A Portable Power Station?
- With a 240V AC adapter
- 12v DC cigarette plug adapter
- Solar panel
How Long Will A Portable Power Station Last?
How Many Years Does A Portable Power Station Last?
Some batteries are rated for up to 500 charging Cycles, sum up to 1000 cycles, and some R rated for multiple thousand charging Cycles.
As a general rule, the more power you have in your power station at all times will enhance the Longevity of the powerstation. This is not to say you should be concerned about drawing down the power, just that it is best practise to always be topping up the charge at any opportunity you have.
How To Buy A Portable Power Station?
How To Use A Portable Power Station?
Once you are away from the house, there will be an master on off switch which will control the functioning of the portable power station and then it is just a matter of plugging in the devices you wish to connect.
On some portable power stations there may be additional switches that control certain outputs, so keep that in mind, but basically portable power stations are plug play units. Turn them on and you are away.
What Is The Difference Between a Portable Power Station And A Generator?
So the simple rule is the portable power station captures the power and then feeds it back out through the outputs, whereas the generator creates electricity. Sometimes generators have battery capacity as well, but the generator function is typically an isolated unit.
