We compared each maker’s published specs and listed prices for the power stations campers buy most: small units of about 300 Wh for a weekend, and about 1 kWh for longer trips. We did not run our own hands-on tests.
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Best picks for weekend camping (about 300 Wh)
These picks are worked out from the numbers in the tables below, never chosen by hand, and they update when the numbers do.
Jackery Explorer 300
$0.99 per Wh
See Jackery Explorer 300EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
220W max solar input
See EcoFlow RIVER 3 PlusJackery Explorer 300
7.5 lb
See Jackery Explorer 300EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus and BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 (tie)
600W AC output
See EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus See BLUETTI Elite 30 V2About 300 Wh: RIVER 3 Plus vs Explorer 300 vs Elite 30 V2
About 300 Wh charges phones, lights, a camera and a laptop for a weekend, and most models weigh around ten pounds or less.
| Spec | EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus | Jackery Explorer 300 | BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (list) | $299 | $289 | $289.99 |
| Price per Wh | $1.05 | $0.99 | $1.01 |
| Capacity | 286 Wh | 292 Wh | 288 Wh |
| AC output | 600W (1,200W surge) | 300W | 600W (1,500W lifting power) |
| Max solar input | 220W | Not listed | 200W |
| Battery cycles | 3,000 to 80% | 4,000 to 70% | 3,000 to 80% |
| Weight | 10.4 lb | 7.5 lb | 9.5 lb |
| Backup switch time (UPS) | 10 ms or less | Not listed | 10 ms or less |
| Extra batteries | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Warranty | Not listed | 2 + 1 years | 5 years |
| Where to buy | See it on EcoFlow’s site | See it on Jackery’s site | See it on BLUETTI’s site |
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
- Price (list)
- $299
- Price per Wh
- $1.05
- Capacity
- 286 Wh
- AC output
- 600W (1,200W surge)
- Max solar input
- 220W
- Battery cycles
- 3,000 to 80%
- Weight
- 10.4 lb
- Backup switch time (UPS)
- 10 ms or less
- Extra batteries
- Yes
- Warranty
- Not listed
Jackery Explorer 300
- Price (list)
- $289
- Price per Wh
- $0.99
- Capacity
- 292 Wh
- AC output
- 300W
- Max solar input
- Not listed
- Battery cycles
- 4,000 to 70%
- Weight
- 7.5 lb
- Backup switch time (UPS)
- Not listed
- Extra batteries
- Not listed
- Warranty
- 2 + 1 years
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2
- Price (list)
- $289.99
- Price per Wh
- $1.01
- Capacity
- 288 Wh
- AC output
- 600W (1,500W lifting power)
- Max solar input
- 200W
- Battery cycles
- 3,000 to 80%
- Weight
- 9.5 lb
- Backup switch time (UPS)
- 10 ms or less
- Extra batteries
- Not listed
- Warranty
- 5 years
Prices checked Oct 25, 2026, 12:45 pm ET on each maker’s site. Prices change often.
For longer trips or a 12V fridge (about 1 kWh)
A portable fridge, a CPAP machine or several days off-grid need more stored energy. These are each brand’s main 1 kWh models.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
$0.47 per Wh
See Jackery Explorer 1000 v2EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus and BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 (tie)
1,000W max solar input
See EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus See BLUETTI Elite 100 V2Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
23.8 lb
See Jackery Explorer 1000 v2EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus and BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 (tie)
1,800W AC output
See EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus See BLUETTI Elite 100 V2| Spec | EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (list) | $719 (list $799) | $499 (list $559) | $489 (list $499) |
| Price per Wh | $0.70 | $0.47 | $0.48 |
| Capacity | 1,024 Wh | 1,070 Wh | 1,024 Wh |
| AC output | 1,800W (3,600W surge) | 1,500W (3,000W surge) | 1,800W (3,600W surge) |
| Max solar input | 1,000W | 400W | 1,000W |
| Battery cycles | 4,000 to 80% | 4,000 to 70% | 4,000 to 80% |
| Weight | 27.6 lb | 23.8 lb | 25 lb |
| Backup switch time (UPS) | 10 ms or less | Not listed | 10 ms or less |
| Extra batteries | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Warranty | 5 years | 3 + 2 years (5 only if bought at jackery.com) | Not listed |
| Where to buy | See it on EcoFlow’s site | See it on Jackery’s site | See it on BLUETTI’s site |
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus
- Price (list)
- $719 (list $799)
- Price per Wh
- $0.70
- Capacity
- 1,024 Wh
- AC output
- 1,800W (3,600W surge)
- Max solar input
- 1,000W
- Battery cycles
- 4,000 to 80%
- Weight
- 27.6 lb
- Backup switch time (UPS)
- 10 ms or less
- Extra batteries
- Yes
- Warranty
- 5 years
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
- Price (list)
- $499 (list $559)
- Price per Wh
- $0.47
- Capacity
- 1,070 Wh
- AC output
- 1,500W (3,000W surge)
- Max solar input
- 400W
- Battery cycles
- 4,000 to 70%
- Weight
- 23.8 lb
- Backup switch time (UPS)
- Not listed
- Extra batteries
- Not listed
- Warranty
- 3 + 2 years (5 only if bought at jackery.com)
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2
- Price (list)
- $489 (list $499)
- Price per Wh
- $0.48
- Capacity
- 1,024 Wh
- AC output
- 1,800W (3,600W surge)
- Max solar input
- 1,000W
- Battery cycles
- 4,000 to 80%
- Weight
- 25 lb
- Backup switch time (UPS)
- 10 ms or less
- Extra batteries
- Not listed
- Warranty
- Not listed
Prices checked Oct 24, 2026, 10:45 pm ET on each maker’s site. Prices change often.
How much power do you need for camping?
- List what you’ll run and find the watts on each device’s label or charger.
- Multiply watts by the hours you’ll use it each day to get watt-hours, then add them up.
- Multiply by the number of days you’ll be away from an outlet, unless you’ll recharge with solar.
- Leave a margin, because some energy is lost turning battery power into household AC.
- Check the output rating: it has to cover everything running at the same time.
Our free Power Outage Ready checklist has a worked example you can copy.
What matters most at a campsite
- Weight: if you carry it from the car, a few pounds makes a real difference. Compare the Weight row.
- Solar charging: a higher max solar input refills the battery faster from a portable panel. Check that your panel’s connector and voltage match the power station.
- Cold weather: lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, used by every model here, have a limited temperature range for charging. Check the maker’s charging temperature before winter camping.
- Noise and fumes: battery power stations make no exhaust, so unlike a gas generator they can be used inside a tent or camper. Follow the maker’s instructions.
- Campground rules: many campgrounds limit generator hours; a battery is usually quiet enough to use any time. Check your campground’s rules.
Frequently asked questions
- What size power station do I need for camping?
- Add up the watts of what you'll run, multiplied by the hours you'll use each one per day and the number of days away from an outlet, then leave a margin. Small units are enough for phones, lights and a laptop over a weekend; a portable fridge or CPAP usually needs a larger model.
- Can I use a portable power station inside a tent?
- Yes. Battery power stations make no exhaust, unlike gas generators, which must never run inside a tent, camper or garage. Follow the maker's instructions and keep the unit dry.
- Can I charge a power station with a portable solar panel?
- Yes, within the power station's solar input limit. Check that the panel's connector and voltage match, and expect slower charging in clouds or shade.
- Do power stations work in cold weather?
- They can run devices in the cold, but lithium iron phosphate batteries have a limited temperature range for charging. Check the charging temperature in the maker's specs before a winter trip, and keep the unit insulated.
Sources
Specs and prices come from each maker’s U.S. product page. Prices are shown with the date and time we checked them, and are hidden once they are more than 30 days old.
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
- Jackery Explorer 300
- BLUETTI Elite 30 V2
- Our EcoFlow vs Jackery vs BLUETTI comparison (1 kWh and 2 kWh models and their sources)
Photo: Newpowa on Unsplash.