Whether it’s when you’re camping out by the car or when the power goes out, a portable power station can be a lifesaver. Our choice for the best portable power station is the Goal Zero Yeti 400 , which we believe is the perfect choice for camping, with enough power to keep all your devices (phones, laptops, tablets) charged up and any essential lanterns powered, any time you need.
It has a 396 watt-hour, 33ah capacity, which is enough for charging your typical phone more than 30 times, a large laptop battery 5 times, as well as run small appliances (portable electric stoves, a mini fridge or even your LCD TV) for several hours. A standard-sized headlamp or flashlight can easily get 70-80 recharges.
To use, simply press the button, and it turns on and charges – nearly silently. There’s a selection of different power outlet options available to use, including two USB ports, two AC outlets and even a 12v output.
How about recharging the Yeti itself? There’s a whole host of options for that, too, including a separate solar panel (for purchase) which allows you to simply set it out in the sun and let it do its thing. Exactly how long that takes obviously depends on the size of solar panel selected; Goal Zero says their Boulder 100 panel can do it in 8-16 hours. It will also depend on the weather, too. Other options include the old-fashioned way – plugging it into the wall (which takes about 5 hours) – or using the 12v adapter in your car, which takes about 13 hours.
Build quality is tough and dependable, and the modular design actually lets you chain the Yeti with other 33ah lead-acid batteries, creating essentially a “mega-battery” with an extended runtime – getting you through longer power outages and emergencies.
Whatever you need it for, Goal Zero has you covered with the Yeti 400. – which is why we really do feel it’s the best portable power station out there. Load it up for your next overland Jeep trip, take it down to the lake for a night camping out, or just use it when the power goes out. If you do find yourself needing even more, then you can opt for one of Goal Zero’s larger, more powerful power stations; the Yeti 1000, Yeti 1250, Yeti 1400, and even the beastly Yeti 3000.