We put the best portable power stations to the test. Here's which ones provide the most power

"When you think of the best portable power stations, you might think of how easy it is to carry them or travel with them. But what you might forget is that these smaller devices still provide lots of power, whether you're going off-grid, need a source of power during an outage, or are simply camping for the weekend."

"Our lab testing process is centered around measuring the charge and discharge processes of each portable power station, with emphasis on the number of watt-hours consumed and discharged, respectively, and the time required to complete each process. Once all data is gathered, we also compared units using a "Round Trip Efficiency" metric that describes how efficiently a unit provides power compared to how much it draws to charge."

"The testing apparatus consists of the unit under test (UUT), a HOBO plug load data logger, a computer to save the logged data, and a 480W LED light to consume power. During a charge test, the UUT is plugged into the wall in line with the data logger, which measures and logs the power (watt-hours) being drawn by the unit."

Smaller portable power stations can provide substantial energy for off-grid use, outages, and weekend camping. Dozens of units were tested in a Kentucky lab to evaluate how much power each station can provide compared to how much it draws to charge. Tests focused on watt-hours, charge and discharge durations, and an overall round-trip efficiency metric. Eight units were compared based on editors' picks and hands-on real-world experience, with notable performers including the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus and the Vtoman FlashSpeed 1500. The apparatus included the unit under test, a HOBO data logger, a logging computer, and a 480W LED load.

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