Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station,1070Wh,1500W

Why it's worth it

The Explorer 1000 v2 packs 1,070Wh and a 1,500W inverter into 23.8 pounds, which is about the sweet spot for car camping. It'll run a 12V cooler overnight, keep a CPAP going, and refill from a wall outlet in around an hour.

For most campers, 1,070Wh is the number that matters. A 12V compressor cooler like a Dometic CFX or a BougeRV averages 40 to 60 watts, which Outdoor Life's figures put at roughly 15 to 20 hours of runtime from a station this size. Add phones, a headlamp charge and a string of lights and you're still looking at two nights before you need sun or a wall outlet. That covers the trip most people actually take.

The 23.8-pound weight is the part you'll notice at the campsite. You can carry it from the trunk to the picnic table one-handed, set it down, and not think about it again. Heavier stations get parked wherever you first put them down. This one moves with you — under the awning when it rains, into the tent vestibule at night, back in the car in the morning.

From our review of 8 portable power stations for camping, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +For most campers, 1,070Wh is the number that matters
• +The 23.8-pound weight is the part you'll notice at the campsite
• +Charging is fast enough that you stop planning around it
• +The LFP cells are why this is a ten-year purchase and not a three-year one

What to know

• –The 1,500W ceiling is real
• –There's no expansion