Battery life portable outdoor power supply

LiFePo4 power stations will last for more than 3,000 charge cycles, or about 10 years. That's far longer than the 500 or so charge cycles and 3 to 5 years you'll get from an older power station with a lithium-ion battery. How long does it take to recharge a portable power station with solar panels?

It depends on how often you use your power station and the type of battery inside. Like any battery, for example one in a phone or laptop, this will wear down over time until the power station no longer holds charge. General estimates put the lifespan of a portable power station at around ten years.

These days most portable power stations, including all those we recommend here, use LiFePO4 batteries, which are capable of holding far more cycles, which is the number of times a battery goes through a complete discharge and recharge, than older lithium-ion batteries while also being less likely to combust.

Portable power stations are more powerful and cost effective than ever before. And, thanks to advances in lithium-ion battery technology, they're also lighter and more compact. Whether you've been dreaming of van life or are building out your emergency kit in advance of that next blackout, there is a power station that will meet your needs.

While a particular power station might claim to hold 1,000 watt hours, the actual amount of usable power you can get out of it is a different story. The best portable power stations also have an onboard computer that shows you how much energy is left in your unit, as well as how much power it's currently using.

With the new LiFePo4 battery chemistry, I personally found that units in the 1000 Wh range were fairly portable, while those that were closer to 1500 Wh were more of a chore to pick up and move around. Power stations that stood out as especially difficult or easy to move around have been noted in the individual reviews.