The 7 BEST SMALL Power Stations for VAN Life COMPARED!
Looking for the best small power station for van life? In this video, I compare 7 of the newest and most popular SMALL power stations to help you choose the right one. Whether you’re running lights, a fridge, or charging your devices, finding the right balance and price is key! I break down what makes each one stand out — so you can make an informed decision!
🔴2000W Power Station I Have in My Car:
✅Bluetti Elite 200 V2 (The Best Power Station I Have Ever Seen!)
https://amzn.to/41QXG3w
🔴SMALL POWER STATIONS LINKS FROM THIS VIDEO:
✅Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station
https://amzn.to/48wrWp9
✅BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station
https://amzn.to/43ivJ5S
✅EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station RIVER 3
https://amzn.to/4oqSTPX
✅BLUETTI Handsfree 1 Portable Power Station
https://amzn.to/3W9rF46
✅BLUETTI Handsfree Backpack
https://amzn.to/42DCijs
✅Jackery Explorer 240 v2 Portable Power Station
https://amzn.to/42G28mQ
✅Anker SOLIX C200X Portable Power Station
https://amzn.to/4qb3z6P
✅Anker SOLIX C300 DC Power Bank Station-7 Device Charging Ports- Bob’s Favorite
https://amzn.to/3Jdh8ls
✅EF ECOFLOW TRAIL 300 DC Portable Power Station
https://amzn.to/3ILnpF3
✅Anker USB C to USB C Cable, Type-C 60W Fast Charging Cable (6 FT, 2Pack)
https://amzn.to/4qsZviD
✅Anker Small Power Bank, 25,000mAh Portable Charger with Triple 100W USB-C Ports
https://amzn.to/3KIL61k
🔴PORTABLE SOLAR PANELS:
✅120W Portable Solar Panel for Power Station Type-C 60W, MC4 Output, IP65 Waterproof
https://amzn.to/3WCf0Xs
✅200W Portable Solar Panel for Power Station Charger, QC3.0, Type-C 60W
https://amzn.to/474qpnN
✅Renogy 200W Portable Solar Panel, 25% High Efficiency for Power Station
https://amzn.to/4nZhXxG
🔴1000W POWER STATIONS:
✅Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station
https://amzn.to/48wrWp9
✅BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 Portable Power Station (2025 New)
https://amzn.to/4o2kxTe
✅Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station
https://amzn.to/3W86ob3
✅My Video Review of the Bluetti Elite 200V2
https://youtu.be/hKDGysUqxWo
Be sure to check out my Amazon store, which is full of items that I either use myself, or know other nomads who use them.
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Thanks for watching!
We love our Jackery’s
I’m watching this a second time!
thank you!
I ordered the new Anker 1000 this week. Will see.
I have a jackery, I’ve not used it yet. But to hear you say you don’t like it. Ugh. I’m going on a weekend getaway next weekend. I got the solar panels to go with it.
Always love your power comparison vids! Thanks, Bob!
I have three two hundred watt hour power stations with no brand name on them, very cheap and very useful. With two one hundred watt solar panels, I keep the lights, phones, fans and hand warmers working all the time.
Ahh… Bob! I have 3 bigger Jackerys and their panels. I love them all. 😊 Quiet, efficient and reliable.
I need to run a heating pad for my bunny at night and live in Washington (rain). Any suggestions?
So the Anker Solix C200X can only take 100 W of solar so you can not use the 120W solar panel with it?
Thanks Bob for the info!
As always thanks for all the great info.
Hi there – what one could you use a 3 quart instant pot with and (not at the same time) – an electric blanket – thank you
Thanks Bob
Like you, I’ve never had a bad Anker product. I’m going to look at their power stations and power banks.
I don’t know very much at all about all that you are trying your best to inform us about. But, I know that we need to learn more and more for many reasons. You are a Pro when it comes to the nomad life and we appreciate your ability to teach us even tho a lot of us still need to learn the basics of these subjects. Thanks Bob for trying your best to help us.
Is he back from Alaska already, looks like Arizona not Alaska…..Is this an old video….
Thanks for this very informative information!
I bought Anchor after your last review. Haven’t used it yet. Just learning.
Great advise…thank you
You’ve come a long way, Bob, from back when you advised everyone to buy an external battery, inverter, controller to hook all up yourself. You were against ALL power stations. 😂 BTW both of my jackeries are solar powered and doing great after 4 years full-time van life. I also love my bluetti. And appreciate all you do for us!!!
The Anker SOLIX 300DC is my daily driver! The BEST!
You should do a fan test on all units. When all dc is charging, some fans start and really loud, some have better cooling profile. An example ( bigger powerstation). My pecron 2400 is really loud, my Fossibot 2400lfp ..is easy to forget its working..In the confined space in a car/van , fans can be quite anoying.
I own that Jackery and I love it. It goes on camping trips, came with solar, which charges just fine, and was very affordable. The Jackery has worked well for 6 months so far, is lightweight, quiet, and has a safety light as well.
I tried to get one sent traveling. They are too big for a Amazon Locker and all places I have found including UPS Store you cant get them cause of hazardous material. I dont know about General Delivery Post Office. Im stuck
I like the batteries that a person can just plug in the equipment in by regular power cords. Solar powered generators conserve energy. I have been thinking about investing in a generator and solar panels before I even get a vehicle and go out camping again, because I have a pacemaker and a pacemaker monitor. I know that I need to bring the monitor with me and when I’m out OTR plug it in at least a little bit a few times a week, or trust the hospital to keep it and choose when to plug it in or unplug it. And I can only go approximately 800 miles away from my monitor. It’s better to bring it along on my trips. It’s like people who have a CPAP machine. I’m going to watch this one again. Thanks for the education, Mr. Wells.
Bob’s making a comparison video…. Jackery mngmt quaking in their boots!
I love my anker c300 dc only station. It’s a great addition to my fossibot f2400 with my alternator charger. Thanks for the video!
I needed to know this about Jackery…
Thank you for sharing.
Your the best! Thanks Bob always helpful.
I have a jackery explorer 290. Bought it for $149.99. the 8mm input accepts charging from a DC car charger, an AC wall charger and the jackery solar panel I bought also has an 8mm cord. I have had absolutely no trouble with my jackery
Great comparison! In the market for one of these.
Bluetti….. thats my choice for portable. 5 years now in my truck camper PS540, AC180, and Now the Elite 200v2 just showed up as i start my retirement travels. Awesome units!! Just wish the AC180 had an XT60 charge port. much more stout. 👍GO BOB !!
You should have a websight for all the products you suggest using for different situation and building ideas.
they do NOT ‘throw in’ the back pack bob?? thye charge an extra 125 for it??
BLUETTI Handsfree 1 Portable Power Station, 268.8Wh 300W Solar Generator, 5 Output Ports, LiFePO4 Battery Backup for Camping, Drones, Photography (Backpack Not Included)
What, no Grecell? I use the GRECELL Portable Power Station 300W, 230Wh LiFePO4 (LFP) Battery Solar Power Generator. It has two AC plugs with full sine wave inverter. 2 USB A, and one USB C. If I need more I just use a 12 volt to USB adapter that gives me 3 more USB A and one more USB C plug. It also has a 12 volt DC line out. And of course the line in jack for AC or Solar. The reason I like this one, is it is small and light weight, and when the solar panel is plugged in, I can use the AC plug to charge my Ebike. I could not do that with my first Grecell unit. Would I buy another Grecell, yes I am looking at the 600W version. Oh, and yes I have the 100W Grecell solar panel.
I had a 1000wh jackery. Pile of junk ! It didnt work when i was on the road in cold. The charge cord burned up as i cant limit fuse amperage. ( just from charging in my car 12v plug). A year later it wouldnt turn on. I shipped it to jackery as they paid for shipping, they told me it was done and gave me a 100 dollar gift card after that pile of garbage costs me just under $1,000.00. Jonkery is more like it !!
Excellent video. Thanks for the fantastic information.
If you don’t need AC try a newsmy power station 280 watt hours recharges via USB c or 100 watts solar. 72 bucks on Amazon I got two…
All powers, lifo 4 , several ports, opinions?
Far too many items to try’n do a review on, Bob.
Awesome vid, thanks! Maybe cover the battery chemistry as different types of batteries have different cycle life spans and safety.
Hey, I wonder if your viewers would like to know about Apex Land? You often speak of the importance of, for a variety of reasons, buying some land, somewhere. Apex is quite a service, from what I can tell. (And no, I am not associated with Apex.)
very useful and helpful video! The flat shape of the Bluetti is actually great. It fits into small spaces.
Can you charge any of these up plugging into your cigarette lighter in your vehicle?
Any help would be appreciated thanks
Even with a big power station most nomads would want a smaller power station with at least one AC plug. If the big power station fails or you have to to reach solar panels in the sun while your vehicle is in the shade then the little backup can be charged while your fridge and normal electronics remain operational. For sanity purposes I think people living in vehicles with very confined space should carry a tent with stand up room, room to comfortably go to the bathroom, kitchen space… and the small power station can be carried to the tent for using a laptop, fan, light, anything electric.
Your the best Bob, thanx.
I have the Jackery Solar Generator 1000, 1002Wh Capacity that I bought for power back up for home power outages but now am planning to sell and go on the road full time. I wonder how this unit will work for van life.
I look on my new frig and the data tag said it was rated in steroid-hours. Steroids x amps = steroidAmps? But how many amp-hours, watt-hours, amp-minutes, mili-amp-hours. Hum. I will have go go back to my delusional psychosis class to figure that one out.