A powerbank has to be a reliable source of energy for travellers/explorers/festival goers during the warmer months so Gareth, our tech expert (who has reviewed plenty of them on his outings), has revealed which brands he recommends. With BLUETTI and EcoFlow, Jackery (see full review here at our Sister site, Essex Live) and Anker- they all have similar qualities which could encourage shoppers to pick one up, but it's definitely worth doing your research.
Between different power levels and other additional features, there is a clear need for highlights of each product to be outlined for individual needs- for instance, a lesser power source could be best bet for those wanting a much lighter powerbank for trips away with the family.
If you are going off grid - Gareth and Stacey tested powerful stations which could be your best option for multiple uses for longer periods... it's just going to cost you a little more.
READ MORE: Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus review: A portable power station that packs a punch
READ MORE: This portable air conditioner is a heatwave saviour with plenty to offer
Here are his thoughts.
BLUETTI AC200L Portable Power Station 2,400W 2,048Wh (Was £1,799, now £1,599)
Our year of exploring the UK in our converted Transit campervan has never been better. When my partner and I had heard of the BLUETTI brand and how much power their powerbanks are capable of sourcing- we jumped at the chance of reviewing the BLUETTI AC200L. With up to 2,400W AC lightning-fast charging capability, you can replenish 80% capacity in just 45 minutes. AC200L outshines most competitors in the market and sets a new standard for 2kWh products.
We have a fully wired van with battery and solar panels, but we needed more power to be able to use multiple sockets when out and about on longer stays. AC200L allows up to 1,200W solar input, the best solar charging performance than previous generations. Embrace the sun and harness energy efficiently, ensuring your devices are charged in no time.
We had recently just used our power bank for a two night stay in Anglesey's beautiful Trearddur Bay and it is brilliant for wanting those home comforts while travelling. We had used it for cooking breakfast on our George Forman Grill and charged both phones for most of the day and we had still only used 6% battery.
The BLUETTI AC200L is now reduced at £1,599 on the BLUETTI website here.
BLUETTI AC60 Portable Power Station 600W 403Wh, £499 (Was £699)
The BLUETTI AC60 Power Station weighs a shade over 9kg, which is a few kilos heavier than its competitors with similar prices - but this new unit has more power.
Its onboard inverter is capable of churning out a reliable 600w, with a powerlifting feature that doubles it to 1,200w. Battery power is actually slightly lower than the competition at 403wh, but this time it's expandable, so you could daisy-chain systems up to 2,015wh.
Another massive bonus with this model is the ability to fully charge in just over one hour. This is currently only matched by EcoFlow's River series, but they don't match the Bluetti's 1,200w maximum power.
Simplicity has always been one of Bluetti's strong suits, and the AC60 is easy to get to grips with straight out of the box.
In daily use, I found it to be reliable and although it is a heavy unit, it's by no means hard to carry thanks to its chunky handle, which folds neatly away.
The weight might be the only downside, but it does add to the robust feel of the unit. If you were caught in a rainstorm with any of the brands on the market the Bluetti is the one you'd expect to come out fighting.
The AC60 is currently just £499 on sale which is very clever pricing, considering it has more power than the competitors which undercut it by only £50 or so when it's full RRP price.
And when you consider that excellent warranty, and all the weatherproofing, it looks like Bluetti has a big success on its hands.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Portable Power Station, £388 (Was £518)
EcoFlow, which incidentally is my personal go-to brand for portable power, has been having a cracking few years.
Not only have they upgraded their beefy Delta power units, but they've been working on new versions of their smaller River products too. And I've spent a few months testing their River 2 Pro.
The display panel is carried over almost identically from the predecessor and that's a good thing, because there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's actually the same display used on all main power stations, and that cohesion is one of the reasons I'm a fan of the brand.
It also links up to the recently updated EcoFlow app, which happens to be the best in the business now it's finally been tidied up and made more reliable.
So what about the stats? Well, the 768wh capacity is up slightly on the old version's 720wh but the inverter has the same capability with an 800w output and 1,600 surge with the X-Boost mode on.
The charging input has had a boost though, and now it's even more useful, with a 940w maximum input on AC over the old version's 660w. This is important, because it means you can top it up to full from zero percent in just 70 minutes. And that makes it a market leader.
BLUETTI AC500 + B300S Home Battery Backup, £3,599 (Was £4,799)
I've tested some portable power stations in my time, but this one is a bit of a monster.
It's the , the latest launch to come out of the renowned Bluetti stable, and it packs a proper punch. Its battery capacity can be taken up to a quite remarkable 18.432Wh and there's a 5,000w inverter built in.
That inverter, the AC500 bit, can handle surges of up to 10kw, making this the biggest and most powerful portable power station I've ever reviewed.
Connectivity options are another strong suit for the AC500 main unit, because there's no less than 16 sockets overall. On the main panel there's four DC output connectors which include two 100W USB-C PD Ports, two 18W USB-A ports, two 5V/3A USB-A ports and two cigarette lighter ports with the first being 12V/30A and the second outputting 24V/10A.
We also need to confront the price. At £3,599 for the AC500 and B300S combination it's definitely a big investment. Opting to combine it with the cheaper B300 battery pack will bring the price down a bit, but it's still serious power for serious money.
Having said that, this is pretty much the beefiest and most powerful setup on the market, especially once you start adding in more battery packs and increase your running time with solar. If you're planning to run off to a quiet corner of the country and live off grid, it's a power pack that could easily service your needs.