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Portable power stations (PPS) can be game changers to backup your home’s electricity supply during outages. They are also valuable additions to at-home workshops and construction sites. But many people don’t realize the many benefits of portable power stations for camping.

A PPS can transform your camping experience and even make your adventures in the wild safer… 

From camping on the beach to roughing it in the woods, here are all the reasons you need a portable power station for camping.

1. Camp with Comfort and Convenience

Access to electricity is essential for those who enjoy comfort and convenience when camping. With a portable power station, you can enjoy modern life’s amenities when you venture into the great outdoors. 

Imagine waking up to the sounds of nature while still being able to make a fresh cup of coffee without the hassle of a campfire or a propane camping stove. With such ready access to electricity, you can easily blow up an air mattress, power portable speakers, or even a video projector! The options to improve the comfort of your campsite are virtually endless!

Even a small portable power station stores enough energy to charge personal electronic devices and small appliances — from smartphones to coffee makers, lights, computers, and more. 

Options like the EcoFlow RIVER 2 give you enough charge to stay comfortable while still being compact and lightweight enough at 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) to pack for a camping or backpacking trip.

2. Generate Power for an Endless Energy Supply

On their own, portable power stations essentially act as a giant battery — most provide at least enough electricity storage to power all your essentials for a weekend of camping. For longer camping trips, we recommend combining a portable power station with portable solar panels to give you access to clean, renewable solar power — wherever you are. 

Some portable power stations, like the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Series, are compatible with solar panels, making for an eco-friendly alternative to gas-powered generators. 

Even the smallest portable power station in the RIVER 2 series can provide up to 600W of electricity and generate up to 784Wh of power when paired with one of EcoFlow’s portable solar panels. That’s more than enough power to charge all your personal electronic devices, such as smartphones, laptops, and Bluetooth speakers, or to run small kitchen appliances like toasters and blenders.

The great thing about solar energy is that you can generate electricity long any time there’s daylight. Unlike gasoline or other fossil fuels, solar energy is free and renewable.

If you need an extra boost, not to worry, you can also connect your PPS to your car’s alternator — or shore power at a campsite — if it needs a charge.

3. Clean and Quiet Alternative to a Gas Generator

Some campers pack a gas-powered generator to power their RV or campsite. Gas-powered generators are noisy and release toxic emissions, including carbon monoxide. Not only does this impact your camping experience, but a loud generator can annoy neighboring campers. Many campsites require a permit to run a fossil-fuel-powered generator and only allow them to operate during limited hours.

To keep your campsite quiet, safe, and clean, we recommend substituting a gas-powered generator with a portable power station and solar panels. They can provide just as much power as a gas generator, are easily rechargeable, and are virtually silent without air pollution. 

Gas generators are often more clunky and require you to keep fuel on hand. Portable power stations are more compact, easier to use, and convenient to recharge with solar panels.

4. Perfect for Van and RV Camping

“Van life” has become a popular form of long-term camping. For lovers of travel and the great outdoors, it provides a style of camping that maintains the basic comforts of modern life while offering adventure and immersion into nature. Like traditional RVs, many people are equipping their camper vans with a full kitchen setup, lights, air conditioners, and other appliances.

Typically, these electronics require an off-grid power solution or access to shore power. But if you’re keen to get out in the wild away from campgrounds, then a power station is your best bet.

Whether you’re converting your first camper van and are looking for an easy solution for your electricity needs or want to replace your RV’s gas generator with an eco-friendly alternative, a PPS is a powerful solution. A bigger portable power station, such as the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro, provides more than enough power to run small appliances such as microwaves, electric kettles, blenders, and fans.

Off-grid energy supply especially comes in handy for older RVs with few outlets and small generators with limited electrical capacity. A portable power station is a good solution for campers who often find themselves blowing fuses and tripping breakers in their RV, which is a sign their RV’s existing power supply can’t handle their electricity needs.

5. Ease of Use

EcoFlow’s portable power stations are easy to recharge using one of four methods:

• AC (household electricity)
• Solar charging (using solar panels)
• Car charging
• USB-C charging

All of the RIVER 2 series portable power stations can be fully charged using AC electricity in about an hour.

With a portable power station, you can avoid lugging around extra gas for your generator. You have multiple recharging options that don’t require reliance on fuel or access to a gas station.

6. Create the Ultimate Off Grid Setup

For the dedicated outdoorsman who prefers to camp in the remote wilderness, a portable power station is an excellent investment to level up your off-grid setup. 

Forgoing the comforts of a traditional campground, such as running water and electricity, and opting to go entirely off-grid has its benefits. You can avoid crowds of campers, escape artificial light and noise pollution, and feel more connected with nature. 

Thanks to a portable power station, you can get all the benefits of off-grid camping while still having access to modern conveniences — no more running out of phone battery or relying on potentially hazardous light sources like lanterns. With a portable power station, you can access electricity even in the most remote locations. No longer are you limited to crowded campgrounds with electrical hookups. 

7. Compact and Easy to Travel With

You may be on the fence about buying a portable power station for camping — after all, it’s just one more thing to pack in your car that’s already full of sleeping bags, coolers, and camping chairs. But you may be surprised at how compact a PPS can be. Small to medium-sized models from the RIVER 2 series take up less space than your average cooler. 

The EcoFlow RIVER 2 portable power stations are small, lightweight, and easy to travel with — you can even fit one in your backpack! The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max weighs less than 14 lbs (6.3 kg) but provides plenty of power for your electronics. 

With a compact PPS, it’s no longer a choice between power backup and backpacking with a light load—you can have both for a smooth camping experience. 

8. Improve Your Camping Setup for Cooking

For people who grew up camping, there is something nostalgic about roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over a fire or warming up a can of baked beans on a propane camping stove. By all means, indulge your nostalgia, but packing a portable power station is a surefire way to improve your cooking options while camping. 

You can power a blender for smoothies (or cocktails), brew fresh coffee with your coffee maker, and cook with an electric stovetop or kettle. You may be able to get away without modern appliances to make your meals in the great outdoors, but they sure make it easier and open up your options for creative camping meals.

9. Dead Cell Phones Are a Thing of the Past

Nowadays, we rely on our smartphones for pretty much everything — from driving directions to researching the best hiking trails to the ever-so-handy flashlight. Most any modern-day camper would agree that having a fully charged cell phone helps ensure a smooth camping trip. But all too often, we end up with a dead phone battery long before the end of a camping trip in the great outdoors. 

You can always have a fully charged phone with a portable power station in your camping gear. It’s not just for the luxuries; a cell phone can be your lifeline in an emergency. It’s the one thing you don’t want to run out of power. 

Conclusion

Although camping is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life and disconnect from technology, there’s no reason not to bring the comfort and ease of electricity with you on the road. 

EcoFlow’s portable power stations provide enough electricity to power all your devices in an accessible, rechargeable, and compact package.

Forget about your phone running out of battery or tolerating a gas generator’s annoying rumble (and toxic emissions). Combine your PPS with portable solar panels for the ultimate compact off-grid electrical setup.

For these reasons (and more), portable power stations make the list of camping essentials for the modern-day outdoor adventurer.