Power bank or power station
Reviewed on
For a phone, a power bank is enough. For the router, lights or a medical device you need a power station. Work out your usage with the battery and solar panel calculator.
What to look for
- Real capacity: a 10,000 mAh power bank gives 1.5–2 charges of a phone; a 256 Wh station, a few days of router and lights.
- LiFePO4 chemistry in power stations: it lasts thousands of cycles and is safer.
- It should be chargeable from a solar panel.
- Recharge it every 3–6 months if you store it: it drains on its own.
Our picks
- Anker Nano, 10,000 mAh power bankFor the phone and the go bag: small, with a built-in cable. Small, with a built-in USB-C cable: you can't lose the cable.
- Anker, 20,000 mAh 87 W power bankFor several days of phone use or a laptop. Enough for several days of phone use, and it can charge a laptop.
- EcoFlow River 2, 256 Wh power stationFor the router, lights and phones for days. LiFePO4 battery (thousands of cycles) for the router, lights and phones for days.
- EcoFlow River 2 Max, 512 Wh power stationFor a small fridge for a few hours or a CPAP for more than one night. Twice the capacity: it keeps a small fridge going for several hours or a CPAP for more than one night.
- BigBlue, 28 W folding solar panelA solar panel to recharge power banks over USB. Charges phones and power banks over USB in good sun.
Tip: Never use a gasoline generator inside the house or in the garage: carbon monoxide kills. Battery power stations can be used indoors.
Products reviewed on November 15, 2026.