I loved almost every moment of a month-long road trip I took through the National Parks years ago. The one thing I disliked was hanging out at the campground with a dead phone and solar-powered lights that were getting dimmer by the hour. Now that I take a portable power station camping, I’m no longer powerless.
After testing almost 20 models to find the best overall portable power station, the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 earned the coveted title. It’s not the most powerful model I’ve used, but it strikes the best balance of 1,070Wh capacity, 1,500W output, fast charging, and a size and weight I can actually manage.
This makes it especially useful for people who want a single power station for camping, short outages, backyard projects, or for keeping essentials like phones, laptops, routers, and CPAP machines running. It’s not built for whole-home backup, but for smaller power needs, it’s the model I reach for most often.
This ultraportable generator can reach a full charge within an hour and supports solar charging with optional add-on solar panels. It weighs just 23 pounds and can support one to three days of minor off-grid activity, such as powering small appliances and charging phones and laptops.
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I found the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 way more useful than I expected. Of course, I bring it camping to keep our cell phones charged, power the electric grill and camp lights, and recharge my sleep earbuds in case the sounds of nature keep me awake. But it’s also an ideal model for me during a power outage. Since my home doesn’t usually lose power for more than a day, the 1,070Wh is enough to recharge my phone and laptop, keep the WiFi router online, and use the kettle for some hot coffee in the morning.
The Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 is also part of my summer backyard set-up. My family and I use it during movie nights in the yard to power the projector, and we also use it to recharge the Thermacell Mosquito Repeller when we forget to do so between uses.
If there’s room in the car, I’ll also pack it along on road trips or for holidays spent with family. My parents’ house, for example, has wiring from the 1950s and only a few outlets in each room. To make sure I can work remotely and keep my electronics charged, I pack the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 when it’s reasonable.
For people who want to own just one portable power station, the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 sits in a useful middle lane. Smaller models are easier to carry but run out faster, while larger stations offer more capacity at the expense of price and portability. The Explorer 1000 V2 is what I’d recommend for weekend camping, overlanding, backyard use, and occasional power outages. It’s the optimal balance among price, battery capacity, and portability.
The Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 is intuitive to use and takes zero setup. Unbox it, turn it on, and it’s ready to use, though you’ll probably want to charge it to 100%. It weighs a manageable 24 pounds and has a folding handle that folds flush with the station. I had no trouble carrying it around the campground, the backyard, or lifting it in and out of my car. Though it started to feel more like a workout when I carried it for more than a few minutes.
The ports on the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 are easy to understand: three AC ports, one USB-A, and two USB-C. Press the DC/USB button to activate the USB ports, or press the AC button to use the AC ports.
The Jackery Explorer also connects to the Jackery app. Most portable power stations have app compatibility, but I especially like the uncomplicated design of the Jackery app. I can check the remaining power level and recharge time, or control the onboard light from the app.
Portable power stations come in a range of power capacities, but the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 falls in a useful middle ground with 1,070Wh. Use it to recharge small devices like phones, earbuds, tablets, lights, fans, and small kitchen appliances. But it comes with measurements and a weight that make it portable enough to use without asking for a hand to haul it inside.
In my capacity test, I measured about 90% of its stated 1,070Wh capacity with a Kill-A-Watt meter, which is one of the highest results I’ve ever seen when testing portable power stations.
I also put it through a stress test of powering a space heater, and while the power station itself did get a bit warm to the touch, it never got hot. It also ran quietly during the test and maintained a stable power output. The fan sound during recharging is louder, but not disruptive.
I especially like Jackery’s simple display panel on the unit itself and in the app. Both provide essential information such as remaining battery life, estimated remaining runtime, and total output.
Recharging the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 is simple. When testing, I recharged from a standard AC wall outlet using the included cord and reached 100% in about 90 minutes. If you’re in a hurry, you can enter a quick-charge mode in the app, which will cut the recharge time down to about an hour.
If you’re not in a hurry to recharge or you’re recharging at night, switch on Quiet Charging Mode in the Jackery app. This brings the fan noise down to about 30 decibels while initiating a slower recharge that takes about four hours in my testing.
You can also recharge the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 with up to 400W of solar panels. While I wasn’t able to test this myself, Jackery says the power station will reach a full charge after 3.8 hours when connected to two Jackery SolarSaga 200W solar panels that are in full sun.
To keep things simple, I always recharge the Jackery after use to make sure it’s ready for a power outage or spontaneous camping trip.
I think the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 is an ideal model for almost everyone, but it does have a few elements I don’t love. One of the station’s major downsides is that it’s not expandable. Instead of connecting extra batteries to boost power, the Jackery maxes out at its stated 1,070Wh capacity and can’t connect to extra batteries. You also need to buy solar panels separately, adding to the price.
It’s also not the right model if you’re looking for a whole-home generator, since it’s a smaller unit focused on portability. And while it only weighs about 24 pounds, it’s still hefty to carry it up stairs or lift it into the car’s trunk.
It also has some design elements that aren’t my favorite. The three AC ports are close together, which could be problematic if your plugs are larger, like camera battery packs. I give Jackery points for including an onboard LED light, but it’s blindingly bright even on the lowest setting and uncomfortable to look at. I use it when climbing stairs during a power outage, but it’s not suitable for ambient light at the campground.
For faster charging, it’s worth checking out the specs on the Solix C1000 Gen 2, another power station I recommend. It recharges quicker than the Jackery, taking as little as 50 minutes to reach 100% in UltraFast Recharging mode. However, it’s heavier than the Jackery, and it tends to be more expensive.
Consider something smaller, like the Bluetti Elite 30 V2, if you don’t need much power and only plan to charge smaller devices. The 288Wh in the Bluetti makes it ideal for recharging phones, laptops, earbuds, and cameras.
If you need something for whole-home backup, our top pick is the Anker Solix F3800. It has a 3840Wh capacity with enough output to power high-draw items like the refrigerator, heater, air conditioner, sump pump, or multiple appliances during extended outages.
The Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 is the portable power station I’d recommend to most people who want one reliable unit for camping, storm prep, backyard use, and basic emergency backup. It has enough capacity for small electronics and short outages, but it’s still manageable to carry and simple enough for beginners. It’s also a strong value when it drops to around $450, which is often one of the most affordable models in the 1,000Wh range.
Buy it if: You want one portable power station that can power most weekend trips, storm prep, backyard use, and basic emergency backup. Even better if you can snag it while it’s on sale.
Skip it if: Expecting enough capacity for total home back up or looking to expand with more units as your needs change or require something extremely portable.
Related: I’m a tech writer, and this is my go-to travel charger
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