The Best Portable Power Banks for Vanlife and Off-Grid Adventures

If you’re wondering how to keep your devices charged for full-time travel or for weekend adventures, you’re in the right spot. We always want to know about the best portable power stations so that we can continue our adventures off-grid, and keep in touch with the world.

Whether it’s enjoying your creature comforts by way of a cozy night under the stars binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix or being online to plan and navigate the next leg of your travels means one thing; access to a reliable power source.

At Women’s Vanlife Collective we know how challenging it can be without access to power. As women travelling solo, having power at your fingertips adds a sense of security and safety if you need to make contact with anyone or ask for help unexpectedly. Aside from emergencies, it makes life a lot easier if you know you have the resources to charge any of your devices and run van equipment safely whenever you choose.

Some of us live and work on the road so we need to know we have a reliable energy source. Others are weekend vanlifers who want to know that a quality portable power station will see them through a long weekend break without running out of power.

When it comes to portable power, Women’s Vanlife Collective recommends Jackery. We’ve teamed up with Jackery to bring you a guide on their range of the most reliable portable power stations and solar panels on the market. We explain how they work and how you can use them for the best Vanlife experience, wherever you are in the world. Here we share why we believe they are The best portable power banks for vanlife and off-grid adventures.

Portable Power Stations

A portable power station is a rechargeable battery-powered generator. The Jackery Explorer series are rechargeable portable power supply with outlet, DC, and USB ports. They are made for outdoor recreations and are perfect for camping and van or RV living. Being on the road can be a fantastic reality while being powerless off-grid can be a nightmare. This means that you can enjoy the flexibility of vanlife, the freedom to travel, and having power whenever you need it.

Jackery Explorer is as safe as it is powerful so you can expect to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with surge and short circuit protection, temperature control, and a pure sine wave inverter.

With Jackery, you can be reassured that you are prepared in case of emergency or power outages.

Explorer 240 Portable Power Station

With Jackery’s Explorer 240 portable power station, you can easily stay charged while on the go and living the outdoors life.

Charge smartphones, tablets, laptops, and small appliances like electronic blankets, mini coolers, etc so that you can always have your devices on hand and fully charged.

Take the lightweight Explorer 240 with you on road trips, excursions, or anywhere you might need power.

• Lithium power station: 240Wh(16.8Ah) battery capacity charges and re-charges devices.
• Portable, compact and lightweight. At only 6.6 lbs. you can take it anywhere.
• Provides reliable power for mainstream electronics, small appliances, and more.
• Multiple powering options include two USB ports, an AC outlet, and 12V car output. Optional 60W solar panel provides sustainable power resource anywhere.
• Recharges three ways: AC wall outlet, 12V car outlet, or via the optional 60W SolarSaga solar panel.
• Info LCD display screen provides charge and discharge status and reports power use.
• 2-Year Jackery Warranty.

Explorer 500 Portable Power Station

 

Jackery Explorer 500 is a 518Wh lithium Portable Power Station. It is one of the lightest and most portable rechargeable lithium battery generators on the market.

• Lithium battery power: 518Wh/144,400mAh battery capacity, 500W Rated Power, and 1000W Surge Power from the pure-sine wave AC port.
• Portable and lightweight: Only 13.32 lbs with an easy-carry handle.
• All-in-one portable power station: includes three USB ports, AC outlet, and 12V car output. Jackery Explorer 500 portable power station provides stable power to mainstream electronics and small appliances, from TVs, and projectors to small blenders, a pellet smoker, etc.
• Recharge the power station three ways: AC outlet, DC carport, or via optional solar panels.
• Unlimited green power solution: Efficient solar charging with MPPT built-in makes it a solar generator for outdoor recreations.
• The LCD screen with charge/discharge data and battery life status.

Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station

 

Jackery Explorer 1000 is one of the biggest Jackery power stations, and one of the most powerful portable power stations available. This is the model that we personally use on our travels at Women’s Vanlife Collective to keep in touch with our community and run our business online. With 1002Wh capacity, 1000W rated power (2000W surge power), and multiple output charge/recharge ports, it meets the power supply needs of higher and most power electrical appliances.

• Larger capacity and higher wattages: 1002Wh(46.4Ah) lithium battery capacity, 1000W Rated Power, and 2000W Surge Power.
• Multiple output ports: Two USB-C, two USB, one DC carport & three AC outlets (with the pure-sine wave). Going off-grid and being able to power your cameras, computers, communication devices, and also a CPAP and electric grill.
• Green outdoor power solution: Efficient solar charging with MPPT built-in makes it a solar generator for outdoor recreations. Charge the battery to full in around 8 hours by connecting two SolarSaga 100W with an adapter cable (package included).
• Portable and compact: Weights only 22lbs, it is carry-friendly with an easy-carry handle.
• The LCD screen with charge/discharge data and battery life status.

This is an overview of some of the Portable Power Stations offered by Jackery. You can find the full Explorer product range here.

Jackery Portable Solar Panels

Jackery portable solar panels can be folded and strapped for easy carry and use. With one of the highest 23.7% efficiency in the industry, you can make the most of the sun and convert the sunlight into clean energy.

Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel

A lightweight solution for on-the-go power from the sun. You can harness the power of the sun and convert it into a lithium power station and keep all your gadgets charged. This is the model we use at Women’s Vanlife Collective when we need to charge our Jackery Explorer 1000 and don’t have access to shore power.

• High conversion efficiency solar generator:
  High conversion efficiency up to 23%, building up a Portable-Solar-Generator System together with Jackery Explorer 240/Explorer 160 power station (Explorer 240/Explorer 160 sold separately). Ideally suited for outdoor life and even unexpected power outages.

• Portable & Foldable solar charger:
  The foldable design with a TPE rubber handle weighs only 3.3lb. Convenient to carry it wherever you go. Recharge your Jackery power station Explorer 240 and Explorer 160 (Explorer 240/Explorer 160 sold separately) on the go with the 60W solar panel.

• Durable solar panel:
  Made from durable cloth, zipper, and ETFE material. High temperature resistant. It can be hung on your RV or tent (The solar panel is not waterproof).

• Solar charger with USB outputs: Equipped with 1* USB-C output port and 1* USB-A output port, charging multiple small devices at the same time, including smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, and more.

SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel

 

SolarSaga 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panel, stay charged with the power of the sun! With high conversion efficiency of up to 23%, it’s ideally suited for outdoor life and even unexpected power outages. The solar panel weighs only 9.1 lbs, it’s lightweight, foldable, and has an easy-carry handle, making it more portable.

• High conversion efficiency solar generator:
  High conversion efficiency up to 23%, building a Portable-Solar-Generator System together with Jackery Explorer 1000/500/300/240/160 power station (sold separately). Ideally suited for outdoor life and even unexpected power outages
• Solar charger with USB outputs:
  Equipped with 1* USB-C output port and 1* USB-A output port, charging multiple portable devices at the same time, including smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, etc.
• Lightweight and durable solar panel with kickstand:
  Foldable design with a TPE rubber handle and weighs only 9.1 lbs. Convenient to carry it wherever you go. Adjust the angle with the built-in kickstand. Made from durable cloth, zipper, and PET material, high-temperature resistant (The solar panel is not waterproof)

More about Jackery

Jackery was founded by a former Apple battery engineer in Silicon Valley in 2012. With state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing expertise, Jackery launched the world’s first Lithium Portable Power Station in 2015. As an industry leader in eco-friendly portable power, Jackery specializes in providing outdoor green power solutions for the explorers of the world. Customers receive a full after-sale support service and list helpful frequently asked questions are answered on their support pages. If you’re looking for advice on the best portable power stations for Vanlife this is a great resource.

Jackery Care

At Women’s Vanlife Collective we are passionate about working with brands that are aligned with our values and culture of empowerment, sustainability, minimalism, and eco-friendly practices. We’re proud to collaborate with Jackery and to shine a light on their efforts to support those in need through their Jackery Care initiative, most recently in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the California wildfire crisis.

Jackery reached out to Wade Cowan, the Mayor of Winters, CA – a city very close to the fire zone – to provide a donation of over one hundred Jackery Explorer power stations and solar panels. The Mayor picked up the products from Jackery’s office in Fremont, CA, and set them up in the city conference room, ready to give to people in need of power!

Jackery also donated power banks and USB adapters to isolating patients in the emergency department of Coney Island Hospital who were unable to speak to their family members because they didn’t have access to power outlets when their phones were out of power. This was alongside donating Portable Power Stations and solar panels to travelling nurses to make their lives that bit easier as they continued to care for patients affected by Covid-19.

We share this because we care where we spend our money and we know that you do too. Jackery, we salute you!

*This post contains affiliate links and as always with this type of content across our platforms, all opinions are our own. We only recommend products we truly love, would buy ourselves (and often do!) and that we feel you will love too. We only partner with brands that are aligned with our values and culture of empowerment, sustainability, and eco-friendly practices.

Over to you…

Do you have any questions about the best portable power stations as you live, work and travel on the road? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to help!