In the middle of a winter storm, the last thing you want is to lose power. But when your electricity does go out, having a personal portable power station can help you keep your phone charged and electric kettle running. To help you stay connected and prepared in an emergency or routine power loss, we rounded up some of the highest-rated portable power stations that reviewers have used in winter.
Whether you’re just looking to charge your iPad or hope to keep a space heater running, these options have a variety of sizes and power levels to work for you and your home this winter. And when the weather makes a positive turn, all of them are great options for camping or spending time in the outdoors as well.
If you know your area is due for some major storms this winter or just like to be prepared in every season, we think grabbing a portable power bank is a bright idea.
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Marbero portable power station
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Compact and versatile, this rechargeable lithium battery can charge up to 80% in as little as two hours. The brand says this option is about the size as a DSLR camera (that's the one with the fancy lens) and weighs just over three pounds. With eight output ports, It can power TVs, gaming consoles, laptops, phones and other small devices. It also offers a flashlight that has up to 68 hours of power.
Promising review: "I bought this because every time we have a storm, we lose power for several hours. This will ensure that our phones and radios have enough standby power to get us through. I like that it also includes usb outlets as well. Another included feature that I wasn’t expecting was the flashlight which is rather powerful and lasts for hours." — Matt
Bluetti AC180 portable power station
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Another heavy hitter, this portable power station from Bluetti can be fully charged in one hour and offers 11 outlets with an 1800W output. This option can power a fridge for up to 7 hours as well as cooking tools like hot plates, coffee makers and electric ovens and charge your phone over 60 times. Enjoy the Bluetti app, that gives you control over how much power the station is exerting and lets you stay up to date on how much juice the station has left.
Promising review: "When the hurricane through rural South Carolina the power grid was severely damage. We were without power for 9 days. The Bluetti power station successfully powered several medium size freezers full of food and a TV. We had to charge the power station many times because of the heavy use. Thankfully it charges quickly. We were able to charge the bluettti power station by hauling it to a place that did have power. Wish it was lighter. Very glad I purchased the Bluetti AC180 power station. Will probably buy a second unit to have around for added capacity." — Kendall Koon
A rechargeable power bank and lantern hybrid
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Don't be fooled by the size of this portable camping lantern — it can work as a light for up to 144 hours between charges and can also charge an iPhone four and a half times. It's waterproof and drop-resistant, making it a perfect thing to take with you camping or to use in the middle of bad storms. You can control the brightness to set the right tone and use the handle to position it or hang it where you need.
Promising review: "I bought this lantern for family members due to winter storm outages. They absolutely love this product as it provided the lighting needed and the power bank to charge cell phones. The 3 light features was a plus as well to control brightness levels. I've now purchased one for me and I'm very pleased as well with the results. The long lasting battery charge is definitely a plus. It's a perfect compact emergency must have." — Amazon customer
A Grecell power bank
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
For under $200, this Grecell power bank packs a big punch. Use it for your personal tech like phones and tablets but also CPAP devices, TVs and mini fridges in an emergency (it has an output of up to 330W). Its multiple outlets let you power up to eight devices at once and you can recharge it in your car when you need more juice. Grab the on-page coupon for an additional discount.
Promising review: "Recently had a power outage due to winter storm. The Grecell 2000 was on hand when needed. Was able to bring router, tv and computer online to stay updated and safe. And kept space heater going to keep the chill off. Would definitely recommend this product and plan on purchasing a third one. The versatility of the charging inputs and the outputs were a big factor when deciding on the purchase." — Amazon customer
The Jackery Explorer 500
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Jakcery power banks are a hot commodity among HuffPost readers, and for good reason. They're easy to use, surprisingly powerful and aren't total eyesores. The Explorer 500 has a 518Wh capacity to power mid- and smaller-watt devices like mini-fridges, projectors and lights (and it can also charge your phone 53 times). It's about the size of a basketball and has one AC port, three USB-A ports and two DC ports. It takes 7.5 hours to fully charge from a wall outlet (it comes with a car charger port, too) and can also be powered by the optional Jackery SolarSaga 100W portable solar panel.
Promising review: "In February 2021, we had a late winter freeze with rolling blackouts. Even though my entire neighborhood was with out electricity for several days, my Jackery Explorer 500 was able to keep my cell phone charged and I was able to run small fan in the evenings. This Jackery Explorer 500 packs a big punch, do not let its size fool you, it was able to power my ARB fridge for 2 1/2 days without a single charge. One of my favorite features is being able to charge it through my vehicle's 12 volt oulet and their solar panel in addition to a regular outlet. I carry my Jackery everywhere I go, especially to the hunting blind. Instead of using propane heaters which are costly and dangerous, I now take my jackery and a heated blanket with me, much safer and quieter." — Jesse I.
A cold-rated car jump starter with a power bank and flashlight
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
In colder months, you don't want to get caught with a dead car battery. This handy device can jumpstart your car but also works as a portable power bank for cellphones, smart watches and tablets. It has flashlight for extra safety measures and notably works in temperatures as low as -4 degrees, whereas many other lithium ion jump starters are likely to become less effective in the cold.
Promising review: "This jump pack has gotten me started in the dead of winter multiple times on a single charge. And then it’s been great to offer to others when they need a jump as well and I don’t have long enough cables to reach them. I really couldn’t ask for a better tool to have in the car just in case." — Max
Westinghouse 300W portable power station
Rating: 4.4 out of 4 stars
At less than five pounds, this Westinghouse portable power bank can charge your phone 21 times but can run mid-size devices like TVs and mini-fridges too. Designed with multiple ports, charge six devices at the same time and enjoy the built-in flashlight. This option also allows you to recharge it with solar panels.
Promising review: "Must have. Just got my gen160 today. Just in time to charge it up. Storm knocked out power for few hours. Hooked up my wi fi had internet all day. Going to by another one." — Paul Bacigalupi
Anker 300W portable power station
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
A known name in the tech world, Anker makes a selection of great products including this durable portable power bank. Charge six devices at the same time as well as mid-size appliances up to like coffee makers, mini-fridges or fans.
Promising review: "I bought this 2 years ago, used it for a particular project and then forgot about it 18 months ago. Well, we had a monsoon type storm here in New Hampshire 2 days ago that snuffed our electricity for 26 hours. Dug this out and it still had 94% charge! Mostly used to charge back up phones and utility flashlight (before realizing the length of outage and firing up regular generator). Enabled us to see well in the dark also to get the gas powered generator out and hooked up. Without it, would've been fumbling about with weak phone light and what not. Just super!" — highmetab