Best of · Portable Power Stations
Gift Guide: Power and Roadside Gear for Campers, Drivers and Homeowners
Useful gifts sorted by who they are for: the camper, the driver, the tool owner and the homeowner who hates outages.
By Watt Versus Editorial· Updated · 7 picks
This page was drafted with AI assistance from manufacturers' specs and manuals, and is checked by our editor.
The short list
| # | Product | Key feature | Pros / Cons | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power StationFor the HomeownerEditorial score:8.8/10 | A 1,024 Wh LiFePO4 station with 1,800 W of AC output, a 56-minute wall recharge, 1,000 W of solar input and room to grow to 5 kWh. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 2 | Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power StationFor the CamperEditorial score:7.5/10 | A 288 Wh LiFePO4 station that weighs 8.27 lb and has two USB-C ports rated up to 100 W. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 3 | NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump StarterFor the DriverEditorial score:8.2/10 | A 1,000-amp lithium jump starter rated for gasoline engines up to 6.0 L and diesel engines up to 3.0 L. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 4 | Fanttik X10 Cross Cordless Tire InflatorFor Every GloveboxEditorial score:8.0/10 | A 2.3 lb, 150 PSI inflator with its own 28.86 Wh battery, five presets, a blower and deflate port, and a USB power-bank output. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 5 | Milwaukee M18 Tire Inflator 2848-20 (Tool Only)For the Milwaukee OwnerEditorial score:8.4/10 | A 150 PSI cordless inflator on Milwaukee's M18 battery, with auto shut-off, four PSI presets and a 36-inch hose. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 6 | EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Portable Power StationFor Weekend TripsEditorial score:7.9/10 | A 286 Wh LiFePO4 station of 10.4 lb with a one-hour recharge, a 10 ms UPS switchover and add-on batteries up to 858 Wh. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
| 7 | DEWALT 20V MAX Tire Inflator DCC020IB (Tool Only)For the DEWALT OwnerEditorial score:8.0/10 | A tire inflator that runs from a DEWALT 20V MAX battery, a 12 V car outlet or a wall outlet, with automatic shutoff. |
| View on Amazon (paid link) |
Practical gifts get used. Here is what we would give, by the person you are shopping for.
For the camper or van traveler
A small station keeps lights, phones and cameras going at camp. The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus (paid link) weighs 8.27 lb; the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus (paid link) adds 600 W of AC output.
For the driver
A jump starter sized to their engine and an inflator for the trunk. The NOCO GB40 (paid link) covers gasoline engines up to 6.0 L; the Fanttik X10 Cross (paid link) needs no cord.
For the tool owner
If they already own cordless tools, buy the inflator that runs on the same batteries: Milwaukee M18 (paid link), DEWALT 20V MAX (paid link) or CRAFTSMAN V20 (paid link). These are sold without a battery.
For the homeowner
A 1 kWh station with a fast UPS switchover keeps the internet and fridge going in an outage. The EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus (paid link) switches over in under 10 ms.
Gift tip
Check the return window and who sells the item before you buy, and keep the receipt with the box.
Our picks in detail
Image: EcoFlow
EEcoFlow
1For the HomeownerEditorial score:8.8/10
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station
EcoFlow · DELTA 3 Plus
1,024 Wh, a sub-10 ms switchover and a 56-minute recharge.
- Capacity
- 1,024 Wh
- Battery chemistry
- LiFePO4 (LFP)
- Rated cycle life
- 4,000 cycles to 80% capacity
- AC output
- 1,800 W (2,200 W with X-Boost)
- Peak output
- 3,600 W surge
- AC outlets
- 6 (US model)
Pros
- 4,000-cycle LFP rating, a step up from the DELTA 2's 3,000
- Full recharge from a wall outlet in 56 minutes, by EcoFlow's figures
- 1,000 W of solar input, double the DELTA 2
- Two 140 W USB-C ports charge most laptops at full speed
Cons
- At 27.6 lb it is heavier than the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 and Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2
- Reaching 5 kWh needs extra batteries, sold separately
- X-Boost runs high-wattage heaters and kettles at reduced power, not at their full rating
Image: Jackery
JJackery
2For the CamperEditorial score:7.5/10
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station
Jackery · Explorer 300 Plus
8.27 lb with two 100 W USB-C ports.
- Capacity
- 288 Wh
- Battery chemistry
- LiFePO4 (LFP)
- Rated cycle life
- 3,000 cycles to 80% capacity, per Jackery's US buying guide
- AC output
- 300 W
- Peak output
- 600 W surge
- USB-C output
- 2 x up to 100 W
Pros
- 8.27 lb, light enough for a backpack or a carry-on-size bag
- Two USB-C ports rated up to 100 W for laptops
- LiFePO4 cells, the same long-life chemistry used in larger stations
Cons
- 300 W of AC output limits it to small electronics
- A 2-hour wall recharge is slower than larger stations that refill in about an hour
- Jackery's specifications say a separate adapter is required to connect a solar panel
Image: NOCO
NNOCO
3For the DriverEditorial score:8.2/10
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter
NOCO · GB40
1,000 A for gasoline engines up to 6.0 L, small enough for the glovebox.
- Peak current
- 1,000 A
- Gas engines
- Up to 6.0 L
- Diesel engines
- Up to 3.0 L
- Jump starts per charge
- Up to 20
- USB output
- 5 V, 2.1 A
- Recharge time
- 3 hours at 2 A, 6 hours at 1 A
Pros
- Covers most cars, crossovers and half-ton trucks with gasoline engines up to 6.0 L
- Spark-proof clamps and reverse-polarity protection
- IP65 housing and a compact 2.4 lb body
- Up to 20 jump starts per charge, by NOCO's figures
Cons
- Diesel rating stops at 3.0 L, too small for most diesel pickups
- A 1-year warranty is short for this category
- Works with 12-volt lead-acid batteries only
Image: Fanttik
FFanttik
4For Every GloveboxEditorial score:8.0/10
Fanttik X10 Cross Cordless Tire Inflator
Fanttik · X10 Cross
A 2.3 lb cordless inflator with a power bank and a light.
- Max pressure
- 150 PSI
- Power source
- Built-in battery (28.86 Wh)
- Battery
- Built in; 18 W charging input
- Auto shutoff
- Yes, at the set pressure; accuracy of ±1 PSI
- Modes
- Tire inflation with 5 presets; blower; deflate for storage bags (not tires)
- Display
- Digital
Pros
- No battery system to buy into: the battery is built in
- Fanttik says it fills a 25-inch tire from 30 to 35 PSI in 42 seconds
- Blower and deflate ports for air mattresses and vacuum storage bags
- 27 W power-bank output and an 80-lumen light
Cons
- One battery: when it is flat you wait for it to recharge
- Fanttik rates a full charge at about four tires from 0 to 35 PSI
- 12-month warranty, the shortest here alongside VIAIR's one year
Image: Milwaukee
MMilwaukee
5For the Milwaukee OwnerEditorial score:8.4/10
Milwaukee M18 Tire Inflator 2848-20 (Tool Only)
Milwaukee · 2848-20
150 PSI with presets; tool only, runs on M18 batteries.
- Max pressure
- 150 PSI
- Power source
- M18 (18 V) battery
- Battery
- Not included (tool only)
- Auto shutoff
- Yes, at the selected pressure
- Modes
- Inflation with TrueFill auto pressure check; 4 PSI memory presets
- Display
- Digital
Pros
- Milwaukee says it tops off 33-inch light truck tires in under a minute
- TrueFill checks the tire's pressure before filling, so the shut-off point is more accurate
- Four memory presets for vehicles with different tire pressures
- 5-year tool warranty, longer than DEWALT's 3 years
Cons
- Runs only on M18 batteries: no 12 V car plug or wall cord
- Battery and charger are sold separately
- No high-volume mode for air mattresses and pool toys
Image: EcoFlow
EEcoFlow
6For Weekend TripsEditorial score:7.9/10
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Portable Power Station
EcoFlow · RIVER 3 Plus (EF-RV-H02-1)
286 Wh with 600 W of output and a one-hour recharge.
- Capacity
- 286 Wh
- Battery chemistry
- LiFePO4 (LFP)
- Rated cycle life
- 3,000 cycles to 80% capacity
- AC output
- 600 W
- Peak output
- 1,200 W surge (X-Boost 1,200 W)
- USB-C output
- 1 x 100 W
Pros
- Under 10 ms UPS switchover, quick enough for a router or a desktop PC
- Full recharge from the wall in an hour
- Can grow from 286 Wh to 858 Wh with an add-on battery
- 10.4 lb and small enough for a car footwell
Cons
- 600 W of AC output rules out kettles, hair dryers and most power tools
- Only one USB-C port
- 286 Wh runs a typical fridge for a few hours, not a whole day
Image: DEWALT
DDEWALT
7For the DEWALT OwnerEditorial score:8.0/10
DEWALT 20V MAX Tire Inflator DCC020IB (Tool Only)
DEWALT · DCC020IB
Runs from a 20V MAX battery, a 12 V socket or 110 V AC.
- Max pressure
- 160 PSI
- Power source
- 20V MAX battery, 12 V DC car outlet or 110 V AC
- Battery
- Not included (tool only)
- Auto shutoff
- Yes, in high-pressure mode
- Modes
- High-pressure inflation; high-volume inflation and deflation
- Display
- Digital gauge
Pros
- Three ways to power it: battery, car outlet or wall outlet
- Automatic shutoff at the pressure you set
- High-volume mode inflates and deflates air mattresses and rafts
- Onboard LED light, and the 12 V car cord is in the box
Cons
- Sold as a bare tool: the battery, charger and AC adapter all cost extra
- DEWALT's product page does not state airflow or hose length
- Makes most sense only if you already own DEWALT 20V MAX batteries
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good gift for someone who camps?
- A small power station for lights and devices, such as the 8.27 lb Jackery Explorer 300 Plus or the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus.
- What is a practical gift for a driver?
- A jump starter sized to their engine and a tire inflator for the trunk.
- Do cordless inflators come with a battery?
- The Milwaukee, DEWALT and CRAFTSMAN inflators on this list are sold as tool only. Buy the one that matches batteries they already own.