Power outage while you're working? Not with the River 3 (though a power outage is a great excuse to take a break from work). (Amazon)(Amazon)
A sudden power outage — whether caused by a summer thunderstorm, winter blizzard or just plain electric-company incompetence — can be a hair-raising predicament, but there's no time like the present to get prepared. A portable power station like the EcoFlow River 3 can provide some serious peace of mind; should the worst happen, it'll keep your essential gear running. And how's this for electrifying news: It's almost 40% off right now! But act fast, because this deal will end soon.
If all you're worried about is keeping your phone, iPad or laptop juiced up during an outage, then this is the unit you're after. This is waaay more powerful than that charging brick you got as a stocking stuffer last year. It can charge a phone 12 times, a camera 11 times or keep your laptop going for days.
When it comes to dealing with power outages, I think of two things: the food in my fridge and my HVAC. Although this isn't enough to power your entire house — for that you'll have to look at some of the larger options below — it can power a mini cooler for up to nine hours, long enough to keep your food good for a while. If wintertime food spoilage isn't an issue in your part of the country, the 500 will also power a TV for 7 hours or a laptop for 30.
During the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, my wife and I were watching the Colorado Avalanche when the power went out. Bummed, I looked out the window and saw that my neighbor still had the game going on his outdoor projector — which was plugged into an Explorer 1000 V2. Lesson learned.
Its two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, one DC car port and three AC outlets mean you can charge your tech as well as run a space heater. For an extra $250, you can add solar panels, which can charge this to 80% in just 2.4 hours.
Whether you're weathering Mother Nature's wrath, or admiring her handiwork from your campsite, the River 3 has you covered.
This puppy is just 7.7 pounds — lighter than, well, many puppies.
Portable power stations like this one usually come with a hefty price tag, but this limited-time deal slices $100 from the River 3's usual price.
A portable power station falls into the category of "Things You Don't Think About Until You Need Them." If you live in an area prone to outages (which, for one reason or another, is most areas), The EcoFlow River 3 can be a literal lifesaver. It's way more than a phone charger (though you'll thank yourself for staying connected); it'll keep your lights on, your laptop operating and even power small kitchen appliances (at least for a short while). And it'll do it all a lot more cleanly and quietly than a gas generator.
And it's not just for at-home use, either: If you like camping but not giving up all the luxuries of home, just toss the River 3 in the trunk. Imagine enjoying string lights, heated blankets, even a coffeemaker, all while basking in the great outdoors.
This generator provides 245 watt-hours of power, plus, it's easy to use and charges incredibly fast — just an hour via its AC input gets the job done. There's even optional solar panel charging if plug-in power isn't available.
Over 450 five-star reviewers say the EcoFlow River 3 is a reliable, versatile power supply that brings them much-appreciated peace of mind.
Not surprisingly, its portability is a big selling point. Said this five-star reviewer. "This weighs in about 10 lbs., so it is easily moved by most people." They went on to praise the EcoFlow's app: "It immediately recognized the new device via Bluetooth. Setup on my network was quick and easy and required no real effort on my part... One feature that was new to any EcoFlow device that I have seen was a section that showed the current Wi-Fi connectivity. It allows you to ... see the signal strength, IP address, and even the MAC address. Very handy indeed!"
"One standout feature is the incredibly fast AC switching time," said this longtime EcoFlow enthusiast. "The inverter kicks in in under 1 second, which is faster than my Delta 2 (which takes about 3-5 seconds). For such a small battery, it packs a punch, and with solar power, I can rely on renewable energy year-round."
"My only criticism is that the unusual handle design unintentionally encourages setting the unit down on its face," noted this practically minded customer. Actually, that was not their only criticism: "There is also a small hinged plastic door protecting the AC and DC input ports, and this looks pretty vulnerable to accidental breakage. But we shall see."
This shopper's generally sunny review included one dark cloud: "The 40W solar panel combo is not worth buying, in my opinion. Yes, it works and when you align it perfectly to the sun on a perfect day, you can get 25W of charging power out of it. But this is not always possible. If you just lay or hang it out, you get only 3- 10W. If there are clouds, you get nothing. Charging takes days!"
Here are some other very affordable portable juice boxes:
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
