Camping may seem all fun and games, but ultimately getting disconnected from the world is definitely not what you look forward to. While you may be excited about this adventurous trip, however, if your devices stop working while you camp, all your excitement might go down the drain. Therefore, having a camping generator along is the best thing to do. We’ve them sorted out if you are looking for the best camping generators that you can get your hands on.
Why Do You Need a Camping Generator?
While a camping generator is often used to charge mobile phones during camping, you can use it to power various other devices. The portable camping generators give you the freedom to take your electronics on your camping journey without worrying about the lack of a power source. Depending on the size of the camping generator you buy, here are the devices that you can provide with an energy source using it:
- Laptops.
- Mobile phones.
- Cameras.
- Headlamps.
- Portable AC units.
- Electric heaters, etc.
Best Camping Generators
Product Images | Product Name | Voltage | Weight | Price |
Westinghouse iGen1200 Super Quiet Generator | 120 volts | 33 lbs | ||
ROCKPALS 300W Portable Generator | 110 volts | 7.5 lbs | ||
Champion 3400-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator | 120 volts | 95.7 lbs | ||
Honda EU 2200i | 120 volts | 53.5 lbs | ||
Goal Zero Yeti 150 portable power station | 12 volts | 12 lbs | ||
Renogy Phoenix 246.24Wh/150W Portable Generator | 110 volts | 12.8 lbs |
Best Camping Generators
1. Westinghouse iGen1200 Super Quiet Generator
Giving low noise output of around 52 dBA, this Westinghouse iGen1200 power generator is highly feasible and suitable to be used for camping and other outdoor activities. Not only does this produce clean power having less than 3% of THD, but it is also highly suitable for charging intelligent electronics.
With 0.8 gallons of a fuel tank, this power generator can quickly run up to 9 hours without any interruption. Additionally, if you need more power wattages, this generator allows combining iGen series inverter using a parallel cord which is sold separately. What makes this super comfortable is the fact that it has a very compact design and weighs only 33 pounds which makes it easy to carry and transport from one place to another.
Key Features:
- This portable generator weighs only 33 pounds.
- Comes with a four-stroke engine type.
- 1200 watts wattage.
- Gas-powered.
- Two 20 Amp 120 V outlets.
- 9 hours run time.
- 0.8 gallons gas tank.
- Maximum fuel efficiency.
Pros
Cons
2. ROCKPALS 300W Portable Generator
Compared to similar portable generators, this Rockpals 300W generator offers you the upgraded continuous AC output of around 300W, as the name shows. Additionally, it comes with a high-capacity backup battery that is powerful enough to charge mobile phones around 25-26 times, mini-fridges, laptops, etc. Not only this, it is super handy so that it can easily be carried and placed in your RV without creating any inconvenience.
This portable generator can be recharged in three ways, including being plugged into a wall outlet, using any compatible solar panel of 60W or 100W, and using a car charger. It is a kind of clean power since there are no exhaust fumes to pollute the environment around you.
Key Features:
- 300 watts wattage.
- Weighs 7.5 pounds only.
- 110 volts.
- Four rubber feet to hold on the ground.
- Home backup battery.
- Very handy to put on an RV.
Pros
Cons
3. Champion 3400-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator
Giving an option of dual fuel, including propane and gasoline, the Champion 3400-watt portable inverter generator has made it to the list of best camping generators because of the features that it has to offer. This unit can easily hold 0.6 quarts of oil and comes with a sensor that detects low oil levels and shut off in such scenarios. It comes with an electric start that includes a three-position ignition switch.
Additionally, the package has a battery included, and it comes with a quick touch panel that will allow you to access all the controls and actions in one spot. Fortunately, the noise levels of this portable generator are pretty low at around 59 dB, which will not disturb you during your camping journey while it operates.
Key Features:
- 3400 watts wattage.
- 95.7 pounds weight.
- Yellow and black in color.
- Dual fuel type.
- 3- position ignition switch.
- Quick touch panel.
- 59 dba noise level.
- Clean power for sensitive electronics.
Pros
Cons
4. Honda EU 2200i
Providing legendary quality with additional power, this Honda EI 2200i portable power generator has additional power as compared to the previous models to provide you with more recharging time. Bonus, the extra power doesn’t come at the cost of weight or design as this model is similarly light in weight and compact.
What makes this portable generator stand out amongst all others is that it comes with a Carbon Monoxide detection system that continuously monitors CO levels. This makes it automatically shut down if the CO levels around the generator become more than the safety levels. Additionally, it comes with a generator app that offers remote operation and through which you can monitor, operate, and have an option of a wireless stop.
Key Features:
- 2200 watts wattage.
- 53.5 pounds weight.
- 120 volts voltage.
- 0.95 gallons of tank volume.
- Light in weight.
- Compact design.
- Comes with my generator smartphone app.
- Bluetooth capability.
Pros
Cons
5. Goal Zero Yeti 150 portable power station
By providing innovations in portable power, this company has developed a Goal Zero Yeti 150 power station that can be used while you travel and off-grid both. Being small in size and easy to carry, it can easily be said that loads of power are packed in this small frame. The small size of this camping generator makes it convenient to be transported from one place to another and also to carry while you travel.
What makes this a great choice is the fact that you can charge this power generator in daylight by plugging it directly into a solar panel. It takes around 11 to 22 hours to completely get charged in solar light. Not only this, but you can also charge it using your car’s 12V port in about 6-8 hours which means you have options to charge it to make it more convenient. Being small in size, this generator is able to charge anything smaller than a laptop, including a headlamp, phone, e-reader, etc.
Key Features:
- Lots of power packaged in a small frame.
- Also can be charged on a solar panel.
- Two years of warranty.
- 150-watt hour lead-acid battery.
- Two USB ports included.
- One AC outlet included.
- Dependable and durable.
- Compact portable power station.
Pros
Cons
6. Renogy Phoenix 246.24Wh/150W Portable Generator
While clean power has its own benefits, this Renogy Phoenix portable generator is an all-in-one solar power system. It, therefore, has made it to the list of best camping generators. It is designed explicitly for tackling emergencies and is ideal to be used for recharging your mobile phones and off-grid applications.
With the compact design that it comes in, this generator is light in weight and therefore super easy and convenient to transport. It combines 20W mono-crystalline solar panels and allows expansion with additional paves up to 100 watts. Additionally, it will enable getting charged through multiple sources, including solar, car power, AC power, etc. it comes with a 17.1 Ah li-ion battery that provides limitless power.
Key Features:
- 110 volts.
- Black in color.
- Portable solar power system.
- Compact design.
- Light in weight.
- Continuous 150W output power.
- Includes li-ion (neck) battery.
Pros
Cons
Buying guide for Best Camping Generators:
While there may be various options available in the market, and we may have sorted out the best for you; still, you’ve got to select a camping generator yourself. If you are confused about what things to look for while buying one, here we have mentioned them all for you in this buying guide for buying a camping generator.
Noise Levels:
You go camping to get yourselves relaxed, and the last thing you’d want from the camping generator is noisy operation. Therefore, getting your hands on a generator that is not too noisy when it operates is extremely important since you will never want the source of power to become a source of disturbance.
The noise levels of generators depend entirely on the load on them and the size of the engine. The camping generator that can be suitable to take along with you should produce noises between 45 dB to 60 dB to not disturb your camping journey.
Fuel Efficiency:
All of the generators require fuel to provide you with the electrical energy that you’d need to recharge your devices. This entirely depends on the kind of fuel source (either gas or solar) that you consider using for your generator. Here are a few of the power sources explained for you to know better:
- Gasoline is not that efficient since you will need almost 18 gallons of it to run a generator of 5000 watts for nearly 24 hours.
- Generators using diesel are much more efficient since only 1.6 gallons of fuel per hour can run a 20kW generator even on full load.
- When it comes to a propane generator, 1.18 gallons can allow you to run almost 2kW units for nearly 6 hours.
Power (Wattage):
The more the wattage, the more is the power produced by the generator. This means that the generators that have higher wattages can quickly recharge large appliances. The mystery is that the significant devices have both starting and running watts; therefore, if you are looking for a generator that you’ll need to recharge your big appliances, it is essential to understand both terms.
The starting watts are basically what the appliances need for a few seconds when they turn on, while the running watts are the energy that is required by a device when it is running. The starting watt of the appliance can be 2 or 3 times more than the running watts. Therefore, when buying the generator, make sure to get one that can handle the energy demand of the large appliances.
Parallel Capability:
For significant power needs, you will need to combine two inverter generators using a cable to fulfill the necessities while you camp. By doing this, you will get quiet operation, fuel efficiency, and increased power. Therefore, depending on your power requirements, you can get camping generators from manufacturers that allow parallel combinations. Remember, you can combine not all generators with inverters; therefore, looking for manufacturers that will enable it is the key here.
Clean power:
Some of the virtual devices that you may need to recharge while you camp run on clean power and one of those devices includes your phone too. It is essential that the generator has a Total Harmonic Distortion of less than 5% for devices like these because anything more than that can fry your phones.
To make it more clear for you, only inverters and solar generators guarantee this kind of clean power, and these are the only options that will allow you to recharge your phone, laptop, tablet, etc., without any sort of worry in the world.
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