Our favorite compact power station is on sale for 33% off

Here in In the Pacific Northwest, we’re heading into the cold and windy season, which generally means power outages. One of the best ways to stay prepared for those cold, dark days is a portable power station like the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus, which is currently marked for $100 at Best Buy and for the same amount at B&H. It’s compact enough to put in a closet for a rainy day but still packs enough power to power small and medium-sized appliances.

I actually picked up one of these a few weeks ago before a big wind storm, and while I fortunately didn’t have to use it, I did some quick tests on it to make sure everything was okay. Every device I connected to the Jackery started charging at their fastest rate immediately, and I connected my router as well, which happily booted up without any issue. Although I didn’t have a chance to drain the battery, it has a capacity of 288 watt-hours, which is excellent for many small device charges like phones and tablets, or for hours of use to keep your small devices awake.

It contains a group of ports to charge and operate your various devices. There’s a regular 15W max USB-A port for incidentals, as well as two 100W max USB-C ports, one of which also doubles as an input for charging the power station. There’s also a traditional 120V US outlet, with a maximum of 300W, in case lower wattage USB ports don’t quite fit the bill for more demanding equipment. There’s also a car-style charger, in case there’s an accessory you need.

If you’re worried that the Explorer 300 Plus won’t have enough power to get you through a long break, or you’re a frequent traveler on the road, I’ve also spotted several premium Jackery solar panels at Best Buy. The smaller 40-watt solar panel is marked down to $79 from $130, and the larger 100-watt version is discounted to $198 from $299. While this smaller model is great for individuals and occasional use, be sure to check out our other favorite portable power stations for larger batteries.