DaranEner 89.6Wh Portable Power Station with 100W AC: A Full Review

Dragging a massive, heavy battery pack out to the woods for a weekend trip usually feels like overkill if you just need to keep a laptop and a couple of phones alive. I've been looking for a cheap power station for camping that doesn't take up half the trunk space, and this DaranEner unit fits the bill. At about the size of a large coffee cup and weighing just 2.5 pounds, it slips right into a backpack.

It uses a LiFePO4 battery, which is a big deal at this price point since they last significantly longer than the older lithium-ion types. You get an 89.6Wh capacity. That translates to roughly one full laptop charge or a handful of phone charges. It’s not going to run a space heater or a high-draw appliance, but the 100W AC outlet easily handles a small tent fan or a low-wattage camping light.

The port selection is surprisingly good for something this small. The 100W two-way USB-C port means you can charge it back up quickly (under two hours if you max out the inputs) without needing a proprietary bulky power brick. Just remember that the AC outlet automatically shuts off when the battery dips below 9% to protect the cells. If you need a massive portable generator to run a mini-fridge for three days, look elsewhere. But for keeping small electronics topped up off-grid, it does exactly what it needs to do.