Arkpax 300W LiFePO4 Portable Power Station: A Full Review

Hauling a massive, heavy generator out to a state park for a weekend just to keep a couple of phones alive never made much sense to me. I usually just want something lightweight that won't die after charging my tablet once. The Arkpax 300W fits right into that sweet spot if you are hunting for a cheap power station for camping. It runs on a LiFePO4 battery, which is a big deal at this price point since it means the cells will last for thousands of charge cycles before degrading. You get 192 watt-hours of capacity. That translates to charging a smartphone about a dozen times or running a CPAP machine for half the night, though you would definitely need a bigger unit for a full eight hours of sleep on higher pressure settings.

I really appreciate the fast wall charging. It actually hits full battery in about an hour and a half with the included adapter, so you can plug it in while packing the car and it is ready to go by the time you leave. You can charge up to six devices at once, including a 65W USB-C port that handles laptops decently well. Just keep your expectations grounded. This is a 300-watt unit. It will not run a coffee maker, a hair dryer, or a travel microwave. It is strictly for small electronics, lights, and fans. For $155, it does exactly what a budget backup battery should do without weighing down your gear bin.