I test power stations for a living, but this is the one in the back of my car right now

I test and review a lot of power stations, but there’s one power station that’s been making the rounds with me for a few months now. It’s the one that’s in my car right now, the one I take camping, and the one I grab when I want quick and easy power outside. 

It’s the EcoFlow River 2 Pro. I fell in love with it slowly and without noticing, and now it’s become my favorite grab-and-go power stations.

Also: Best Portable Power Stations in 2025

Regular readers might remember the River 2 Pro’s smaller siblings — the River 2 and River 2 Max. Those power station did some miles with me over the years, from UFO hunting in Rendlesham Forest to powering my home the last few times the power went out.

The River 2 Pro is the latest iteration in this line. 768Wh of power stored in a bank of long-life LiFePO4 cells with a 3,000 recharge cycle lifespan (good for a decade of heavy use) that can be fast charged in 70 minutes. The power capacity is enough to run a small kitchen appliance for an hour, a 50W electric blanket for 12 hours, or charging your smartphone several dozen times over. 

That’s a lot of power, but it’s still one of the safest out there. EcoFlow’s River 2 series were the first portable power stations in the world to earn the TÜV Rheinland certification for safety.

Ignore the sockets on mine in the photos as this is the UK version. The US version has four power outlets capable of 800W regular/1,600W surge output, capable of running about 80% of the appliances found around the home. It’s not one of those monster units that can run a home for weeks, but it it was, I wouldn’t be able to lift it with one hand for this photo.

There are 11 ports in total. Along with the four AC ports, you get a 100W USB-C port (which can also be used to charge the unit), USB-A ports, a DC port, and two DC5521 ports. In addition to that USB-C port, the unit can be recharged using the AC port and the XT60 solar port.

Also: How we test portable power stations at ZDNET in 2025

It weighs only 18.2 lbs, which combined with the very comfortable handle, makes it a highly portable unit. It also has a fast — less than 30 milliseconds — switchover to the internal batteries, making it a good choice for uninterruptible power supply duties for things like fish tanks, computers, and 3D printers.

Why I recommend this product

I liked the first River 2 from EcoFlow’s lineup, but the 256Wh capacity is a bit limiting for all but the lightest of applications. Bumping that threefold to 768Wh with the River 2 Pro makes a massive difference, and the 1,600W surge handling means that most things I plug into the unit will work. And right now it’s on sale on Amazon for 32% off, slashing the price tag from $529 to only $359.

For a unit of this caliber, that’s an unbeatable price. If you’ve been debating about buying a small power station, this is definitely a unit to take a close look at.