Best Portable Power Bank for Camping and RVs: BLUETTI PS72
By Ben Carter
Is BLUETTI’s PS72 the Best Portable Power Station for Camping and RVs? My Honest Take
Short answer: it might be. The PS72 hits that sweet spot for campers and weekend RV folks who want real power without hauling a backbreaker. I’ve been using it on chilly overnights and two–three day trips, and here’s the thing—it just gets out of the way and works. If you’re hunting the best portable power station for camping, this is the one I keep reaching for first.
The quick verdict
If you want a plug-and-go box that covers lights, phones, cameras, a portable fridge, and the occasional hot plate, the PS72 is a keeper. It’s a mid-size unit—portable enough to carry with one hand, powerful enough to calm that “did we bring enough juice?” anxiety. Is it the best portable power station for camping? For most people, yeah, because it balances capacity, speed, and price without weird compromises.
Real-world runtimes (not lab talk)
Believe it or not, the big runtime wins showed up in the boring stuff—steady draws. A 12V compressor fridge sipping ~45–60W? It cruised through a full day, then some, depending on ambient temps and how often we grabbed seltzers. Phones, tablets, cameras, headlamps—basically noise. A compact CPAP with humidifier off ran all night without drama. Coffee makers or induction plates work in short bursts, but those spike the inverter load, so plan for it. If you’re chasing the best portable power station for camping, focus on what you’ll actually plug in, not just a giant watt-hour number on a box.
Charging and solar in the wild
Wall charging is fast enough that I top it off while loading the car. Out in the field, a folding panel set with MPPT tracking kept things moving—clear sky days make you feel like you’re cheating the system. Cloudy? Expect a slow trickle. Pro tip: tilt your panels and chase the sun a bit; five minutes of fussing can mean hours of extra fridge time. If your use case is static camping, this is where the PS72 feels like the best portable power station for camping—it sips solar politely and doesn’t overheat or shout about it with screaming fans.
Noise, build, and safety you can feel
Fans kick on under heavy loads, but the tone is low and campfire-friendly. The shell is solid, the handle is glove-friendly, and the ports are where I expect them—no hunting in the dark with a headlamp. It uses LiFePO4 cells (long cycle life, stable chemistry) with smart BMS protections. In plain English: you can toss this in a hatchback, run it in a ventilated RV, and not babysit it. That’s a big reason it’s in the running for the best portable power station for camping and family road trips.
What it won’t do (and who should skip it)
If you’re running an RV air conditioner or a full-on worksite, this isn’t your box. You’ll want a bigger, heavier unit or a generator-hybrid setup. Also, if you live on high-draw appliances (hair dryers, kettles, induction) for extended stretches, be realistic—portable stations are about steady, efficient use. For ultralight backpacking, it’s overkill; for car campers hunting the best portable power station for camping, it’s kind of perfect.
Competitors worth a peek
Jackery and EcoFlow have strong options in this mid-size class—fast charging, slick apps, great ecosystems. The PS72 wins me over on battery chemistry, port layout, and real-world efficiency, not just a spec sheet. Pricing swings a lot with seasonal promos, so don’t overpay. That said, if you want the best portable power station for camping that balances lifespan, recharge options, and sane weight, the PS72 keeps coming out ahead in my trunk tests.
Sizing made simple (so you buy once)
Add up what you’ll actually run: fridge (60W average), lights (10W), phones (negligible), camera batteries (tiny), and maybe a laptop (60–100W) for a couple hours. Multiply by hours to get watt-hours for a day, then add 30–40% buffer for inverter losses and cloudy panels. If that math lands in the mid-range, the PS72 is right in your lane. That’s why it feels like the best portable power station for camping without leaping to a heavier class.
Final take—and where to dig deeper
If your trips look like mine—weekend camping, shoulder-season RVing, lots of charging and a steady fridge—the PS72 is an easy yes. It’s powerful, quiet, and doesn’t make you think. Want the nitty-gritty charts, runtimes, and settings I use? Pop over to Consumer's Best and read my full BLUETTI PS72 review. I unpack what to pair it with, which panels to choose, and the few tweaks that make it sing. Then decide if it’s your best portable power station for camping—or if one size up fits your style better.
