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Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station 293Wh Review (2026)

Updated September 21, 2026 · Research-based review

Our verdict

The Jackery Explorer 300 packs a 293Wh lithium-ion battery into a 7.5 pound case, enough to keep phones, cameras, and LED lights running for a weekend without plugging into shore power. It cannot run a camp fridge for long and charges slower than Jackery's newer Explorer 300 Plus, but it is easy to carry from the car to a picnic table.

Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station 293Wh

Jackery Explorer 300 is a 293Wh portable power station for weekend car campers charging phones, lights and small fans.

Price range: $$$ (Premium)

What we liked

  • + 293Wh capacity covers phones, cameras and LED lights for a weekend
  • + Light enough to carry from the car to the picnic table with one hand
  • + Can recharge from a car socket while you drive between sites

Trade-offs

  • - Too small to run a camp fridge for long or any high-draw appliance
  • - Older model charges slower than the newer Explorer 300 Plus

What it is

The Jackery Explorer 300 is a portable power station built around a 293Wh lithium-ion battery pack, designed to charge small electronics rather than run large appliances. It outputs up to 300 watts continuously through two AC outlets using a pure sine wave inverter, with a 60W USB-C PD port and a Quick Charge 3.0 USB-A port rounding out the connections, plus a 12V car-style port. The unit measures roughly 9.1 by 5.2 by 7.8 inches and weighs about 7.5 pounds, small and light enough to move between the car, a picnic table, and a tent without much effort.

Fit for the job

At 293Wh, this power station is sized for weekend car camping trips where the main draws are phones, tablets, cameras, headlamps, and small LED lantern setups rather than a camp refrigerator or anything with a compressor. It can recharge from a standard wall outlet, from a car's 12V socket while driving between campsites, or from a compatible solar panel, which gives car campers a few different ways to top it back up without needing a generator. For anyone whose camping power needs stop at keeping phones charged and a light running through the evening, the capacity lines up well; for anyone hoping to run a cooler or space heater, it is undersized for the job.

Features and specs

The built-in battery management system and pure sine wave inverter are meant to protect sensitive electronics like laptops and camera batteries from the kind of power spikes that cheaper modified-wave inverters can produce. Two AC outlets let you run two mains-powered devices at once, while the 60W USB-C PD port can fast-charge a phone or a small laptop, and the 12V port covers car-style accessories like tire inflators or 12V coolers within its power limits. Jackery designed the unit to be charged multiple ways: wall outlet, car socket, or solar panel, giving flexibility depending on where you are camping and whether the sun cooperates.

Build and materials

The Explorer 300 uses a lithium-ion battery chemistry housed in a molded plastic case with a top-mounted carry handle, a layout shared across Jackery's Explorer line at different capacities. The compact footprint and 7.5 pound weight make it genuinely easy to carry one-handed from a vehicle to a campsite, which is a meaningful difference from larger power stations that need two hands or a cart to move. As an earlier model in Jackery's lineup, it charges more slowly than the newer Explorer 300 Plus, which uses updated charging electronics to cut recharge times, so buyers comparing the two should weigh that difference against any price gap.

Value

For weekend car campers who mainly need to keep phones, cameras, and a light or two running, the Explorer 300 covers that job in a lightweight, easy to carry package at a lower price point than Jackery's larger stations. It is not the right choice for anyone planning to run a camp fridge for multiple days or power tools, since 293Wh and 300W of continuous output run out quickly under that kind of load. Buyers deciding between this and the newer Explorer 300 Plus should factor in the slower charging speed here, which matters most if you are relying on short charging windows between drives or short bursts of sun.

Frequently asked questions

How much can the Jackery Explorer 300 power?

With 293Wh of capacity and 300 watts of continuous AC output, it covers phones, cameras, small lights, and similar low-draw electronics, not large appliances like a fridge.

How do you recharge the Explorer 300?

It can be recharged from a wall outlet, a car's 12V socket while driving, or a compatible solar panel.

How much does it weigh?

About 7.5 pounds, light enough to carry one-handed between the car and a campsite.

Is this the same as the newer Explorer 300 Plus?

No, this is the original Explorer 300, which charges more slowly than the newer Explorer 300 Plus model.

Prices change often, so check the current price and availability on Amazon.

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