You've found the perfect spot. Water views, no neighbours and not a power point for 50km. The fridge is humming, the phones are sitting on 12%, and someone has just asked whether the coffee machine will work out here.
That's the moment a portable power station earns its keep. It's a lithium battery, an inverter and a solar controller packed into one box with a handle. No wiring, no installation. Just plug in and go.
The tricky part is picking the right size. Go too small and the fridge is warm by day two. Go too big and you've paid for capacity you'll never use. This guide covers what actually matters, compares the new Companion Rover range side by side and helps you match a power station to the way you camp.
The Rover Range at a Glance
The Companion Rover range runs from a compact 128Wh unit for phones and cameras through to a 2048Wh powerhouse that will run a full camp kitchen. All five use LiFePO4 lithium batteries with a built-in Battery Management System, and every model from the X3 up has a pure sine wave 240V inverter and built-in MPPT solar charging.
| Image | Power Station | Capacity | 240V Output | Max Solar | Best For | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rover Go NXT | 128Wh | No 240V (USB-C, USB-A, 12V) | Solar via Anderson input | Day trips: phones, drones, cameras and laptops |
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Rover X3 | 288Wh | 300W (600W surge) | 120W | Weekends: small 12V fridge, lights, CPAP and devices |
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Rover X6 | 512Wh | 600W (1140W surge) | 150W | 2 to 3 night trips: fridges, small appliances, short blackouts |
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Rover X15 MAX | 1152Wh | 1500W (2850W surge) | 400W | Families and caravans: air fryers, pod coffee machines, CPAP |
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Rover X24 | 2048Wh | 2400W (4600W surge) | 1200W | Long-term touring: full camp kitchen, larger fridges, home backup |
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What to Look for in a Camping Power Station
Spec sheets can feel like alphabet soup. These are the six numbers and features that decide whether a power station suits your trip.
1. Battery Capacity (Wh): How Long It Lasts
Capacity, measured in watt-hours (Wh), is the size of the fuel tank. The bigger the number, the longer your gear runs. As a rule of thumb, you'll get around 85% of the rated capacity as usable power once inverter losses are taken into account.
Your fridge is the number to plan around. A 12V compressor fridge averages about 1.5 amps across a day, which works out to roughly 430Wh every 24 hours. That means a 512Wh unit like the Rover X6 covers about a day of fridge running on its own, while the 1152Wh Rover X15 MAX stretches to two days or more before you need any solar. Want to do the maths for your own gear? Our guide on how to calculate your campsite power needs walks you through it.
2. Inverter Output and Surge: What It Can Run
Capacity tells you how long. Output tells you what. The inverter rating is the most power the unit can deliver at once through its 240V outlets, and the surge figure covers the brief spike some appliances pull when they start up. Always choose pure sine wave output for laptops, CPAP machines and camera chargers.
The X6, X15 MAX and X24 also have a Power Boost mode (900W, 1800W and 3600W respectively) that gives extra support for more demanding appliances within supported limits. For a detailed list of what runs on each model, see what appliances you can run on a portable power station.
3. Ports: How Many Things You Can Plug In
Count the devices you'll run at the same time. Every Rover has USB-A, USB-C and a 12V cigarette socket. From the X6 up you also get a 30A Anderson outlet, which is the cleanest way to run a 12V fridge or the Roam 4L 12V Air Fryer, plus dual 240V outlets so two appliances can run side by side.
4. Recharge Speed and Solar Input
A power station is only as good as your ability to refill it. Every model from the X3 up has a built-in MPPT controller, so you can plug a solar blanket straight in without a separate regulator. The maximum solar input ranges from 120W on the X3 to 1200W on the X24.
Wall charging is quick too. The X6 and X24 reach 80% in around 70 minutes from a 240V outlet, and the X15 MAX in under 90 minutes, so you can top up at a powered site or before you leave home.
5. Home Backup
A power station isn't just camping gear. The X6, X15 MAX and X24 include an Emergency Power Supply (EPS) feature. When plugged into mains power, they switch to battery within 20 milliseconds if the grid drops out, which keeps the fridge, modem or CPAP running through a blackout.
6. Battery Chemistry and Safety
LiFePO4 lithium is the go-to chemistry for camping power. It's stable, handles heat well and lasts for thousands of cycles. Every Rover pairs it with a Battery Management System that protects against over-discharge and over-current, plus a full LED display showing battery level, runtime and input or output watts.
Which Rover Suits Your Trip?
Match the size to how long you stay out and what you want to run. If you're between two sizes, go up one. Spare capacity means less rationing and fewer flat mornings.
| Your Trip | What You're Running | Our Pick | Pair With |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day trip, beach or festival | Phones, drone, camera, laptop | Rover Go NXT | No solar needed for a day out |
| Weekend away, 1 to 2 nights | Small 12V fridge, lights, phones, CPAP | Rover X3 | 100W Solar Blanket |
| 2 to 3 nights, couples or 4WD | Fridge, lights, laptop, small appliances | Rover X6 | 100W Solar Blanket |
| Family trip or caravan, 3+ nights | Fridge, air fryer, pod coffee machine, CPAP | Rover X15 MAX | 200W or 300W Solar Blanket |
| Long-term touring or full camp kitchen | Larger fridge, induction cooktop, multiple devices | Rover X24 | 300W Solar Blanket |
Our Picks for Every Kind of Camper
The sweet spot for couples and 4WD travellers. 512Wh keeps a fridge running for around a day without solar, dual 600W outlets handle small appliances, and it recharges to 80% in about 70 minutes from the wall. EPS backup makes it handy at home too.
A 128Wh grab-and-go unit with dual USB-C, dual USB-A and a 12V socket. Charges phones, drones, cameras and laptops, and recharges by USB-C, car or solar.
288Wh with a 300W pure sine wave inverter and 120W solar input. Light enough to carry, with enough grunt for a small 12V fridge, lights and a CPAP for a night or two.
1152Wh and a 1500W inverter with 2850W surge. Runs fridges, air fryers and pod coffee machines, and takes up to 400W of solar for faster top-ups on longer stays.
The biggest in the range at 2048Wh, with a 2400W inverter, dual Anderson outlets, four USB-C ports and up to 1200W of solar input. Built for full camp kitchens and serious home backup.
Don't Forget Solar
Solar is what turns a weekend power station into a week-long one. A few hours of good sun can put back much of what your fridge used overnight. Pick a blanket that sits within your Rover's maximum solar input so you get the most from every hour of daylight.
| Solar Blanket | Best Matched To | Shop |
|---|---|---|
| Companion 100W Solar Blanket | Rover X3 (120W max) and Rover X6 (150W max) |
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| Companion 200W Solar Blanket | Rover X15 MAX (400W max) |
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| Companion 300W Solar Blanket | Rover X15 MAX (400W max) and Rover X24 (1200W max) |
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Not sure whether a blanket or a rigid panel suits your setup? Read solar blankets vs solar panels for a side-by-side comparison.
Power Station or Battery Box?
A power station is the all-in-one option: battery, inverter, solar controller and outlets in one box. A battery box paired with a deep cycle lithium battery is more modular and great for 12V-heavy setups, but you'll need extra gear for 240V. If you're weighing the two up, our battery box vs portable power station guide breaks down the pros and cons.
Looking After Your Power Station
- Charge it fully before you leave so you arrive at camp with a full tank.
- Keep it out of direct sun, rain and puddles, and give the cooling fans room to breathe.
- Combine wall, car and solar charging on longer trips for the most flexibility.
- Store it somewhere cool and dry between trips.
- Top it up every three months in storage to keep the battery healthy.
Hit the Tracks Fully Charged
The best portable power station is the one that matches your trip. For day trips, the Go NXT keeps your tech alive. For weekends, the X3 has you covered. For most couples and 4WD travellers, the X6 hits the sweet spot. And if you're cooking, touring or bringing the whole family, the X15 MAX and X24 give you real off-grid independence.
Explore the full range and build the setup that suits you:
Order online and we'll deliver your new setup straight to your door, so you can start planning your next off-grid adventure today.
