Sometimes, going into the backcountry is about unplugging鈥攖urning off your phone and laptop, ignoring email and social media. But if you鈥檙e on the road or off the grid for long periods of time, unplugging isn鈥檛 an option. You have lights, camera batteries, and safety equipment to charge. That鈥檚 where the portable power station comes in.
Until recently, there was one main option: the Goal Zero . But yesterday, radio company Midland released its own take on the portable mega-battery:聽the ($1,100). I got my hands on one ahead of the launch and was immediately taken by how much power it pumps out considering its relatively lightweight package.
A max capacity of 950Wh (enough to power a 50-watt laptop for up to 16 hours) means this puppy stores a lot of juice, and it can power a lot at once with two AC outputs, one DC, and one USB output. I was able to fully charge my phone and my Fitbit at the same time, and hardly made a dent in the energy stores, which are displayed on an LED screen, via a colored battery聽graphic, similar to the one on your phone but with percentages to denote how much charge is left. (Midland claims the PPG 100 can run an LED TV for 18 hours, though I didn鈥檛 go so far as to test that.) In terms of power, the Midland is most similar to the聽. The Yeti has a聽1045Wh capacity that holds slightly more charge, and it鈥檚 slightly heavier, at 40 pounds. It also costs $200 more.
What sets the Midland apart is its burliness. This battery comes built into a waterproof box that clamps shut and can be submerged in up to three feet of water for half an hour鈥攈andy if you plan on taking it out on the water. And while Midland doesn鈥檛 claim the box is drop-proof, it鈥檚 certainly burly and protective enough to inspire confidence. On a weekend climbing trip, I felt comfortable plopping the Midland onto the rocky ground and forgetting about it. When the wind picked up and dust started flying, I simply closed the lid.
It鈥檚 worth noting that while the built-in carrying case has definite upsides, it does make the PPG 100 tough to use in tight spaces. With the lid flipped up, the Midland doesn鈥檛 slide easily under my car seat; rather, to access the plugs and charge my devices, I need to move the charger into a space where there鈥檚 room to open the lid. This is fine if you鈥檙e using the PPG 100 in a cabin, your home, or another open environment, but if you鈥檙e living out of your vehicle, it鈥檚 not the kind of charging station that can be tucked away with its ports still accessible. But if you want a power station that can handle any weather and any conditions, the Midland is a good bet.