Best generators

Whether you find yourself in an emergency situation, or like a little more oomph while camping, a generator is a handy tool to have. Generators and usually pretty bulky and heavy, and there are different types designed depending on if you need to power up household appliances or charge electronic devices. Here are the best gas and battery-powered options along with some helpful information on how to choose a generator for your specific need.

It’s gas-powered and quite noisy, but it does have a built-in starter motor rather than a pull cord. It also works with propane. The DuroMax isn’t an inverter generator, so don’t get this if you’re looking for something to power sensitive electronics like laptops, tablets, or phones. Depending on the size of the tank you use, you will get a decent number of hours of power before needing to change the tank. For BBQ-sized propane tanks, you can expect about 4 hours of power. If you fill the gas tank, you can get up to 12 hours of power depending on what you're running. Also, the wheels that come with this unit are mostly made from plastic. After holding over 200 pounds, they are prone to going flat quickly. You can purchase different, more sturdy wheels to attach to the generator.

The Champion can run continually for 14 hours with gas or over 10.5 hours with propane when full. It has an inverter that is great for keeping devices like smartphones and tablets safely charged. It’s a pretty heavy machine, around 119 pounds, but it's on wheels that make it portable and easier to move around. But being large means it offers enough outlets to keep everything up and running at once without too much of a sacrifice or strain on its power outlet.

Plugging the Goal Zero into a traditional wall outlet will power up the battery in about two hours. You can also recharge it using your car and a 12-volt adapter, but it will take longer. But using solar panels actually recharges the battery the fastest, plus its free energy. However, solar panels must be purchased separately and are expensive. Also, the Yeti is only compatible with Goal Zero panels.

This gas-powered generator is smaller than others, so it doesn't need wheels to move it about. but we do recommend setting it into place before filling since it weighs around 47 pounds empty. But it only needs about 1.18 gallons of fuel to provide just under 5 hours of electricity. It includes WAVE Technology, so it's safe to use for charging sensitive electronics including laptops and cell phones. This unit has a single USB outlet and two 120V outlets. It needs to be started with a pull cord, but it’s a reliable performer.

The Ryobi generator provides two USB ports and one 120-volt power outlet which all run off a single 18-volt ONE+ battery. Batteries are sold separately from the generator, which increases the overall cost. The running wattage is low at 150 watts, so you can't use the RYOBI 150 for running large appliances like air conditioners, power tools, or fridges. But the included LED flashlight hints at its true purpose as a great little power source for camping trips.

How to choose the right generator for you

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When it comes to choosing the best portable generator, it’s worth deciding on a few factors first. The fuel source is one important consideration, gas and battery-powered generators are both common, and each has its own advantages. Gasoline models allow you to keep topping up the engine, but they can also be messy, noisy, and smelly. Battery-powered options are quieter than their gasoline counterparts.

The next thing to consider is the generator's actual portability. A heavy generator with a 9000-watt output isn’t actually going to be that portable, and you may need to sacrifice some power for convenience. Or, you could balance the two by choosing a model with wheels. That way you can have great power output with mobility. Generators that use a cord pull to start are often lighter but are also more difficult to start.

Wattage is the next factor to consider. When electronics startup they will use more power than they will while running, which is known as the surge or starting wattage before they settle into their running wattage. If the surge wattage is higher than the generator can handle, it will cut out. So, take a look at the rating for surge/starting and running wattage. Usually the higher the rating, the better. To calculate, determine the running wattage of all the devices you want to use simultaneously, then add on the single highest starting wattage of all the devices. This will give you a wattage number to look for in a generator.

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