A Rugged Power Station for Off-Grid Adventures and Outages
- The new Yeti 1500 offers significant improvements over the last model, most notably the battery, which greatly expands the power station’s lifespan.
- Weatherproofing is another major upgrade, with an IPX4 water resistance rating and fold-down outlet covers that protect the outputs and inputs from dust and harsh weather.
- This power station features a variety of ports, including four 120-volt AC outlets and six USB connections.
When I go camping, I like to have power, and it isn’t always available. Fuel generators are too noisy and messy for my taste, so I prefer power stations. But compact portable models tend to be underpowered and typically aren’t durable enough for outdoor use. The new Goal Zero Yeti 1500 is an exception.
This model replaces the company’s 1500X, and the improvements are significant. The biggest is the switch from a lithium-ion battery to LiFePO4, boosting the number of recharge cycles from an average of 500 times to 4,000, according to the manufacturer. That greatly expands the power station’s lifespan. Also, its fast-charging capability takes the battery from 0 to 80 percent in just an hour.
Because of the upgraded battery, the Yeti 1500 has slightly less capacity than the older model, though not by much—1,505 watt-hours versus 1,560 watt-hours, respectively. The total output is the same at 2,000 watts (3,600 surge). But the new model offers more outputs for both AC and DC power and better weatherproofing. All these additions and improvements add versatility that the Yeti didn’t have before.
| Power | 2,000 W (3,600 W Surge) |
| Capacity | 1,505 Wh |
| Outputs | 14 |
| Weigth | 53 lb |
Details of Durability
I really like the changes Goal Zero made to the Yeti 1500’s design. Overall, it has an improved IPX4 water resistance rating, so while you can’t leave it out in the rain, you can splash it with water without worrying.
But it’s the addition of flip-up shields that cover input and output sections that I appreciate most, useful for dealing with dusty or rainy conditions. Each section is also illuminated with its own down-facing LED light, so you don’t need to grab the flashlight when plugging something in. All of the lights can be blacked out, too, for sleeping hours.
There are two built-in handles, and each corner of the chassis has removable rubber guards for T-slot channels you can use for accessories like tie-downs. A good portion of the outer wall is constructed of metal for durability. It doesn’t help with the weight, though. At 53 pounds, it’s very heavy to haul around. To be fair, even midsize batteries are heavy, so a 2,000-watt power station from any brand is going to weigh you down, but this one is definitely on the heavier side of this category.
Powerful Performance and Versatility
The Yeti 1500 has more outputs than we’ve seen on most power stations: six USB ports and four 12-volt connections, plus four USB-C ports (one 140-watt, one 60-watt, and two 30-watt) and two 18-watt USB-A ports for older tech. Having a higher-powered USB-C onboard was great because I could charge my MacBook Pro during testing, freeing up one of the AC outlets.
Having four AC outlets is handy; each can handle up to 2,000 watts, so a single port can take care of a full load if necessary. I easily ran a 1,500-watt space heater while powering a modem and router, a lamp, and a TV, and the station didn’t skip a beat.
There are also four 12-volt DC ports (one car port, one high-power port, and two 6-millimeter ports), which, personally, I don’t find all that useful, and the 6-millimeter ports are really only for Goal Zero accessories.
Fast charging is also a notable improvement. During my tests, the claim of 0 to 80 percent in one hour rang true. Keep in mind that fast charging should be used sparingly, as it causes extra wear on the battery, but a nice addition is a switch on the back for limiting recharging to a lower voltage to prevent overuse.
The digital display is bright and shows all the pertinent information you need, including an estimate of how many hours of battery life you have left. The ports are also well-illuminated.
Flexibility for Solar Charging
The Yeti 1500 offers two DC inputs: 300-watt low-voltage and 600-watt high-voltage, which can be used simultaneously. You could theoretically pair the power station with two arrays for up to 900 watts, though the cost would be prohibitive for most. Still, it’s a nice option to have.
I paired the Yeti 1500 with a Nomad 200-watt portable solar panel, a good choice for someone who is camping for a long weekend. The Nomad 200 is 8.5 feet long when folded out, but fairly portable when collapsed.
It’s easy to set up and connect, and it stands on three fold-out legs. I got lucky with a sunny day and recharged the Yeti 1500 on my apartment building’s rooftop, where there are no obstructions to block the sun.
Even in those near-perfect conditions, the input readings showed anywhere from 125 to 145 watts. After initiating a recharge with only 5 percent capacity left, it would take at least 10.5 hours to recharge the battery to full. This is actually very good. No portable panel can operate at 100 percent efficiency, and an average of about 70 percent efficiency is on par with most high-quality panels.
The App and Interface
The Yeti 1500 has manual control buttons and a bright, easy-to-read display that shows information like power and battery level. Battery life is also shown, but keep in mind that the number isn’t totally reliable, as it can change drastically if you add a higher-power device.
Some settings are only accessible on the display screen’s single-line menu, but there’s a single button to scroll through options related to brightness and sound. Changing these settings is a tedious process, but since most aren’t essential to operation (and you would probably only change them once), it’s not that much of a detractor. Regardless, it would have been nice if you could change these settings using the mobile app.
Indeed, the mobile app was easier to use and chock-full of great information on energy consumption and operation. There are also some integrated controls, such as turning port banks on and off and changing the charging profile to maximize battery life.
The only problem we had with the app was maintaining a stable Bluetooth connection. It needed to be paired manually every time we used it, which was annoying. You can also connect over Wi-Fi, which proved to be more stable, but when camping, Bluetooth is much more convenient.
The Final Verdict
Overall, versatility is the defining attribute of the Yeti 1500. It’s simple to use, offers a good variety of outputs, and can be recharged quickly when you need it. It’s a well-designed power station that’s suitable for off-grid camping situations, with protection against dust and water. It’s also capable of running a few critical devices or appliances during a blackout. At a list price of $1,500, it’s not the cheapest power station in this size range, but the quality of construction and attention to detail are worth the investment in the end.
Buy the Goal Zero Yeti 1500 Portable Power Station
Here’s 5 More Power Stations We Recommend
Best Overall
Bluetti
Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station
Now 16% Off
Best Value
Jackery
Explorer 300 Plus
Best Whole-Home Backup
EcoFlow
Delta Pro 3 Portable Power Station
Now 38% Off
Most Durable
Goal Zero
Yeti 1500 Power Station
Best Versatile
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station
Now 46% Off
David is a Reviews Editor for Hearst’s Enthusiast Group, contributing to Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, Best Products, and Biography. He has over 25 years of experience writing about and reviewing consumer electronics, kitchen appliances, DIY products, outdoor gear, and more. He also spent years covering the ever-changing world of online retail. To relax, he loves experimenting with new recipes, tweaking his smart home setup, and spending time outdoors on his bike or camping.
Rachel is the Deputy Editor of Reviews for Hearst’s Enthusiast and Wellness Group where she supports Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, and Best Products. Her background is in service journalism and earlier in her career she worked as a daily newspaper reporter and book editor. She spent more than a decade as a staff editor and writer at TripAdvisor and Penguin Random House and her byline has appeared in Time Out New York, the New York Daily News, and New York Magazine. Outside of work, Rachel can be found planning her next trip, visiting museums and galleries, and walking her wirehaired dachshund in Central Park.
