Dash cams also work great for documenting road trips and even monitoring teen drivers. Many cameras can also record what goes on inside your vehicle and can be invaluable in traffic and other tense situations. Dash cam footage is frequently used following traffic incidents or break-ins to aid insurance companies and the authorities in conducting investigations that could mean the difference between your claim being covered or not. Dash cams can capture everything from scenic routes to unexpected incidents, and provide an additional layer of security for your vehicle. While prices can fluctuate, this approach helps us quantify the bang-for-your-buck factor using hard data.This article was updated in October 2023 with new products and information.Īccidents happen, and an already painful experience can be made worse by getting blamed for something that wasn't your fault. Good value: Instead of setting a hard price cap, we look at capacity (in watt-hours) per dollar.Readily available customer support: We contact each company anonymously to gauge how difficult it would be to get in touch with someone and obtain help should a problem arise. ![]() No battery lasts forever, and the capacity will usually diminish after the first year, but our picks should keep working well after the warranty has run out. At least a one-year warranty: A one-year warranty ensures that you actually get to use the thing before its warranty expires.Some models can also recharge through a car power socket or a solar attachment, which is invaluable if you’re off-grid for more than a couple of days. USB charging is nice to have as a backup, but it’s slower. Included wall charger: At minimum, we require that each model be rechargeable via an AC wall outlet.At least one USB-C port, 6 mm DC port, and/or car power socket: We don’t require each model to have all three, but we prefer power stations that have one or more fast-charging USB-C ports, 6 mm DC ports, and/or car power sockets (what my parents, former smokers, incorrectly call “ the cigarette lighter”) for charging a wider variety of devices.At least two USB-A ports: USB-A ports can charge small devices such as phones, tablets, and portable Bluetooth speakers, freeing up an AC outlet that you can then use for more power-hungry items.For this guide, we seek out portable power stations with at least two, which allow you to operate two or more AC-powered devices at the same time. None of our picks for the best USB power bank have an AC outlet, and our favorite portable laptop chargers have just one. At least two AC outlets: A pair of AC outlets is a bare-minimum requirement, since the majority of gadgets-from desk lamps to baby monitors-run on AC power.Informative display: Most portable power stations offer a battery meter to show you how much charge they have left, but we prefer displays that provide a precise percentage and other useful data.We also look for protective features such as port covers to keep out harmful dust and moisture. Rugged and portable design: Since these devices are often used outdoors, we assess their exterior materials’ resistance to scuffs and scratches.Anything heavier than that can be hard to load and unload from a car or to carry around a house in a blackout. ![]() We set a weight limit of 50 pounds, a heft that one (strong) person or two people can reasonably carry. Maximum weight of 50 pounds: Most portable power stations are too big and heavy for the average person to carry them for long distances on foot.Output rating of at least 200 W: Lower outputs are fine for charging phones and other small electronics, but you need 200 W or more to charge a few devices at a time, especially if one is a high-powered device like a laptop. ![]()
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