Goal Zero Yeti Series: Which Portable Power Station Fits Home Backup, Camping, and Emergency Power?
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The short answer: The Yeti 1000X is the best overall pick: its 997 Wh capacity and 31.7 lb weight make it the most balanced of the line for both camping and short home-backup runs, at $999.95. Step up to the Yeti 1500X if you need 1516 Wh for longer outages, or down to the Yeti 500X if you want a 12.9 lb unit for camping only.
- Best overall: Yeti 1000X — 997 Wh capacity in a 31.7 lb body at $999.95 hits the middle of the line for both camping and emergency use. See price at goalzero.com
- Best compact: Yeti 500X — At 12.9 lb and 497 Wh for $499.95, it is the lightest and least expensive Yeti here, suited to camping and small-device backup. See price at goalzero.com
- Best premium: Yeti 1500X — 1516 Wh capacity and a 120VAC 60Hz 16.5A inverter for $1124.89, only $124.94 more than the 1000X, make it the value step-up for longer home backup. See price at goalzero.com
- Best for home backup: Yeti 6000X — 6071 Wh capacity with a 120VAC 60Hz 16.5A inverter at $3999.95 is the largest capacity in the line for whole-home or long-outage backup. See price at goalzero.com
| Product | capacity wh | weight | chemistry | warranty | 12v car port | 8mm charge port | Price now | 90-day low | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yeti 1000X | 997 Wh | 31.7 lb | LI-ion NMC | 2 years | 12 V | 14 -50V | $999.95 | — | 4.5 | goalzero.com |
| Yeti 1500X | 1516 Wh | 45.6 lb | LI-ion NMC | 2 years | 12 V | 14 -50V | $1124.89 | — | 4.3 | goalzero.com |
| Yeti 3000X | 3032 Wh | 69.8 lb | LI-ion NMC | 2 years | 12 V | 14 -50V | $2999.95 | — | 4.1 | goalzero.com |
| Yeti 500X | 497 Wh | 12.9 lb | Li-ion NMC | 2 years | 12 V | 13 -22V | $499.95 | — | 4.3 | goalzero.com |
| Yeti 6000X | 6071 Wh | 106 lb | LI-ion NMC | 2 years | 12 V | 14 -50V | $3999.95 | — | 4.5 | goalzero.com |
Yeti 1000X
Pros
- 997 Wh Li-ion NMC capacity with two 120VAC 60Hz 12-5A AC outlets
- 31.7 lb and 15.25" x 10.23" x 9.86 in, portable enough for camping and emergency use
- Rated 4.5, the joint-highest rating in the Yeti lineup
- 2-year warranty and shelf life guidance to charge every 3-6 months
Cons
- $999.95, $500.00 more than the Yeti 500X and $124.94 less than the Yeti 1500X
- Operating temperature limited to 32-104 F
- Best solar charge takes 6-12 hours, and good solar charge 25-50 hours
Who it's for: Campers and home-backup users who want a mid-size 997 Wh portable power station with two AC outlets and don't need the larger Yeti capacities.
Yeti 1500X
Pros
- 1516 Wh Li-ion NMC capacity, roughly 50% more than the Yeti 1000X's 997 Wh
- Two 120VAC 60Hz 16.5A AC inverter outlets and two 6mm 12V output ports
- Rated 4.3, and at $1124.89 it costs $124.94 more than the Yeti 1000X but $1875.06 less than the Yeti 3000X
- 2-year warranty; shelf life: charge every 3-6 months
Cons
- 45.6 lb, about 14 lb heavier than the 31.7 lb Yeti 1000X
- Operating usage temperature limited to 32-104 F
- Solar recharge is slow: 6-12 hours best case, 25-50 hours on the good tier
Who it's for: Buyers who want more than 1000 Wh of portable backup with dual AC outlets and can accept a 45.6 lb unit.
Yeti 3000X
Yeti 500X
Pros
- 497 Wh Li-ion NMC capacity in a 12.9 lb body, the lightest in the Yeti line here
- Rated 4.3 and priced at $499.95, the cheapest of the five Yeti models listed
- Charges from a 60W wall charger in about 10 hours, with 6-12 hour best-case solar charging
- 2-year warranty and shelf life guidance to charge every 3-6 months
Cons
- 8mm charge port accepts only 13-22V, lower than the 14-50V input on the larger Yeti models
- No 120V AC inverter listed, unlike the 1000X, 1500X, 3000X and 6000X
Who it's for: Someone who wants a compact, low-cost Yeti for small devices and modest solar charging rather than AC home backup.
Yeti 6000X
Pros
- 6071 Wh capacity, the largest in the Yeti X line
- Two 120VAC 60Hz 16.5A AC inverter outputs plus 12V car and high-power ports
- Rated 4.5, tied for the highest rating among the listed Yeti models
- Pairs with a (3) Boulder 100 solar panel mountable bundle for installation
Cons
- Weighs 106 lb, the heaviest of the listed Yeti units
- At $3999.95 it costs $1000.00 more than the Yeti 3000X and $3000.00 more than the Yeti 1000X
Who it's for: Anyone who needs the largest stationary home-backup capacity in the Yeti X lineup and can handle a 106 lb unit.
How we chose
How we chose: We compared the five Yeti models on capacity in Wh, weight, AC inverter output, solar charge times, warranty, and current price. Capacity runs from 497 Wh in the Yeti 500X to 6071 Wh in the Yeti 6000X, and weight from 12.9 lb to 106 lb. Every model carries a 2-year warranty and lists best solar charge at 6-12 Hours Charge, better at 12-24 Hours Charge, and good at 25-50 Hours Charge.
The 120VAC 60Hz inverters differ across the line: the Yeti 1000X lists 12-5A, while the Yeti 1500X, 3000X, and 6000X list 16.5A. The Yeti 500X has no 120VAC inverter listed. Current prices are $499.95, $999.95, $1124.89, $2999.95, and $3999.95. The Yeti 1000X costs $500.00 more than the Yeti 500X, the Yeti 1500X costs $124.94 more than the Yeti 1000X, the Yeti 3000X costs $2000.00 more, and the Yeti 6000X costs $3000.00 more.
We weighed those gaps against capacity and portability rather than treating the largest unit as the default. For camping and short home-backup runs, 997 Wh at 31.7 lb is the most balanced combination in the line.
Who should skip these
Skip the Yeti line if you need a unit under 12.9 lb. The lightest station here is the Yeti 500X at 12.9 lb; the Yeti 1000X is 31.7 lb, the Yeti 1500X is 45.6 lb, the Yeti 3000X is 69.8 lb, and the Yeti 6000X is 106 lb. If carrying weight is the deciding factor, none of these will suit you.
Skip it too if a 2-year warranty and Li-ion NMC chemistry do not match your needs. Every station in the line carries a 2-year warranty and Li-ion NMC chemistry, so there is no lighter or differently specified alternative within the family.
On price, the stations run from $499.95 for the Yeti 500X to $3999.95 for the Yeti 6000X, with the Yeti 1000X at $999.95, the Yeti 1500X at $1124.89, and the Yeti 3000X at $2999.95. The gaps are wide: the Yeti 1000X costs $500.00 more than the Yeti 500X, and the Yeti 6000X costs $3000.00 more than the Yeti 1000X.
How to choose the right one
Start with capacity. The Yeti 500X gives you 497 Wh, which suits camping. The Yeti 1000X at 997 Wh and the Yeti 1500X at 1516 Wh cover mixed use, camping plus shorter home-backup runs. For home backup, the Yeti 3000X at 3032 Wh and the Yeti 6000X at 6071 Wh are the two large units in the line.
Then weigh portability against that capacity. The Yeti 500X is 12.9 lb, the Yeti 1000X is 31.7 lb, the Yeti 1500X is 45.6 lb, the Yeti 3000X is 69.8 lb, and the Yeti 6000X is 106 lb. If you will carry it often, the lighter end is easier to live with; if it stays put, the heavier units buy you capacity.
Finally, check price. The Yeti 500X is $499.95 and the Yeti 1000X is $999.95, a $500.00 gap. The Yeti 1500X is $1124.89, which is $124.94 more than the Yeti 1000X. The Yeti 3000X is $2999.95, $2000.00 more than the Yeti 1000X, and the Yeti 6000X is $3999.95, $1000.00 more than the Yeti 3000X.
Questions readers ask
Which Yeti should I get for camping?
The Yeti 500X weighs 12.9 lb and the Yeti 1000X weighs 31.7 lb, while the larger models run from 45.6 lb up to 106 lb, so the smaller units are the easier ones to carry.
How much capacity do I need for home backup?
Capacity runs from 497 Wh on the Yeti 500X to 6071 Wh on the Yeti 6000X, with the Yeti 1000X at 997 Wh, the Yeti 1500X at 1516 Wh and the Yeti 3000X at 3032 Wh.
What do the Yeti models cost?
Current prices are $499.95 for the Yeti 500X, $999.95 for the Yeti 1000X, $1124.89 for the Yeti 1500X, $2999.95 for the Yeti 3000X and $3999.95 for the Yeti 6000X.
How long does a Yeti take to charge from solar?
Across the family, best-case solar charging is listed at 6-12 hours, better-case at 12-24 hours and good-case at 25-50 hours.
What is the warranty and how should I store a Yeti?
Every model in this family carries a 2-year warranty, and the shelf-life guidance is to charge every 3-6 months.
Update history
- — Prices and availability refreshed
- — First published
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