WARNING: Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station [Review & Alternatives] – Read BEFORE You Buy
Table of Contents
- The Top 3 Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station Alternatives:
- Alternative #1: The EcoFlow Delta Solar Generator
- Alternative #2: The Bluetti EB150 Solar Generator
- Alternative #3: The Titan Solar Generator
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station - Complete Review
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station Components at a Glance
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station Pros:
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station Cons:
- Final Words
Short on Time? Here’s The Article Summary
The article discusses the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station and compares it to three alternative solar generators: the EcoFlow Delta, the Bluetti EB150, and the Titan Solar Generator. While the Yeti 1000 is a trusted brand, the article highlights that there are better options available in terms of features and performance. The EcoFlow Delta, priced slightly higher than the Yeti 1000, offers superior features such as faster charging, larger battery capacity, and higher-powered inverter. The Bluetti EB150, priced similarly to the Yeti 1000, also provides better battery capacity and faster charging.
The Titan Solar Generator, though more expensive than the Yeti 1000, offers significantly more power and capacity, making it suitable for backing up an entire home's power needs. The article concludes that while the Yeti 1000 is portable and offers a high-powered inverter, its high price, limited lifespan, slow charging times, and lack of DC charging option make it less competitive compared to these alternatives.
Introduction
Top 3 Product Recommendations
If you are in the market for a solar generator or portable power station, then you may be considering the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station. Sure, Yeti is a trusted brand name that creates premium products for the outdoors, but how does its technology stack up to other brands?
The following article outlines 3 of the best alternatives to the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station before diving deeper into its specs, pros, and cons. We encourage you to compare your options among competing solar generators, and we hope that this article will help you decide whether or not the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 lithium portable power station is worth it.
The Top 3 Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station Alternatives:
The Yeti 1000 costs around $1,200 (before taxes, shipping, and bonus features) and is considered a premium product. If you plan to invest in a long-term power solution, however, there are a few great options available for a similar price with much better features.
Alternative #1: The EcoFlow Delta Solar Generator
First, the EcoFlow Delta is one of the fastest-selling solar generators available today. After their wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, the company has continued to sell Deltas thanks to their superior performance. Although the product costs about $200 more than the Yeti 1000, its features fly high and above the Goal Zero’s capabilities.
Here is a quick glance at the specs of an EcoFlow Delta vs. the Goal Zero Yeti 1000.
- Inverter: 1800W (3300W Surge) vs. 1500W (3000W) Surge
- Battery: 1300Wh vs. 1045Wh
- AC (Wall Outlet) Charging Time: 2 hours vs. 18 hours
- Solar Charging Time: 4 hours vs. 8-20 hours
- Weight: 30.9lbs (14kg) vs. 40 lbs (18.1 kg)
- Shelf Life: 12 Months vs. 3-6 Months
- Lifecycles: 800 vs. 500
Clearly, the EcoFlow Delta offers customers a bit more with a larger battery capacity and a higher-powered inverter. Despite this, EcoFlow’s rapid charging system is literally nine times faster than the Goal Zero. Plus, if you want to charge the Delta with solar panels, the unit can handle up to 400W of solar energy charging, allowing for a 4 hour recharge time - more than twice as fast as the Yeti.
Lastly, the EcoFlow Delta offers a better overall battery life. It's rated at 800 life cycles to 80% capacity with a shelf life of a full calendar year, and it lasts longer than the Goal Zero’s, both with daily use and when stored for emergencies.
Alternative #2: The Bluetti EB150 Solar Generator
The Bluetti EB150 from MaxOak is a great alternative to the Goal Zero Yeti 1000. Although the company manufactures many different models, the EB150 is perhaps the closest to the Yeti 1000 in price and capabilities. If you want to power many low-energy devices for long periods (as opposed to high wattage appliances for a short period), we strongly recommend the Bluetti EB150.
Here is how the Bluetti EB150 stacks up against the Yeti 1000.
- Inverter: 1000W vs. 1500W
- Battery: 1500Wh vs. 1045Wh
- AC (Wall Outlet) Charging Time: 9-10 hours vs. 18 hours
- Solar Charging Time: 4 hours vs. 8-20 hours
- Weight: 37.9lbs (14kg) vs. 40 lbs (18.1 kg)
- Shelf Life: 3-6 Months vs. 3-6 Months
- Life cycles: 1,000 vs. 500
Right off the bat, you see that Goal Zero’s inverter has a 500W higher capacity than the Bluetti, and all of the other key features of the device are equal to or greater than that of the Yeti. If you primarily use your solar generator to power things like lights, fans, electronics, a CPAP machine, a TV, or a mini-fridge, then you will have no problem doing so with the Bluetti.
The extra 455WH battery capacity of the Bluetti will also make it possible to run your devices longer. On a single charge, the EB150 can recharge roughly 128 smartphones or 26 laptops. Plus, the battery is rated to last for 1,000 life cycles, which means that for roughly $100 more, you can use the Bluetti over twice as long as the Goal Zero.
Finally, the Bluetti EB150 outperforms the Yeti 1000 as a true solar generator. The EB150’s MPPT charge controller and its 500W solar input capacity (although 400W is recommended) make it one of the fastest charging solar generators available today. Plus, you can recharge it twice as fast as the Yeti using an AC wall plug.
Alternative #3: The Titan Solar Generator
If you want a long-term power solution, there are few better options than the Titan Solar Generator. The Titan is powerful and expandable enough to back up nearly any home’s power. The unit may cost more than double the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station, but if you want to invest in portable power, the Titan is your best bet.
Here is how The Titan compares to The Yeti 1000
- Inverter: 3000W vs. 1500W
- Battery: 2000Wh vs. 1045Wh
- AC (Wall Outlet) Charging Time: 4 hours vs. 18 hours
- Solar Charging Time: 4-6 hours vs. 8-20 hours
- Weight: 35 lbs (15.87 kg) vs. 40 lbs (18.1 kg)
- Shelf Life: 5 Years vs. 3-6 Months
- Life cycles: 2,000 vs. 500
Clearly, with these products, we are not comparing apples to oranges. We're comparing apples to watermelons. The Titan is a beast, with an inverter that can handle 3000W of continuous AC output, double the amount of the Yeti. Plus, the battery pack has a capacity of 2000Wh, which is also roughly double the size of Goal Zero’s. Right out of the box, the Titan can power twice as many things for twice as long. Plus, you can easily add battery packs to expand the storage bank to whatever fits your budget.
Despite being just as powerful as most gas generators, the Titan is a true solar generator. The Titan has two MPPT charge controllers built-in, so it can handle an input of up to 2000W of solar! This massive input allows the Titan to fully charge a battery in as little as 4 hours. No solar? No problem. The Titan can also charge its massive battery packs via an AC wall outlet in as little as 4 hours.
Check the Titan Solar Generator here
Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station - Complete Review
Although we have been comparing the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station to its alternatives, it is only fair to showcase the product’s offerings in full. Below are the Yeti 1000’s specs, pros, and cons.
Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station Components at a Glance
- Battery: 1045Wh (10.8V, 96.8Ah) Lithium Ion rated for 500 cycles (to 80% capacity)
- Inverter: 1500W Continuous AC, 3000W Surge
- Output Options: 2 AC (wall plug) outlets, 1 DC (12V) outlet, & 4 USBs (12W max)
- Weight: 40 lbs (18.1 kg)
- Size: 10.1 x 15.3 x 9.3 in (25.7 x 38.9 x 23.6 cm)
- Shelf Life: 3-6 Months
- Charging Times: 18 hours (with AC wall plug) or 8-20 hours (with 200W of solar)
Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station Pros:
- Size & Weight - At just 40 pounds, the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 is a truly portable power station. Its small size and weight make it great for indoor and outdoor use when delivering electricity to remote locations.
- High Powered Output - Probably the most premium feature of the Yeti 1000 is the 1500W continuous (3000W surge) inverter. With 1500 watts of continuous power, you can run everything from lights to power tools, completely worry-free.
Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station Cons:
- Unreasonably High Price Tag - Currently, the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 retails for about $1,200 on the company’s website. This price is on par with some of the best alternatives, but the features included in the Yeti simply do not justify what they are asking. Plus, if you want to add DC charging or an MPPT charge controller, it costs extra.
- No DC (12V) Charging Option - Unfortunately, you will damage the Yeti 1000 if you attempt to charge it using your car’s cigarette lighter or another 12V DC power port. If you are planning to use a solar generator for road trips, camping, or full-time in a van or RV, not being able to charge the Yeti with your vehicle is a huge downside.
- Limited Lifespan - At only 500 cycles until 80% capacity, the Yeti 1000 has a very limited lifespan. With daily use, this expensive piece of equipment would begin to drastically reduce its performance in less than 2 years. Plus, if you only use it occasionally, the 3-6 month shelf life will require you to recharge it more often than many alternatives.
- Slow Charging Times - Eighteen hours plugged into the wall essentially means that it takes a full day to recharge your Yeti 1000 with AC power. If you plan to use solar panels, the results are not much better. With only 5-6 hours of peak sunlight available most days, there's a good chance you will not be able to fully recharge your Yeti 1000 with 200W of solar over the course of a day. This is largely due to the PWM charge controller.
Final Words
Overall, the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station does not seem to be worth it. At $1,200, a solar generator that will only last 500 cycles and takes ages to recharge is not the best option on the market.
For more power, we recommend the Titan. For a longer-lasting daily and product life, we recommend the Bluetti EB150. And, for a direct competitor that simply outperforms Goal Zero’s Yeti 1000, we recommend the EcoFlow Delta.
If you have any questions about your specific power station or solar kit needs, feel free to contact us for more information.
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