'I can’t wait for the next camping trip': Save over 50% on this power station — only $251

No judgment, please. I love nature as much as the next guy, but I need my gizmo comforts! Which means I need to keep them powered. And let's not forget that sometimes the power at home goes out, too. So, whether you're roaming the great outdoors or hunkered down at home sweet home, it makes sense to keep a standalone power source close at hand. I'm a big fan of the Rockpals Rockpower 500W, which normally sells for $600 but drops to just $251 when you clip the on-page $200-off coupon and apply the promo code VZNK4ZWP. Read my Rockpower review to find out why (you know, other than the $350 markdown)....

ROCKPALS

Rockpals Rockpower 500 Portable Power Station

$251$600

Save $349 with coupon and code

This versatile lunchbox packs enough juice to keep you powered up and plugged in through camping trips, grid outages and more. Optional solar panels keep the batteries going indefinitely. Use promo code VZNK4ZWP for another 7% off.

Save $349 with coupon and code

$251 at Amazon

(One quick note: There's a mistake on the product page, which indicates this is a "gasoline-powered" device. It absolutely is not. It's a big battery, as detailed below.)

I never thought I'd use this word to describe a power station, but the Rockpower is downright gorgeous. Gray and black with red accents, it looks like a sexy oversize lunchbox — due in no small part to the outsize handle that's built into the casing.

It's heavy, to be sure, weighing a little over 12 pounds but, at just 12 x 9 x 6.1 inches, it's a lot more compact than it looks in photos.

The Rockpals can run totally silent, though a fan may kick on if there's a heavy load. The fan also runs while the unit is charging via the included AC adapter (which is a small brick similar in size to what some laptops use). The fan isn't loud, but it could be distracting if you're trying to sleep. (On the other hand, you might find it's the perfect amount of white noise!)

And, yeah, I get it: At $251, it's still a pricey accessory but also a pretty amazing one to have on hand. All you need is some sun and you can keep the Rockpower topped off. It can even recharge while charging other devices. The solar panels fold flat when not in use, so they're easy to store and carry.

One customer raved, "We bought this for camping, but it also ended up keeping us in heat and lights during a multi-day power outage this winter (after keeeping its charge (98–99%) after being stored five months in the garage)."

"Awesome battery pack! Great for your camping/backup needs. We had our power go out yesterday for a couple of hours. This ran my modem and router the whole time, keeping us connected so the kids didn’t lose their minds!" said one beleaguered parent. "Even after running the modem and router for nearly two hours it was only down to 60%. I can’t wait for the next camping trip to have it available; coupled with my camping solar panels, we won’t be without power the whole trip!"

"Bought it recently and just took it on a three-day car camping trip. Ran my Rockpals refrigerator 24/7 the whole time. After three full days I was still at 25% battery. Not bad," said one outdoorsman. "It did turn itself off once and I restarted. Maybe because fridge wasn't pulling power as it was already cold? Don't know. It was cool outside so didn't need too much extra power but still I wonder. Turned back on normally and kept going for another day."

ROCKPALS

Rockpals Rockpower 500 Portable Power Station

$251$600

Save $349 with coupon and code

Never be left in the dark again, whether you're camping in the wilderness or fighting through a power outage.

Save $349 with coupon and code

$251 at Amazon

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

Looking for more great Amazon tech deals? Check these out:

Headphones and earbuds

TVs

Tablets and tech