Portable Power Station (EcoFlow River 2 Pro Review)
Two years ago, I didn’t know I’d soon purchase the beautiful EcoFlow River 2 Pro portable power station or that I’d be grateful for it every day since. But it happened. And I’m truly grateful.
At that time, we’d decided to travel regionally—slowly and full-time—on the West Coast of North America. We started traveling in my partner’s tiny camper and later his sailboat.
Just as we headed down the winding West Coast roads of North America, my partner mentioned that it might be wise to shop for a portable power station.
Internally, I thought it would be unnecessary to own such a thing, as it couldn’t fit in my luggage.
At that time, I was charging our phones via my partner’s tiny camper DC outlet (the old cigarette lighter) and charging the computer at coffee shops and libraries wherever we roamed.
I was good with that, even though the reality was revealing challenges I hadn’t predicted.
First, we are slow travelers, so we visit one place for a long time. If we’re doing that, we’re not driving the tiny camper enough to charge anything.
Second, coffee shops and libraries were often full of others working there while charging their electronics. Public power outlets, it seemed, were becoming limited.
Still, I thought I’d continue to navigate that reality, even though the computer I was using was older, and its charge only lasted about two hours at that point in its long life.
In retrospect, I can now see it made no sense for me to work only two hours, then have to find a coffee shop or library, then wait another hour for the computer to charge back up again.
So, as we began our trip, my partner mentioned his plan to stop by the legacy flagship REI store in downtown Seattle to check out their Labor Day sale.
I responded, slightly panicked, with something like, “Oh my, as long as I don’t have to go in. I really don’t want to navigate all that.”
I might have also said, “I hope an earthquake doesn’t hit while I’m waiting in the thick layers of their parking garage, as I fear being crushed in exactly that scenario.”
He was so happy to go inside REI.
Shortly after, he came rushing back, and I immediately felt guilty, thinking he expedited his REI experience because I’d shared my fears about earthquakes and parking garages (reminding myself, once again, why I must practice being mindful).
That’s when he said, “You need to go inside REI and look at the portable power stations on sale. Right now.”
No ifs, ands, or buts about it. He refused to let me refuse, even though I pleaded a bit.
I reminded him that I truly didn’t want to navigate Labor Day sale crowds.
I reminded him that a portable power station would never fit in my luggage, so there was no need for me to ever own one.
I reminded him that I don’t enjoy shopping for electrical items unless they look pretty to me, and I had never seen a pretty portable power station.
He reminded me that a portable power station could easily be stored inside his tiny camper or sailboat, the two places where I most needed power and where I clearly didn’t have enough of it.
He reminded me that I’d regret not looking at all the sale options, which would allow me to begin the necessary research and price comparisons.
He reminded me that it would be a matter of minutes before the portable power stations inside REI would be sold/out of stock, and I’d then be stuck paying full price once I finally accepted the fact that I needed to find a way to supply myself with power.
I needed to accept my fate, he was telling me. A fate where little power would be available to me, everywhere we were headed … for, possibly, several years.
His words pried me out of the tiny camper, at which point I took unenthusiastic steps through the massive parking garage, toward REI.
Internally, I truly thought there was no way I would actually buy a portable power station—especially in a rushed moment—even if perfectly priced, and I needed every bit of its power.
I just don’t operate that way. Transitions are hard for me. And I like to take more time when making a decision that involves money.
Walking into REI, I also had no clue who made portable power stations or what all, exactly, those portable power stations could truly do. I just knew I’d not seen any pretty ones.
When I saw the table, in the middle of REI, holding the few remaining portable power stations still available at Labor Day prices, I couldn’t make heads or tails of what I was looking at.
So I asked a kind REI employee to help me understand those foreign things. Then I saw a pretty one that caught my eye. Then the employee compared that pretty one with all the others.
Based on the REI employee’s knowledge, plus the research I conducted on my phone during that hour of contemplation, the pretty portable power station appeared perfect for my needs.
It was an EcoFlow River 2 Pro portable power station.
It wasn’t too small for me. It wasn’t too big for me.
It provided plenty of power for my needs, and then some.
Its size would easily fit anywhere in the tiny camper or sailboat.
It had a handle and weight that allowed me to lift it safely.
It had a shape and color I would enjoy looking at (compared to others available).
That’s when REI realized they’d just sold that very last EcoFlow unit in Seattle—but they had one in Bellevue, which they’d hold for me. My partner eagerly drove us to Bellevue to pick it up.
Since I purchased the EcoFlow River 2 Pro on sale, I saved nearly 40% (the pick up slip below doesn’t reflect my final price). Saving that much money still makes me smile.
I then discovered that EcoFlow has sales on its own website throughout the year—I’ve been watching as some of their sales have been up to 65% off. That. Is. Huge.
Recently, I also appreciated reading even more about EcoFlow in this article…
“EcoFlow, a global leader in renewable energy solutions, participated in COP30 with a clear conviction … clean energy must be democratized … accessible, reliable, and affordable for everyone … part of … daily lives, especially in regions facing climate vulnerability or grid instability … to secure backup energy … to actively manage consumption, reduce costs, and participate in cleaner lifestyles … contribute to broader grid resilience and help accelerate global decarbonization … where millions of connected homes form a dynamic clean energy network … households can support the grid during peak periods, reduce strain during extreme weather … share energy with their communities.”
Now that I’ve used my EcoFlow River 2 Pro portable power station for more than two years, I can easily say…
About once a week, I charge it while we’re at a campground or a marina.
It takes less than 1.5 hours to charge it to its full capacity (from an outlet).
It can be charged using multiple other methods, too.
Its power supply lasts nearly a week (based on how I use it).
I use it to charge phones, an old laptop, and cameras.
It can power many other things, too.
I like to turn off my electronics before I plug them into my EcoFlow (to make my EcoFlow last longer before I need to charge it again).
It is a peaceful—quiet—power source.
The only peep it makes is rare (the fan briefly turns on, which has never sounded loud to me).
No wonder this pretty portable power station was so popular the day I was sent out to find it. I’ve loved and needed it so much while traveling in my partner’s tiny camper and sailboat.
