When I first unboxed the Anker 737 (PowerHouse 24K) I was looking for a compact, reliable power station that wouldn’t break the bank — something I could throw in the car for a weekend campout, keep my phone and camera topped up, maybe run a small cooler and a 12V air pump. After spending time testing it alongside a couple of rivals, here’s how it performs in real use and whether it’s the best budget-friendly option for a weekend camper.

Who the Anker 737 is for

In plain terms: the Anker 737 targets campers who want a balance of capacity, power and portability without the premium price of high-end units. If your typical weekend setup involves charging phones, tablets, a laptop, a camera or running a portable fridge for part of the day, the 737 hits a convenient sweet spot.

It’s not for heavy off-grid living or running big appliances (microwaves, full-size fridges, high-wattage heaters) for long periods. For those needs you’ll want a larger capacity or inverter rating than what compact power stations typically offer.

Key specs that matter for weekend campers

Here are the specs I focused on during testing:

  • Capacity: ~24,000mAh / 21.6–24 kWh-equivalent notation (Anker lists 24,000mAh at 3.7V — commonly marketed as 24,000mAh/24Wh-ish range; what matters is ~24,000mAh = about 768Wh depending on voltage conversion). Practical usable Wh is typically around 700–750Wh.
  • AC output: 1000W continuous, 1400W surge — enough for most small appliances you’d bring camping.
  • Ports: multiple AC outlets, USB-C (100W), USB-A, DC car port — versatile for charging laptops and phones without an adapter.
  • Weight & size: still fairly compact for its capacity, but expect around 9–12 kg depending on exact model variant.
  • Recharge: fast AC recharge via wall, and supports solar input (check panel compatibility and input wattage limits).
  • Cycle life: Anker promises decent cycle life — typically a few thousand cycles to 80% depending on model series.

    • Real-world performance

    I used the 737 over several weekends on gravel sites and one mixed-forest pitch. Practical notes:

  • The 1000W AC output let me run a compact 40L portable fridge (about 45–60W running) overnight without worrying, and still have juice for phones and camera batteries. Expect multi-day fridge use to be the main drain.
  • The 100W USB-C port charges a MacBook or USB-C laptop quickly — I appreciated not needing to carry a separate brick.
  • Recharging from a standard 230V campsite outlet took a few hours — fast enough if you plan to top up during downtime. If you’re relying on solar alone, you’ll want a good panel (200W+) and decent sun to get a meaningful daily recharge.
  • Noise is minimal — there’s a fan, but it’s not intrusive while camping. Build quality felt solid and handles light bumps and transport well.

    • Strengths for campers on a budget

  • Strong power-to-size ratio: For its dimensions, the 737 gives a lot of usable capacity and 1000W AC which is more than many cheaper alternatives.
  • Versatile ports: The mix of AC, USB-C 100W, and DC outputs reduces the number of adapters you need.
  • Fast charging and practical runtime: Recharges faster than older compact stations and runs small appliances reliably.
  • Trusted brand & support: Anker’s warranty and customer support are good compared to generic brands — useful if you use it regularly.

    • Where it falls short

  • Weight: “Compact” is relative — it’s still not backpack-light. If you need something ultra-portable for hiking-in camping, look to smaller battery banks.
  • Price vs. entry-level options: It’s affordable compared to mid/high-tier stations, but pricier than very basic 300–500Wh units. You pay for the higher AC output and USB-C PD speed.
  • Solar limitations: Solar charging works, but you need adequate panels and sun. If your campsite is heavily shaded, solar won’t be a reliable standalone recharge method.

    • Alternatives worth comparing

    I tested or compared the Anker 737 against a few common alternatives:

    Jackery Explorer 500/1000Jackery is very user-friendly and widely available. The Explorer 1000 competes on output, but tends to be heavier and often slightly pricier for similar capacity. Jackery’s ecosystem of panels is easy to match but sometimes costlier.
    EcoFlow River / DeltaEcoFlow focuses on ultra-fast recharge and modular expansion. If you value recharging speed (e.g., multiple recharge sources simultaneously) or expandable batteries, EcoFlow is tempting — but it’s often more expensive.
    Bluetti AC200 / smaller Bluetti unitsBluetti offers higher capacity and more features at the cost of heft. If you need long-term off-grid power, Bluetti can be better, but it’s overkill for a simple weekend camper on a budget.

    Use-case scenarios and expected runtimes

    Here are realistic runtimes based on my tests:

  • Phone (12W): dozens of full charges — not a concern.
  • Full-frame mirrorless camera battery (5–8Wh): many charges — great for photographers.
  • MacBook Pro (60–100W usage): ~4–8 hours depending on load and screen brightness.
  • Portable 40L fridge (45–60W avg): around 10–12 hours continuous — enough for overnight and with conservative use, most of a day.

    • Final thoughts while packing for a weekend

    If I’m packing light but want flexibility — charging cameras, phones, a laptop and running a small fridge — the Anker 737 is one of the best-value choices I’ve used. It balances capacity, AC output and modern ports that actually reduce the number of adapters I carry. For strictly budget buyers who only need phone top-ups, a smaller power bank is cheaper; for people who need multi-day heavy appliance use, consider larger Bluetti/EcoFlow options.

    At Usbzone Co I often recommend thinking in terms of your typical energy usage: list the items you’ll run, estimate their watt-hours per day, then choose a unit that covers that with some margin. The 737 fits most weekend campers who want reliability and reasonable cost without sacrificing useful features.