One of Utah’s biggest claims to fame is its five stunning national parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef. Spring is a great time to visit these parks without worrying about the extreme summer heat. If you plan ahead, you may even be able to camp inside the park. If you can’t find camping inside the park, check out BLM areas nearby.
The tail end of March is a great time to check out Arches National Park. Get in before the crowds show up and temperatures rise. In addition to the world-famous Delicate Arch, visitors love checking out Balanced Rock, hiking the Devil’s Garden area, and walking around the Windows area. If you visit the park between April and October, you’ll need a timed-entry reservation. This is required in addition to your entrance fee. Many reservations are made months in advance but there are sometimes a limited number of timed-entry tickets available one day before entry.
If you’re near Arches National Park, consider checking out Canyonlands while you’re in the area. There are two sections within about an hour's drive of Moab, UT: the Needles District and the Island in the Sky district. While still popular, Canyonlands doesn’t require timed-entry reservations and is usually less busy than some of Utah’s more famous national parks—watch the sun rise at Mesa Arch, drive around and visit the viewpoints, try out some hikes, or camp for a few days. Canyonlands is also a popular destination for mountain bikers and off-road vehicle enthusiasts.
Zion National Park is beautiful in the spring. It has more greenery and noticeable animal life than the parks near Moab thanks to the Virgin River which flows through the park. Zion is best-known for the Angel’s Landing hike with its amazing views and spooky drop offs. But if you want to test your bravery, you’ll need to try your luck on the hike permit lottery.
If you visit Bryce in the early spring, you may be lucky enough to see the gorgeous red rock formations capped in bright white snow. That said, if you’ll be there while there’s snow on the ground, we'd suggest packing some spikes with your hiking gear to help you explore the park and its many steep inclines.
Capitol Reef isn’t as well known as the other Utah parks and it doesn’t have as many dramatic views or features, but it’s a lovely place to visit, hike, camp, and wander. There are also lots of orchards throughout the park and spring is a great time to catch the orchards in bloom.
Utah’s national parks are world-renowned for a reason, but there are lots of other fantastic Spring Break destinations nearby if you want to try slightly less popular areas. A few favorite areas outside the national parks include:
Once you’ve picked a destination, it’s time to pack! We’ve listed a few of our favorite Goal Zero camping products below.
We hope you have a safe and fun Spring Break, wherever you’re headed!
]]>One of the best things about camping is leaving the daily grind behind, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your daily coffee. Today we’re sharing tips for making coffee while you’re camping.
There are probably at least a dozen different ways to make coffee during camping trips, but we suggest one of three options:
No matter which option you choose, you’ll need hot water. We love the sleek and beautiful Stagg EKG Electric Pour-Over Kettle from Fellow. It’s designed specifically for pour over coffee, but you can also use it to heat water for instant coffee or French press coffee. Plug it into a Goal Zero Yeti Power station for hot water fast.
Quick note: Boiling temperature is lower at higher altitudes, so keep an eye out if you’re camping at higher elevations—your water may boil faster than expected.
Let’s be honest—instant coffee is nothing to write home about, but if your priority is simply getting some mediocre coffee into your body with as little hassle as possible, it’ll do the trick.
Choose your favorite brand of instant coffee and throw it in with your camping supplies. When you're ready put the instant coffee into your mug, pour your hot water in, and stir.
The pour over method is our favorite coffee camping option because you get quality coffee with a simple set up that doesn’t require a lot of supplies or clean up.
Interested in keeping all your pour over supplies in one compact container? Check out the Vssl Nest Pour Over Kit and Coffee Grinder. The kit stacks up together with everything you need and if you get the grinder it will nest in with everything else.
French press coffee can be a little messier than the pour over method, but it’s still a great simple solution for easy coffee while camping.
If you’re making coffee for a group, we’d suggest a classic French press. If you’re making it just for yourself, there are great travel mug options.
Electric kettles and other appliances with heating elements need a lot of power. We use the Yeti 1500X power station (or larger) for camping coffee on our trips because it’s portable enough to carry, but powerful enough to run appliances with heating elements—this is handy when making coffee, but also helpful when cooking other meals.
]]>This portable power station is lightweight and easy to carry, so it’s perfect for packing on short trips. It’s got enough power to keep phones, cameras, and laptops charged with some power left over for lights at your campsite in the evening.
Heading on a longer camping trip or going with a large group? Add a portable fridge to your setup and pack it with fresh food and drinks for everyone. The Yeti 700 can charge devices as needed while also running your fridge for 2-3 days.
This compact power station can run portable fridges, pellet grills, and lights on top of charging your devices—but it’s still small enough to be easy to pack and carry. Plus, its rugged design means it can handle dirt and dust.
Escape Towable or Drivable Kit
Power appliances and charge devices while you take life on the road in a van or RV. We offer a drivable and towable kit so you have options for either set up. These kits are designed to work with the Yeti PRO 4000 which is powerful enough to run heavy-duty appliances, and even your RV air conditioner.
8 kWh Haven Home Backup System
You can’t do much to prevent power outages, but you can be ready. This convenient home backup system covers as many as 10 circuits in your home so when the grid goes down, the essentials will stay powered.
Yeti PRO 4000 + (2) Nomad 400 Solar Generator
Get long-lasting, renewable, clean energy by choosing a solar generator. With two Nomad 400 panels, you can recharge the Yeti PRO 4000 in 6-8 hours. To store even more power for life off grid, consider adding a Tank PRO 4000 to your setup.
This power bank has ports for USB and standard AC plugs so you can charge laptops, phones, tablets and more. It even has fast wireless charging so you don’t have to remember to bring a cord for your phone. It’s great for travel, but also comes in handy for remote work. Throw it in your bag so you never have to worry about your laptop dying mid-project if all the outlets at the coffee shop are taken.
This rubberized power bank has an IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating so it can handle more extreme adventures. It also includes an emergency flashlight! Take it mountain biking, backpacking, camping, river rafting, and more.
Happy Valentine’s Day! For more power couples, check out our Solar Generators and our Yeti-Ready Bundles.
]]>The game is the main event at any good Super Bowl 58 party, but it doesn’t hurt to have activities ready to keep folks entertained before kickoff and during halftime. This is also handy if some of your guests aren’t super invested in watching the game.
You should be able to enjoy the game too. Use these tips to take the stress out of your Super Bowl party hosting duties.
No matter who wins this weekend, we’re sure you’ll impress everyone with your killer party hosting. Have a great time and hit up Goal Zero for lights, fridges, power and more for your next event or adventure!
]]>We’re excited to introduce you to our newest 6th generation power stations: the Yeti 300, Yeti 500, and Yeti 700!
Our new power stations have upgraded LiFePO4 battery tech, more rugged and durable design, mud flaps for extra protection, higher AC output, and higher solar input for faster charging. Plus they’re app-enabled.
Yeti 300 | Yeti 500 | Yeti 700 |
$299.95 |
$499.95 |
$599.95 |
297 Watt hours 350 W AC output, 600 W surge 10 Ports Less than 14 pounds |
499 Watt hours 500 W AC output, 1,000 W Surge 10 Ports Less than 16 pounds |
677 Watt hours 600 W AC output, 600 W surge 10 Ports About 20 pounds |
These 6th generation compact and rugged power stations are designed for all your outdoor adventures. They’re versatile enough to help during a power outage and tough enough to handle mud, dirt, dust, water, and more. The new Yeti 300, 500, and 700 also have upgraded LiFePO4 battery technology for a long lifespan, meaning you can use them every day for years to come. Take a portable power station along on your next camping trip, use it at the beach, power your tailgate parties, or stay powered during summer festivals!
These new LFP battery power stations have even more power than our previous X line products. Charge power tools, run a portable fridge, host a backyard movie night, recharge devices on the road, grill for a tailgate party, or light up a campsite.
Yeti 300 | Yeti 500 | Yeti 700 | |
Laptop | 5 recharges | 8 recharges | 11 recharges |
Smartphone | 21 recharges | 35 recharges | 48 recharges |
Tablet | 8 recharges | 14 recharges | 19 recharges |
Skylight (on Low) | 63 hours | 106 hours | 140 hours |
Light-a-Life 350 | 56 hours | 94 hours | 128 hours |
CPAP | 4 hours | 7 hours | 8.5 hours |
DSLR Camera | 14 recharges | 23 recharges | 32 recharges |
Mini Projector | 8.4 hours | 14 hours | 19 hours |
Alta 50 | 1+ day | 2+ days | 3+ days |
Alta 80 | 1+ day | 1.5+ days | 2+ days |
TV | 3.2 hours | 5.3 hours | 7.2 hours |
SUP Air Pump | 12 inflations | 21 inflations | 28 inflations |
Pellet Grill | 4 hours | 7 hours | 9.6 hours |
Upgraded LiFePO4 battery technology gives these little power stations a long lifespan. The battery has 4,000+ cycles which means you can use it daily for over 10 years.*
*To 80% of original capacity at 75° F with .5C charge and discharge.
Forgot to charge your Yeti before your camping trip? Don’t worry! It can recharge from 0% to 100% while you pack.
Yeti 300 | Yeti 500 | Yeti 700 | |
AC Wall Outlet | 50 minutes | Under 90 minutes | Under 2 hours |
Solar (200 W in) | 1.7 hours | 3 hours | 4 hours |
Car (10 A in) | 2.8 hours | 4.7 hours | 6.4 hours |
These rugged power stations were designed for all your adventures and built with portability and durability in mind. They pass testing for UL2743 requirements, can handle extreme temperatures, and have an IPX4 outdoor rating. Plus, they’re mud resistant, water resistant, and dust resistant.
Take your adventures completely off the grid by pairing your Yeti power station with solar panels and creating a solar generator for quiet, renewable energy anywhere you go. We offer a wide selection of panels, including ground deployable solar, mountable panels for vehicle rooftops and off-grid homes, and lightweight foldable panels for camping trips.
The new Yeti 300, Yeti 500, and Yeti 700 are perfect for campouts, adventures, jobsites, power outages, and more. We built them to be tough, easy to use, easy to carry, and powerful enough to get the job done. We can’t wait to see where you take yours!
]]>Winter weather brings beautiful scenery and fun mountain sports, but it can also mean emergencies and inconvenient outages. You might not have the power to control the weather, but you do have the power to prepare ahead of time.
A few preparations can help you stay comfortable at home during power outages, prevent damage to your home, help you stay safe on the road, and more.
]]>A few preparations can help you stay comfortable at home during power outages, prevent damage to your home, help you stay safe on the road, and more.
We’re sharing a few winter preparation tips that you can use throughout the season to keep things as stress-free as possible.
A little bit of preparation gives you peace of mind so you can enjoy the best parts of the season. We hope you stay safe and cozy this winter!
]]>The LFP batteries in our new products have a 4,000+ cycle lifespan.* (This adds up to about 10 years of daily use). At the end of those 4,000 cycles, the battery will still have about 80% of its original capacity. For example, after 4,000 cycles, the Yeti PRO 4000 will have about 3,200Wh of capacity after 4,000 cycles.
* To 80% of original capacity at 75° F with .5C charge and discharge.
A cycle starts with your power station at 100%. From there, once you use it until it hits 0%, and then charging it back up to 100% counts as one cycle.
All our 6th generation power stations have LFP battery technology, including the Yeti PRO 4000, Tank PRO 4000, Yeti 700, Yeti 500, and Yeti 300.
Get the best performance and lifespan out of your LFP battery by following the tips below:
Do not use third-party chargers
The charging cables that come with your power station are optimized to provide the correct voltage and current levels required for safe and efficient charging. Never charge your power station with a third-party device. This could damage your power station or result in a safety issue.
Store partially charged at room temperature
If you don't plan on using your power station for a while, charge it to about 50%, power it off, and store it at room temperature. This gives you standby power when you need it. Your power station can handle temporary exposure to extreme temperatures without permanent damage, but avoid long-term exposure to extreme heat or cold to help your battery last as long as possible.
Keep power levels below the maximum when possible
Using your power station at the maximum power level won’t damage it. Maximum power levels allow you to recharge the power station faster. However, running at maximum power can reduce your battery’s lifespan. If you have time to recharge your power station at a lower rate, it will prolong battery life (and it will be quieter). To learn how to adjust your charge rate, check your user guide.
Avoid draining your battery completely every time
Staying between 20% and 80% State of Charge will help your battery last longer than draining it or charging it completely on each use. However, if the battery is not allowed to periodically reach 0% and 100% the State of Charge data can become less accurate over time. To prevent loss of accuracy, we suggest draining the battery completely and recharging the battery completely once every 10-20 cycles.
Avoid use in extreme temperatures
These power stations are built for indoor and outdoor use and can handle extreme conditions without safety risks. However, you can extend battery life by using your power station in moderate temperatures (60 to 100° F) as much as possible.
Taking these steps to protect your battery helps ensure that you can use your Yeti power station for years to come, whether you’re using it for emergency backup, RV power, camping, or other outdoor adventures.
]]>Speaking of exciting things, we’ve got a new product launch coming at the end of January and we're prepping a sneak preview for you during CES!
Stay tuned to our Facebook and YouTube on Jan 9th at 10 a.m. MST when we’ll be sharing a live announcement from CES about our next product launch!
Are you stopping by CES 2024? We'd love to see you. Come stop by our booth on Level 2 to the right of the Hall B entrance.
Want to be first in line to order new gear? Sign up for first access and enter the giveaway for free new products.
We’ve got a new product launch coming at the end of January and we're prepping a sneak preview for you during CES! Stay tuned to our YouTube and Instagram accounts on Jan 9th at 10 a.m. MST when we’ll be sharing a live announcement from CES about our next product launch!
Our team loved meeting you at CES 2024 and learning more about the innovative things happening in our industry! We also shared a pretty big announcement about new Goal Zero products launching at the end of the month. If you weren’t able to catch the live announcement, here’s what you missed:
We’re thrilled to share the upcoming launch of our newest power stations, the Yeti 300, 500, and 700!
These compact power stations are rugged, reliable, and versatile—perfect for outdoor adventures, weekend escapes, emergency power backup, work sites, and more!
Our new Yeti 300, 500, and 700 power stations have upgraded LiFePO4 battery technology, longer lifespan and warranty, more power output, stronger build quality, and faster charging! They’re also water resistant, dustproof, and mudproof.
We also announced the release of two new portable fridges, the Alta 50 and Alta 80!
No ice? No problem. With an Alta plugged in to your Yeti power station, you can keep things chilled (or frozen) for days on end, even if you’re nowhere near an outlet. These portable fridge/freezers are designed to work as efficiently as possible, so you can run them for days with very low power draw.
Our new Alta portable fridges can efficiently cool down to -4°F so you can use yours as a fridge or a freezer. The Alta 50 can hold up to 75 cans and the Alta 80 can hold up to 130. The Alta 80 also comes with two zones so you can set them to separate temperatures. Both fridges come with an insulated cover and are app-enabled for easy control from anywhere!
]]>We hope your holiday season is off to a great start! Now that you’ve hung those stockings by the chimney with care, let’s make sure they get filled with goodies your loved ones will enjoy.
To help you out, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite stocking stuffer ideas for the folks on our lists.
]]>To help you out, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite stocking stuffer ideas for the folks on our lists.
Looking for more gift ideas? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide!
]]>Our competitors have released some impressive products with great features, but at the end of the day, Goal Zero’s industry experience, innovation, and dedication to superior quality put us on top. Below, we’ll dive into a few of the areas where our new Yeti PRO 4000 Power Station really stands out.
Our new Yeti PRO 4000 has a LiFePO4 battery with a 4,000+ cycle lifespan, which means you could use it every day for 10 years before the battery hit 80% of its original capacity. This outpaces all the competitor products on the market.
All inverters lose power when converting energy, but our engineers have worked hard to make sure the Yeti PRO 4000 has the best inverter efficiency in the industry to reduce power loss and maximize your battery’s potential so you get all the power you pay for.
Our Yeti PRO 4000 can handle up to 3,000 watts of solar input—almost twice as much as the next runner up. So, what does this mean to you? Faster charging. The more solar input your power station can handle, the faster you can charge it for renewable energy off grid.
And recharging with the sun isn’t your only off-grid option, you can also recharge the Yeti PRO 4000 using your vehicle’s alternator. The Yeti PRO can be charged from 0% to 100% in less than 12 hours with 400 W of power from a vehicle’s alternator.
The Yeti PRO 4000 has sophisticated technology that allows for automatic power switching. This means that if you have devices plugged into your Yeti PRO while it is charging from the wall and grid power goes out, your Yeti will switch over to powering the devices in less than 10 milliseconds.
This is especially handy when you’re using the Yeti PRO 4000 with our Haven ecosystem. Pair the Yeti PRO with our Haven 10 Transfer Switch to back up as many as 10 essential circuits in your home. Then if the power goes out, all the circuits you have connected will immediately switch to Yeti PRO power.
*To 80% of original capacity at 75 degrees F with .5C charge and discharge
As you can see, although the competition is fierce, the Yeti PRO 4000 beats out its competitors with more power, more ports, faster solar charging, impressive automatic power switching, longer battery life, better inverter efficiency, and more integration options.
Visit this page to learn more about the Yeti PRO 4000.
Twinkling lights and festive decorations are one of the best parts of the holidays but depending on what you choose, the cost can add up fast—especially if you use classic incandescent lights, go all out for your light display, add animated inflatables, or run lights for more than a few hours each day.
You already know that power stations are useful for camping trips, power outages, RV adventures, van life, and more. But they also come in handy for holiday decorating!
We wish you all a happy, safe, and stress-free holiday season!
]]>
Since the sun is lower in the sky, setting your panels at a steeper angle can help you collect more energy. Adjust the angle of your panels as the seasons change to get the most energy from them.
Keep your panels clear of fallen leaves and snow to make sure the sunlight isn’t blocked. Heavy snow could also strain the mounting hardware on your panels.
Note: Never remove snow with a metal rake since this can scratch the cells on the panel. We recommend using a brush like the ones used to clear snow off of your car’s windshield.
Need more power? You can chain solar panels together! This lets you collect energy faster when the days are short, and less sunlight is available.
Taking the steps mentioned above can help your panels work better, but you should also consider your power station. Make sure it is insulated or indoors so that the power you collect can last as long as possible.
These tips can go a long way, but winter is also a good time to be aware of your energy use. Here are a few ideas to help you save energy during the winter.
We hope you stay warm and cozy throughout the winter season. If you need power at home or away, check out our solar panels, power stations, and solar generators to keep you going all season long.
]]>There are two common types of batteries used in power stations across the industry, Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries (also known as LFP or LiFePO4) and Lithium-ion Nickel Manganese Cobalt batteries (usually referred to as NMC).
Let’s dive into the differences between these two battery types to learn more about their advantages and applications.
]]>Let’s dive into the differences between these two battery types to learn more about their advantages and applications.
Both LiFePO4 and NMC batteries are reliable and safe when used in Goal Zero products. Our power stations go through rigorous testing and have sophisticated battery management systems to make sure your products work as well and efficiently as possible. That said, each type of battery comes with its own advantages. Historically, most Goal Zero products have used NMC batteries. Our newest generation power station, the Yeti PRO 4000, is built with LiFePO4 battery technology.
Benefits of LFP Battery Technology |
Benefits of Li-Ion NMC Battery Technology |
-Dramatically longer cycle count |
-Higher energy density allows for smaller, lighter, more compact products -Faster charging at low temperatures |
Both battery types are safe and Goal Zero’s designs prioritize safety to ensure your products can be used worry-free. However, LFP batteries have a higher thermal runway temperature threshold, which makes them safer and reduces the risk of overheating, fire, and explosion.
LFP batteries last much longer than NMC batteries, particularly with frequent use. Our new generation of products has a 10+ year battery lifespan. This means that the cycle count is over 4,000. You could use the Yeti PRO 4000 every day and drain the battery then recharge. At the end of those 4,000 cycles your battery would have about 80% of its original capacity. That said, NMC batteries can still last for years if they are maintained well and not drained as frequently.
LFP batteries will work in a wider range of temperatures than NMC batteries.
NMC batteries have higher energy density. This makes them good for more compact, portable products. You can get more watt-hours in a smaller, lighter weight power station if you use an NMC battery.
“Certain battery types are better suited to certain applications. While some battery types excel at putting the most energy into the lightest package, we’ve made a deliberate decision to maximize power delivered over the lifetime of the product for the most demanding applications, like our new Yeti PRO 4000 power station. This newest generation power station uses LiFePO4 battery technology to maximize power and provide longer cycle life. Our previous generation Yeti X line products use Tier 1 NMC cells which provide more energy density, making those power stations lighter.”
--Sterling Robinson, Engineering Manager
“After many years of designing products with Tier 1 NMC cells, Goal Zero has chosen to adopt Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry for our newest generation of products after diligent consideration. It was critical to us that we considered the maturity of the manufacturing process and are confident that we have not sacrificed quality and reliability for speed to market. We are proud to prioritize customer safety and reliability over pursuing new technologies for the sake of it and we are confident that with our Yeti PRO 4000 we will maintain the extremely high standards set with the previous generations.”
--Ben Pattison, Director of Product Development
As you can see, while LFP battery technology has the advantage in many situations, NMC batteries are still very useful for portable, lightweight power needs. At Goal Zero, we always prioritize safety and quality so no matter which type of battery tech is being used, you can count on your products to work well and safely for years to come.
]]>We upgraded the technology in our new generation of power stations to use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) instead of Nickel Manganese Cobalt. LFP batteries are quickly becoming industry standard for their reliability and longevity.
We also added Automatic Power Switching technology to quickly switch you from grid to battery power in less than 10 milliseconds.
We really want you to be able to power ANYTHING, anywhere, so we dramatically increased the power output for this generation. Our new Yeti PRO 4000 power station can do 3,600 W Power out with 7,200 W surge. It can also handle 1,800 W AC power in and 3,000 W of solar input. We also gave this power station more ports so you can run more devices simultaneously, whether you’re powering your tablet or your RV’s air conditioner.
The battery in the new Yeti PRO 4000 has a much longer lifespan than our previous generation products (5-8 times longer, in fact). It can last over 4000 cycles to 80% capacity, which equates to 10+ years of daily use.
We also released the new Tank PRO 4000 expansion batteries to support the Yeti PRO 4000 power station. Our engineering team prioritized making this integration seamless. All you have to do is stack the Yeti PRO on top of the Tank PRO and plug the cord from the Tank PRO into the Yeti PRO. The two units will sync and then function as one battery. No extra accessories or set up required!
|
Yeti PRO 4000 |
Yeti 3000X |
Battery Technology |
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) |
Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) |
Battery Lifespan |
4,000+ cycles to 80% capacity 5-8 times longer |
500+ cycles to 80% capacity |
Capacity |
4000 Wh Added 33% more capacity |
3000 Wh |
Expandable Capacity |
Yes: Tank PRO 4000 LFP Expansion Batteries |
Yes: Yeti Tank Lead Acid Expansion batteries and Yeti Link Expansion Module |
AC Power Out |
3600 W, 7200 W Surge 80% more power |
2000 W, 3600 W Surge |
AC Power In |
1800 W |
600 W |
0-80% Charging Speed |
Less than 2 hours 2 times faster |
About 4 hours |
Solar in |
3000 W 5 times more power in |
600 W |
Automatic Power Switching |
Yes |
No |
Weight |
115.7 lbs. (52.5 kg) |
69.8 lbs. (31.7 kg |
Ports |
20 |
15 |
Warranty |
5 years |
2 years |
Temperature Range |
Charge: 32-104 °F (0-40 °C) Discharge: -4-104 °F (-20-40 °C) |
Charge: 32-104 °F (0-40 °C) Discharge: 32-104 °F (0-40 °C) |
|
Yeti PRO 4000 |
Yeti 3000X |
Full sized Refrigerator |
51 hours |
39 hours |
TV |
42 hours |
32 hours |
Wi-Fi Router |
136 hours |
104 hours |
Pellet Grill |
56 hours |
43 hours |
Smart Phone |
283 recharges |
216 recharges |
Laptop |
66 recharges |
51 recharges |
|
Yeti PRO 4000 |
Yeti 3000X |
2 Boulder 200 Panels |
11.7 hours |
9.9 hours |
4 Boulder 200 Panels |
5.9 hours |
5.6 hours |
6 Boulder 200 Panels |
3.9 hours |
5.6 hours |
We still love the Yeti 3000X. This proven workhorse is reliable and powerful—and if you’re looking for serious power at a discounted price it may be the pick for you!
That said, if you’ve got room in your budget, we absolutely recommend investing in the new Yeti PRO 4000 power station. It has upgraded LiFePO4 battery technology and will last longer, power more, and charge faster. It’s the best solution for home backup power and renewable, clean energy off-grid and on the road.
]]>The new Yeti PRO 4000 power station is capable of handling dramatically more solar input than previous generation power stations. To take advantage of this ability, you’ll need to know more about safely and effectively combining multiple solar panels.
There are two options for combining your solar panels: chaining in series or chaining in parallel.
When chaining in series you should use identical panels. Voltage multiplies with each panel added. Current (which is measured in Amps) stays the same.
When chaining in parallel, current doubles with each panel added. The voltage will remain the same.
The best configuration of panels depends on the capabilities of your power station and which panels you have available.
We’re committed to creating products that help you Power. Anything. Anywhere.(R) The Yeti PRO 4000 has 3,600 watt power out and 7,200 watt surge abilities to power everything from power tools to full-sized refrigerators. Thanks to its efficient next-generation inverter technology, the Yeti PRO 4000 can run almost any home appliance, aside from air conditioning. It also has 20 versatile ports, including 4 AC ports, 3 USB-A ports, 3 USB-C ports, 3 12 V ports, and more so you can keep lots of things powered simultaneously.
The Yeti PRO’s latest LiFePO4 battery technology means the battery can last for up to 4,000 cycles and can be used every single day for over 10 years—even if you completely drain the battery every time you use it.
Our team put a lot of care into making sure the Yeti PRO 4000 was durable, reliable, and rugged so you could take it anywhere, and we’re proud of the results. It is the largest portable power station on the market rated for outdoor use and was tested for vibration, dust and water, extreme temperatures, and more.
It also meets the standards for UL2743 certifications and has an FCC Class B certification for safety. Plus, its battery management system has over 100 safety checkpoints per second.
The Yeti PRO 4000 offers over 3 times the charging speed of previous generation products. It has 1,800 W AC power in to charge from 0% to 80% in 2 hours and 3,000 W solar input to charge from 0% to 80% in under 90 minutes while you're off grid.
Want even longer-lasting power? Add the Tank PRO 4000 to your power stack. This expansion battery integrates seamlessly with the Yeti to give you an additional 4,000 Wh of power. Once synced, the Yeti and Tank PRO will act as one battery—charging and draining together. Add up to four Tanks per Yeti PRO 4000 to get up to 20 kWh of backup power!
The Yeti PRO 4000 was designed to be versatile. It provides clean, renewable energy and can be used safely inside your home, unlike gas generators. It also has an integrated cart to help you move it and is durable enough for outdoor use. The list of ways to use the Yeti PRO 4000 is endless, but we built it with two specific use cases in mind: emergency home backup and off-grid power on the road.
The Yeti PRO 4000 is the ideal home battery backup solution. With 4,000 Wh it can run essentials in your home for about a day—even before you add on Tank PRO expansion batteries or recharge with solar panels.
Here's an example of what you could run simultaneously for a day without recharging your power station:
Full size Fridge |
24 hours |
60" TV |
5 hours |
Wi-Fi Router |
24 hours |
4 Lightbulbs (11 W each) |
4 hours |
Microwave |
15 minutes |
Laptop |
Recharge 2 times |
Phones/Tablets |
Recharge 2 times |
And don’t forget—you can add up to four Tank PRO 4000 expansion batteries for 20 kWh of backup power, meaning you could keep essentials in your home running for days on end—especially if you add solar panels to make it a solar generator.
Get even more out of your Yeti PRO and make home backup simpler with the Haven 10 Transfer Switch. It can back up as many as ten circuits in your home—you get to choose the circuits that are most important to you. Then when the grid goes out, you have power throughout your home, without even moving your power station.
The Yeti PRO’s advanced technology also gives you Automatic Power Switching. When grid power goes down, the circuits connected to the Haven 10 will instantly switch to using power from the Yeti PRO.
As always, we want you to be able to go further and stay out longer. Our new Escape Ecosystem makes that easy! We’ve designed a version for both Towable and Drivable vehicles to give you easy power anywhere you go. No shore power needed!
Your Escape ecosystem is app-enabled for easy control of your devices while you’re on the road. You can also install the Escape Remote Display that lets you power the system on and off and gives you extra information about your Yeti PRO.
Keep your system charged in even the most remote locations with solar. We also offer both installable and portable solar so you can choose between mounting panels on your vehicle or unfolding lightweight panels when you stop and stay somewhere for a while.
This system lets you power:
This new power station gives you the ability to Power. Anything. Anywhere.(R) Use it at home to make emergencies less stressful, take it on the road for power in remote areas, use it with solar and expansion batteries for an off-grid home, set it up in your backyard to power your grill during the neighborhood barbecue, make everyone jealous at the next tailgate party, or set it up in your workshop to keep tools charged. The choice is yours.
We’re so thrilled to have the Yeti PRO 4000 out in the world and can't wait to see how you use it!
Having a plan in place before disaster strikes can help you keep your family safe. Your emergency plan should include:
Knowing some basic first aid skills and CPR can go a long way in a crisis. Many local community organizations offer classes where you can learn these skills. Visit the American Red Cross website to search for a CPR class in your area.
Make sure heavy items are secured to prevent injuries and property damage during earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes. Anchoring your furniture also keeps your kids and pets safer even when there isn’t a natural disaster or emergency.
Some emergencies require evacuation while others can leave you stranded at home. Make sure you have the right supplies for either situation.
A portable power station can run all sorts of devices and appliances. And unlike a gas-powered generator, Goal Zero power stations are safe to use indoors.
Here are a few examples of what our power stations can run:
Yeti 1000X | Yeti 1500X | Yeti 3000X | |
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Wi-Fi Router (25 W) | 40 hours | 61 hours | 122 hours |
Full Size Refrigerator (71 W) | 14 hours | 21 hours | 43 hours |
Light Bulb (11 W) | 90 hours | 138 hours | 276 hours |
Smart Phone (12 Wh) | 82 recharges | 127 recharges | 253 recharges |
Laptop (50 Wh) | 20 recharges | 31 recharges | 61 recharges |
Want to power even more for longer? Add solar panels to your set up to turn your power station into a solar generator!
We hope you never have to experience a natural disaster or crisis, but the good news is that many of these supplies also come in handy even if there isn’t an emergency. First-aid kits, flashlights, power stations, power banks and other supplies are useful when you’re traveling and camping, when you accidentally cut yourself, or if there’s a short-term power outage at home. Take some time to prepare now so you and your loved ones can worry less if you are ever impacted by an emergency.
]]>Light up the night with up to 6,000 lumens! This bright light raises up to 12 ft high and can light an area as large as 300 ft, making it easy to use as a work light, camp light, and more. And because it has a warmer 3,250 K temperature light, it creates a more comfortable atmosphere wherever you go.
The Skylight was built to go wherever you do. It comes with a hard plastic carrying case to make it easy to take along on any adventure. It also has an IPX4 water-resistant rating so it can hold up to the elements. Use the integrated ground stakes to keep it secure once you’ve set it up at your site.
We wanted you to be able to use the Skylight just about anywhere, so we built in lots of customizability. You can adjust it from 4-12 ft depending on the area you need to light. It also has six individual adjustable light petals that can each be rotated 180-degrees up and down.
In a situation that doesn’t call for a retina-searing 6,000 lumens? No problem. The Skylight has four brightness settings so you can adjust it for each situation and location.
Like all our products, the Skylight was designed to help you get out further and stay out longer—that's why we created a light that seamlessly integrates with our power stations to give you hundreds of hours of light. When the Skylight is plugged into the Yeti 1500X, it will give you a whopping 375 hours of light on the low setting.
And while the Skylight works best with a Yeti power station, we never want to leave you in the dark, so we included an internal battery that can run the light on low for 8 hours—this comes in handy in an emergency or when you’re setting up camp but haven’t finished unloading your power station from the car. You can also plug the Skylight into your vehicle’s 12 V outlet if you don’t have a power station available.
Setting | Internal Battery | Yeti 500X | Yeti 1000X | Yeti 1500X |
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Low | 8.5 hours | 125 hours | 250 hours | 375 hours |
Medium | 2.5 hours | 40 hours | 80 hours | 125 hours |
High | 1 hour | 15 hours | 30 hours | 45 hours |
Boost | N/A | 8 hours | 15 hours | 20 hours |
When it isn’t plugged in to a Yeti power station, the Skylight automatically adjusts brightness levels to preserve battery life and give you light for longer. For example, if you have it set to High, it will run for 45 minutes, then the brightness level will drop to Medium.
Heading out? Take the Skylight with you. It’s a versatile camping light and work light that’s easy to set up whether you’re in your backyard, garage, workshop, or off the grid. Light up a neighborhood barbecue, get extra visibility on a jobsite, set up camp after dark, or enjoy late backyard soccer games on summer nights.
We know our customers love to explore new places, see new things, and share new experiences.
Solar panels are built with photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. When particles of light (photons) hit a solar panel, electrons are knocked loose. Solar panels are designed to force the electrons to flow in a specific direction to create a current of electricity.
It’s important to remember that solar panels only collect energy—they do not store it. So, if you want to get power from your solar panel it will need to be hooked up to a storage solution, like a portable power station.
The amount of power produced by a solar panel depends on the size of the panel, the placement and angle of the panel, temperature, cloud coverage, and time of year. Solar panels are rated at a specific number of watts, but because those watts are calculated using ideal conditions, most panels will produce a little less power than the rating states.
This rule states that on a sunny day, a south-facing panel will produce about 5 times the energy as the panel’s rated watts.
For example, a 200-watt solar panel would produce approximately 1,000 watt hours of solar energy in one day of full sun.
We also include the number of watts in the names of our panels to make it a little easier to figure out how much power your panel can produce. For example, the Nomad 50 is rated for 50 watts and the Boulder 200 Briefcase is rated for 200 watts.
Our portable solar panels are easy to use, but following these tips can help you get the most out of your panel.
Need help deciding which panels are right for you? Check out our Back-to-Basics post on How to Choose a Solar Panel.
]]>Backup power can help you stay safe in most emergencies, including a heat wave. Here are some of our favorite backup power solutions:
This power station is a best seller for a reason. It’s tough enough to power heavy-duty appliances and portable enough to take on your camping trips.
The Yeti 6000XNeed to keep multiple things running for awhile? This high-capacity power station can keep the essentials running!
The Yeti 3000X + Ranger 300 Solar GeneratorCombine a power station and rugged solar panels for long lasting power that can recharge from the sun while the grid is down!
Have fun this summer and stay safe in the heat. Check out our power stations and solar generators for backup power so you can enjoy your summer worry free.
Photographer Taylor Shaffer and a small crew recently trekked through the fjords of Patagonia on a month-long mission of science, art, and adventure. Taylor relied on Goal Zero solar panels and power banks throughout the entire trip to keep equipment running so he could document this important research trip. Check it out!
]]>Camping is a great way to connect with family and friends or to escape and spend time resetting in nature. Whatever your camping style, you’ll need some supplies. We’ve put together a checklist of camping essentials as well as upgrades.
Campsite: Essentials | Campsite: Upgrades |
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Food Prep: Essentials | Food Prep: Upgrades |
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Personal Items: Essentials | Personal Items: Upgrades |
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We’re big believers in getting away and figuratively unplugging, but you don’t always need to literally unplug to enjoy nature and relax with loved ones. A little bit of power can help you keep devices charged and running, which can increase your safety, improve your meals, and keep you entertained at the end of a long day of exploring. Here are some of the products we have on our personal camping checklists.
This lantern is packed with clever little features that make it perfect for camping. It has built in collapsible legs that make it easy to stand on a flat surface or to hang above you. You can recharge it from USB or from solar, but it also has a hand crank you can use to power it up in a pinch. Plus, it has a USB port you can use to charge your phone and other small devices.
These cute mini lights are the perfect addition to your campsite. One pack includes 4 connected lights that can be hung up to 4 ft apart to cover more area—just plug them into a USB port and light up your site. They come with carabiners to make them easy to hang, as well as both white and colorful shades to let you choose the mood.
This convenient power bank is dustproof and waterproof. It can recharge your phone up to five times and comes with a rubber casing so it can withstand your adventures. It also has a built-in emergency light.
This power station is perfect for powering a campsite. It’s only 13 pounds so it’s easy to carry, but it’s powerful enough to run a portable fridge and comes with a wide variety of ports so you can plug in multiple devices at a time.
This tiny solar panel weighs just over a pound, but it can recharge phones, power banks, head lamps, and other small USB devices. It also includes a built-in kickstand that makes it easy to set up and adjust throughout the day for ideal sun exposure.
This 50-watt panel can charge your Yeti 500X or your power bank. It’s lightweight and foldable, with built-in cables for easy connection to a power station. Plus, it has loops that make it easy to hang.
We hope you have the chance to get out and go somewhere soon. Have fun and stay safe on your next campout!
]]>We provided charging stations throughout the festival grounds so campers could keep devices charged throughout the three-day festival. We also powered a special After-Hours Stage for small, intimate late-night performances. Nested among the overland rigs, RVs and other customized campers, our After-Hours stage hosted musicians for mini late-night concerts. The stage was powered entirely by three Yeti 6000X power stations that were topped off with solar generated power throughout the day.
Each night a different band played an intimate set for the crowd as they sang along and enjoyed performances from Pixie and the Partygrass Boys, The Brothers Comatose, and Jamestown Revival.
Keeping Devices Charged
The portable Yeti 500X was perfect for charging devices throughout the festival. This small power station comes with multiple ports and weighs just under 13 pounds.
Powering the After-Hours Stage
We brought our biggest power stations to power everything on the After-Hours Stage, from the lights to the sound systems. The three Yeti 6000X power stations provided all the power we needed to host memorable performances that audiences loved.
Heading to a music festival yourself soon? You might not need power for a full stage, but having power to charge devices and run appliances at your campsite or in your RV can seriously upgrade your festival experience. Gas generators are often not allowed at festivals, campgrounds or national parks, but that doesn’t mean you have to go without power. Power banks and portable solar generators are a great solution.
Not sure what to bring? Staying hydrated, comfortable, and protected from the sun are top priorities. Check out our music festival packing list for more ideas.
We hope you enjoy hitting the summer festival circuit as much as we did. Stay safe and have fun out there!
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We’re excited to share the newest entry in our Off the Grid series. Artist, designer and muralist, FeeBee (Phoebe Joynt) talks about the positive impact of public artwork. She uses Goal Zero products to power her laptop and projector as she creates striking murals that add vibrance and life to communities.
FeeBee is a local artist, designer, and muralist. She is known for incorporating modern, urban, and street art elements into her ever-developing pop art style. Her background of street art and illustration was greatly influenced during her time in Brooklyn, NY. FeeBee was born in upstate NY and received her Bachelor's degree in Communications Design from the Pratt Institute in New York City. She continues to explore what is possible with her creative style in the studio and on the streets. Her singular goal is to create something beautiful, eye-catching, and exciting for the viewer.
]]>Over the years solar power generators have gotten less expensive and more portable—if you’ve been thinking about getting one, now’s the time.
A solar generator is made up of a portable power station with ports to plug in your gear and solar panels you can use to recharge the station for reliable and renewable power off the grid. With a solar powered generator, you never have to worry about running out of power.
]]>A solar generator is made up of a portable power station with ports to plug in your gear and solar panels you can use to recharge the station for reliable and renewable power off the grid. With a solar powered generator, you never have to worry about running out of power.
Here’s a quick rundown of the top reasons to invest in your own portable solar power.
A portable solar generator gives you dependable power whether you’re far from home or setting up in your backyard. Nowhere to recharge your power station? No problem. Plug it into your solar panels and head out for the day while it powers up.
Goal Zero’s portable solar power generators are easy to use—no matter where you are. Mount the solar panels on a vehicle or use the kickstands to prop them up on the ground at your campsite. Plus, the power station that comes with your solar panels has a lot of different ports, making it easy to find a spot to charge all your devices.
Plus, solar generators are much lower maintenance than traditional gas generators. You don’t have to worry about whether or not you’ve got fuel on hand. Just find a spot in the sun and you're good to go.
Portable solar power is safer and cleaner than the power you get from a gas generator—and as a bonus feature, it’s also quiet. Unlike gas generators, solar generators are safe to use indoors. This comes in handy if you’re powering indoor appliances in a cabin or van. It also helps if you’re using your solar generator to run power tools while working on projects around the house from renovations to full remodels.
Solar generators come in handy in all sorts of situations:
At Goal Zero, we put our gear through a lot to make sure you can too. Our portable solar power generators are made of rugged materials and designed to be used outdoors. We’re excited to see where you take yours.
Yeti 200X + Nomad 50 | Yeti 1500X + Ranger 300 Briefcase | Yeti 3000X + Boulder 200 Briefcase | |
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Power Station Weight | 5 lbs | 45.64 lbs | 69.78 lbs |
Solar Panel Weight | 6.85 lbs | 37.71 lbs | 42 lbs |
Time to run portable fridge | 8 hours | 61 hours | 122 hours |
Laptop recharges | 4 | 31 | 61 |
Time to recharge Yeti from solar panel | 4-8 hours | 6-12 hours | 18-36 hours |
Yeti Ports |
USB-A Port (output) USB-C Port (output) USB-PD Port (output) 6mm Port (output) 12V Car Port (output) 120V AC Inverter (output) 230V AC Inverter (output) Charging Port (input, 8mm) |
USB-A Port (output) USB-C Port (output) USB-PD Port (output) 6mm Port (output) 12V Car Port (output) 12V Power Pole port (output) 120V AC Inverter (output) 230V AC Inverter (output) Charging Port (input, 8mm) Power Pole Charging Port (input) Expansion Module port |
USB-A Port (output) USB-C Port (output) USB-PD Port (output) 6mm Port (output) 12V Car Port (output) 12V Power Pole port (output) 120V AC Inverter (output) 230V AC Inverter (output) Charging Port (input, 8mm) Power Pole Charging Port (input) Expansion Module port |
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If you can’t plug your CPAP directly into an outlet, you’ll need another way to power your machine while you sleep. Two of the best options are using a travel CPAP or using your standard CPAP with a portable power station.
Choosing a travel CPAP means you’ll probably have to compromise a bit on features, but it’s a good option if you fly often because most travel CPAPs are smaller and easier to fit in your luggage than a standard CPAP. You can also often get FAA compliant CPAP backup batteries especially for travel CPAP machines.
If you’re looking for a solution that lets you take your CPAP camping and on road trips, we recommend keeping your current CPAP machine and investing in a portable power station.
Why?
Exact power usage will vary depending on the machine, but most CPAPs use 30 to 60W without a humidifier and up to 100W with a humidifier. We suggest choosing a power station that’s easy to carry, but heavy-duty enough to power your CPAP all night with hours to spare.
Want to stay out even longer? Add a portable solar panel to your setup. We offer extremely light, foldable solar panels that are easy to carry and easy to pack in with the rest of your camping gear.
Solar Panel Picks
Improve your sleep and reduce stress by following these tips when taking your CPAP along for the ride next time you head out.
We hope you enjoy your next adventure!
]]>Keep your power station clean to extend its life and help it work efficiently. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the exterior and remove any dirt or debris. Avoid using harsh chemicals or solvents that can damage the casing.
Your portable power station should be stored in a cool, dry place. Avoid storing it in direct sunlight or near heat sources. This can cause the battery to overheat and reduce its lifespan.
Keep your portable power station charged, even when it's not in use. This will help maintain the battery's health and prevent it from losing its charge over time. Charge your Yeti every three months or so to help extend the life of your product, plus keep you prepared for emergency power outages.
It's also important to use your portable power station regularly. This will help prevent the battery from losing its charge and maintain its health. If you're not using it for an extended period of time, make sure to charge it up before storing it.
Our portable power stations all have a built-in LCD display that shows the battery level. Make sure to check this regularly to confirm the battery isn’t getting too low. If it drops below 20%, it's time to recharge it.
When charging or using your portable power station, make sure to use the Goal Zero cables and adapters. Using the wrong ones can damage the battery or cause it to overheat.
Following these simple maintenance and storage tips will keep your power station working well so you count on it whether you need portable power on the road or backup power during an outage at home.
]]>The Telluride Adaptive Sports Program (TASP) planned a challenging undertaking in Canyonlands National Park. With support from Goal Zero and Rim Tours of Moab, ten adaptive mountain bikers took on the 100-mile White Rim Trail.
Over the course of 4 days and 3 nights, this group of athletes completed the 100-mile loop, getting the chance to challenge themselves with the steep, exposed and rocky trail. This trail provides a unique and expansive view of Canyonlands national park and the stunning scenery there.
“This trip brought together a pretty amazing group of people that made me feel incredibly connected to the adaptive community.”
--Cecelia Black, Adaptive eBike athlete
TASP’s program director Tim McGough selected the ten riders for this trip from a competitive group of over 20 applicants. Applicants needed past biking experience and were chosen based on their skill, type of equipment, ability to mix well with the group, and their “tolerance for grit.”
In the end, ten athletes between the ages of 30 and 50 were chosen to join TASP on the challenging trail.
Successfully completing this 100-mile loop required stamina and skill, but it also required the right equipment.
Each rider brought their own ebike and carried water and snacks along the trail. At the end of the day they camped and used Goal Zero power stations as electric bike chargers to make sure they were ready to hit the trail again in the morning.
Goal Zero supplies included:
“There wasn’t a single person that complained or whined on the trip. I don’t think I’ve been around this many tough, happy, alive people for four days ever before. The amount of camaraderie and teamwork that came out of it amazed me, too. We weren’t individuals biking the White Rim, we were an entity. Everyone supported each other. If we were going to succeed, it would be all of us succeeding.”
--Topher Downham, Adaptive eBike athlete
Completing the 100-mile loop in Canyonlands National Park was a serious undertaking, but this resilient group faced the challenge with a positive attitude and were happy to accomplish such an impressive feat. Throughout the entire trip, no one complained or sat out any section of the route. They supported each other and finished the trip together.
We’re inspired by this incredible group of athletes and excited to see what TASP does next. You can read more about the trip in this article from the Telluride Daily Planet.
]]>One of our favorite things at Goal Zero is learning about the exciting and impactful things people do with our products.
Jack Stauss from the Glen Canyon Institute shares his story of using Goal Zero equipment to support essential research projects in Cataract and Glen Canyons.
]]>One of our favorite things at Goal Zero is learning about the exciting and impactful things you do with our products whether you’re taking our power banks on your next flight, mounting solar panels on your van, or taking your power station on a camping trip with friends.
Jack Stauss from the Glen Canyon Institute shares his story of using Goal Zero equipment to support essential research projects in Cataract and Glen Canyons.
Image by Dawn Kish
The raging waters of the Colorado and Green Rivers are revered—there is almost nowhere better in the United States to learn wild histories of the West and to experience the power of nature firsthand.
At the heart of this system are two canyons that are steeped in the history of ancient peoples who called the place home, more recent explorers, and the roots of the modern environmental movement. Cataract Canyon and Glen Canyon share beauty, mystery, and awe. But both have been subject to large scale Western development for much of the last 100 years and those projects have altered the character of these canyons.
But, in a quintessential wildcard desert move, climate change and overallocation of the resources have poked holes in that development. Massive reservoirs, the largest in the country, are draining. And in their place, sinuous sandstone canyons are returning. This has given us an opportunity to reassess our relationship to water in the West, and to see the place anew.
50 miles south of Moab, the Colorado River through Meander Canyon meets the Green River from Stillwater at the Confluence. The Confluence is a sacred place: the meeting of two great Western rivers. Nestled in the heart of Canyonlands National Park, the Confluence is the place where the rivers mix and the traveler can camp on a white sandy beach framed beneath towering golden walls. At sunrise and sunset the whole place glows with an ethereal light like nothing else I have seen. The calm water sluices together, churning with their different blend of rich sediments and continuing downstream.
This spot also marks the end of miles of flat water and the beginning of Cataract Canyon. Cataract at high water is one of the most feared sections of river—tight, steep, constrictions in the crumbling sandstone push the water into monstrous waves and waterfalls, crashing and exploding as boaters try and navigate through 30 miles of chaos.
The “end” of Cataract Canyon’s whitewater has, since 1977, been just below a nefarious rapid called “Big Drop 3.” That is the place where, until 1999, the reservoir Lake Powell backed up the river and the mighty Colorado and its warm, silty water came to a dead halt, settling out into the cold, blue waters of Powell.
Image by Jack Stauss
Here marks the beginning of our work at Glen Canyon Institute and Returning Rapids Project. From the bottom of the Big Drops all the way to Glen Canyon Dam, some 200 miles, and hundreds more miles of side canyons and tributaries. It’s a vast landscape. Feeder canyons: slots, narrows, and steep couloirs of rock that lead to the river run with ferocious flash floods or annual streams that provide water and nutrients for native plants that have reestablished themselves as the reservoir has dropped.
Depending on if we are working in the Lower Cataract/ Upper Glen Canyon area, or in main Glen Canyon, our approach to the research we do changes. In Cat and the Upper, we are primarily looking at sediment: the moving of river sands and silts inside canyons and in the main channel. This tells us how much the original river has changed, and at the rate at which it is changing, and what factors play into sediment mobilization. For the sake of Returning Rapids, they hope to learn when enough sediment is scoured away from the river bottom to hopefully reclaim the original river bottom and once again see historical rapids in the canyon.
For USGS, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research, and universities across the Basin, this is terra incognita. Some of the de-watered side canyons are cross sections of geology happening on a very short timescale. Processes that usually take millions of years, happening in a mere 60. The excitement is palpable as the team trudges around with real time kinematic GPS units, and cases of tools, dissecting these dunes of reservoir sediment.
Other teams have taken weeks to resurvey the river bottom with advanced equipment, doing bathymetric readings to actually map the bottom of the river. In 2021, we got the first full river profile in 100 years.
From canyon to canyon, each place is different. Depending on the character of the canyon, the scale of sediment mobilization is different and that has impacted the main river corridor in various ways, but one thing is certain—when given the chance the river can roar back to life. What was once still blue water, is now, in many places, free flowing water with up to Class III rapids.
After traveling miles downstream in the restored river, teams hit the reservoir at a place called the Delta Face, another serious point of interest for researchers from across the Colorado River Basin.
As one might guess, these powerful tools we use for gathering data in the canyon take a lot of energy. Goal Zero has made it easy for us to set up camps to explore and do the research we need to. By providing our teams with solar panels and Yeti 500X power stations, we can be sure we’ll have the power we need to charge our instruments and light up camp to get the work done.
In Glen Canyon proper, the changes I have seen in my four years exploring the region are nothing short of breathtaking. Places that I thought would be buried under water or sediment for decades to come, have been restored in a matter of a season. With the precipitous drop in the reservoirs and historic monsoon flooding the area, water and sediment fall away as nature reclaims the landscape.
Since 2019, we have been surveying the biological succession in the main Glen Canyon corridor. We have around 50 plant “transect” sites established in the canyon. These sites compare sections of side canyon that look at both above and below high water. So far, the findings are inspiring. While areas that are most recently out of water (under a year) are predominantly non-native plants, after a year or two natives are able to reclaim the ecosystem. Willows wave in the gentle canyon breeze, stream orchids and primrose bloom where there was once stagnant water. And astonishingly enough, cottonwood trees have taken root. In some places 40-foot-tall trees have been growing for 15 years.
Like the work upstream, each side canyon is different. Depending on the size, width, and available water in a canyon the re-establishment will look different. That means that like with the work in Cataract, we need to spend weeks and months in the area doing the work. These backcountry canyons are far from any wall outlet, and lugging a gas generator out via boat is laughable. Once again, Goal Zero has come in incredibly handy to help us charge our devices and tools to keep us both productive in the day and illuminated in the evening. Our battery packs and solar panels have become an integral part of our river and reservoir kit.
Image by Jack Stauss
While the future of the place is as uncertain as next year’s snowpack and runoff, one thing is for sure: in the long-term Glen Canyon is coming back to life. Climate models show that we will never again see a full pool reservoir Lake Powell. So, it is imperative that we continue our work: keep studying and exploring the landscape. While I am out hiking through sediment, grasses, creeks, and following the footprints of beaver and raccoon, I am optimistic. Nature shows us that there is a better future for both us and the landscape, if only we give it the chance to lead.
]]>Mary-Kate, a Senior Marketing Strategist, shares her experience below.
I was thrilled when Bree (a friend and Goal Zero team member) was granted a coveted permit to raft the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and invited me to join. With the help of Professional River Outfitters, we prepared ourselves for the trip of a lifetime.
It was a no-brainer for us to bring along a few of our favorite Goal Zero products. First up, the essentials:
These durable and compact power stations and power banks provided us with reliable power to keep our phones, camera batteries, and InReach devices charged throughout the trip. The solar panels offered off-grid power throughout the entire trip, since a lack of Arizona sun was never a problem.
Our power stations brought peace of mind so we could focus on enjoying every breathtaking moment of the trip rather than worrying about dead camera batteries or phones. We were committed to using sustainable energy sources, and portable off grid solar power was the perfect solution.
NRS dry suits and personal flotation devices, or PFDs were also critical to the trip. We knew we would be spending hours on water that averages 54 degrees year-round, so protecting ourselves from the elements was paramount. The dry suits kept us warm and—you guessed it—dry, during the colder parts of the day. The PFDs kept us safe in the event of a mishap (of which there were a few). We were confident in our gear since NRS is a trusted brand for quality water sports equipment.
After packing all our personal belongings and gear, we were finally ready to set off down the river for 21 days. As we made our way through the canyon, I was struck by the natural beauty that surrounded us. The towering cliffs and red rock formations were like nothing I had ever seen. The water was surprisingly calm in some areas, yet powerful—and the rapids provided an exhilarating rush. As we floated along, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of the natural world from a perspective not many people get to see.
Experiences like these remind us of the importance of preserving and protecting our planet. Goal Zero has always been committed to using sustainable energy sources and reducing our carbon footprint. Seeing firsthand the stunning beauty of the Grand Canyon only reinforced our personal dedication to sustainable practices. We have the power to protect and preserve our planet for future generations.
As the days went on, we encountered many challenges, but with the help of our experienced rowers, we navigated the river with ease. Every night, we set up camp under the stars and enjoyed the tranquility of the river. It was a welcome break from the fast-paced world of technology and social media, and it gave us a chance to reconnect with nature.
As our journey came to an end, I felt a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for the opportunity to experience such a stunning natural wonder. This trip was an adventure that I will never forget.
Preparing for, and rafting, the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon was an incredible adventure that offered a unique opportunity to experience nature at its finest. With the help of our gear, we had a safe and comfortable trip down one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world. We encourage anyone looking for a once-in-a-lifetime outdoor experience to add this to their bucket list.
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