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In this video, I go over the best portable generators according to consumer reports. Check them out here 0:41 Generac GP8000E COSENSE 50ST - https://howl.link/n1797mj9q4cxm 1:42 Powermate P0081200 - https://howl.link/zk17cocal7hay 2:51 Firman P03628 - https://howl.link/pflh89a7hhxf3 3:44 Champion 100571 - https://geni.us/qpPVy 4:45 Generac GP3600 - https://howl.link/ur547hklnvoeh 5:50 Wen GN5602X - https://geni.us/nfed 7:00 DuroMax XP10000HX - https://howl.link/26bwfhc5mxhjz 8:03 Predator 2500 Super Quiet 9:03 Yamaha EF2200iS with CO Sensor - https://howl.link/1y3nqd7xmcqew 10:07 Champion 201223 - https://geni.us/E8wO Want FREE Shipping With Amazon Prime? Get a 30-DAY FREE TRIAL by signing up here http://www.amazon.com/tryprimefree?tag=thechrisreview-20 DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!
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A portable generator can be a lifesaver when the power goes out or when you need electricity away
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from home. The challenge is knowing which one to buy. There are hundreds of models out there and
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not all of them are made for the same job. Some are powerful enough for home backups while others
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are better for camping, RV trips, or just lighter job site use. And if you choose poorly, you could
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end up with a generator that creates more problems than it solves. So Consumer Reports put them to
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the test and we went through their rankings to bring you the 10 best portable generators
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Whether it's power, portability, or overall value, you'll likely find a good fit somewhere
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on this list. And when you find something you like, I'll leave links to all the portable generators
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in the description below. First up is the Generac GP8000E COSense 50ST and Consumer Reports gave this one an overall
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score of 75. It also has a 4.6 star rating from nearly 1,800 customer reviews and many owners seem happy
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with how it handles basic home backup needs. You're getting 8,000 running watts and 10,000 starting watch which gives it enough muscle
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for refrigerators, lights, power tools and other demanding appliances during an outage
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It also includes power rush technology designed to provide over 30% more starting capacity
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when electric motors kick in. And the lab results are very impressive as well
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both power delivery and power quality scoring a perfect five out of five
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So this isn't just raw power. It's stable power, and that's helpful if you're running electronics
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or appliances that don't respond well to voltage drops. The one drawback is noise
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Consumer Reports gave it only two out of five for noise, so this isn't the generator you want right besides a patio or bedroom window
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Next up is the Powermate P0081-200. Rather than packing in extra flashy features, it focuses on dependable backup power
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You start it with a pull cord, it runs on gasoline, and it sticks to the standard 120v output
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That means larger systems like central AC units or electric dryers are too demanding
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for this setup. But with 4500 starting watts and 3600 running watts, it still works well when you only need
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power for a smaller group of appliances. And for around $600 bucks, the 80 overall score from Consumer Reports makes the value
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here pretty impressive. On top of that, when your appliances start pulling power, it handles the load without
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feeling shaky. Plus, the 5 gallon tank adds up to 19 hours of runtime at 25% load, and you still get features
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like CO sense protection, low oil shutdown, and 5 outlets. Just know that even with wheels, it isn't easy to roll around, especially across grass
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gravel, or wet driveways. Still if you want reliable power without spending too much the Powermate P0081200 is worth considering Up next is the Furman P03628 and for around the testing results look really good
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It earned an 82 overall from Consumer Reports, which tops scores in both power delivery and
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power quality. And with 4550 starting watts and 3650 running watts, it's going to give you enough
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room for your main household beans. Just don't expect it to run central air or multiple heavy
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appliances at once. Besides that, CO Safety scored 4 out of 5, and ease of use did that too
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And that makes sense with features like remote start, a clear hour meter, an RV ready panel
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and a low oil light that tells you why the engine shut down. And it can run for up to 24 hours
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which means fewer stops to refuel during a longer outage. The main downside is fuel efficiency
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as it tends to use more gas than some competing generators under similar loads
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Up next is the Champion 100 571. And this is one I'd look at if you want something quieter than a typical open frame generator
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It's rated 5 out of 5 for noise and at 58 decibels from 23 feet, it stays pretty easy on the ears
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And that's a big plus if you're using it around an RV, a campsite, or a smaller outdoor area
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Power delivery and power quality also both earned a perfect 5 and since this is an inverter or generator, it keeps electrical distortion under 3%
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That means your laptops, phones, and any other sensitive electronics can plug in safely
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Champion's economy mode also adjusts engine speed based on real-time load, so when you aren't drawing much power, the engine slows down, burns less fuel, and gets even quieter
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Now, while Consumer Reports gave it a 79 overall and recommends it as a smart buy
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the 1.2 gallon tank gives the runtime range of only 6 to 9 hours
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And with just 2300 running watts, you'll want to choose your loads carefully
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instead of treating it like a big outage machine. Next up is the Generac GP3600
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And this one comes from a company that's been making generators since 1959. So if you've been looking for a trusted name under $500, this feels like a pretty safe pick
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Inside, it uses an OHV engine with splash lubrication to reduce wear and keep things running more smoothly over time
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Generac also includes Power Rush technology, which boosts starting capacity by over 40% beyond the rated 3,600 watts
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And COSense is the most important safety feature here. It automatically shuts the engine down if exhaust fumes reach dangerous levels
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And at 125 pounds with a fold-down handle and never flat wheels
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it's also manageable to move and store when not in use. That said, Fuel Efficiently only scored a 2
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and there no electric start here either Still with a 78 overall score and a 4 star customer rating for more than 1700 reviews the Generac GP3600 is a great fit for anyone who wants a simpler option for basic home backup And if you want to check any of these portable generators out I put links to all of them
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in the description below. Up next is the WEN GN5602X, and at about $370, this is the cheapest generator here by a wide margin
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But the score is still strong with an 80 overall. Plus both CR recommended and CR smart buy labels
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It also runs on gasoline only using a 4.3 gallon tank and electric start means you aren't
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stuck pulling a cord every time. It also includes a backup recoil starter so you still have a way to start it if the battery
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gives you trouble. For power it produces 5600 starting watts and 4500 running watts
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Now this generator also stands out because it maxed out power delivery, power quality
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and ease of use. None of the machines we've covered so far has matched that combination
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Noise came in at a 3 out of 5, which Consumer Reports describes it as neither quiet nor
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noisy from 23 feet away. You also get 4 outlets for basic devices, RVUs and a transfer switch connection, along
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with CO watchdog shutoff and digital meter. And if you're worried about dragging around something oversized during emergencies, well
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this setup stays on the easier side at 132 lbs. Next up is the Duramax XP10,000HX and I'd call this one of the flexible powerhouses
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of the group. With an overall score of 74, it isn't the highest scoring generator on the list but
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Consumer Reports still recommends it as a smart buy for its excellent power delivery
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and stable output. Now the biggest selling point here is the dual fuel setup
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With gasoline you're getting 10,000 starting watts and 8,000 running watts. Propane comes in a bit lower, but it's still very capable for outage use
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So during a storm, when gasoline is harder to find, you still have a strong backup option
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It's also more user-friendly than you might expect from a 262-pound generator
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The electric start makes startup quick, the digital panel helps you keep an eye on what's happening
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and the 50-Amp outlet gives you more options for home power backup
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The main trade-off here is noise. Consumer Reports gave it a 2 out of 5, and they recommended hearing protection if you're nearby
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But this is an open frame gas machine, not an inverter, so that's not too surprising
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Next up is the Predator 2500 Super Quiet. And since it's Harbor Freight's own generator brand, you'll only find that model there
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At around $630, it gives you a quiet inverter setup, CO secure shutoff, and a 77 overall score from Consumer Reports
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The closed frame design helps keep the sound controlled, so noise, power delivery, and
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power quality all hit a perfect 5 The output is 2500 starting watts and 2000 running watts and the pure sine wave setup makes it a safer match for things with screens batteries or sensitive internal components
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And I also like the ESC mode here. When power demand drops, the engine eases back automatically
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instead of constantly revving high, which lets the small 1.1 gallon tank run much longer. And
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And with a weight of just 48 pounds, along with AC, DC, USB-A, and USB-C connections
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this generator covers a lot without getting overly bulky. Up next is the Yamaha EF2200IS with CO sensor
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And it's priced at around $850, and part of that appeal is Yamaha's long history with small engines
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You're getting a compact inverter generator running on Yamaha's 79cc MZ80 with smart throttle technology
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which automatically adjusts speed based on your power demand. And that helps it deliver better fuel efficiency
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lower noise under lighter loads, and cleaner power output at the same time
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Consumer Reports backs that up with a 79 overall, plus 5 out of 5 scores for power delivery and power quality
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and 4 out of 5 scores for noise and fuel efficiency. And this also includes an RV-ready 30-amp outlet
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so you don't need a separate adapter for RV use. And if you need more power later
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twin tech parallel capability lets you connect two units together and it does all that off a 1.2
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gallon tank. Just be aware that it doesn't come with wheels so it can be hard to move by hand
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even though it only weighs 55 pounds. There's no hour meter either so you'll need to track oil
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changes yourself. Finally we have the champion 201-223 and this is the most convenient generator
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we've covered today thanks to its tri-fuel setup. You can run it on gasoline, propane or natural
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gas right out of the box. And Champion even included the natural gas and propane hoses
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On gasoline, you get 5,000 starting watts and 4,000 running watts. Propane drops that to 3,600
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running watts, while natural gas drops it down even more to 3,240. So gasoline gives you the
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most power, but natural gas is the easiest fuel to live with if your home already has a connection
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It also comes with CO shield, electric start, and the IntelliGauge display, so safety and
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usability are both handled well here. The trade-off is fuel efficiency which scored only two out of
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five. It's also 129 volts only so it's not made for larger 240 volt home modes. Still if you want
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flexible essential backup the Champion 201-223 has a lot going for it especially with an 81 overall
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from Consumer Reports. And that's all for today. I hope this list helped you find the right portable
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generator and if you find something you like don't forget to check the description to find
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links to all the portable generators mentioned in this video
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