70mai Hiker 400 378Wh Power Station
Pros
- 400W AC output that can still power appliances that go over its 400W max output
- Dual recharging available via the USB-C and DC ports
- App compatibility that lets you control the power station remotely and you can change the brightness and color of the flashlight at the back of the power station
Cons
- Does not use LiFePO4 batteries
The power station market is in a great place because consumers now have a variety of high-quality options to choose from. Gone are the days of choosing between extremely large or small power stations; you can choose between those extremes.
I’m looking at this 70mai Hiker 400 mini power station in this review. After testing this Hiker 400 power station, I have to say that it’s a well-designed unit that will be dependable if you’re looking for a power station within its capacity and power output range; this 70mai power station even has app compatibility.
Battery Capacity
So this Hiker 400 power station has a 378Wh battery capacity, which is definitely on the lower side, and what matters most, just like my other power station reviews, is how much of that 378Wh capacity you can use. That is why I ran a DC and AC capacity test.
I used my load tester for the DC capacity test and connected it to this power station’s DC cigarette lighter port. I ran the load tester until the power station went from 100% to 0%, pulling about 120W. In the end, I could pull 337Wh of capacity, which gave me an 89% DC capacity efficiency, which is very good. So you can use most of the battery on the DC side.
Then for the AC capacity test, I once again ran the power station from 100% to 0% and used a watt meter to measure efficiency. Also, in this case, I used a crockpot to run down the capacity, which had about 210W power usage throughout the test. With the power station at 0%, I had a 320Wh capacity, which was an 84% AC capacity efficiency.
Overall, battery efficiency on the DC and AC capacity side is good, as you can use most of the initial power. That said, when it comes to the runtime of the power station, that entirely depends on what you’re powering from it. Powering a 400W appliance will make the power station last for one hour or less. With the DC capacity test, I ran a 120W power load for about 3 hours, giving you an idea of how long you can use the power station.
Preview | Product | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
378Wh Portable Power Station, 2 Up to 400W AC Outlets & LED Flashlight, Solar Generator for Outdoor... | Buy on Amazon |
Charging Ports
This 70mai Hiker 400 power station does have a DC cigarette lighter port and a DC 5521 port. However, I didn’t have any devices to test with those ports. The two DC ports have a 13.6V/10A output, and I could pull 120W via the cigarette lighter port.
The charging ports on this power station are better than I was expecting, mainly because there is a 100W Power Delivery USB-C port. The other ports include three USB-A ports, including a Quick Charge port with an 18W output.
In my testing, I was able to fast charge my Lenovo laptop at 35W from the USB-C port, and I was able to fast charge my Note 9 from the Quick Charge port at the same time. The 100W PD USB-C port can be used to fast charge most laptops, and it’s surprising to see the 100W USB-C port because most mini power stations settle with 60W.
The USB-C port can also recharge Hiker 400 power stations at 100W, as it’s bidirectional.
AC Outlets
On the AC outlet side, this power station has two AC outlets rated to output 400W of Pure Sinve Wave; the outlet has an 800W surge. So my testing allowed me to power a crockpot with no problems as that was pulling about 215W. The great part about the AC outlets is that I could power my Lasko heater on its low setting. On its low setting, my Lasko heater pulled about 800W; this is way over the max 400W continuous output of this power station, and somehow the power station could supply power.
Also, when I was running the heater, the screen showed that the output was about 450W.
I don’t think the heater was running at optimal power, but it was running well. The power station automatically shuts down when I set the heater to higher. Overall, the outlets are great, and my recommendation is to stick to power appliances within the 400W, but know that you can power appliances over 400W. Still, they may not run how they should, and the runtime on the power station will be cut drastically.
Recharging
There are three options for recharging this 70mai power station: the included AC charging brick with a 90W recharge rate, the USB-C port for recharging, or a solar panel to recharge the power station.
The fastest way to recharge this power station is to use the AC charging brick and a 100W PD wall charger via the USB-C port on the power station simultaneously. When you use both recharging methods, the recharge rate is 170W, which can recharge the power station within 3.5 hours.
This power station’s max solar recharge rate is 120W, and you can put two of 70mai’s 110W solar panels in series to recharge the power station at its max solar recharge rate. That said, I only used one 110W solar panel from 70mai and got about a 100W solar recharge rate via the Anderson port on the power station.
Preview | Product | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
378Wh Portable Power Station, 2 Up to 400W AC Outlets & LED Flashlight, Solar Generator for Outdoor... | Buy on Amazon |
Design
The Hiker 400 power station has a length of 8.7 inches, a width of 7 inches, and a height of 7.8 inches. The unit weighs 8.6 pounds. So it’s lightweight and small; with the handle at the top, portability is easier.
At the front is where you’re going to find all the output and input ports, and at the front is where you will also find the screen. The screen shows info such as battery capacity remaining, output and input wattage, and estimated time remaining; it shows when the internal fan is running and whether Bluetooth is on.
Also, this Hiker 400 power station is compatible with Bluetooth because it’s compatible with an app. The app is easy to use and lets you remotely turn on or off the DC or AC sections; the app can also be used to control the back 300 Lumen LED flashlight. Via the app, you can dim or brighten the light; you can also change the color temperature of the light on this power station.
Changing the brightness and color of light on a power station is something I’ve never seen before, and it’s awesome.
The app shows what the screen on the power station shows and even the internal temperature. You can also change the screen’s brightness on the power station and the screen’s timeout.
70mai Hiker 400 378Wh Power Station Specs | |
---|---|
Battery Capacity | 378Wh |
AC Output | 400W |
Car port and DC 5521 port | 13.6V/10A |
Standard USB-A Ports | 12W |
Quick Charge USB-A Port | 18W |
Power Delivery USB-C Port | 100W |
DC Input | 90W |
USB-C Input | 100W |
Solar Input | 120W |
Size | 8.7 x 7 x 7.8 inches |
Weight | 8.6 Pounds |
Conclusion
The 70mai Hiker 400 power station is a well-designed mini power station. Mini power stations are not generally meant for powering everything, yet, this power station can still power some appliances that exceed its 400W output. Also, the 100W Power Delivery port is something you don’t often see with a mini power station, and the same can be said about the app’s compatibility. It’s a solid mini power station, and the only thing that is missing is the usage of LiFePO4 batteries.
- 378Wh Capacity - 70mai Hiker 400 Power Station with 378Wh Capacity can pump out 400W power, it's can be used as a reliable backup power in your weekend trip.
- 8 Ports for All - The power station has all the ports you need to charge your devices and appliances. It is equipped with 2 AC ports, 3 USB-A ports, a USB-C port, 1*DC outputs, and a car outlet.
- Fast Solar Charging - Use clean, green renewable energy to recharge Hiker 400 power station in as fast as 3.5 hours with 120W solar input.
- Low-Noise and Heat-Efficient Design - The 70mai Hiker 400 Power Station operates quietly thanks to its U-shape airway design, generating only 35dB of noise, equivalent to the volume of a quiet library.
- Lightweight & Portable - Weighing only 8.6 lbs, this compact power station is easy to pack or store in the trunk of your car.
Since 2016, Usman has flourished as an independent tech journalist, reveling in the evaluation of diverse tech gadgets, with a particular fondness for charging technology to ascertain product performance. Besides his journalistic endeavors, he helms the Charger Harbor YouTube channel, where he extends his tech insights to a broader audience.