How We Research

Last updated: 2026-09-29

Most "best power station" lists online imply hands-on testing that never happened. We'd rather tell you exactly what we did. Here's the process behind every guide on ColdWatt.

What we do

1. Specs come from the manufacturer. Every capacity, output, weight and temperature rating on this site is taken from the brand's own spec sheet, and each product page links to it. If a manufacturer doesn't publish a number, we say "Not published" instead of guessing.
2. We focus on what matters in the cold. Minimum charging and operating temperatures, battery chemistry, and whether a unit can realistically run a furnace blower are front and centre — because that's what our readers need and most sites skip.
3. We read what owners report. We look for patterns across verified-purchase reviews, forums and support documents — recurring problems in cold weather, warranty issues, customer service experiences — and summarise them in our own words.
4. We do the math. Runtime estimates use the published capacity and a stated set of assumptions (usable capacity, inverter losses, cold derating). Our runtime calculator shows every assumption so you can check our work.
5. We update. Specs, models and prices change. Each guide shows when it was last updated, and we revisit guides at least twice a year — before winter and after.

What we don't claim

Unless a page explicitly says otherwise, we have not personally tested the products in our guides. We don't give star ratings to products we haven't used, and we don't publish "test results" we didn't produce. If we ever get hands-on time with a product, that page will say so clearly, including whether the unit was bought or lent by the brand.

How we pick products

Picks are chosen for how well they fit a specific winter use — backing up a furnace, powering a cabin, getting through a camping trip — based on published specs, cold-weather limits, owner-reported reliability, and value. Whether a product has an affiliate program never decides whether it's included. See our affiliate disclosure.

Spot an error?

Specs get revised and we make mistakes. If something's wrong, email [email protected] with a link to the source and we'll fix it, usually within a few days.