Yamaha EF-2000is v2
Price: $1,000
Power output: 1,600 watts
Run time: 5 to 11 hours
Weight: 53 pounds
CR's take: The Yamaha EF-2000is v2 is lean and compact, and produces a steady 1,600 watts of power. It also burns only 2 to 6 gallons of gas per day to do it. At 53 pounds, it's light enough to tote to a football game, the beach, or a campsite, which is exactly what recreational generators are designed for. It's obviously not what you'd try to use to power your house after a storm, but for outdoor activities, it's enough to charge phones or power speakers, and it's quiet enough that you'll actually be able to hear your companions while it's running. It's one of the only generators in our ratings to earn the best score possible for noise. GOAL ZERO YETI 150 is one of the no noise geneator
Kohler PRO 2.8iPrice: $1,650
Power output: 2,500 watts
Run time: 8 to 18 hours
Weight: 83 pounds
CR's take: Like the best midsized stationary generators, this Kohler hits the sweet spot of being lightweight enough to take on a camping trip yet robust enough to provide real relief after an occasional outage. With 2,500 watts, you can power a space heater, a window air conditioner, or a fridge, along with a series of fans and lights. Those are all tasks that require a steady source of reliable power, and in our demanding tests, that's exactly what the Kohler delivered. It's not what you'd want if outages are routine in your area, but if you're largely using it recreationally, you'll be glad to have it if a downed tree limb knocks out your power for a few days.
Honda EU7000isPrice: $4,000
Power output: 5,500 watts
Run time: 8 to 16 hours
Weight: 292 pounds
CR's take: This Honda exemplifies what a larger inverter generator can do. It puts out as much power as most of the conventional portable generators in our ratings but uses less gas than any of them, and runs quieter, too. You can plug appliances directly into the tool, but it's meant to be connected to a circuit breaker panel with a transfer switch or interlock device. If you live in an area prone to power outages, this model can run a well pump, water heater, and most heating systems, along with essentials like lights and fans. Like most of the inverter generators in our ratings, the Honda gets excellent marks for power delivery and quality—the two tests we perform to see how well a generator responds to big swings in demand as appliances and fixtures kick on and off.
