The Ultimate Travel Companion: Reviewing the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 for Photographers
For the travel photographer, power isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Being on a remote shoot only to have your camera batteries die or your laptop run out of juice while editing is a nightmare. This is where the world of portable power stations comes in, and the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 is a serious contender for the top spot in a traveling photographer’s gear bag.
We put this impressive power bank through its paces to see if its performance and portability are up to the demands of life on the road.
Power and Capacity: More Than Enough for a Weekend Shoot
The heart of the C1000 Gen 2 is its 1,024Wh capacity and a robust 2,000W continuous AC output (with a 3,000W surge capability). In practical terms for a photographer, this means:
- Charging Camera Batteries: You can recharge numerous camera batteries (likely 20+ DSLR/Mirrorless batteries, depending on the model) multiple times. Even on multi-day shoots far from an outlet, this capacity provides significant peace of mind.
- Laptop Power: It can keep a powerful editing laptop (which often requires a higher wattage AC brick) running and charging for many hours. The high output allows you to run demanding editing software without throttling.
- Lights and Accessories: Need to charge drone batteries, run a small LED panel for a light setup, or power a portable monitor? The C1000 Gen 2 handles all of this simultaneously with its plentiful array of ports.
Portability and Design: Built for Travel, with a Caveat
Anker has significantly improved the design from the previous generation. At just under 25 pounds, the C1000 Gen 2 is notably lighter and more compact than many other 1kWh power stations. It features molded handles for easy carrying, making it comfortable to transfer from the car to the campsite or hotel.
However, let’s be realistic: 25 pounds is still a substantial weight. While it’s perfect for car-based travel, road trips, and local outdoor shoots where you can transport it from the trunk to your location, it’s generally too heavy for air travel carry-on (due to battery capacity limits) or extended hiking trips. It excels as your mobile editing and charging hub when your photography base is your vehicle.
The Game-Changing Feature: UltraFast Recharging
One of the C1000 Gen 2’s most remarkable features is its recharge speed. Thanks to Anker’s HyperFlash technology, you can charge the power station from 0% to 100% in a claimed 49 minutes via a standard AC wall outlet (by enabling UltraFast charging in the app).
For a traveling photographer, this is a game-changer:
- Quick Hotel Top-Offs: If you only have a short time in a hotel or cafe before heading out again, you can rapidly recharge your entire power supply.
- Solar Input: For truly off-grid shooting, it supports up to 600W of solar input, allowing a full recharge in approximately 1.8 hours under optimal sunlight. This makes it a sustainable power source on extended expeditions.
Ports and Connectivity: Everything You Need
The power station is loaded with outputs to keep all your gear running:
- Five AC Outlets: Essential for standard camera battery chargers, laptop bricks, and other AC-powered equipment.
- Two 140W USB-C Ports: Perfect for fast-charging modern laptops and high-end power banks.
- One 20W USB-C Port and One 12W USB-A Port: For phones, tablets, and smaller accessories.
The intelligent port layout ensures that you can plug in multiple large chargers without them obstructing the neighboring outlets.
Final Verdict
The Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 is an exceptional portable power station for the travel photographer whose base of operations is near their vehicle. Its combination of a large 1,024Wh capacity, powerful 2,000W output, and world-record fast recharging speed makes it a reliable and highly efficient tool. While it’s too large for minimalist backpacking or air travel, it’s the ultimate mobile power hub for road trips, remote cabin stays, and any shoot where you need sustained power away from the grid.
If your photography demands high power for editing, charging multiple devices, and the ability to quickly replenish your power source, the C1000 Gen 2 should be at the top of your list.
You can watch a Video on how fast this unit can re-charge here Anker C1000 vs EcoFlow Delta 2 – charging times.
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