Comparisons
Goal Zero Yeti 300 vs 500 vs 700: choosing a compact station
The Yeti 300, 500 and 700 are three steps in the same compact station family, not interchangeable battery sizes. Their manufacturer guide lists 296.96, 499.2 and 677.376 Wh of LiFePO4 capacity, while the continuous AC inverter ratings rise from 350 W to 500 W and 600 W. Pick a model from the load that must run and the energy that must last; a larger battery cannot fix an inverter that is too small for the appliance.
Yeti 300: the small-load option
The Yeti 300 is the lightest capacity tier on paper: about 297 Wh, two 115 V AC outlets, 350 W continuous AC and a 600 W surge rating. It suits modest device and campsite loads when each appliance’s running and startup needs fit. The 600 W surge figure is not a long-term 600 W output promise. Its exact US product page was sold out on the checked date, but an out-of-stock model remains useful to assess as a reference; check present supply rather than assuming the old snapshot is current.
There is a small manufacturer-source disagreement worth keeping visible: the Yeti 300 page lists 13.7 lb and the linked guide lists 14.1 lb. Call it roughly a 14 lb class and do not use the record to satisfy a strict maximum-weight requirement. Its 200 W solar input is a ceiling, not an included panel. Compare the Yeti 300 assessment for details on its ports and limits.
Yeti 500: more capacity and a 500 W ceiling
The 500 moves to 499.2 Wh and 500 W continuous AC, with a 1,000 W surge rating. If a load’s sustained draw is between the 300’s 350 W and the 500’s 500 W limits, the 500 is the first one in this trio whose published continuous rating covers it. It still cannot run a continuous 600 W load. Goal Zero lists a 770 W total combined-output ceiling across all ports, so do not add AC, USB and 12 V port labels as if each were independent.
The page and guide disagree on weight too: 16.1 lb versus 16.7 lb. The model remains a portable lift, but the evidence does not support an exact max-weight match. Solar is limited to 200 W through the 8 mm input, and a panel and vehicle cable are absent from the standalone box. See the Yeti 500 review before planning a longer trip around its nameplate storage.
Yeti 700: the family’s strongest AC option
The 700 lists 677.376 Wh and 600 W continuous AC, with the same 1,000 W surge limit as the 500. Its difference is not just capacity; the inverter ceiling adds 100 W over the 500. That may matter for a load near 550 W, but neither unit is a substitute for a larger inverter when the actual running demand exceeds 600 W. The manual lists 850 W maximum combined output across ports, again a separate constraint from the AC inverter rating.
Exact weight is unsettled here as well: Goal Zero’s current page lists 20.3 lb and its linked guide lists 20.9 lb. Think roughly 21 lb for handling, not a confirmed exact value. The Yeti 700 review discusses its port limits, charging modes and no-panel standalone offer.
Charging, weather and backup cautions common to all three
Each base unit has one 8 mm solar input with a 200 W maximum. The user guide gives a 12.3–28 V input range and warns against exceeding 30 V. A 200 W panel does not arrive with the standalone station; read an exact solar-generator kit’s contents instead of assuming an accessory is in the box. AC input limits differ by model: the 300 is rated up to 420 W in fast mode, while the 500 and 700 are listed up to 500 W; each also offers a quieter low-speed mode. Actual solar harvest and recharge time vary with conditions.
Goal Zero lists IPX4 water resistance, but this is not an invitation to expose open ports to rain or immerse a unit. Keep all three ventilated and dry. Their guide lists charging from 0 °C and discharge down to −20 °C; cold-weather discharge support does not mean they can be charged below freezing. The manual describes automatic switching under 20 ms, not zero-time, and says sensitive equipment can be interrupted. It also warns against using these stations with life-saving medical equipment.
One more matching distinction matters: the product pages and linked manual rate AC output at 115 V. This assessment does not relabel that exact rating as a strict 120 V output plan. If the device’s label permits 115 V, review the individual specs; if exact 120 V or 240 V supply is essential, the questionnaire should reject these models. None of the three has an expansion-battery path documented here. The practical choice is therefore straightforward: start with your measured load, pick a continuous output tier that covers it with margin, then check the nameplate energy and a separate recharge plan.
Primary references: Goal Zero’s Yeti 300, Yeti 500 and Yeti 700 US product pages, and the shared Goal Zero user guide. This is source-based advice, not a physical sample test.