Goal Zero Yeti 500 vs Jackery Explorer 1000
Side-by-side on the specs that decide it — surge, capacity, runtime and price.
Both models' specs verified against manufacturer listings · Last updated
The short answer
Goal Zero Yeti 500 costs $50 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Jackery Explorer 1000 holds 101% more energy (1002Wh vs 499Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Jackery Explorer 1000 has 1000W more surge headroom (2000W vs 1000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is 9.1 lb lighter (12.9 lb vs 22 lb).
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 uses LiFePO4 while the other uses NMC — roughly double the usable cycle life.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is rated for 4,000 cycles vs 500 — meaningful if you cycle it daily.
If you plan to cycle the battery daily, think twice about the Jackery Explorer 1000. Its NMC cells are rated for 500 cycles against the LiFePO4 rival's longer life — over years of regular use that's the more expensive unit, whatever the sticker says.
A rugged, water-resistant unit for people who'll actually beat it up. You pay a premium over similar-capacity rivals for that durability.
Best for: Overlanders and job sites where the unit will get wet, dusty and knocked around.
Where it falls short:
- $699 for 499Wh is expensive per watt-hour
- Only a 2-year warranty vs 5 years from most rivals
- 120W solar input is very low
The original Explorer 1000 — light and popular, but its Li-ion cells are rated for only ~500 cycles, a fraction of the LiFePO4 v2 that replaced it.
Best for: Occasional users who find it much cheaper than the v2.
Where it falls short:
- ~500 cycles vs 4,000 for the v2
- 1,000W output and 200W solar input
| Spec | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Jackery Explorer 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $749 |
| Capacity | 499 Wh | 1002 Wh |
| Continuous output | 500 W | 1000 W |
| Surge output | 1000 W | 2000 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | NMC |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 500 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 12.9 lb | 22 lb |
| Max solar | 120 W | 200 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 25m | 1h 42m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Jackery Explorer 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.1 hrs | 14.2 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 13.5 hrs | 27.0 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.3 hrs | 10.6 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 10.6 hrs | 21.3 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | ❌ |