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Goal Zero Yeti 500 vs Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra

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 $500 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.

Goal Zero Yeti 500

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
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra

The portability record-holder: 1536Wh at 26.5 lb, lighter than most 1kWh units. You pay $200 over the 1500 v2 for that weight saving.

Best for: Van lifers and overlanders where every pound is negotiated.

Where it falls short:

  • 1800W output is lower than the cheaper 1500 v2's 2000W
  • $1199 is a premium for weight alone
SpecGoal Zero Yeti 500Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra
Price $699 $1199
Capacity 499 Wh 1536 Wh
Continuous output 500 W 1800 W
Surge output 1000 W 3600 W
Battery LiFePO4 LiFePO4
Rated cycles 4,000 4,000
Weight (lighter wins) 12.9 lb 26.5 lb
Max solar 120 W 600 W
Recharge time (faster wins) 1h 25m 1h 15m

Runtime head-to-head

ApplianceGoal Zero Yeti 500Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra
Refrigerator7.1 hrs21.8 hrs
Mini fridge13.5 hrs41.4 hrs
Chest freezer5.3 hrs16.3 hrs
CPAP machine10.6 hrs32.6 hrs
Sump pump❌1.6 hrs
Goal Zero Yeti 500
Price → Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra
Price →