Tailgating has come a long way from a cooler of drinks and a transistor radio. Nowadays, the ultimate tailgate setup can resemble a mini outdoor living room or kitchen. And with a portable power station on hand, there’s a whole arsenal of tech and gadgets you can bring to make your party the envy of the parking lot. Let’s look at some cool tailgating gadgets and how they pair with portable power:
- Electric Grills and Smokers: Who says you need propane or charcoal? There are electric grills and even pellet smokers that run on electricity. For example, the Traeger Tailgater (a portable pellet grill) or an electric flat-top grill. These typically draw around 300-800 watts when heating. A mid-sized power station (500Wh-1000Wh) can run a grill long enough to cook burgers, dogs, or even smoke some ribs. Imagine showing up and just plugging in your grill – no fuel needed. Just be mindful of power: if it’s a 800W grill and you have a 500W inverter, that won’t work – but many portable stations now support 1000W+. Also, these grills cycle on/off once hot, so they’re not a continuous draw.
- Mini Fridges and Coolers: Ditch the ice bags. Electric coolers or mini fridges can keep your drinks at perfect chill without the watery mess. Thermoelectric coolers draw around 50-60W, and compressor mini-fridges might draw 100W intermittently. A small power station can run a cooler easily for the duration of a tailgate (many are around 12V DC, so you can plug into the 12V port for efficiency). This means cold beverages and even perishables (hello, ice cream truck vibes) on demand.
- Big Screen TVs and Projectors: Want to watch the early game while tailgating for the late game? Bring a TV or projector. A decent LED 50” TV uses maybe 100-120W. A projector could be similar or less. Pair that with a portable or inflatable screen and you’ve got a parking lot theater. With about 500Wh of battery, you could run a 100W TV for 4-5 hours. Don’t forget a streaming device or antenna for content – those are minor draws. Many power stations have multiple AC outlets, so powering the TV and a soundbar together is doable. It’s a great way to keep folks entertained (or to play back highlight reels of your own tailgate antics).
- Sound Systems and DJ Gear: Tailgating isn’t complete without music. Sure, you can use a Bluetooth speaker (many are battery anyway), but if you want to step it up – like running a full PA speaker or DJ turntables – a power station can handle it. PA speakers (powered ones) range maybe 50-200W depending on volume. A mixer or DJ controller is minimal draw (less than 20W often). So a 500W inverter could easily run a pretty thumping audio setup. Some serious tailgaters even bring electronic drum kits or keytars – if that’s you, yes you can power those too! Also consider a karaoke machine or microphone system – they’re usually quite low-power.
- Gaming Consoles and Wi-Fi Gear: For those who double tailgate with gaming (maybe a little Madden tournament before kickoff?), you can run a gaming console and small monitor off a power station. A PS5 or Xbox Series X is around 180-200W when gaming hard, plus a monitor ~30W. That’s under 250W, which many mid-range power stations can do. You might get ~2 hours play on a 500Wh unit with that load – not bad for a halftime gaming session or keeping kids occupied. If you want internet, powering a portable Wi-Fi router or using your phone’s hotspot with a booster (some bring network gear to stream games) – that’s low wattage (under 10W typically for a router).
- Blenders and Drink Makers: Tailgate cocktails and smoothies – yes please. A typical kitchen blender might be 300-500W. Many power stations around 500W can run that fine (just for short spurts to blend). There are also rechargeable portable blenders, but if you have an outlet, why not bring a full one for efficiency and capacity. Other fun drink gadgets: margarita makers, electric ice crushers, or even a “drink fountain” that circulates punch – most of these novelty appliances are a few hundred watts or less. Your power station gives you flexibility to run them off-grid.
- Heaters or Fans: Depending on weather, you might want a space heater (if it’s a cold late-season game) or fans (for early-season heat). Note: space heaters are typically 1500W – that’s heavy for a portable station unless you have one of the high-power ones (and a big battery because they’ll drain fast). If you have a smaller 500W heater, maybe to warm a small tent or just keep near feet, that could work with mid-range units. Fans, on the other hand, are great – a typical box fan is 50-100W on high. You can run those for hours and hours. There are also misting fans (some run on batteries, others you can plug in). Staying comfy keeps the party going longer.
- Lighting and Décor: Tailgating can go past sunset, so lights are key. From strings of LED party lights to light-up inflatable team mascots, your power station can handle them. LEDs are super efficient – a whole 20ft string might be like 20W. In fact, many decorative lights now are USB-powered or battery, but if not, AC ones are fine. You can also use floodlights or LED panel lights if you want to light up a larger area for post-game cornhole. If each light is 30W LED, you could run multiple easily. Neon signs, bubble machines, even an electric “fireplace” for ambiance – yes, all doable.
- Mobile Device Charging Station: People will inevitably need to charge phones, cameras, speakers etc. A power station is essentially a giant power bank with multiple USB ports. Many have fast-charging USB-C which is great for laptops or latest phones (some support 60W or 100W USB-C, which can fast charge a MacBook or similar). You might set up a little “charging station” table where folks can plug in and top off. Or if you’re in a location that permits, you could even be the hero offering other tailgaters a charge – up to you if you want to share the juice!
- Safety and Miscellaneous: Don’t forget some practical items. You can power an electric air pump to inflate mattresses or sports balls (handy if you set up a lounge or bring a football to toss). If someone gets a spill on their jersey, a small handheld vacuum (car vac) might clean it up – those are like 100W or less and can plug into 12V or AC. Even medical devices – say you have a friend with a CPAP machine for an overnight tailgate at a race – a good power station can run that through the night (CPAPs are about 40W average).
Important Tip: Always match the gadget’s power requirement to your power station’s capabilities. Check the wattage: if the gadget draws more watts than your station can output, it won’t work or could overload (stations usually have overload protection). Also consider how much energy (Wh) it will consume so you have enough battery to last. For instance, running a 100W device for 5 hours uses 500Wh – so a 500Wh station would be basically empty after that (less inverter inefficiency). Manage your time and usage accordingly.
Finally, have fun with it. Part of tailgating tech is showing off something cool – whether it’s a projector for the game or a daiquiri blender, it adds to the experience. With a portable power station, you have the freedom to bring electric conveniences to any parking lot or park. It’s like bringing a piece of the kitchen and living room outdoors. Just make sure to also bring what you need to enjoy responsibly and stay safe (don’t overload circuits, keep the station dry, etc.). The combination of good tech and good company will make your tailgate legendary!