Outdoor camping allows you to enjoy nature, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on your comfort in the process. Sure, many purists would abstain from bringing along anything that isn’t necessary for survival. However, for a casual camper, a reliable source of electricity while camping enhances their outdoor experience. For such purposes, an outdoor generator is a great option. However, noise pollution can be detrimental to local wildlife and your personal comfort.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
The 4 Best Quiet Generators for Camping
When shopping for a generator, you need to not only see check its portability and efficiency, but also its level of noise when operating. In this blog, we list down the best quiet generators for camping.
1. Yamaha EF2000iSv2
The Yamaha portable generator makes it to the top of the list for both its features and extraordinary quietness. Thanks to its quality muffler with USFS-approved spark arrestors, the generator only produces a noise level of 51.5 dBA. For comparison, a normal conversation between two people is around 65 dBA. Thanks to its Smart throttle feature, fuel efficiency is also improved. It can run for up to 10 hours on a gallon of fuel.
Yamaha is well-known for their reliability and excellent craftsmanship. This generator of theirs is no different. Coming with an ergonomically designed handle and a compact package weighing just 45 lbs, the generator is also highly portable and easy to transport. This small generator is potent enough to provide 13-16 amp of power. However, should your outdoor appliances need more, you can connect two of these together to double the ampere generator. It also comes with an oil watch warning system, and an overload circuit breaker as a means to prevent damage to its engine and extend its service life. You won’t have much difficulty starting this generator even on a cold morning thanks to its auto-decompression and auto warm-up system.
The only drawback of this generator is its high price. However, given its stellar performance and great list features, you get outstanding value for money.
Pros
- Super quiet
- Fuel efficient
- Easy to carry
- Reliable and durable
- Lightweight and portable
- Convenient parallel function for greater power
- Great list of extra features
Cons
- Expensive
2. Honda EU2000I
The Honda EU2000I is another great outdoor generator, packing in a lot of power in one tiny package. It is also very quiet, producing a noise level of just 58 dBA. Thanks to its advanced inverter technology, the generator achieves commendable fuel efficiency. On 1 gallon of fuel, this generator can provide power continuously for nearly 8.1 hours. There is also an ‘eco-mode’ which reduces emissions, and saves fuel by adjusting the throttle based on demand.
While Honda’s generator may be second on our list overall, there is one area where it triumphs over its Yamaha counterpart. Packing a beefier engine in comparison to the Yamaha generator, it can supply the max 2000 W power for 10 times longer (30 mins vs. 30 seconds). For those in need of that extra punch while camping, Honda’s generator may be a better purchase despite lacking many of the great tech features that Yamaha’s boasts.
As for any drawbacks, its red plastic frame is susceptible to scratches which can quickly make the exterior look aged. Another is that Honda provides no additional features to ease the process of starting the engine. If it isn’t starting, you have to go old school and manually crank it up and choke it.
Pros
- Fuel efficient
- Easy to carry
- Eco-mode
Cons
- Plastic body easy to scratch
- Expensive
- Relatively difficult to start
3. WEN Model 56200i
For those wanting a potent outdoor generator without having to spend too much, the WEN Model 56200i is an excellent option. While it is manufactured by a lesser known Chinese brand, it matches the reliability and efficiency of its much pricier Japanese and American counterparts. What we particularly like about WEN’s generator is that is currently one of the few reasonably priced portable generators on the market that offer a high altitude conversion kit. It is also one of the quietest generators on the list with a noise level of just 51 dBA. Just like the Honda generator on our list, WEN’s also comes with featuring an eco-mode, allowing the motor to automatically adjust its fuel consumption according to demand.
While its overall size isn’t exactly that compact, in the weight department it remains almost toe to toe with the rest of the great options on the list. Weighing in at 48 lbs, it is not too difficult to carry around and transport. While it isn’t that important in our ranking criteria, in terms of style, the Model 56200i definitely gets an A+.
One disadvantage is the difficulty involved in adding fuel. The funnel is astonishingly small and you have to be extra cautious to avoid creating a mess with spillage. Trying to fill a full gallon in this thing takes time and can be quite tiring. Checking the oil can also be a real hassle. You first have to disassemble a side panel in order to do so. However, given its great affordable price, these issues are easy to overlook.
Pros
- Great price
- Super quiet
- Eco-Mode
- Lightweight
Cons
- Can be difficult to add oil
- Somewhat susceptible to leakage
- Difficult to check the oil level
4. Champion Model 73536i
Lightweight, compact and best of all, stackable! Coming with a patented design, the Champion Model 73536i is the champion in terms of portability, storage, and transport. It is also extremely quiet, producing a noise level of just 53 dBA. It also features an economy mode for achieving an extended engine life and better fuel economy. It can be paired parallel with another 73536i for greater power and amperage. It has a built-in safety feature that automatically shuts off the motor when the oils run low to prevent damage to the engine and shorten its life.
Reliability wise, it is certainly not best on our list. When in economy mode, the generator can sometimes shift to that level and never come back up. Because it isn’t that well-known of a brand, finding replaceable parts may also be a hindrance.
Pros
- Great price
- Eco-mode
- Stackable
- Fuel efficient
- Easy to carry
- Lightweight and portable
- Convenient parallel function for greater power
Cons
- Not the best reliability wise
- Replaceable parts hard to find
Our Final Thoughts
Each of the outdoor generators mentioned on our list has been given positive reviews by customers who purchased them. For your next outdoors camping trip, consider bringing along one of these potent but extremely quiet generators for meeting your power needs.
