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Need power when you go off-grid, or as a backup when the latest nor'easter blows through? Then it's time to invest in a power station.

Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? Here's a great lineup of gift ideas and resources to get you started.

What's a power station? 

Think of a power bank and scale it up massively, and you have a power station. Lots of rechargeable batteries in a box, add a multitude of ports (USB and AC), and give it the ability to charge from a variety of sources.

While many people choose to recharge their power station from the mains, you can use them to power your home during power outages or if you're just heading out camping. If you're going off-grid, then adding solar panels gives you the ability to have power wherever there's sun!

Here are some of the best holiday deals on power stations:

It depends on your needs. If you have access to plenty of sunshine, you may want to invest in a solar power station. Areas that are prone to clouds and rainy skies will more likely require a fuel-based generator to keep the power going during an outage.

If you're in a disaster prone area of living, a portable power station is probably a solid choice for keeping the lights on. As someone who lives in the Midwest, I've had my fair share of power outages from snowstorms, blizzards, tornadoes, and derechos. In those events, the power station serves as peace of mind to keep my fridge running and my phone charged when I need it.

However, you'll have to review the pros and cons of investing in one. Even with these deals, they can still cost a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars.

A generator is typically can restore power to parts of your home, if not the entire space, for as long as you have fuel to power the generator or solar energy stored and available on the panels.

A battery backup lacks the energy capacity of a generator. It's designed to keep essential equipment like CPAP machines, sump pumps, and space heaters functional until the lights come back on. While much smaller in capacity, battery backup systems also don't require gas to run, and they're safer to use indoors. Another perk? You won't have to worry about maintenance on a backup battery, either.

Solar System Generator ZDNET experts split out the best deals by retailer, brand, and category, which you can see below.