We have come across several solar-based systems for off-grid power. But what about a cool non-solar off-grid power solution? As the title says, it is crank power. We have some nice crank or pedal-powered off-grid power systems out there. Here we have a list of the best hand-crank generators as well as their pedal variants.

As you see, a hand-crank generator refers to any device that produces power as you crank or pedal a lever. We have several such alternative power generators on the market. They include both hand-crank and pedal-based models, of course. Stay tuned with us for the list of the best hand-crank generators below.

How does a hand-crank generator or a pedal generator really work? It is very simple. Any such off-grid power generator basically features a dynamo. And there is a way – either a lever or pedal – to alternate the dynamo and thus to generate power. Most of such products carry battery packs to store the harvested power.

In short, a pedal or hand-crank generator becomes a simple way to produce off-grid power right anywhere. As you don’t need sunlight or any other resources, you could just produce power anywhere, anytime, though it is very little in amount. But power from such off-grid power systems can be your life savior in some cases.

Best Hand-Crank Generators

Along with the battery packs, the modern-day hand-crank or pedal generators integrate basic output ports. So, you could easily draw power from the generator to recharge your devices easily. Surely, we don’t have a lot of such hand-crank or pedal generators on the market as they are not anything great in their cost-effectiveness.

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But they could possibly save your life in an emergency. Anyway, we have curated our listicle of best hand-crank generators by picking up only the popular models out there. Thus, you could identify a suitable model quickly. Stay tuned for our list that includes both the best-seller hand-crank and pedal power generators.

1. Supvision Hand Crank Generator

We would like to start the list with a popular hand crank generator from Supvision. It is a very handy 28V hand-crank generator that can power a battery in a range of 5 to 28V DC. Indeed, it is a typical hand-crank generator as it allows you to crank at a higher torque and low RPMs to produce as much as the power in less time.

The Supvision generator doesn’t come up with the battery inside, but you could connect your battery packs or handsets directly to it, thanks to the included alligator clips, a mini USB plug, USB 2.0 plug, and other adapters. Follow the link below to check out the price of a unit of the Huaban hand crank generator.

This is a very handy and lightweight device as you see in the photo above. With the dimensions of 4.2 x 2.5 x 1.5 in and a weight of just 1.6 lbs, you can take the hand-crank generator anywhere you head to. It would make sure that your gadgets get the basic power to function in case of an emergency.

Thus, whether it is an emergency or an off-grid situation, it would help you survive easily. This is indeed one of the top-seller and best hand-crank generators on the market, and hope you would love to buy a unit of it.

Why Should You Buy

Hand Crank Generator Made of Aluminum Alloy.

Handy, Lightweight and Easy-to-Use Crank Generator.

Total Power of 30W and Output Ranging From 0-28V.

Multiple Output Adapters and Ports with Cables.

Military-Grade Product for Rough Outdoor Uses.

2. Tech-L Hand-Crank Emergency Power Generator

This is nearly the same device from another brand called Tech-L. Well, the crank generator highlights a high-tech magnetic conversion technology. Well, the 30W generator delivers a good output as you turn the brank. You could convert the output to DC voltages ranging from 0V to 28V.

Thus, you could use the Tech-L hand-crank power generator to recharge a variety of your handsets including emergency appliances. And, made with highly durable materials, you could confidently use it rough situations. The outer case of the hand-crank generator features durable aluminum composite alloy material.





Moreover, the device works perfectly at a temperature of 40C to 60C and at an altitude of 5000m. Also, it has got a waterproof variant. Meanwhile, all the models are shock-resistant thanks to the steel metal features. Overall, you get a unit of the crank generator as a perfect companion for survival and outdoor situations.

Why Should You Buy

High-Tech Magnetic Conversion Technology.

Sturdy Aluminum Alloy and Shock-Resistant.

Water-Resistant Variant Available (Green-Colored One).

Handy and Lightweight to Generate Power Anywhere.

Multiple Output Adapters and Ports Included.

3. YaeTek Hand Crank Generator

It is another cool hand-crank generator on our list of the best hand-crank generators. Well, this is a 20W device with a strong metal case and a solid crank lever. It could offer an output of 3V to 13V and so it becomes a nice pick for charging your handhelds and other portable devices.

The rotating speed of the crank generator is 2000rmp. So, you can crank the lever to produce enough energy to juice your devices in an emergency. Check out the button below for its latest price and availability.

This is not a popular product when it comes to customer reviews. However, it is a very handy device with a tiny size of 6.7 x 3.5 x 3.15 in so that you could take it anywhere. By the way, made of the strong metallic case, the device is fine for rough outdoor applications.

A crank generator is an amazing way for off-grid power during an off-grid or emergency situation. That is how this product becomes a perfect pick for someone who wants to get by such conditions smoothly.

Why Should You Buy

20W Compact-Size Hand-Crank Generator.

Fully Metalic Case and Durable Lever.

2000rmp/min Rotating Speed.

Perfect for Moving and Outdoor Applications.

4. Pedal Power Bicycle Generator

It is actually a pedal power generator, not a hand-crank generator. Yes, the technology behind it is the same. It is all about pedaling a crank to generate power instead of hand-cranking. But you could attach it to a bicycle and produce quite a good amount of energy through rather easier pedaling.

So it comes out to be a perfect piece of off-grid power generator for bikers. Also, you could use it for learning projects. Specs-wise, it has got a crank with 2000 RPM per minute. It could produce an output of around 12V, letting you easily recharge your battery packs. Check out the link below to see its price and other details.

Simply, you could connect this pedal generator to a 12-volt battery through a fuse and blocking diode system. However, take better care while connecting it to a lead-acid battery. The stored power in the lead-acid battery could melt the wires and damage the system.

Anyway, its maker recommends Duracell powerpack as the best way to store the power produced with this cool device. In short, this is yet another incredible product on our list of the best-hand crank generators you could try out to produce alternative energy in an off-grid or an emergency condition.

Why Should You Buy

Pedal Generator Attachable to Bicycle for Emergency Power.

Perfect for Charging 12V Batteries and Small Power Stations.

Permanent Magnet Generator for DC Voltage.

Handy and Lightweight for Portable Applications.

Extremely Durable and Long-Lasting Build.

5. K-Tor PowerBox Pedal Generator

Next, we have K-Tor’s popular PowerBox pedal generator on our list. Well, this is also not a typical hand-crank generator, but it works on the same technology, powered by the pedals. By the way, instead of the need to connect it to a bike like the above model, you could just pedal the generator itself exactly like a bike.

Specs-wise, this is a 20-watt pedal generator that highlights a universal power socket. So you could plug in the charger of your laptop or other portable electronics to charge from it directly from the grid power. Of course, it is a leading seller of the kind. And so we have it included on our list of the best hand-crank generators.



It has got the standard bike pedals. So it is easy to pedal them for a long period. Also, they give your legs some workout. The machine, by the way, is foldable to a small size, making it perfect for portable use. You could set up the device anywhere in a matter of time.

By the way, for better and stable pedaling experience, you could screw the base of the pedal generator to the floor. When it comes to customer reviews, this product has certainly received a good number of takers. Most of the customer feedback is also pretty good and positive.

Why Should You Buy

Perfect Pedal Generator to Produce 20W of Output.

Highly Portable and Foldable to a Small Unit.

Easy-to-Use Pedaling System Like Standard Bike Pedals.

Screwable to a Surface for Stable Operation.

One of the Top-Seller Pedal Generators On the Market.

6. K-Tor Pocket Socket Hand Crank Generator

This is a super cool hand-crank generator from K-Tor. What you get is a 1A USB hand-crank generator that you could use to charge any USB-enabled devices including Apple iPhones. You just need to connect your handset to the integrated USB socket and start cranking the lever.

You get a get cool green power source to recharge your handsets and small gadgets. It is so small and handy that you could take it in your pocket or backpack and use it to enjoy access to emergency power anywhere. Check out the link below to see its price and other details of the K-Tor product.

Built with strong and sturdy polycarbonate plastic, it is certainly good for rough outdoors. Take it anywhere and get portable power wherever you head to. Moreover, it becomes a cool camper companion thanks to its compact size and decently lightweight profile. It weighs only 14.2 lbs and its size goes 8 x 4 x 4 in.

Why Should You Buy

Small and Compact 1Amp Hand-Crank Generator.

Solid Plastic Making it Ideal for Rough Outdoors.

Integrated USB Port to Connect Any USB Devices.

Compatible with a Variety of Devices Including iPhones.

7. K-Tor PowerBox 50

Finally, we’ve one more K-Tor pedal generator. Called K-Tor PowerBox 50, it is a more powerful and big variant of its much-touted PowerBox series. As its name suggests, it could generate as much 50W (regulated to 14V 3A) of power as you pedal the device. Design-wise, it keeps almost the similar design of the above PowerBox 20.

Well, PowerBox 50 highlights a direct gear drive for an optimal pedaling experience at 1.5 cycles a second. You could use it to directly charge 12V batteries. And also plug it into an automotive port and use it as a 12V to USB converter and inverter. Check out the link below for its latest price and buying a unit.

PowerBox 50 is indeed very powerful. It could charge more than one gadget at a time. If you crank it for a long period, you could ensure sufficient power to juice up your phone and tablet in an emergency. Well, the power generator has a size of a small box with dimensions of 13.25 x 9.25 x 7.25 inches and a weight of 5 lbs.

Just place it somewhere and start pedaling. With rubber padding in the bottom, it could rest stably anywhere you place it. The pedals and other parts of the hand-crank generator are indeed very strong and durable.

Why Should You Buy

Powerful 50W Pedal Power Generator.

Small, Lightweight and Portable Design.

Strong and Durable Pedals and Other Parts.

Perfect for Emergency Preppers and Campers.

Universal Pedal Powered Electricity Generator.

Final Thoughts

That has been our list of the best hand-crank generators. There are not actually a lot of full-fledged hand-crank power generators on the market. We have indeed picked up all the best-selling models for this list. Certainly, they are only a few models that you could rely on for portable or emergency power.

Plus, there are many emergency radios and lights with the hand-crank for power generation. But here we have included only independent power generators. Share your thoughts about the list in the comments below.