Sportsman 1000W Inverter Generator: Small and Reliable

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This is going to be a very short review. The Sportsman 1000W inverter generator from Buffalo Tools is one of the smallest in size and power that you’ll find, so there’s just not much to tell you about it.

The Sportsman inverter is popular and reliable. Come to think of it, there’s not a whole lot more you really need to know, is there? Still, I’ll tell you what little there is to tell in the paragraphs that follow.

If you’re in a hurry and just want to learn the price and availability of the Sportsman 1000 watt generator at Amazon, you can click the link below.

Features of the Sportsman Inverter Generator

This Sportsman generator has 1000 starting (aka surge) watts of power and 800 watts for normal running power. That’s not a lot of power, but it just may be enough to do what you want. You’ll have to calculate how much power the gadgets you need to power add up to.

Sportsman 1000W Inverter Generator
Sportsman 1000W Generator

It’s a gasoline only, 1.3 horsepower, 4-stroke, overhead valve (OHV) engine that comes with a shut-off switch. So it’s pretty basic in those regards.

The gas tank holds 1.7 gallons of fuel. At 50% load, you should get a little over 6 hours of run time. To be exact, the manufacturer rates it at 6.3 hours. In other words, it’ll last a long afternoon or a long evening before you need to refill the tank.

On average, it produces 56 decibels of sound, which is a little loud for an inverter generator this small, but it’s not overwhelming. You’d still be able to carry on a conversation nearby, if you so choose.

The spark plug is included, as usual, but there is no oil in the 10-ounce reservoir. You’ll need to add some SAE 10W-30 oil before your first run.

The starting mechanism is a recoil pull cord. There’s no electric start which is standard for a small machine like this.

Sportsman Gen1000 panel

This EPA approved generator is not recommended for use above 3000 feet, so don’t count on using it on your camping trip in the mountains.

There are just two outlets in the Sportsman 1000. One is a 120 volt AC outlet. The other is a 12 volt DC outlet. Obviously, this unit isn’t intended for powering a lot of equipment. Still, it has its uses. Whether they coordinate with your needs is up to you to decide.

Conclusions about the Sportsman 1000 Watt Inverter

You get a 1 year limited warranty on this model, which is average. You really shouldn’t expect any more on a model this size. And you’ll probably never need to invoke it anyway.

That said (and all the above), there have been a considerable number of owners who have had problems with this machine not lasting all that long. As of this writing – and keeping in mind that those who have problems with products tend to be more outspoken – about 16% of owners have had troubles with the Sportsman 1000. That’s a bit higher than I usually like to see.

Still, this is a nice little machine that should give you that extra boost in power when and where you need it. If you only need to power a couple of extra items – in your garage or at a campfire, perhaps – this could serve you very well.

Sportsman 1000W

Check the pricing and availability of the Sportsman 1000W inverter generator at Amazon.