In the beginning, when you are going on a camping trip, you only need to pack a few things. Within those few things, the most important ones are usually your tent and a flashlight. With the growth in technology and the growing use of devices like mobile phones and lapotops, things have changed. Nowadays, packing for a camping trip can be a tedious task because that list of items needs to grow. One crucial thing that has become common and in-demand is portable battery chargers. Individuals while going on a camping trip tend to carry devices with them which use battery and at some point need to be recharged, and that is where the portable power battery chargers come to use.
There are a few essential criteria to consider when it comes to picking a rechargeable battery charger for your device. Some of the standards include price, capacity, durability, resistance (water, dust and shock), and power source(solar or not). A critical feature among those mentioned above is the power source because it helps you determine if it can be charged with a solar pane or not. You don’t need to worry as we have done all the necessary research and came up with the best possible options for you.
The 6 Best Portable Battery Chargers For Camping and Backpacking Are Reviewed Below
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Below is the list of the best Portable Battery Chargers For Camping and Backpacking. We hope you find the perfect fit.
1
Dark Energy Poseidon IP68 Portable Charger
Getting gear is one thing, but getting one that would last you for an extended period is something everyone wants. Then the Dark Energy Poseidon IP68 Portable Charger is the choice because it was able to pass the Military 810-G drop test. Capacity is key to a good power bank, and this one is equipped with 10000mAh, which is enough to charge at least four smartphones. While charging two devices simultaneously should not be a concern for you because it is possible thanks to its two-port output. If you have any device that is not as powerful as a laptop, you can be sure that this power bank will charge it without any issue. You will be surprised that this device has a thin structure even because its capacity is high and built to withstand any external force. Attached to this device is a 20-foot USB cable which is amazing as it prevents you from buying extra devices, but one amazing thing about this cable is the fact that it is enclosed in a paracord. If you are clumsy or not good at keeping devices safe, this is the perfect device.
Key Features:
- Durable
- Two-port output
- 10000mAh
- 20-foot USB cable
- Paracord, carabiner, and nylon strapped wrapped USB cord
- Quick Recharging
- Cold performance
Specification:
- Manufacturer: Dark Energy
- Connection: USB, Micro USB
- Dimension: 6 x 0.81 x 3.5 inches
- Weight: 11.2 ounces
- Battery: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries
Pros
- It can be charged with solar
- It is light
- It is very compact
- It is waterproof and shockproof
- It is durable
- It has dual output ports
- It has a light bulb inbuilt
- The charging cord is very thick
Cons
- It is expensive
- It doesn’t come with the solar panel attached to it
2
Anker PowerCore III Elite 25600 87W Portable Charger
If you are familiar with your devices and technology, you must have heard of the Anker brand. This brand is known to produce high-quality devices, and this is not an exception. If you are looking for a device that can charge your laptop or other devices, then you have found the right choice. It is not every day you see a 25,600mAh power bank, but it is all possible thanks to Anker. Your laptop is assigned 30W is the device power, and it is capable of charging your laptop in 4 hours from 0-100. We don’t think you would find anyone better. If you travel a lot and don’t like your device getting low, you should probably get yourself an Anker PowerCore III Elite 25600 87W Portable Charger. One main reason most people might be discouraged from getting this device is the price, but if you can spare a few extra, it would b worth it.
Key Features:
- Aluminum frame
- Great charging capacity
- Fast charge
- Compact
- Portable
Specification:
- Collosal capacity: 26800mAh
- Manufacturer: Anker
- Dimension: 6.54 x 3.15 x 0.91 inches
- Input type: Micro USB
- Weight: 1.28 pounds
- Battery: 1 Lithium ion
Pros
- It comes with a button to help you check the percentage level of your battery
- It charges your devices fast
- It can be used to charge laptops
- It comes with 3 different ports
- It charges almost all types of device
- It still charges fast even when you are charging two devices at a time
Cons
- It is not affordable
- The cables attached to the device are not as strong as those of other devices.
- “Pass-through” charging is not possible with this device
3
Goal Zero Venture 70
The Goal Zero brand is known to be the manufacturers of high-quality solar panels and very portable, and a great device to take on a camping trip. Some of the features and materials used on this power bank are made from great quality materials, such as the Goal Zero 70 power bank. If you are looking for a device to take with you outdoors, this device is the best choice because it is built mainly for that purpose. In situations where it rains or in a wet environment, you can be sure of this device not getting damaged because it is waterproof. If you need to charge multiple devices simultaneously quickly, you can use this device, and both devices will still experience the fast charge feature. Also, your cameras and other devices which use integrated micro-USB cables are not left out. When this device is low and needs to be charged, it takes about 9 hours for it to be charged in the sun, or if you decide to use the 2A USB source, it takes about 4 hours to charge fully. Once this device is fully charged, you can use it to charge multiple devices, and it will last you for a long. The only downside of this device is the price. Still, if you consider all its amazing features like waterproof, durability, and integrated cables, you would know it is surely worth the price.
Key Features:
- 17,700mAh
- Goal Zero 70 power bank panel
- Fast charging
- Integrated micro-USB cable
- Nomad 7 solar panel
- Rechargeable
Specification:
- Weight: 1 pound
- Dimension: 6.4 x 3.7 x 0.9 inches
- Battery: Lithium-Ion
- Capacity: 17,700 mAh
- Material: ABS plastic/rubberized coating
Pros
- It can be used to charge two devices at the same time
- It comes with two different charging cables attached for your android and apple devices, respectively
- It is durable
- It is waterproof
- It can charge up to 6 smartphones
Cons
- It is expensive
- It is heavy
4
OUTXE 20000mAh Waterproof Power Bank with Flashlight
Wanting more is something everybody wants, and if you can get more out of your device, why not go for it. With the OUTXE 20000mAh Waterproof Power Bank with Flashlight, you will get more charging time, and it also comes with a flashlight. This device is a 20000mAh capacity model, making it one of the best compared to others within its price range. If you are not sure of the weather conditions or if there is a probability it would rain on your adventure. You don’t need to be worried because the IP67 rating makes it water-resistant. If there is no space to carry your regular flashlights or forget to carry one on your adventure, you won’t feel the effect because this device comes with a bright enough flashlight to serve the purpose. The only downside about this device is that it doesn’t have a solar panel for charging, but it can last for a long if fully charged before leaving the house. Also, it comes with an 18-month warranty.
Key Features:
- IP67
- 18-month warranty
- No solar panel
- Dual USB ports
- Durable
Specification:
- Battery: rechargeable Li-polymer
- Capacity: 20000mAh
- Flashlight
- Dimension: 6.7×3.4×1.2 inches
- Weight: 525g
- Manufacturer: OUTXE
Pros
- It is waterproof
- It resistant to dust
- It has dual charging outputs
- It supports dual charging
- It is capable of quick charge
- The flashlights attached are bright
- It is resistant to skid
- It is Rubberized, which is one of the reasons why it is easy to hold
Cons
- It can not be recharged through solar
- It is heavy
5
Goal Zero Sherpa 50 Solar Recharging Kit with Nomad 13 Solar Panel
Most people who go hiking go with cameras and devices that will need to be charged, as they consume a lot of power. Well, to be able to do that, you would need a device capable of charging the most basic hiking or camping device. It is great to know that all this is possible with Goal Zero, which also has a 50W solar panel attached to it. The Sherpa 50 recharger that it comes with also allows it to charge almost every electronic device. The output connection is safe to plug your laptop charger directly because it has a 120V AC through a standard outlet. You don’t need to look for an outlet to charge this device because the solar panel makes it easy to charge anytime.
Key Features:
- Sherpa 50 recharger
- 50W solar panel
Specification:
- Manufacturer: Goal Zero
- Weight: 1.1 Pounds
- Dimension: 4.5 x 5.25 x 1.5 inches
- Battery: 1 Lithium ion
- Capacity: 50Wh, 5,200mAH
Pros
- It has a 50W solar panel
- It has a 12V DC output which can be used for the charging of larger devices
- It has an inverter attached to it
Cons
- It is expensive
- It can not be used to charge a Macbook Pro
- It is heavy
6
Solar Power Bank 10,000 mAh Qi Portable Charger
If you are looking for a small device that is very efficient, then the Solar Power Bank 10,000 mAh Qi Portable Charger should be top of your list. Also, thanks to the Qi wireless charging feature, you don’t need to have cables always. Although the capacity of this device is 10000mAh, you can be sure that it would give you a good few rounds of charging. This device also supports charging two devices simultaneously and won’t affect the charging speed. If you ever forget to charge this device fully before leaving home, you don’t need to worry as it can be charged outdoors with the aid of the solar panels attached to it. Although when charging with the solar panel, you would have to be patient. The solar panel has a small size and makes it slow to charge.
Key Features:
- Qi wireless charging
- Micro USB connectors
- Durable
Specification:
- Manufacturer: BLAVOR
- Weight: 10 ounces
- Connector: USB
- Output: 2.1 Amps
- Capacity: 10000mAh
- Voltage: 5 Volts
- Dimension: 5.9 x 3.1 x 0.8 inches
- Battery: 1 Lithium Metal batteries
Pros
- It can be used to charge two devices at the same time
- It is resistant to shock
- It supports Qi wireless charging
- It is resistant to dust and water
- The solar panel is attached to the battery for easy charging
- It can be hanged easily on your backpack
Cons
- It has a small solar panel which makes it take a longer period to be charged fully
Buying Guide Questions
A buying guide is never complete without FAQs. Well, we have taken the time to research, and we have come up with some of the FAQs that are on the mind of customers or potential customers. We have provided you with the best possible answers/solutions, and we hope you find them helpful.
WHAT IS THE BEST SOLAR CHARGER FOR BACKPACKING?
The solar charger is a device made to help restore the power of your electronic appliances like smartphones through the absorption of heat energy. It is made up of a solar panel and a battery pack. In contrast, the solar panel helps absorb sunlight and processes it into electricity which charges the battery pack while the battery pack is used to charge other electronic devices.
The solar charger is a beneficial device that can be used for someone embarking on a journey like backpackers because it allows them to easily recharge their electronic devices such as smartphones, handheld GPS devices, and hiking watches.
It has become very common among backpackers, especially those that use their device location to navigate through their trip, because no smartphone has been confirmed using more than twenty-four hours while its GPS is turned on.
Since many people worldwide have adopted this solar charger, many investors see it as an opportunity to invest in the product because they believe it is selling fast in the market. Beyond reasonable doubt, it is undeniable that each brand producing any product will be claiming their products as the best of all, which reverse may be the case.
Furthermore, the aim of each producer in making their product has a higher rate of recommendation from the mass. They all enter into a contest of making the best of the product and winning the game. And in a competitive market, not all products will reach the satisfaction of people. Rather some will be given preference over some. While struggling to remove you from the doubt of which solar charger is the best for your backpacking, the following reviewed solar chargers are recommended for you.
- GOLD ZERO NOMAD 10
This is one of the recommended solar chargers for your trip, and it is built with rugged and strong materials. It allows being strapped easily into a backpack, tent, or any other bag. It is also designed with kickstands at all angles, making it easy to be positioned facing the sunlight. Its solar panel is considered strong and the perfect one for a long-distance trip, and it is suitable for backpacking, hiking, camping, mountaineering, and trekking.
- ANKER POWER PORT 21W
This kind of solar charger is built with a solar panel only without a battery pack. That is, you can only directly with it. However, it is good if someone has a battery pack or power bank before so that the solar panel may be used to charge the battery or power bank. It is suitable for charging your electric appliances like a headlamp, smartphones, and others directly without an intermediary. It maintains the normal charging systems of your phone with its featured power IQ technology, which also charges your gadgets with speed. Note, the solar panel will find it impossible to produce enough electricity to suit the normal charging procedure during cloudy or rainy weather. It is small and can be easily attached to your backpack. It is also suitable for any form of trip.
- BIGBLUE FOLDABLE SOLAR CHARGER
This solar charger is portable and foldable, and it has a higher rate of choice from people because it gives more than what a power bank can give. It is built with a solar panel that covers a larger surface and also with more charging ports. It also has more capacity and efficiency, and it can be folded at any time and allows charging up to three gadgets simultaneously without disturbance from one another.
DO PORTABLE CHARGERS RUIN YOUR BATTERY?
A portable charger is beneficial and perfect for charging our smartphones and any other electronic gadgets most because it gives a standard charging protocol to our smartphones and maintains the originality of the battery. But in some cases, a portable charger may not be suitable for some smartphones when connected with some other substandard instruments like cable. Also, a portable charger known as a power bank may give a low or higher voltage than the capacity composed for your device to regulate and which may damage the phone battery and some other circuits.
Moreover, an appropriately built portable charger with high standard and quality will do no damages to your phone battery. So avoid going for quantity ones instead of quality.
IS 20000MAH POWER BANK ALLOWED ON A PLANE?
Solar Power is allowed in every airplane since you go in line with the rules and regulations stated with it. A power bank is allowed in a plane does not give room for taking just anyone with you. Still, there is a limit for every power bank to be allowed in a plane due to some circumstances, the capacity of power bank allowed on a plane varies from one another depending on the airline, but the most accepted ones start from 20000mah which is almost allowed on every airplane, in some airports the ones with 10000mah may be allowed. In contrast, occasionally, two 10000mah power banks may be allowed for that permit not less than 20000mah.
When you are allowed to enter a plane with a power bank, you must put it in a place where you will have easy accessibility to eating. Also, it must be put in cabin luggage and not checked in luggage (Cargo) because if it may cause a fire outbreak through heat, you can control it and stop the outbreak. So at this end, a 20000mah power bank is allowed on a plane but with obedience to the stated rules and regulations.
IS 50000MAH POWER BANK ALLOWED IN A FLIGHT?
To maintain the safety of the plane and passengers while traveling overseas air, some rules and regulations have been put in place which must be obeyed by the passenger, part of the regulations is the issue of acceptance and prohibition of power bank, according to the regulations from IATA, some power banks are strictly prohibited in flight while some allowed. The only power bank allowed in a flight is the one that ranged between 100wh and 160wh in a capacity. That is, anything more than the range is not allowed. A 50000mah power bank will not be allowed if it goes beyond the stated watt hour(wh). So before it could be allowed, calculate its watt-hour and ensure it falls between 100 and 160wh.
IS 30000MAH POWER BANK ALLOWED IN A FLIGHT?
As said, the capacity of a power bank to be allowed in a flight should not go beyond 100wh to 160wh, calculating the watt-hour or 30000mah power bank, it should be around 110wh or 111 wh. Therefore, it is allowed in a flight but must be placed in the carry-on bag and not in the checked-in luggage.
HOW DO I KEEP MY PHONE CHARGED WHILE CAMPING?
A phone is an electronic device that must have at least a percentage of power before you can access it. The functions of a phone are plenty beyond imagination and can never be underestimated or ignored. As time goes on, the functions increase from time to time. Can you imagine using that small device as a tool that leads the way for you through your journey? Do not be surprised. Some people travel from their place to another country for the first time without knowing their way, but they feel comfortable. Why? They have their smartphone with them and can easily navigate through it to their destination with the help of the GPS.
Now that you can not leave your phone at home because you need it to direct you through your journey, it is important to make sure you have enough power. That is, it must be charged. At the same time, you can not go with your electricity wires with you or can you? Impossible. And a phone can not be used for more than a day while its GPS is turned on, then you need another means to charge your phone while camping. Technology has made it easier to recharge your phone anywhere you go, even with the absence of electricity.
You can charge your phone with your car while camping and some other means, but the outstanding one is a portable solar charger. It is very beneficial when you need to recharge your phone by absorbing sunlight, process it into electricity, and charge your phone easily without consuming any stress. All you need is to find a charger that is suitable for your phone.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A PORTABLE SOLAR CHARGER? ARE SOLAR CHARGERS WORTH IT?
Choosing a portable solar charger for camping activity may be very difficult because there are many of them in the market, which you may be confused to go for.
Being a first-timer in using a solar charger does not mean you should just enter a shop and choose the first one you see in the market. Believe if you do so, you may end up regretting your action.
There is a popular saying, “Not all that glitter is gold” some solar may appear attractive to you, but after buying it, you will know it is unbearable because it may be frustrating.
So when you need to shop for a solar charger, you should put considerations in place before buying any. The consideration includes:
- CHOOSING A RELIABLE SOLAR PANEL
While buying your solar charger, the first thing is to select the reliable ones because there are various solar panels available for sale at a cheaper rate from sellers, which is not advisable to buy from such people. After all, it may fail you one day, and what is the essence of a solar charger when it can not be used in an emergency? Three things that determine the reliability of a solar panel are; brand, wattage, and durability. Knowing the best brand for a product could be from research or asking the expertise, or even using the customers’ report on the brand.
- WATTAGE
Another thing after the brand is the watt of the solar charger. When choosing your charger, it is important to go to the watt that is enough for your devices; if you are charging your laptop, you need a solar charger with the capable watt of charging the laptop. So it would help if you chose the watt of your charger considering the watt of appliances you want to charge.
- DURABILITY
Another thing to consider is the charger’s durability, which involves not only how the charger can overcome any damages but also ensure it can cope with anything you may encounter in the future. So to know this, you research what those that have used it before say about it.
- CHOOSING THE RIGHT ADAPTER
You may still be experiencing the same problem that the wrong solar charger is experiencing because you have chosen the wrong adapter even though your solar charge may be perfect. So choosing the right adapter that suits your phone is very important as well.
Not every product produced is worth its productivity, but the fact that a solar charger is worth its productivity is a salient fact, which can not be denied by anyone except those that know, not its benefits. Imagine the problem backpackers will be experiencing if this thing is not in place, thanks to technology that gives a chance to the production of solar chargers.
IS IT BAD TO CHARGE YOUR PHONE TO 100? DO POWER BANKS STOP CHARGING WHEN IT IS FULL?
Most people are fond of charging their phone up to 100%, all in the name that they want a long-life battery, but less do they know that the more they charge their phone to 100%, the more damaging the battery.
Yes, it is bad for someone to charge his phone to 100% because charging it to 100% will do no benefit to the battery but rather ruin it. Also, it makes the battery overheating and stressful, which is dangerous to the battery’s health. Please take a look at our bodies. For instance, it is unhealthy to fill up our stomach totally when eating because it is dangerous to our health and may lead to uneasiness, the same thing applicable to battery life.
Do not be surprised. Every electronic device that deals with percentage stop charging when it is full. Although it may be overcharging instead, it is overheating, which may be dangerous to your phone.
So there is nothing like double charging. It stops when it is full.
CAN I CHARGE A PORTABLE POWER BANK AND USE IT TO CHARGE MY PHONE AT THE SAME TIME?
The reason behind the production of power banks is to store power for later purposes and not as an intermediary between your phone and your electric socket.
Charging your power bank and using it to charge your phone at the same time may be possible, just that it will take a long time for your power bank before it is fully charged. And at the same time, it may be dangerous not only for the power bank but also for your phone.
CAN YOU CHARGE A CELL PHONE WITH A 12VOLTS BATTERY? HOW DO YOU CHARGE YOUR PHONE WHILE HIKING?
Charging your phone with a 12 volts battery requires careful procedures because the maximum volt expected for every cell phone is 5 volts, whereas 12 volts is extremely excessive to the expected volt. To prevent your phone while charging with a12 volts battery, you need to reduce it to the expected 5 volts by connecting some devices like car chargers and cigarette lighter plug.
Charging your phone while hiking may be very difficult because you are away from home, but the only best option and easy way to charge your phone while hiking is getting a solar charger.
Conclusion
In the article above, we have provided you with the best portable battery charges available, and we hope you find one that suits your need and gives you a great experience. If you are going camping or on an adventure, and you need a great bike, you can check out (Best Adventurer Folding Bike