Whether you’re a frequent hiker, camper, or outdoors enthusiast, chances are you have a number of portable chargers, batteries, and solar chargers scattered throughout your home, office, car, and even your camping gear. Each of these chargers has pros and cons, with some being more useful than others depending on your specific circumstances. Whether you’re looking for a portable battery pack for camping or a solar charger for your smartphone, this article is a resource for all your portable charging needs.
Cell Phones, cameras, and even handheld GPS devices are all very helpful, but they all have one problem. They run on batteries that will need recharging. Stashing all of this gear for a short day hike requires a lumbar pack for hiking at the least, or a smaller day pack,
We’ve put together some reviews of the best portable phone chargers for camping and backpacking so you can keep your gear charged up and alive.
Table of contents
- At a Glance : Our Top Picks
- Best Solar Chargers for Camping
- Best Rugged Solar Charger
- Editors Choice for Solar Portable Charger
- Best Portable Battery Chargers Reviews
- Best Portable Battery Packs
- Best Portable Phone Charger
- Best Hand Powered Portable Charger
- Our Favorite
- Best for Budget
- Portable Battery Charging Guide
- What are the differences between a portable battery and a solar charger?
- How to Choose a Solar Charger for Your Smartphone
- What to Look for in a Portable Charger
- Important Considerations
- How to Choose the Right Portable Charger for You
- Final Words: Should You Buy a Portable Battery or a Solar Charger?
- FAQs
- Need More Advice on Gear and Footwear?
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
- Anker PowerCore Solar 20000 – rugged and durable
- Anker Power Core – charges even your laptop!
- Hiluckey Outdoor Portable Solar Charger 25000mAh
Clicking the above links will take you to further information, current prices and customer reviews on Amazon
Table of contents
- At a Glance : Our Top Picks
- Best Solar Chargers for Camping
- Best Rugged Solar Charger
- Editors Choice for Solar Portable Charger
- Best Portable Battery Chargers Reviews
- Best Portable Battery Packs
- Best Portable Phone Charger
- Best Hand Powered Portable Charger
- Our Favorite
- Best for Budget
- Portable Battery Charging Guide
- What are the differences between a portable battery and a solar charger?
- How to Choose a Solar Charger for Your Smartphone
- What to Look for in a Portable Charger
- Important Considerations
- How to Choose the Right Portable Charger for You
- Final Words: Should You Buy a Portable Battery or a Solar Charger?
- FAQs
- Need More Advice on Gear and Footwear?
Best Solar Chargers for Camping
When it comes to choosing the best solar chargers for camping, you’ll likely come across a lot of different options. The market is saturated with a lot of sub-par products, so it’s important to do your research and make sure you’re getting the best value for your money.
If you’re in the market for a portable solar charger for your car or RV, then there are a number of options on this list. Whether you’re an avid camper or just interested in having a backup power supply for your phones and tablets, these are the best solar chargers for camping currently available.
Best Rugged Solar Charger
Anker PowerCore Solar 10000 ()
- Rugged, waterproof and dustproof
- Dual recharge mode: wall and solar
- 3-mode flashlight for added versatility
- 7 hours to recharge via wall charger
- approximately 12 days to recharge by solar
- Hand strap
- Weight: 9.5oz
- USB ports: 2
- Capacity: 10,000mAh
The Anker PowerCore Solar 20000 is a beast of a solar charger. Boasting a massive charge capacity, it can power many high-powered devices in a pinch. But it’s what inside that makes it special. With the Anker PowerCore 20000, you get an 8W high-voltage port and 3 more ports (5V 2.4A, 5V 2A, and 5V 1A) for your smartphones and tablets. That means it takes less time to recharge big batteries like the iPhone XS or Galaxy Note 9.
But if that’s not enough to sweeten the pot, this thing has also got a built-in flashlight! Powerful enough to light up a campsite, or signal for help from across the river – all without needing to touch any buttons or flipping any switches.
The charger is easy to use, with a single button that shows you how much of a charge is available by lighting up the 4 LEDs. It recharges relatively quickly when plugged into a wall outlet or USB port. One thing I noticed was that if I didn’t unplug the battery from the wall when it was fully charged, it would start to lose some of its charge in 24 hours or so. That may be normal for these types of batteries, but I haven’t noticed it with my other Anker batteries.
Overall, it took about 5-7 days to get a full charge (4 blue lights) on the solar pack and that was moving it to face the sun throughout each day.
Compatible with:
iPhone 8/8 Plus/ X / Xs / Xs Max /XR / 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max
iPad mini 5 / Pro 12.9“ 2018 / Pro 11“
Samsung S10/ S10+/ S10e /S20 /S20+/S20 Ultra /Note10
Likes:
- Multiple USB ports for charging multiple devices at once
- 20000mAh capacity is great for a solar charger.
- Rugged and solid build construction
- Built in flashlight with 3 light settings
- Hand strap for added peace of mind when on the go
Dislikes:
- Charging in the sunlight, it’s so incremental that it’s not useful- Two days in the sun and it still had only 2/5 bars of charge
- description says USB-C right in the title. No USB-C port
Editors Choice for Solar Portable Charger
Blavor Solar Power Bank Qi Charger 20,000 mAh ($46.99)
- Rugged, waterproof and dustproof
- Built-in compass
- 3 modes of light: LED Flashlight, strobe and SOS
- approximately 12 days to recharge by solar
- Dimensions: 6.9 x 3.5 x 1.1 inches
- Weight: 1.43 lbs
- USB ports: 2
- Hi to Capacity: 20,000mAh
The BLAVOR Solar Charger Power Bank 20000mAh is a device that can be used in a variety of ways. It is a power bank that can be charged using solar energy, using a micro usb cable, or using the USB C port. The USB C port also doubles as a input and output port. This means you can use it to charge your iPhone 11 as well as other devices.
The BLAVOR solar power bank 20000mAh is lightweight, waterproof and dustproof making it perfect for hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. The rugged design makes it easy to grip and hold on to even in wet conditions. The charger can be used for charging smartphones, tablets, cameras, GPS units, Bluetooth speakers etc.
The power banks are durable and water-resistant so they can withstand heavy rain or even being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes without being damaged. You won’t have to worry about your phone getting wet when using this power bank, because it’s made of high quality materials that are designed to withstand water damage.
The flash light has three modes and can be used as a flashlight, SOS, or strobe light. It also contains a compass kit which makes it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and urgent situations like suddenly shutdown of power caused by typhoon, hurricane etc.
Compatible with:
Samsung Galaxy Note9, S9/S9+, Note8, S8/S8+,7.5W
iPhone 13/ 13Pro/XR/XS MAX/XS/X/8/8plus
Qi enabled devices
What We Do Like:
- Very solid build
- Aireless Qi charging
- Compass is handy
- Clip is centered at the top middle
- Powerful- able to charge phone and laptop
- Rubberized case means durable
We Dislike:
- Solar charging would be painfully slow
- A bit heavy to carry
Best Portable Battery Chargers Reviews
Best Portable Battery Packs
If you’re looking for the best portable battery pack to take with you on your next outdoor adventure, this is a great option.
This lightweight battery pack is small enough to fit in your pocket or bag, meaning you won’t have to sacrifice any of your precious space when you need to charge your phone or other devices. It comes with two output ports, allowing you to simultaneously charge two devices at full speed.
Anker PowerCore III Elite 25600 87W Portable Charger ($143.99)
If you need some serious charging power for your laptop or later generation, power-hungry cell phone, then you can’t get better than the Anker PowerCore.
Packing in 25,600mAh, this is the most powerful model on our list.
With 30W of power to charge your laptop, and a full-charge-from-zero of around 4 hours using the (included) wall charger – this is probably the highest-spec battery pack you’ll find.
This whopper of a portable battery charger is hefty, but it’s sleek aluminum housing packs a major power punch.
This is for those of us who travel with all the electronics and aren’t prepared to suffer a day without a quick charge.
Who might want something else? If you tend to drop things, or you don’t need quite so much fast charging capacity and want to pay a bit less.
What We Like
- Heavy-duty charger for charging speed – fast charges iPhone at 18W and laptop at 30W (USB-C PD)
- Button to check the remaining % charge of the battery
- 2 5V/3A USB ports & 1 USB-C port for “Power Delivery” fast charge
- Anker PowerCore can charge laptops, late-generation cell phones or tablets even Nintendo Switch!
- Quick charge, even when charging two devices simultaneously
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t support “pass through” charging (it won’t charge itself whilst charging your device, even when plugged into the wall charger)
- Cables supplied are on the flimsy side and it’s not as rugged as some of the others
- Price
Goal Zero Nomad 14 ()
Goal Zero makes great folding solar panels that are super-portable and perfect for camping.
They also make some great power accessories to go with these panels like the Goal Zero Nomad 14 power bank.
This portable solar charger is built for the outdoors. It’s encased in a rugged IP68 rated housing making it completely waterproof.
It delivers high-speed charging via dual 2.4A USB ports so you can charge two devices at the same time. It has an integrated micro-USB cable for cameras, and other devices that use these connectors.
The battery packs in a hefty 66.9Wh delivering a 3.7V output with a 17,700mAh capacity. When the charger is flat you connect it to the solar panel or a USB port.
Using the Nomad 7, or better still the Nomad 14 solar panel, (sold separately) it’s a 9 hour charging speed in full sun to fully charge and about 4 hours from a 2A USB source.
Charge it up before leaving home and you’ll have enough power for a few phone and camera charges.
It costs more than other similar capacity chargers but its rugged build, waterproofing and integrated cables make it worth it.
What We Like
- Rugged, waterproof IP68 rated housing means you won’t break it!
- Integrated cables so you don’t have to pack separate cables for different devices
- 17,700mAh capacity allows for 4.5 to 6 smartphone charging cycles
- Can charge two devices simultaneously
- Ships with two cables: lightening and micro, so you can charge Apple & Android devices
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
- Heavy for it’s size
Best Portable Phone Charger
Crave PowerPack Portable Battery Pack Charger ($249.99)
If you need to charge more than just your phone and you want a few charging cycles then this is a good choice.
You can certainly charge your electrical gadgets everywhere you go on your adventures. Crave Power Bank 50000mAh is portable and compact, making it ideal for airline journeys, camping, fishing, and other situations when you don’t need power right away.
It’s IP67 rated so it will survive pretty much any conditions you experience on your trip, including being submerged in water.
Dual USB ports with a higher current output delivering up to 2.4A and the other getting up to 1.5A. It has a built-in integrated flashlight that is bright enough that you can leave your regular flashlight at home.
Not solar-compatible though so you’ll have to charge it before leaving home. This is a solidly portable phone charger has plenty of capacity and comes with an 18 month warranty.
What We Like
- 50000mAh capacity is higher than most others
- Quick charge supported
- 3.0 USB-C 60W + Quick Charge QC 3.0 Dual Ports
What We Don’t Like
- At just over 4 lb it’s pretty heavy
- It doesn’t support solar charging
Goal Zero Sherpa 100 PD Portable Power Bank ($328.45)
If you’re hiking with a serious camera, tablet or laptop then the normal chargers aren’t going to be up to your requirements.
The Sherpa 100PD is designed for action-packed days when every minute counts, with 94.72 Watts of power supplied to your most important devices in a fraction of the time. Laptops, tablets, phones, mirrorless cameras, and other USB-C devices may all be charged.
Approved by airlines and ready to travel: The sleek, aluminum, lightweight design conveniently fits into packs, backpacks, and camera cases. Ideal for trips where space is at a premium.
If you’re on the move and need to charge quickly, then this fast-charging power bank delivers! What’s more, you can plan on getting about five full charges on an iPhone Xs when your Goal Zero Sherpa 100PD is fully charged. The 60W USB-C Power Delivery connector can charge USB-C laptops, phones, and tablets.
Certainly, you can carry one less cord if your phone is Qi-compatible, by using their Qi charging pad. As a result, you can charge other gear, such as fitness trackers, gps gadgets, and other devices that use 2.4A USB connections.
Also, the Sherpa 100PD power bank is the most flexible on the market, with six distinct output ports to power a variety of devices. Wireless Qi, 2 USB-A, 2 60W USB-C PD, 110V AC Inverter A hundred-watt hours of lithium power can charge your phone seven times, your tablet three times, and your laptop 1.5 times.
What We Like
- Airline-approved, sleek and lightweight portable charger
- Charge Qi-compatible phones
- Two 2.4A USB ports for multiple devices and micro-lightning phones
- Charges both quickly and powerfully
What We Don’t Like
- We wish it had a place to nest the charging cable into the charger
- Not enough output current to charge Macbook Pro
- Pricey
Solar Power Bank 10,000 mAh Qi Portable Charger ($29.99)
This is a solidly built portable battery charger with a small high-efficiency solar panel on one side. Qi wireless charging means you don’t need to be forever fiddling with cables.
This model has a capacity of 10,000mAh which is good for a couple of phone charging cycles.
It has a two-in-one charging cable with lightning and micro USB connectors.
Charge it fully at home and you’ve got a recharging source when you’re outdoors. The solar panel is pretty small so it charges the internal battery really slowly but it’s better than nothing when you’re all out of power and miles from a wall charger.
Hang it on the outside of your backpack and it’ll trickle charge that battery all day to extend the amount of devices you can charge during your trip.
It’s built really tough and will take a beating. If you want a well-priced recharging solution for your camera, portable charge iphone comptabible, or GPS, then this is a solid choice.
What We Like
- Solar panel integrated into battery housing
- Qi wireless charging
- Easy to hang on outside of backpack using supplied carabiner clip or velcro cable tie
- Waterproof, Shockproof and Dustproof
- Can charge two devices simultaneously
What We Don’t Like
- Solar panel is small so it takes a long time to charge
BioLite Campstove 2 Wood Burning Electricity Generating & USB Charging Camp Stove ()
This great looking camp stove uses the excess heat generated from the burning twigs and wood to generate electricity.
Besides, we were really impressed with the first generation of the CampStove charger and now it’s even better. It now outputs 50% more power, and comes with an integrated 2600mAh battery life and LED flexlite so you can keep an eye on your cooking.
While you’re boiling some water for your camp coffee or heating up some food you can plug your phone into the USB charging port.
If you don’t plug anything into the port, it charges the internal battery so you can use that power later – even when the stove isn’t burning.
It’ll put out up to 3W which is fine for charging a smartphone if you’re patient.
You’re basically charging your portable phone battery with twigs while you roast marshmallows. It doesn’t get cooler than that.
What We Like
- Turns renewable biomass like twigs, pinecones and wood pellets into electricity
- Works well as a small camping stove
- Shape and fans allow for efficient burning
- Cook food while charging your phone!
What We Don’t Like
- Only outputs up to 3W so it’s not going to be fast-charging anything
Best Hand Powered Portable Charger
Solar Hand Crank Portable Radio, Weather Radio for Emergency – AM/FM, LED Flashlight, 2000mAh Power Bank USB Charger and SOS Alarm ($29.99)
A bit of a gimmick… or for backcountry emergency use.
This is more of an emergency power source than the kind of thing you’d pack as a power source if you’re going to be away for a day or two. It’s a flashlight, reading lamp, radio and power bank all rolled into one.
Turning the handle drives a generator inside the device to power the radio, flashlight and power bank. However, this is a portable battery charger you’d take as a back up, and not to rely on it to charge your energy-hungry smartphone.
It’s a great option if you’re going to be away for a while and don’t want to have to rely on good sun for the tiny built-in solar panel to do the job.
You’ll have to wind the crank in 3 minute shifts and then give your hands a break or maybe get the kids involved.
What We Like
- Solid, strong construction
- Free energy! Well, almost – more for emergency use
- AAA batteries as backup
What We Don’t Like
- Takes a lot of effort
- Not suited to charging smartphones (2000mAh)
BigBlue 3 USB-A 28W Waterproof Solar Charger Panel ($67.49)
If you’re expecting plenty of sun and will be stopping for a few hours during daylight hours then this is a best portable charger option.
This high-efficiency solar panel outputs up to 28W, weighs just at 20.5 ounces and folds up into a thin, compact form factor (11.6 × 6.3× 1.3in folded and 33.1x 11.1x 0.2in unfolded) that fits easily into your pack.
It doesn’t have a built-in battery so you’re going to need sun to get your charging done. It has 3 smart-charging USB ports that allow you to charge up to 3 devices simultaneously.
The output current is high enough to charge most devices and the stainless hooks make it easy to hang from your tent, a tree or even your backpack while walking.
Combine this folding solar panel with a good battery pack and you’ll have plenty of power.
What We Like
- Folds easily into a compact size
- Will output up to 28W and a maximum of 5V/2.4A and total maximum current of 3* USBA is at 5V/4.8A
- Can charge three devices simultaneously
- 4 grommets make it easy to hang solar panel on tent or backpacks with a carabiner
- Intelligent adaptive smart charging circuitry adapts to your device for fastest charging
- Waterproof
What We Don’t Like
- No internal battery so you can only charge your device when there’s sunlight
Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel ()
At 21W this folding solar panel puts out enough power to be a portable phone charger & give some juice to most smartphones and cameras and folds into a very compact and lightweight size.
The two outputs can be used simultaneously but will only output a maximum of 2A each. That’s plenty for most devices and it’s fast charging.
It’s really light and the small form factor and mounting rings make it ideal for hanging off the back of your backpack.
The panels are waterproof but the USB charging connectors aren’t. If you’re going to use it on your backpack then make sure the connectors are safely inside.
Just remember that it has no power storage so you’re going to need a power bank or hope for sun when charging your devices directly.
What We Like
- 21W output from a compact folding solar panel
- Dual outputs for simultaneous charging of two devices
- Very light, durable and flexible construction
- Mounting holes allow for easy hanging
- Cheaper than similar competing products
What We Don’t Like
- No internal battery so you can only charge when the sun is shining
Our Favorite
We love the Anker PowerCore Solar 10000. We can be pretty tough on our gear sometimes but this device is just about indestructible.
It doesn’t have the highest battery capacity – for that you’ll need the Anker Powercore– we’ve seen but it’s plenty enough for 3-6 phone charging cycles while not taking up too much space in your pack.
Since the military uses these then we were pretty confident it might just survive one of our camping trips.’
Best for Budget
If you’re just looking to keep your phone battery topped up then the INIU Portable Charger 22.5W PD3.0 QC4.0 Fast Charging LED Display 20000mAh is a good budget option.
The solar panel is too small to be fast charging, but hey, every bit helps. It’s not exactly small or pretty but it’ll charge just about any phone and is well priced.
Portable Battery Charging Guide
Understanding Battery Types
If you’re new to the world of portable power, you may be wondering what differentiates one portable battery from the next. Put simply, there are two main categories of portable batteries – internal and external.
- Internal batteries are built-in to the portable charger itself. They’re the least expensive and most compact of the bunch. The downside is that they won’t work with any other device besides the one that came with the charger.
- External batteries, on the other hand, can be charged with any portable battery charger. They’re larger, more expensive, and heavier, but they can be used on the go with almost any device.
The portable options that you have for recharging your devices come in these two main categories:
What are the differences between a portable battery and a solar charger?
A solar charger may seem like an obvious choice over a portable battery, but there are a few key differences you should be aware of. Let’s take a closer look.
Solar panel – Power Source
Solar panels for camping and hiking will normally make use of thin-film solar cells which contain no glass. This allows them to be flexible, light and easily incorporated into a folding form.
Capacity
The most obvious difference between a solar charger and a portable battery is capacity. A portable battery might be able to charge a single device several times over, but a solar charger can power multiple devices at the same time.

They generally have no battery storage incorporated into them which means they’re only going to charge your device when there’s decent sun.
The output can vary as clouds move across the sun. Because of this, they work better as a charger for your battery bank than charging your phone or camera directly.
You may have seen small solar panels attached to a battery pack – these are mostly far too weak to charge anything but an old Nokia from 1998.
Weight
How to Choose a Solar Charger for Your Smartphone
If you ever find yourself out in the wilderness, but your smartphone battery is almost dead, it’s time to start looking for a portable solar charger.
Unfortunately, there are very few that can fully charge a phone in a few hours, but there are some on the market that come close. You’ll want to make sure the model you choose is capable of charging a wide range of devices, so you can keep your phone topped off while you also charge other devices.
When it comes to choosing a solar charger for your phone, you also want to make sure it has a high enough output voltage, meaning it has enough power to fully charge your phone.
Some solar chargers have a low output voltage and only charge a single device at a time. This can be a problem if you have multiple cell phones or tablets that require different levels of power.
What to Look for in a Portable Charger
Output Voltage
The first thing you’ll want to look for in a portable charger is a high enough output voltage. The majority of smartphones use a 9-volt battery, so you’ll want a charger that can output at least this much voltage.
Charging Speed
The charging speed of a portable charger will depend on the model you choose. Most will charge at a consistent pace, meaning they won’t suddenly speed up or slow down.
Weight
When selecting a portable charger, you’ll also want to keep weight in mind. Most are significantly heavier than comparable internal batteries, meaning you may need to sacrifice bulk in order to get the size you want
Size
The last thing you’ll want to take into consideration is the overall size of the solar charger. You don’t want it to be too big to comfortably carry around, but you also don’t want it to be so small that it doesn’t have adequate charging capacity.
Portable battery, power bank, or battery recharger – Power Storage
It’s referred to by any one of these terms and is essentially a high-capacity battery with outputs that allow you to connect a device so that you can charge it.
You would charge it fully from a power outlet at home and that way you’ve got power when you’re outdoors. Once the battery in the power bank is depleted you’ll need another source to recharge it.
Often this can be a solar panel.
If you do plan to charge it from a solar panel then make sure the battery bank supports this. Not all are solar chargeable.
Handcrank Chargers and Heat Chargers
Besides the two categories above you then also get hand crank type chargers and heat converters like the ones we reviewed above.
I’d put these into more of a “fun bit of kit” than a real source of power for modern equipment!
These are fine at a pinch and are novel ideas but for fast charging of more than just an old phone, you’re better off with a decent solar panel and external battery.
Important Considerations
Power Output Voltage
The power output of a charger is measured in volts. The voltage of the charger must equal the voltage requirement of the device.
If the charger only puts out 5V and your device needs 12V to charge then you’re out of luck.
Do a “power budget” and make sure that the power you’ll be getting from your recharger is sufficient to charge your device/s. Decide which of these devices are absolutely necessary and which are just “nice to have”.
Also, some devices like tablets and higher capacity camera batteries have higher voltage and current requirements than smaller smartphones and GPS devices.
This means understanding the voltage that your recharger outputs as well as the maximum current it can output.
Solar Considerations
When it comes to solar panels, the important number is Watts.
A note about Watts
Watt?
Larger the watts, the faster things charge.
An iPhone likes about 7W.
An energy-sucking iPad, or when the whole family needs to charge at once, you’ll need 15W.
Basically, the higher the watts, the faster the charge. A rule of thumb is that 4-5 Watts is OK for small devices that don’t need quick charge.
If you’ve got anything with an “i” in front of it’s name, I’d go for a minimum of 7W, if you are charging one at a time. If you’ve got the whole family plugged in, then you’ll need something bigger than that for fast charging.
And bigger, mostly means heavier and more expensive too.
If you absolutely must have your cell phone to answer emails – as your boss thinks you are at a conference – you’ll need:
- a solar panel of 7W or higher,
- coupled with an external battery of between 7-15,000mAH, and a
- USB charging port of 2.1A or higher.
Portable Phone Charger: Capacity
So your portable phone charger has enough voltage and current to charge your other devices but how long can it do this for?
Will it be able to charge your phone once, twice or three times? The capacity of an external battery is given either in Wh (Watt-hours) or in mAh (milliamp hours).
A Note on Amps
The ports on the external battery pack will show the amperage.
Note that an iPhone needs 2 Amps to charge.
If one of your ports is 2.1 Amps, and the second one is 1 Amp then you can’t plug two iPhones in at the same time.
Well, you can, but the charge speed will be the sort that only a geologist finds acceptable!
Without getting too technical, this just tells you how much current it can supply for how long. As with a lot of things, more is better.
If you’re comparing similar devices, then use this figure to get an idea of which one will give you more charging cycles.
The specs on the battery that your phone or device uses will normally quote a battery capacity in mAh.
If you divide this figure by the quoted capacity of the storage bank then you get a rough idea of how many charging cycles you can expect. This is “rough” though – if you’ve got a device that uses 1000mAh, don’t expect a 2000mAh power storage bank to charge it twice.
As a rule of thumb, anything from 6-15,000mAH should be enough to keep you sufficiently plugged in.
Don’t expect a battery pack of this size to charge a laptop, as they need more voltage output than most external batteries are capable of. For laptops, the 30W Anker PowerCore is the only one we’d recommend.
Interfaces/Connectors
Most rechargeable electronic devices these days use either USB or mini USB interfaces to charge. Some later-generation smartphones use USB-C
When purchasing a charger make sure that the connectors it uses match the connectors that your device uses.
Some chargers will have integrated cables and others will require that you use the charging cable your device came with. Check your hiking headlamp, and your camping flashlight and make sure they are compatible.
Don’t make the mistake that I made when taking a nice heavy-duty external battery into the bush expecting it to charge my camera batteries.
On day two I discovered that – doh – the camera batteries don’t charge by USB, only by being plugged into the wall. Oops. No photos to show Nana on that trip.
Physical Size
The words “portable” or “compact” are very subjective terms.
Just because a device is described as a portable battery charger doesn’t mean that it’s going to fit into that last spot you’ve got left in your lightweight backpack.
Check the physical dimensions of the device and don’t just rely on how big it looks in the pictures.
Generally speaking, the bigger the capacity for batteries and charging output for solar panels, the bigger they will be. If you’re off car camping, then you won’t really care if the solar panel is the size of a small football field and the external battery rivals the one in your car.
For backpacking, the lighter the better, obviously. In terms of portable solar panels, you can get away with one with slightly less Wattage if you know that where you are going has a lot of sunlight hours.
Weight
Higher battery capacity and power output come at a cost: increased weight.
Check the weight of the device and add this to your weight budget. If you’re going to be away for a longer time then the added weight may be justified.
If you’re only going to be out for a day or two then buy a smaller capacity device to save a few ounces and dollars.
How to Choose the Right Portable Charger for You
Now that you’re familiar with some of the most important aspects to consider when choosing a portable solar charger, it’s time to look into some specific circumstances and make recommendations based on your specific needs.
If you’re an avid outdoors adventurer, in search of a rugged, durable solar charger, then the Anker PowerCore Solar 20000 is a great option.
If you’re looking for a more lightweight option, the Anker PowerCore+ 20000 is ideal when you need your power bank to last for a few days without recharging it. Capable of charging an iPhone 11 Pro to 50% in 30 minutes or recharging your iPhone XS 5.4x, and Android devices using PowerIQ. Also, if you need to charge low-power devices such as Bluetooth earphones and speakers, switch to trickle charging mode. Indeed, this is the perfect portable charger for anyone who spends a lot of time in the great outdoors.
Recommended reading:
- The Ultimate Camping Food List – Easy Camping Meals & Ideas
- Winter Hammock Camping? How to Stay Warm in a Hammock
Final Words: Should You Buy a Portable Battery or a Solar Charger?
The answer to this question depends on a few different factors. It all comes down to what you’re looking for in portable battery chargers and whether you’d benefit more from a solar charger or not.
Being able to navigate easily, or use your personal locator beacon in emergencies, or make an emergency call could be the difference between life and death. Because of this, buying the best portable battery charger for camping or hiking is more than just a novelty, it should be part of your safety kit and mountaineering gear essentials.
If you’re looking for a lightweight, compact charger that you can take with you almost anywhere, a solar charger may be more than suitable. We have advice on the best portable solar chargers if you need help.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more powerful option that can handle charging multiple devices at once, a portable battery may be more suitable. It all comes down to what you need and what you’re willing to sacrifice in order to get it.
It’s worth investing in something rugged, waterproof and that has a capacity sufficient to keep your batteries topped up for the duration of your trip. The good ones cost a few bucks more but it’s an investment worth making.
When planning your next outdoor adventure, keeping your devices charged is crucial. Check out our detailed guide on the best backpacking solar charger, a must-have for staying connected even in remote areas. These solar chargers are lightweight, efficient, and perfect for keeping your phone, camera, and GPS powered up while you explore the great outdoors.
FAQs
When it comes to choosing a portable battery charger, think about how long you’ll be hiking and what devices you’ll need to charge. For day trips, a small, lightweight charger with a capacity of about 5,000 to 10,000mAh should do the trick, keeping your phone or camera topped off.
Planning a longer adventure? You might want a charger with at least 20,000mAh to handle multiple charges or to power more than one device. Remember, the best charger is one that balances power capacity with portability for your specific needs.
Great question! Many hikers worry about their gear’s ability to withstand the elements. Look for chargers labeled as waterproof water-resistant and dustproof. These features mean your charger can handle a bit of rain or dust, making it a reliable companion for any weather conditions you might encounter on the trail.
Always check the product specifications to ensure it meets your outdoor needs.
If you’re on an extended hike and need to recharge your portable battery charger, consider a solar panel charger. These eco-friendly options use sunlight to recharge your battery pack, perfect for multi-day trips where you won’t have access to power outlets. Just clip the solar panel to your backpack, and you’re good to go.
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Thank youuu!! This is exactly what I was looking for. I love the layman’s terms and humor of this post, and especially the Important Considerations section at the end – SUPER helpful! I’m usually a quick learner, but all things electricity related seem to fly right over my head. This post gave me a much better grasp on what I need to look for in finding a battery pack to fit my needs. I obsessively “over-research” before buying any new gear, so I deeply appreciate the variety of products tested, the down-to-it summary, and the Likes/Dislikes breakdown. Thank you for this post!
Hi Anneliese and thank you for your kind comment!