Hello,
I'm looking to do some hiking, and am looking for a good deal on a portable solar charger…. Power Bank isn't ideal, as the hike will take multiple days, and having solar will enable multiple recharges throughout the trip.
Thanks.
Portable Solar Charger - Suggestions and Deals Please
movieman on 18/08/2023 - 06:48
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Silver bullet:
https://www.designboom.com/technology/foldable-origami-solar…Even better would be if they made it into an umbrella. You could fold it and put it in your backpack. Or you could carry it as an umbrella to give you shade and simultaneously charge your phone. Or you could unfold it when its raining to keep the rain off. Or you could set it out on the ground when you stop for lunch to charge up your phone then.
Looks good.
Unfortunately not yet available, and as it's a Kickstarter, it may not even ship in May 2024 as claimed… But looks ideal for in the future…
I would suggest to use a combination of both. The power bank can be used as a buffer when there is not much sun.
Won't a 20,000mah powerbank be able to charge your phone 4 to 5 times? Would that be enough?
What about a 30K or 40K powerbank?What are you charging? Im guess you wont have service over a multi day hike so can leave the phone off or in battery saving mode. You could easily get away with using a powerbank.
Main reason is for photos, trail maps (Alltrails, etc), and music.
I'm looking to do some hiking, and am looking for a good deal on a portable solar charger
Thread closed
Thanks JV,
But unfortunately as it only provides 1.1W charging, it isn't going to charge a phone very quickly… Or completely. But good suggestion.
1.1W charging, it isn't going to charge a phone very quickly
You leave it plugged in during your hike.
An 8-10k Powerbank is only about $25 and under 200g but will give you about 2-3 phone charges.
If you aren't using your phone much, this should be adequate for a few days hiking.
Even a 20-30k Powerbank is going to be lighter than one of those Big Blue solar panels.I
This would be ideal for shorter hikes… but when spending multiple days out in the bush, it'll help to be able to utilize solar also.
Or both? https://www.amazon.com.au/33500mAh-Wireless-Waterproof-Flash… - I have a similar model and I have to say the solar part is more a gimmick, a full day of available sunlight gave me about 20 minutes of charging my phone.
Tip that I have found: use the solar panel to charge the battery bank, not the phone directly. I've had plenty of issues where the voltage supply from the panel was intermittent and it would constantly cut out charging to the phone, and could even use more power. Battery banks didn't need any sort of stable supply and happily took in any current given to them.
Thanks for the feedback.
So ideally I'd need both: a power bank, and a solar panel.
Any suggestions for a more durable power bank that is on the lighter end?
Wouldn't it be handy if phones still had swappable batteries in them. That way all you'd have to do is buy a couple of spare batteries, charge them all up, and throw the extras in your backpack. Can you still get cheap phones with swappable batteries?
https://www.androidauthority.com/best-android-phones-removab…
I see the Samsung Xcover Pro is available in Australia. It is ruggedised, and waterproof, so its ideal for a hiker, and it has a removable battery. You can get them refurbished for $299. And batteries for $22.
Check the rules of Aviation company and airport requirements for that rechargeable battery, pretty important if you can't bring in with your luggage when boarding.
A panel about the size of an a4 sheet will produce 1amp at 5v - the power output of a slow USB charger.
Assuming my phone was switched off, it probably needs approx 1hour of full sun for each hour of use.
So it is a bit tricky. If you get a panel you can mount on top of your pack it is likely to be low output - but at least it will give you the chance to charge for several hours.
The other option is a large panel you setup during a lunch break, assuming you stop for an hour or two.
Unfortunately, i don't think there is any silver bullet for high performance but charging while you are on the move.