Andrew Heinzman
Battery packs are great for keeping your phone charged on the go, but what do you do when your battery pack runs out of juice? Well, if it was solar powered, then you could just set it in the sun.
Solar battery packs are relatively cheap, and they can keep your phone charged when you’re away from an outlet. They’re great for camping trips, hikes, canoeing, or power-related emergencies. You could even leave one in the back seat of your car, in case you find yourself in the middle of nowhere with an empty tank and a dead cellphone. You can also use them to charge laptops, GoPros, pico projectors, smart watches, and any other device that you’re trying to bring outside.
These power packs can charge your phone between 4 and 8 times when they’re at a full charge. Just keep in mind that most solar battery packs need about a week in the sun to gain a full charge (you can plug them into an outlet if you need to charge them more quickly). But you could realistically use of these to power your phone forever, so long as you don’t spend your entire camping trip draining your phone’s battery on Facetime.
Kiizon 25,000mAh Dual USB Waterproof Solar Battery Pack ($40)
If you’re looking for a durable, large capacity solar battery pack for intense outdoor activities, then you should take a look at the Kiizon power pack. Unlike most battery packs, the Kiizon is waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about leaving it in the rain or taking it on a boat. And since it has a capacity of 25,000mAh, you should be able to fully charge your phone more than 7 times with it, especially if you’re conservative.
The Kiizon has two USB-A outputs and one Micro USB input, so you can use it to charge two devices at a time. Since it’s Quick Charge compatible, you don’t have to spend your whole hiking trip waiting for your phones or cameras to charge. The Kiizon also has a set of LED pilot lights, and it comes with a carabiner, so it can be your little waterproof companion all day and night.
Ayyie 10,000mAh Dual USB Solar Battery Bank ($24)
The Ayyie is a super affordable solar battery pack that’s designed for camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. It has a built-in compass and a set of LED pilot lights, so you can find your way around in the deep dark wilderness. This power pack also comes with a carabiner, so you can safely charge it while hiking or biking. Sadly, this power pack isn’t water-proof, but you have to cut your losses for a battery that’s this cheap. Besides, you could always stick it in a Zip-Lock bag or something.
The Ayyie has a capacity of 10,000mAh, which is enough to charge your phone about 4 times. It also has two USB-A inputs that can simultaneously charge two devices, but they aren’t Quick Charge compatible. That’s kind of a bummer, but for $24, this is a steal. No complaints here, buddy.
Feelle 24,000mAh Dual USB Solar Battery Pack ($43)
As we mentioned earlier, most solar battery packs take about a week in the sun to get a full charge. They’re fine for a weeklong camping trip, but they won’t take you off the grid, and they won’t power multiple devices for very long. What’s the obvious solution to this problem? C’mon, add more solar panels!
The Feelle is a solar battery pack that has three solar panels instead of one. It can achieve a full charge after about 35 to 40 hours in the sun, which is radically faster than most solar battery packs. Keep in mind that the Feelle has a large capacity of 24,000mAh. You could realistically use this power pack to keep your phone, laptop, and a few other devices perpetually charged, without ever plugging into an outlet.
This power pack comes in a nice leather case, so you can look cool when you’re backpacking in the middle of nowhere. It has two USB-A inputs, but neither of them are Quick Charge compatible. Hopefully you enjoy the outdoors so much that you don’t care how quickly your phone charges.
RAVPower 25,000mAh 3 Input Solar Battery Pack ($53)
If you need a high capacity solar battery pack that has USB-C compatibility, then you should take a look at the RAVPower 3 input power pack. It has a USB-C port, a USB-A port, and a Micro USB port, and use can use these three ports to charge three devices at a time. That’s pretty cool.
It’s good to charge a solar power pack at home before taking it on the road. You know, because they can take a week to charge in the sun. If you want to quickly charge this power pack at home, then you can charge it with a USB-C and Micro USB cable at the same time. Since this RAVPower pack has a capacity of 25,000mAh, the ability to charge it super quickly is well appreciated.
While this RAVPower power pack may be a sleek, versatile powerhouse, it may not be your first choice for a violent camping trip or dirty outdoor adventure. It’s encased in durable plastic, and while it’s obviously meant to be outside, you probably don’t want to leave it in the rain or bring it in a canoe.
RAVPower 10,000mAh Solar Battery Pack ($32)
If you’re looking for a small, affordable solar battery pack, then you should take a look at RAVPower’s 10,000mAh pack. It’s a bit thinner than most solar battery packs, but it still has two USB-A inputs and a Micro USB input, so you can use it to charge a few devices at a time.
Sadly, this power pack doesn’t have Quick Charge features, but it’s got a relatively large capacity for such a low price. This might be the kind of power pack that you leave in your car, or that you bring with you while biking.
