Solar Power Banks

What a solar power bank is good for

A solar power bank is a battery first and a solar panel second. Charge it fully from a wall plug before you head off, then let the panel top it up at camp or clipped to the outside of your pack. The smartphone charger lists its small panel as backup charging, and that's a fair way to think of any built-in panel. If you plan to live off the sun for days, charge the power bank from a portable solar panel instead.

Pick the capacity by how long you'll be away from power. The smaller units hold 10000mAh, several mid-size models hold 20000mAh, and the two largest list 30000mAh with four USB ports each. The foldable hiking model is upfront about its numbers: the 20000mAh battery holds an actual 16,000 mAh, and that's the figure to plan with. Lights and panels sit in our torches and solar gear.

Fold-out panels and built-in lights

Fold-out models give the sun more surface than a single small panel on the case. The hiking power bank opens out four panels and comes in orange, blue or green. The black panel power bank also unfolds four monocrystalline panels and carries a triple LED torch. The foldable charger has a 21W panel and both USB-A and Type-C outputs.

Several units double as a light in a blackout or at camp after dark. The solar charger in orange, blue or green has a built-in LED torch. The lamp model has dual lights and comes in blue, black, green or white. The portable solar light, in red or black, is a lamp and a power bank in one.

Cases, ports and care

Check the case if your gear takes knocks. The smartphone charger in orange or black has an ABS case listed at IP65 against dust and splashes, while the yellow, blue or orange model uses silicone and TPU and shows charge on an LED indicator. The red charger adds a wireless charging pad, so the phone sits on top while cables run other gear.

Lithium batteries don't like heat, so keep a power bank off the dashboard in summer and charge it on a hard surface. If a unit ever swells or runs hot, stop using it. One that lives in the glovebox for emergencies needs a top-up every few months. For light you'll reach for every night, see our torch range.