Increasingly, people are using personal electronic devices outdoors. This has created a need for portable power sources that can recharge these devices. Solar panels have become so popular that some people carry them around as a source of power.

This article will help you decide what type of portable power technology is best suited to your adventure, travel, and power needs.

Solar chargers are a great way to keep your phone, camera, or other devices fully charged while you’re out adventuring. They’re also highly affordable, lightweight, and compact, and, if you get one that comes with a battery pack, you can use it as a power source in case of emergencies.

But picking the right solar charger for your needs can be tricky. There are so many options out there! That’s why we’ve put together this list of things to consider when choosing a solar charger.

Why Solar?

Solar chargers are easy to use. You just put them out in the sun and wait for them to charge. No need for electricity or charging cables, just open the sun, close the sun, and you’ve got the power!

Solar chargers are eco-friendly. Not only do they not require any fossil fuels (like gas or coal) to work, but they can actually help reduce our carbon footprint by using renewable energy from the sun instead of non-renewable resources like oil or coal.

A solar charger can help you conserve battery life on your phone or tablet so that you don’t have to rely on electricity or charging cables when in remote locations without power outlets nearby!

Tips on Choosing Solar Chargers

Choosing the right solar charger for your next adventure is a matter of knowing what you need and finding a solution that meets those needs. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a solar charger:

Size: Solar chargers come in all shapes and sizes, from pocket-sized to backpack-ready. Find one that fits the size of your trip and the kind of outdoor activities you plan on doing.

Features: Look for features like waterproofing, shockproofing, and dust proofing if you’re going somewhere rugged or dirty. If you’re headed out on something like a beach vacation or camping trip, look for chargers with built-in fans to keep your phone cool while it charges.

Battery capacity: If you’ll be away from an outlet for days at a time, make sure your charger has enough juice to keep up with your device’s battery demands, and that it has enough ports for multiple devices (if necessary).

Price: Solar chargers range from $20-$100+, depending on their size and features. Think about how much money you want to spend before shopping so you can get the best value for your budget!

Solar Panel Features

There are three primary features you’ll want to look for when choosing a solar panel: the amount of power it can generate, and the amount of time it takes to charge a device.

Power Output

The first thing you’ll want to consider is how much power your solar charger generates. This will depend on what type of devices you plan on charging with it, as well as their size. For example, an iPhone 5s has a battery capacity of 1,560mAh (milliamp-hours), while an iPad Air 2 has a battery capacity of 11,666mAh. So if you’re charging an iPhone 5s with an iPad charger, you’ll probably need to wait longer for it to charge up than if you’d used an iPhone charger (or vice versa).

But don’t worry! There are plenty of options out there that can help you find the right one for your needs—just make sure that whatever option you choose has enough power output to keep up with your device’s battery capacity.

Charge Time

The second thing you’ll want to consider is how long it takes for your solar charger to charge up your device’s battery pack. Some solar panels take several hours or even days before they’ve completely recharged your device’s battery pack, while others can do so in just a few hours. If you’re traveling through an area where you’ll need to use your phone often and have limited access to electrical outlets, then it’s probably best to invest in a solar charger that takes up less time to fully recharge your phone.

Solar panel efficiency

The main thing to look at is the solar panel efficiency rating. The higher this number is, the more energy it will produce and the faster it will charge your device. A good rule of thumb is that if you plan on being away from civilization for an extended period of time, you should consider getting a solar charger with a panel efficiency rating of 18% or higher.

How many watts do you need?

The answer to this question depends on your device. If you’re trying to power a laptop, then you’ll need at least 100 watts of capacity. If your goal is to charge up your phone or tablet, then somewhere between 10 and 20 watts should do the trick.

If you’ve got a solar charger that’s rated for less than 10 watts and you’re trying to charge a smartphone or tablet, the chances of it even charging in direct sunlight are slim to none. A small panel will take several hours to get any significant amount of juice into your device, and that’s only if the sun is shining directly on it. If it’s cloudy or raining outside, forget about getting any kind of charge at all!

If you’re looking for an all-purpose solar charger, we’d recommend starting with something closer to 30 or 40 watts. That way there’s enough juice inside the unit so that even when it’s cloudy out (or at night), you can still get some power into whatever devices you need to be charged up before heading back out into the wilderness again tomorrow morning!

Portable Power Banks

The portable power banks have hit the market a few years ago and they are still going strong. These devices are like portable chargers that can be recharged with the help of an electrical outlet or solar power. It can be used to charge your phone or other USB-based devices.

The best thing about these portable power banks is that they are lightweight and can easily fit in your pocket or purse. They also come with different capacities, so you can choose one depending on your needs. Some of them even come with built-in flashlights, making them more useful during emergencies.

There are some drawbacks to using these devices though, especially if you’re new to using solar power for charging purposes. For example, if you live in an area where sunlight is not available for long periods of time during the winter months then this might not be the best option for you since you’ll need to use electricity from the grid instead which means paying bills! In addition, there’s always a chance that something could go wrong while charging your device with solar panels so keep this in mind before making any purchases!

The most common portable power banks are lithium ion batteries, but there are a few other options available as well.

Lithium Ion: These batteries are a great option because they’re lightweight and can hold their charge for a long time. They also have a high energy density, which means they can store more power in less space than other types of batteries. They’re also rechargeable and can be used over and over again without losing their effectiveness (as long as you don’t drain them completely).

Nickel Metal Hydride: These batteries have a higher voltage than other types of rechargeable batteries, so they tend to last longer at lower temperatures. They also have more storage capacity than nickel-cadmium batteries, which makes them ideal for use in devices that require lots of power (like laptops or cameras).

Nickel Cadmium: These are older models that haven’t been used much since the early 2000s due to their poor performance when compared with lithium ion technology. However, they do still exist if you want something cheap or don’t mind paying extra money for an outdated product that’s already obsolete!

What Kind of Charger Do You Need?

If you’re looking to power up your phone while you’re out in the wilderness, there are a few different options. First, let’s talk about solar chargers. Solar chargers are great because they tend to be small and lightweight, so they won’t weigh your pack down too much. However, they do take a long time to charge your device. Even if you have a full charge on your phone when you start hiking, by the time you get back home it will probably be almost dead again (unless you live somewhere with lots of sun!).

Another option is a battery pack. These work similarly to solar chargers, but instead of relying on the sun’s rays for power, they store power from an outlet or another source so that when you need it later on down the road, it won’t take as long for them to recharge your devices.

The best choice for most people is probably going to be a combination of both: use a solar charger during the day when there’s plenty of sunlight and then switch over to using an external battery pack at night so that you can keep all those important apps synced up while still preserving precious battery life.

Which devices can you power?

The good news is that most modern devices will work with solar chargers. If you’re going to be off the grid for a while, though, it pays to make sure your devices are compatible with your chosen charger.

Let’s start with phones. You can power any phone with a solar charger, so long as it has a USB port. This includes most smartphones, but also some older flip phones and even some feature phones (though not all). If your device has an external battery pack, it will usually work well with a solar charger too; just be sure to keep the battery pack charged up in case of emergency.

If you want to use your laptop or netbook on the go, choose a portable power supply that can handle those devices’ high energy needs by getting one with at least a 12V – 24V output rating or more, and make sure that’s enough to charge both your laptop and any other devices you want at once (like an external hard drive or charger).

You’ll also want to make sure that whatever portable power supply you buy has enough capacity for all your needs: if you’re going away for several days and need something reliable, look for one that packs at least 20 watts of output power, and make sure that the device can support at least two devices at once (like a laptop and a smartphone).

How do I choose a portable solar charger?

When it comes to choosing a portable solar charger, it’s important to consider your needs. Do you want to charge your phone while hiking? Or do you want to use a solar charger as a backup power source in case of an emergency?

Each of these scenarios requires different types of chargers. Here’s some information on how to choose the right one for you:

If you need something lightweight and compact, get a mini solar charger. These are great for charging phones, tablets, or other small devices. They’re not as powerful as larger ones but they’re great for keeping in your backpack or purse on days when you know you’ll need quick access to power.

If you’re looking for something more powerful and long-lasting, we recommend getting a large battery pack with an external battery pack (or two!) inside. It’ll keep all the gear from running out of juice at once!

What is a good mAh for a solar charger?

The short answer is that it depends. It depends on how much power you need to charge your devices, how much time you have to charge them, and what type of device you’re charging.

For example, if you want to quickly charge up a few phones or tablets for an afternoon hike, a 10,000mAh will do the trick. But if you’re planning on staying out for longer periods of time and want to be able to charge multiple devices at once or if you’re planning on living remotely for a few days you’ll want to consider higher-capacity chargers that have 25,000mAh or more.

What is the difference between a solar charger and a solar power bank?

Solar power banks store generated energy in built-in batteries, so you can charge devices even when there’s no sun. Solar chargers are designed without batteries and do not store energy. They have to be exposed to sunlight when they’re charging your devices.

Solar chargers are ideal for charging devices that don’t require a lot of power (like smaller phones) or for topping off batteries when you’re away from an outlet for a few days. Solar power banks work better for larger devices like laptops or tablets, which require more time to fully recharge.

How do I choose a portable power supply?

An easy way to work out your basic needs is to look up the capacity of the battery that’s already in your device. This is measured in milliamp hours (mAh) the iPhone 8, for instance, has a 1821mAh battery, while Android smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 are typically between 2000 and 3000mAh.

So if you’re planning on using your phone for hours at a time (like when you’re hiking), aim for more than 3000mAh. If you only need it for short bursts of time (like when you’re traveling), aim for less than 2000mAh.

Beyond that, it’s important to think about how quickly you’ll be charging your devices and how many times they’ll be needing juice throughout the day. For example, if you want to charge two phones or digital cameras at once, look for an option that provides two USB ports — or check out our list of best solar chargers with 2 USB ports!