There’s little worse than being caught without power for your devices when you’re out and about, especially if you have something important or urgent to attend to. But a regular power bank is not a great option for the environmentally conscious, since they require charging off electricity.
But thankfully, there’s a perfect solution. If you were to invest in a solar power bank, you have green electricity wherever you go. We’ve been checking out and testing different solar power banks so that you don’t have to, and have put together a shortlist of our top few favorites to review for you.
Solar Power Bank For Camping, Backpacking and Survival
But we get that choosing one can be tricky, which is why we’ve also got a handy buying guide for you that will walk you through the key things to think about before you buy. Then we’re going to top that off with a section where we answer some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
And without further ado…
Blavor PN-W05 Solar Power Bank
Now, this is a bestseller with the leading online retailers and has been really flying off the shelves. It comes from one of the top brands in the industry and is very affordably priced. In fact, we would argue that it’s a bargain.
It has two ports, a micro USB and a Type C input. But that’s not all, it also features wireless charging. This means that it’s compatible with a range of iPhones and Samsung smartphones and absolutely any qi enabled device.
It can hold a charge of up to 10,000 milliamps per hour, which is pretty good (more on that in our buying guide later). When we tested it, we found that it takes about 6 hours to go from dead to fully charged.
See also: Best Solar Battery Bank Charger
Water Reistance
We also tested its water resistance by holding it under a shower, and we found that the device continued to work no matter how wet it got. Its water resistance rating is IPX4. Just what you need if you get caught out in the rain.
And that’s not all. It’s also both dustproof and shockproof. It’s rugged and durable and can take being dropped. Moreover, it has some special features, too. It features two flashlights on one end, and it comes with a little compass kit, which makes it an excellent choice for taking on a camping or hiking trip.
We were also pleased to learn that it comes backed by a lengthy 12-month warranty.
Pros:
- Bestseller flying off the shelves
- Bargain affordable price point
- Features qi wireless charging
- Holds 10,000 milliamps per hour
- Water-resistant & shockproof
- Includes flashlight & compass
- Brand-Oriented and Outdoor Charger Pro: With over 10 years of experience in solar power banks, BLAVOR has already gained the...
- Leading USB C Input Output Tech and Qi Wireless: The latest upgrade includes a USB-C output with 20W fast charging...
- Premium Battery and Smallest Solar Charger: BLAVOR uses the safer Lithium-cobalt battery, which is 50% more cycling times...
Cons:
- There’s only one solar panel, and it’s modest in size
See also: Best Wireless Power Bank for iPhone: Top 10 Choices for 2022
Winlove Solar Power Bank
Now, this solar power bank has received phenomenal customer ratings and reviews. Whereas most solar power banks only manage a 4 star or 4 and a half star rating on the leading online retailer’s sites like Amazon, this beauty has earned a full 5-star rating.
Even after approximately 1,000 individual customer ratings. Not bad, huh? The great thing about this solar power bank is the sheer number of solar panels available. Whereas most solar power banks just have one small panel, this beauty features 4 panels.
But don’t worry, it’s not too bulky to carry around because the four panels can fold up together, and it only weighs 1.51 pounds. It’s also more powerful than a lot of the other solar power banks on the market, with a capacity of a whopping 40,000 milliamps per hour.
See also: Bluetti Power Bank EB70S + PV200 Solar Panels (Tested)
Charging Devices
And, it features, not one, not two, but three output ports, specifically 2 USBs and 1 Type-C port. This in itself enables it to charge a great many devices, and it features wireless charging too, which means it can charge up any qi enabled device.
And you can charge more than one device at a time if you need to. It’s great for camping or hiking because it features an emergency flashlight and a compass attached to a D clip to attach the power bank to a backpack.
We tested its water resistance and found that it works just fine when under a shower, but stops working if left submerged in water for a long time. If you’re not guaranteed a lot of sun on your trip, you could always charge the power bank up before you leave using the included Type-C power cable.
We were also impressed with how long the warranty lasts, coming in at a whopping 24 months.
Pros:
- Phenomenal customer ratings
- Has 4 solar panels altogether
- 40,000 milliamps per hour
- 2 USB ports & a Type-C port
- Also provides wireless charging
- Includes flashlight & compass
Cons:
- Some customers have found it a little bulky to carry around
See also: Solar Panel Power Banks (Are They Worth It?)
Superallure Solar Power Bank
Now, this solar power bank has an impressive capacity, coming in at a whopping 43,800 milliamps per hour, which is the highest battery capacity out of every solar power bank that made our shortlist. It’s able to achieve this because although it looks like there’s just one solar panel, it actually features four small panels on one device.
But despite being able to hold so much power, it’s surprisingly lightweight at just 29 grams. It has also received excellent customer ratings, with a full 5-star average customer rating on Amazon, even after well over 100 individual ratings.
It has multiple charging options and is able to charge up to 4 devices at the same time. This is thanks to there being two Type C outputs, a USB output, a lightning output, and wireless qi charging, too. Excellent compatibility across devices.
There’s also a built-in security chip to protect against over voltage or current, short-circuiting, and overcharging. We were impressed with its water resistance. We tried it under a faucet and this made no impact on its ability to charge up.
It’s also dustproof and shockproof, and will still continue to work if it gets dropped on the floor. We were also impressed with just how fast it can charge up. When we tested it, we found it’s able to go from zero to 100% in less than an hour.
It also doubles as a flashlight, which you can set to either strong light, dim light, strobe light, or an SOS signal.
Pros:
- 43,800 milliamps per hour!
- Charges up to 4 devices a time
- Water, dust & shock resistant
- Built-in safety features
- Incredibly fast charging
- Doubles as a flashlight
- The 43800mAh solar power bank.With such a huge capacity, you can say goodbye to the constant anxiety of running out of...
- Solar Charger built-in USB-A input cable, Type-C and IOS output cable.equipped with 15W Qi wireless fast charging.It is...
- Solar power bank also has an integrated bright flashlight with a brightness of 680 lumens and a range of 200 meters. It even...
Cons:
- Not as affordable as other solar power banks on our shortlist
See also: How to Charge a Solar Power Bank: A Comprehensive Guide
Riapow Solar Power Bank
This solar power bank is very reasonably priced and has been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews. It boasts a healthy 26,800 milliamps per hour battery capacity, which means you can charge your devices several times over before the power bank needs a recharge.
And the speed at which it charges up devices is also impressive. It will charge up a smartphone up to 50% in just half an hour. This is significantly faster than a lot of the other ones we tested. It can charge up to 4 devices at the same time and has wide device compatibility, thanks to its 2 USB ports, a Type-C port, and wireless qi charging, too.
It also doubles as a strong LED flashlight, with a special SOS mode should an emergency situation arise. We tested the device’s water resistance both in a shower and under a faucet, and in both instances, this was just fine, but when we kept it submerged in the water this caused it to stop working.
We also tried dropping it a short distance, and this did not affect the device’s performance. And it’s not as heavy as it looks, weighing just one pound.
Pros:
- Very reasonably priced
- 26,800 milliamps per hour
- Incredibly fast charging
- Charge 4 devices a time
- Doubles as a flashlight
- Decent water resistance
- Professional Outdoor Charger: With over a decade of experience in the field of solar chargers, Riapow solar phone charger has...
- Advanced Wireless Solar Charger: A truly wireless solar power bank with Qi wireless output, compatible with all smartphones...
- High-capacity & Safe Power Bank: With a 26800mAh capacity, it can charge the iPhone 14 six times, the Galaxy S21 five times,...
Cons:
- If it’s not being used, you still need to recharge it once every three months to keep it ticking over
See also: Power Bank Solar Charger Instructions: A Complete Guide for Optimal Use
QiSa Solar Power Bank
This particular solar power bank is a prominent bestseller with the leading online retailers and has been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews. And rightly so… Not only does it manage to fit several solar panels onto its lightweight and compact frame, but it’s also very energy efficient, with a conversion rate of up to 116% under ideal conditions.
(More on that in our buying guide a little later.) This helps explain why it’s so fast to charge compared to other brands. It has an impressive battery capacity, coming in at a whopping 38,800 milliamps per hour. (Again, more on that in our buying guide.)
See also: What is a Solar Power Bank? Unraveling the Benefits and How it Works
Features
This means you are able to charge your devices up several times over before the power bank needs a recharge. It features 2 USB output ports, and it’s capable of wireless qi charging, which means it’s compatible with a wide array of devices, and that it can charge up to 3 devices at the same time.
It doubles as a flashlight, featuring strong, low, flash, and SOS light modes. There are many important safety features, such as overcharge and short-circuit protection. We tested its water resistance, and found that it was fine when left under a shower, but started having issues when left under a faucet on full blast.
This suggests it will be fine in light rain but may struggle if there was a heavy downpour. We also tried dropping it from short distances and found that this did not have any adverse effects.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular solar power bank, simply click on “Check price” to see if there happens to be a deal on now.
Pros:
- Conversion rate up to 116%
- 38,800 milliamps per hour
- Features 2 USB output ports
- Also does wireless qi charging
- Also doubles as a flashlight
- Water and shock resistant
- Solar power bank 38800mAh large battery, let you get rid of the anxiety of battery power anytime and anywhere.
- Solar power bank has a wireless charging function, two 5V3.1A USB fast output ports, can charge up to 3 devices at the same...
- Power bank is waterproof, drop-proof and dust-proof, and can still work normally in extreme environments.
Cons:
- There’s no Type-C port
- The water resistance could be better
- It can be expensive if you don’t manage to catch a deal
See also: Benefits of Solar Power Bank: A Comprehensive Guide to Eco-Friendly Charging
Solar Power Bank Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. Let’s walk you through the key things to consider when shopping for a solar power bank.
Size Of The Solar Panel
The larger the solar panel of the power bank, or the more solar panels it has, the more of the sun’s energy can be absorbed, giving the power bank more power. So in that respect, the greater the size of the solar panels the better.
Lightweight
On the flip side, however, if there are too many bulky solar panels, this may make the power bank heavier, which makes it more uncomfortable to carry around. So it’s about finding that sweet spot where you have all the solar panel size you need, but the power bank is still lightweight enough to carry around.
Energy Efficiency Of The Solar Panel/s
Some solar panels are more efficient than others, and the key spec to look for here is the conversion rate. The greater the conversion rate, the more efficient the solar panel, and the quicker it will charge up in low light conditions.
Energy Capacity Of The Battery
A battery’s energy capacity is measured in mAh, which stands for milliamp per hour. The greater this energy capacity, the more power it will hold, which is better for charging your devices for longer or more quickly.
What Ports Does It Have?
Most solar power banks will feature either a micro USB port, or a USB type-C port, and this will enable it to power up quite a wide range of devices. However, you should check what ports your devices require in case these ports won’t work with them.
If you intend to charge up more than one device at a time, then you’ll also have to ensure that your solar power bank has enough ports to do so.
Wireless Charging
If the solar power bank you like doesn’t have the ports you need, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t use it. Many solar power banks feature wireless charging to charge up any Qi-enabled device.
Water Resistance
If you intend to use your solar power bank outdoors, then you’ll probably need it to have at least some level of water resistance. In our reviews, we’ve tried to indicate just how water-resistant each solar power bank is.
Sometimes the water resistance rating isn’t provided in the product description, which is why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to test each one so that you know what to expect.
Shock Resistance
When you’re out and about on the go, you can easily risk dropping any items you may be carrying with you, including your solar power bank.
It would be a travesty if your power bank were to stop working after just one drop, so we advise looking for one that offers some level of shock resistance, also known as impact resistance.
Additional Features
Several of the solar power banks that made our shortlist also double as a flashlight, which makes them great for camping trips because it means you won’t have to pack a flashlight separately and be weighed down with unnecessary gear.
Value For Money
Solar power banks can really vary in price, with some costing just under $20, while at the other end of the spectrum you can expect to pay about $80. This is why it’s so important to check prices as you go along.
Solar Power Bank Frequently Asked Questions
Which Solar Power Bank Is Best?
We would argue that the best solar power bank around on the market at the moment is our number two pick, the Winlove Solar Power Bank. Not only does it tick all the boxes in terms of water and shock resistance, but it features a whopping 4 solar panels and has a very high battery capacity, coming in at a very high 40,000 milliamps per hour.
And it comes with a compass on a D clip, so you can attach it to your backpack. And you can use it to charge up to 4 devices at the same time.
The only reason we didn’t make it our number one pick, was because there are many cheaper models on the market that do pretty much the same job.
How Do I Choose A Solar Bank?
The key consideration when choosing which solar power bank to buy rests on what charging methods it requires. If your device uses a typical USB port or a Type-C port, then most solar power banks are able to accommodate it.
If, however, it requires a different type of cable port, then you may have to rely on wireless qi charging instead. But you must check that your device is qi enabled, otherwise, this won’t work either. Your next consideration should be the power bank’s conversion rate because this determines how energy efficient it’s.
And this is closely followed by the power bank’s battery capacity, which determines how many times over you can charge your devices before the power bank needs to recharge.
