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Wes44
member (41)member
  
11/10/2024 12:40PM  
I've given in. Electronics are now sometimes part of my backcountry experiences.

I'm looking for recommendations for battery banks and portable solar chargers.

Durability is key. I'm not always easy on the equipment. I also do a fair bit of backpacking, so weight & size are important considerations.

My main need is for longer trips when I carry an InReach and use a phone for the camera and navigation. For work I sometimes use a drone on extended backcountry trips, so more capacity is better, but that might require a different setup.

All things being equal, cheaper is obviously better. But I'd rather pay a little more to get the right thing.

Any recommendations? Good or bad experiences?

 
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YetiJedi
distinguished member(1458)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
11/10/2024 01:34PM  
I have an Anker power bank that has worked well for years. I can't remember how much I paid for it or its capacity, but it has stood the test of time.

I was gifted an INUI unit a year ago. It weighs 12 ounces and has just over 20,000 mAh, and it's been great, too. I think they sell for $20-$25 which is much less than the Anker.

My main uses are for my in-reach and phone which I use primarily for photos. One power bank is easily enough for me for a week. Hopefully, someone else will provide some info regarding drone battery usage.

A friend of mine always brings the nitecore brand and uses a lot more power than I do. He thinks they are the best and won't use anything else. Might be worth exploring.
 
gravelroad
distinguished member(1083)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
11/10/2024 03:35PM  
I have had an inReach Explorer since 2016. An Anker power bank is plenty for a week-long trip with constant tracking and (too) frequent messaging back and forth with my wife in town. When I get uneasy about it, I add a hand warmer/power bank and always end up regretting my decision.

I’ve never seen any account that recommended relying instead on a solar charger for personal electronics in the BWCA on the basis of actual experience. YMMV, e.g., in the desert Southwest, but it’s too leafy and too cloudy in the Northland.

(OTOH, I do use a solar fence charger for my bear fence on BWCA bear hunts, but that’s an entirely different application.)
 
11/10/2024 08:06PM  
I would stick with a reputable brand like Anker and not cheap out. These things are known for starting fires. Good quality is no guarantee against that, but it definitely helps the odds.

I use my DeWalt USB-C adapter with my tool batteries, but that only makes sense if you're in a tool ecosystem. It's a heavier solution than a dedicated power bank.
 
Tryin
senior member (74)senior membersenior member
  
11/10/2024 08:20PM  
Goal zero has some good products. I use their 20 watt panel to charge a 20kmah bank. I've never had an issue.
 
straighthairedcurly
distinguished member(2053)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
11/11/2024 09:06AM  
I only use Anker powerbanks. That is the brand that backpackers tend to use, they are reliable and lightweight.

I HATE bringing a solar charging panel to the BWCA. I move sites almost everyday so it just isn't practical. Even if you basecamp, you have to keep monitoring its position and moving as the sun moves past the trees. Just easier to bring an extra powerbank for the same or less weight.

On a typical week trip, I bring a 10000 mAh powerbank and have never used it up. But when my husband comes I bring an extra because his phone is a power hog plus he has a steripen and fish radar that need recharging. But even then, we have never even used up 1 of the 10000 ones.

I recommend making a list of what electronics you are bringing and then test out how fast they run down.

 
11/11/2024 09:33AM  
This is a math problem. Like SHC mentioned, make a list of the devices you are likely to bring, then look up (on the device or search online) to see what mAh is required to charge it. Then make an estimate or measure how many days use you get under normal use. Make an assumption that you never want to run out on any device you need for emergencies. Do this math, then you can estimate how much mAh you need to either carry or be able to generate.

I typically bring my Garmin Mini (I don't do tracking so not on all day), my iPhone for the Garmin, photos, and some video, a GoPro and my headlamp which has a 2600 mAh rechargeable battery. I have an older Anker 5200 mAh, and a newer Anker 10,000. I could probably go a week without changing anything with my moderate use, but usually bring the 10,000 just in case. I don't like my phone or Garmin to get below 50%.

I also have an older GoalZero solar panel which I took on only one trip years ago and barely used, and a newer Anker 21 watt panel I got 3 years ago for a 3 week solo trip in Canada. On that longer trip I wanted to be able to recharge my 10,000 Anker which I think I did once. Depending on your devices and usage, there is a good chance it will be cheaper, lighter, and easier to carry a battery pack than a solar panel.
 
11/11/2024 10:17AM  
When you do the math, make sure you figure 30-40% less power than what the power bank is rated for to account for charging inefficiencies. So you're only going to get 6-7K out of a 10K charger.
 
kenpark23
senior member (58)senior membersenior member
  
11/11/2024 08:23PM  
Like the others, I am happy with my Anker. Look at Nitecore if you are trying to save weight.
 
Wes44
member (41)member
  
11/12/2024 12:28PM  
Thanks, everyone—this is really helpful, and I’m sure it’ll benefit others too.

The advice on calculating device mAh, multiplying by the expected charges, and adding a buffer seems like a solid approach.

My main concern after that is durability. I tend to be hard on things. Can folks comment on that aspect of the products you've used/recommended?

Has anyone used the Elecom Nestout?

It looks promising with solid reviews, but I'm wary since it's a relatively new brand and hard to know if those reviews are real or paid for. The 15,000mAh capacity and ruggedness is tempting.

Oddly, the biggest red flag for me is the light add-on. I wonder if it is helpful or the gimmicky equivalent of a cheap compass added to other equipment.
 
11/12/2024 01:41PM  
My Anker works great
 
mr.barley
distinguished member(7238)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
11/13/2024 09:58PM  
I ho in with a fully charged Tough Tested solar power bank that holds 24,000 mAh. It kept all four of us charged the whole trip and used less than half the available power. It also has a built in flashlight. It weighs about a pound so it's kind of heavy.
 
11/14/2024 09:43AM  
Wes44: "Thanks, everyone—this is really helpful, and I’m sure it’ll benefit others too.

The advice on calculating device mAh, multiplying by the expected charges, and adding a buffer seems like a solid approach.

My main concern after that is durability. I tend to be hard on things. Can folks comment on that aspect of the products you've used/recommended?

Has anyone used the Elecom Nestout?

It looks promising with solid reviews, but I'm wary since it's a relatively new brand and hard to know if those reviews are real or paid for. The 15,000mAh capacity and ruggedness is tempting.

Oddly, the biggest red flag for me is the light add-on. I wonder if it is helpful or the gimmicky equivalent of a cheap compass added to other equipment. "


I was not familiar with Elecom Nestout before but looked it up. Sort of looks like they stuck a power bank inside a surplus military canteen with some padding. The weight of their 10000mAh and an Anker look the same (if accurate), but you pay about twice as much for the durability.

I've been hard on my tent, tarp, canoe, paddles, cook gear and even my headlamp - anything exposed to the elements. I've never worried about durability of my Anker. It goes in a slightly padded stuff sack (I think it came with my Toaks pot) along with all cables and gets packed in my clothes stuff sack since I tend to charge up any needed device in the tent. I carried my solar charger in the clothes bag too. I don't foresee the need to charge any device in a rain storm, next to a puddle, or near a rocky cliff, so the added claimed durability of the Elecom doesn't appeal to me personally. It might be great for others.
 
ockycamper
distinguished member(1532)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
11/14/2024 06:27PM  
Or you can leave all the power banks at home and bring one of these:

Ecoflow River 2
 
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