5 Best Solar Power Banks for Camping in 2023

I know I talk a lot about getting out in the great outdoors and taking in the beauty and serenity of nature, but let’s not kid ourselves, we all like to keep our devices on us no matter what we’re doing. And with how many devices we have these days, it can be hard enough to keep them charged at home, much less when you’re in the middle of a camping or hiking trip.

While campgrounds might have electrical outlets that make it easy to plug in your phone or laptop, you don’t have that luxury if you’re on a primitive camping trip or going for a hike. In these cases, the only way to stay charged is with a portable power source.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the best solar power banks for camping that let you harness the power of the sun so you can power up your phone, tablet, laptop, and more.

Let’s dive in and find one that’s perfect for you. Whether you want something small and portable to take on a hike with you, or something big enough for the whole campsite, I’ve got you covered.

What Are the Best Solar Power Banks?

The best portable solar chargers for camping are ones that combine a big battery capacity, portability, versatility, and ease of use into one. No matter if you’re going backpacking or staying in a campground, we’ve got you covered. Just click on whichever one you want to learn more about below or read through them all!

The best solar power banks for camping and hiking are:

• Best Overall: Anker PowerCore Solar 20000
• Best Versatility: GOODaaa 48500 mAh Solar Power Bank
• Best Budget: Feeke 36800mAh Solar Power Bank
• Best Lightweight: FlexSolar 10W Portable Solar Panel
• Best for a Whole Campsite: Geneverse HomePower ONE

Best Overall: Anker PowerCore Solar 20000

Product Overview

Anker is by far the biggest name in the business when it comes to keeping your devices charged, so the best solar power bank for camping on the market is a no-brainer: the Anker PowerCore Solar 20000. As the name suggests, this portable power bank has a battery capacity of 20,000 mAh, which is more than enough juice to fully charge your smartphone a few times. It even uses Anker’s PowerIQ technology to provide 18W fast charging to any compatible device.

In addition to its charging prowess, the PowerCore Solar 20000 is rugged and truly built for the outdoors. It has four-corner drop protection in case you drop it, IP65 water resistance to keep powering your devices in the rain, and a built-in three-mode LED flashlight to light your way when the sun goes down.

Bottom Line

When it comes to charging just about anything, you can’t go wrong with Anker. If you want something that works great, is affordable, and comes from a reliable name in the industry, the Anker PowerCore Solar 20000 is for you. The company also offers a cheaper alternative, the Anker PowerCore 10000 if you don’t need the big battery capacity!

Best Versatility: GOODaaa 45800mAh Solar Power Bank

Product Overview

If you’re looking for versatility, the best option available is the GOODaaa 48500mAH Wireless Solar Power Bank. This 1.5-pound power bank is crazy how much stuff it has built-in, including a whopping 7 outputs and 5 charging inputs. Not only does it have various output ports, it even has three built-in output cables (Lightning, USB-C, Micro USB) and a wireless charging station, making it easy to charge any device you have with you.

The 48,500mAh battery is among the biggest on the market for something this size, and it’s super easy to charge. It can be juiced up with its solar panel, a hand crank, and your normal charging cables (USB-C, USB-A, and Micro USB). This versatile power bank also has an LED flashlight, a compass, and a rugged design that’s perfect for outdoor adventures.

Bottom Line

For the price, you won’t find a more versatile solar power bank anywhere. The amount of ways it can charge devices is second to none, and the built-in features make it ideal for camping and hiking.

Best Budget: Feeke 36800mAh Solar Power Bank

Product Overview

When it comes to budget options, you don’t always want to just look for the lowest price you can find. Especially with something like a solar power bank where you need to be able to rely on it. The best combination of a low price and reliability is the Feeke 36800mAh Solar Power Bank, coming in as the lowest-priced option on this list while still offering plenty of juice and versatility.

Its 38600mAh battery is more than big enough to charge up your smartphone or other small devices multiple times during your camping trip, and its Fast Charging ports can juice them up in no time. The rugged construction makes it shockproof, drop-proof, waterproof, and dustproof, so you can take it anywhere with you, and the built-in LED flashlight will guide you on your way under the stars.

Bottom Line

Perfect for anyone working on a tighter budget, this option from Feeke is affordable and still gets the job done. Some of the other options might have a bit more versatility or come from a bigger name, but you can’t beat the price of this solar generator.

Best Lightweight: FlexSolar 10W Portable Solar Panel Charger

Product Overview

For hiking and backpacking, lightweight items are the name of the game, so we’re going to deviate slightly from the normal power banks we’ve looked at so far. The lightest way to stay charged on the go is not with a power bank at all, but just a solar panel, like the FlexSolar Portable Solar Panel. To save weight, there is no built-in battery to store power, but it only weighs 0.66 pounds and can keep your device charged no matter what you’re doing.

This small solar panel is perfect for strapping to the face of your backpack or laying out at your campsite, and it provides 10W of charging power to your device. The single USB output port allows you to bring any compatible charging cable with you so you can plug in an Android, an iPhone, a smartwatch, earbuds, or anything else that uses USB charging. 

Bottom Line

Since there’s no battery storage with this panel, it’s not your best bet if you’re looking for a way to keep multiple devices charged during a trip. But it’s perfect for you if you’re looking to lighten up your backpack as much as possible before your next hike!

Best for a Whole Campsite: Geneverse HomePower ONE

Product Overview

If you want a solar power bank big enough for a whole campsite, you need to step up to something a little more than the portable options we’ve looked at so far. When it comes to full-size solar generators that you can take camping, the best option on the market is the Generark HomePower ONE. I personally own this generator and provided an in-depth review for SFGATE a couple of years ago (Generark is now Geneverse), and I’m still using it to this day.

The HomePower ONE (and the 200W SolarPower ONE solar panels) give you the ability to power multiple devices at once (including big items) thanks to its whopping 1,002 watt-hour capacity. I’ve used a 1600W electric grill, a laptop, and a phone charger at once and it handled it just fine. With all the different ports, you can get a quick boost of energy any time you need it, and it’s also super easy to charge. 

Since you can charge it with an AC outlet, car outlet, or using solar panels, it’s ideal for a campground, while in an RV, or even anywhere with a good view of the Sun. I’ve taken it with me on every campground camping trip over the last few years and used it to keep my phone charged, get some work done, and more without it ever running out of juice. Just lay the solar panels out, plug them in, and you basically have unlimited power.

Bottom Line

While you wouldn’t want to take this solar generator hiking or backpacking since it’s so big and heavy, it’s absolutely perfect for a campsite or if you’re staying in a camper or RV. It’s one of those things I never go to a campground without, and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever bought for camping.

Check the price on the HomePower ONE below. You can even bundle the generator and solar panels to lock in some big savings!

What Are Solar Power Banks?

Solar power banks are basically portable battery packs that can be recharged by harnessing the power of the sun. Since they generate power from sunlight, you might also hear them called solar generators. In short, they give you the ability to have electricity at times that otherwise you wouldn’t, which is typically the case while you’re camping or hiking. 

With manufacturers making them smaller and lighter than ever, it’s possible to just put one in your hiking backpack or camping bag so you have it with you while you’re out in the wilderness. The smaller ones are perfect for things like keeping your phone charged or powering up your hiking watch with GPS before you head out for the day. On the other end of the spectrum, bigger ones can provide enough power for your whole campsite just by using solar energy.

Stay Powered Up While Camping

So whether you’re heading out on a primitive camping trip, staying in a campground, or going on a month-long backpacking trip, having a portable solar charger is a must these days. Giving you the ability to keep your phone charged is essential to ensuring you can stay connected, use GPS, and place a call in the event of an emergency.

With the different portable solar power banks listed here, I’m confident you’ll find one that works for you. Get out there and enjoy the great outdoors — and keep your devices juiced up the whole time!