Preparing a camping trip checklist is pretty straightforward. You need the right clothing, food and water, tent supplies, a sleeping bag, and so on. Some people also prefer to take their smartphones and cameras along with them so they can record the beauty of nature and preserve the memories they make on their camping trips.
But the problem here is that smartphones and cameras (and other electronic devices) need to have their batteries charged, and how do you charge these devices when there are no power points for miles around? The solution to this problem – battery packs!
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
As the name suggests, battery packs are portable charging stations that you can take along with you when you go on your camping trips. These portable chargers allow you to charge your smartphone, camera, smartwatch, etc., while you’re on the go. The best battery pack for camping is one that offers key factors such as a great charging power, built-in batteries, durability, high charge capacity, and multiple charging ports.
The 4 Best Battery Packs for Camping
If you’re looking for a battery pack that will help keep your devices charged up while you’re camping, take a look at our list of what we think are the best battery packs for camping.
1. Goal Zero Nomad 7 Plus
This battery pack is touted as the best solar portable power bank for camping trips. It has an incredibly lightweight construction and foldable design that offer great ease and convenience on such trips. It also features an impressive waterproof and weatherproof design that guarantees protection against daily wear-and-tear, as well as the rain and snow.
The Goal Zero Nomad Plus is popular for its use of innovative technology that uses solar energy to keep your devices charged. It consists of an easy-to-read power flow LED indicator that displays important information such as the existing solar conditions. Additionally, this battery pack comes with a detachable kickstand that allows for optimal solar angle placement.
What makes this device a must-have battery pack for camping is that it consists of a vented pocket that regulates temperatures. It also makes use of a dynamic auto-restart function that makes its charging output adaptable to every electronic device.
Pros
- It’s been designed with the highest quality materials
- Is super lightweight yet highly durable
- Provides immediate feedback on the panel-to-sun placement
- Charges phones directly from the panel
- Allows for a natural shade for devices
Cons
- Doesn’t have an internal battery
- Has only one USB charging outlet
2. Dark Energy’s Poseidon 10,000 MAH Portable Charger
As the name suggests, the main feature of this battery pack is its 10,000 mAh battery. This gives it enough power to charge a single smartphone almost three times, depending on the initial battery level of the phone.
The Dark Energy Portable Charger offers military-grade durability and the kind of portable power that is said to be ‘virtually indestructible.’ It’s completely waterproof and has an IP68 waterproof rating. This suggests that it can be submerged in up to 6 feet of water, so if it rains during your camping trip, be assured that nothing will happen to your battery pack.
This battery pack comes with two charging ports that offer a total of 3.4 amps in terms of output. This helps it charge a wide range of USB powered devices, such as cameras, phones, GPS units, and tablets, to name a few.
A great feature of this battery pack for camping is that it’s extremely rugged, which means that it can easily withstand as much as a thousand pounds of distributed pressure and can also survive falls on hard concrete. Additionally, it comes with a carabiner clip that helps campers clip the battery pack to their backpack or belt when they are hiking.
Pros
- It is quite small and lightweight
- Highly durable and long-lasting
- Comes with multiple charging ports
- Extremely resistant to water, cold, dust, and drops
Cons
- Tends to heat up after extensive charging
- The input port is a tad weak
3. X-Dragon Solar Charger
With a high-efficiency power conversion rate and 40W solar panels peak power, the X Dragon Solar Charger is an excellent battery pack for camping trips. It features a compact design that ensures portability and also comes with a free hook that allows campers to easily hang the device on their backpacks when camping.
One of its many great features is that this charger is compatible with a lot of different devices, and its 5V USB port can easily be connected to multiple other 5V USB devices, such as iPads, smartphones, tablets, and other battery packs.
What makes it such a convenient battery pack for camping is that it doesn’t require any additional power points other than the power of the sun. It also allows you to adjust the voltage and the current according to your requirements in order to charge as many applications as you want.
This battery pack makes use of PET solar panels designed with high-wear and rugged Oxford fabric that make it extremely water-resistant and suitable for all sorts of outdoor activities.
Pros
- Extremely robust and rugged
- Comes with multiple charging ports
- Automatically adjusts the voltage to achieve maximum power
- Offers surge and short circuit protection
Cons
- Doesn’t charge some laptop devices as well as phones
- Not ideal for those who don’t prefer solar energy
4. Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Portable Charger
Hailed as the “world’s highest capacity portable charger,” the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Portable Charger sure does come with many impressive features and benefits. It has quite a lightweight and compact design that makes it one of the best portable battery packs for camping and other similar outdoor adventures and activities.
It makes use of Qualcomm’s advanced Quick Charge 3.0 technology, which means that this battery pack is highly compatible with other devices and charges them 85 percent faster than most other battery packs on the market. Additionally, it features a fast-charging technology that provides universal full-speed charging for all other devices.
Other highlights of this battery pack include a travel pouch, multiple USB cable ports, and a wall charger.
Pros
- Sturdy and robust construction
- Has a slim and lightweight design
- Consists of multiple charging ports
- Offers the highest charging capacity of any battery pack on the market
Cons
- It is not waterproof
- The ports often don’t match with the holes
What to Consider When a Buying Battery Pack for Camping
When buying a battery pack, you will come across a whole variety in terms of size, color, benefits, and features. However, the best battery pack for camping consists of some essential features mentioned below that you must bear in mind.
Size and Weight
A portable battery pack for camping is supposed to be as lightweight and as small as possible. If you’re mainly going to be backpacking on your camping trip, you must look for a device that can easily fit into your pocket or backpack and is also quite lightweight.
Power Type
Battery packs have different power types, such as solar energy and rechargeable power. You should look for the one that is most convenient for you and meets your camping requirements.
Type of Batteries
Some battery packs come with removable batteries, while others come with built-in batteries. The latter is more convenient because it can be recharged repeatedly with the help of electricity or solar power.
Our Final Thoughts
A camping trip is surely incomplete without some pictures and memories. This is why you must get your hands on the best battery pack for camping so that you can record all your outdoor adventures and keep them safe in your smartphone or camera!
