Handpicked Camping Essentials

Solar-powered essentials are not only functional and reliable but also can outperform battery-powered equivalents. More and more products now allow you to harness nature’s power, transforming the camping experience into one that is truly sustainable, comfortable and efficient.

First and foremost, you need a good solar panel and battery back and from there, you can add on some of our favourite, handpicked essentials.

The Solar Panel and Battery Packs

Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Kit

The Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Kit  is one of Goal Zero’s leading solar chargers, just as seamless in a suburban environment as it is ascending the slopes of Everest. Charge the Guide 10 Plus from the Nomad 7 Solar Panel in just 4 hours or any USB power source in 6 hours. Once charged, use as a single power pack to refuel USB devices, such as smartphones, or remove the batteries to power AA/AAA devices, such as GPS devices and head torches. This is a perfect one-stop shop solution for all your handheld devices.

Goal Zero Venture 30 Solar Recharger

The most rugged, durable, weatherproof phone and tablet recharger on the market, no rubber plugs needed. Charge up from USB or included solar panel. The Venture 30 packs the power you need to keep those small devices, cameras and tablets charged no matter the elements you may be out battling. With an IPX6 weatherproof rating and 7800mAh the Venture will keep everything running smoothly.

• 30 Wh, 7,800mAh Power Pack Power phones (2-3x), tablets (1x) and more. Lightweight and packable from the airport to the trail.
• High-speed USB 4.8A across dual ports Two high-speed ports capable of dishing out the fastest charge possible, at the same time. Power two devices at once or share with a buddy. Integrated Flood Charge optimizes your charging time.
• Solar Ready™ Built-in Charging Tip. No extra cables to lose. Charge up in 4 hours from USB – in 9 hours of full sun from the Nomad 7.
• Waterproof in Use. dunk it, spray it, use it in the rain. Power that handles whatever Mother Nature can throw at you. No rubber plugs needed.

The Voltaic Arc 20W Solar Recharger Kit

Compact and powerful, the Voltaic Systems Arc 20W Portable Solar Charger Kit for Laptops with External Battery Pack (19,800mAh) powers your laptops (including MacBooks with optional adapter), DSLRs, smartphones, and other USB devices. This versatile system folds up neatly for storage when traveling and includes the following;

1. Voltaic Laptop Battery (72 Wh, 20,000 mAh). This battery can be charged in 6 hours via wall power outlet, car charger or via solar panels. This universal battery charges smartphones, tablets, digital cameras and laptops; apple, microsoft, ASUS, Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Panasonic Toughbook, Samsung, Sony VAIO, Toshiba.
2. V72 Laptop Battery Car Charger Socket – 5.5 x 2.5mm
3. Standard Laptop Adapters
4. Laptop Output Cable
5. AC Charger (charges V72 battery from AC)
6. DC Charger (charges V72 battery from DC, aka car charger.

Big fan of these products and look forward to seeing them becoming household (camping-hold) names for solar power essentials.

Handpicked Camping Essentials

GoSun Sport Solar Cooker BBQ

This ingenious creation raises the bar on solar gadgets.The Go Sun Sport cooks a meal in as little as 20 minutes, reaching temperatures up to 550°F (290°C) in full sunlight. Just load the GoSun Sport with food and relax, no monitoring required. The stove retains your food’s flavor and nutrition cooking from 360°, like a slow cooker, but faster. Bake, roast, steam and saute. When finished cooking, just keep the tray closed to keep your food hot and ready to eat for hours, no Sun required. The GoSun Sport is so effective at capturing ultraviolet light and holding its heat, that cloudy skies and overcast weather are not a problem. The stove’s solar vacuum tube cooking chamber provides a near perfect layer of insulation, keeping heat in, cold out and is cool to touch. 

Sunflair Solar Oven

Sunflair Portable Solar Ovens are affordable, easy and one of the most versatile solar ovens on the market. The oven can reach temperatures of up to 140 degrees celsius (285 F). You can bake cookies or pizza, dry fruits or herbs. This oven can accommodate a wide variety of cookware and no assembly is required. The Sunflair is highly portable, weighing approximately 500g and folding down to the size of a seat cushion. Cooks for 4-8 people.
This kit comes with everything you need to get cooking: 1 solar oven, 2 collapsible silicone pots, 1 3-lb (1.3kg) round roaster, 2 baking/dehydrating racks, 2 heat conducting/baking trays, 1 solar oven thermometer, 1 carrying bag.
Compare to slow cookers that range between 82-148 degrees celsius (180 – 300 F) or a stovetop that reaches 100 degrees celsius (212 F) with simmering at 82-88 degrees celsius (180-190 F). Pots are dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe.

Knox 48 Quart Electric Cooler/Warmer

The Knox 48 Quart Electric Cooler/Warmer  chills to 4 degrees celcius (40 degrees F) or heats to 54 degrees celcius (130 Degrees F). The cooler includes a built-In AC Home Plug and DC Car Adapter. Its interior dimensions are 17″ L x 12″ W x 11″ D and its exterior measurements are 22″ L x 15″ W x 15″ D. That’s tall enough for a 2-litre soda water with enough room left over for multiple food containers. The 5 1/2 foot long 12V DC car adapter cable is kept safely tucked away in a chamber built into the lid. The cooler also has a built-in AC adapter, so it can be plugged into a wall adaptor or plugged into a solar battery such as the Voltaic battery listed above.

ALEKO CARFR24BL Portable Car Fridge Travel Cooler Warmer 12V 24 Litre

ALEKO CARFR24BL Portable Car Fridge Travel Cooler Warmer comes with one AC and DC cable, with car outlet plug. The thing I like best about this cooler is that it is, unlike many coolers, it is light weight. The outer dimensions are: width 11 inches, length 16 inches and height 17 inches. There are cooling and warming settings, voltage 12V (DC) and 100 – 240V (AC). Power 48W. Pair this with the Voltaic V72 battery listed above and you are set with solar energy. The cooling capacity is 15 – 18 degrees below ambient temperature and heating capacity is 50 – 65 degrees celsius. 

 Rechargeable Solar Camping Torch 250 Lumens

A highly reliable emergency LED light for any situation. This Torch has a built-in USB charging cable, solar panel and hand crank for bright light anywhere. Red light for emergencies, and USB port to charge your phone.

• Multiple Light Options for Every Situation Use as a flashlight, floodlight or red emergency light. Save on power with bright and half-bright modes.
• Stay Connected During an Outage Integrated USB port charges phones and boosts tablets to stay connected. Long-lasting, advanced lithium battery
• Recharge Anywhere Built-in USB charging cable, solar panel and hand-crank for light anywhere. Durable, rugged construction.

Goal Zero Solar Rechargeable Speaker

With one-touch Bluetooth paring, you can easily connect this solar speaker for the perfect hands-free solution. It also has a built in microphone so it can be used as a hands free speaker phone.

• Big sound – Innovative chamber delivers precise, high-quality sound without the bulk
• Blue tooth connectivity
• Listen longer – Internal 800mAh lithium battery runs for 10+ hours on a single charge.
• Built in solar panel to ensure your music plays all through the day, and even when the sun sets
• Shock and weatherproof
• Charge from solar or USB

Solar Bag Water Purifier by Puralytics

You never know when a solar-powered water purifier will come in handy. The Puralytics SolarBag Water Purifier uses solar energy to remove 99.9999% bacteria, 99.99% Virus, 99.9% Protozoa, and reduces heavy metals and manmade chemicals. Fill the bag with water, place it in the sun, and within a couple of hours you will have purified, drinkable water. Sunlight activated nanotechnology destroys contaminants instead of merely trapping them, no pumping, sucking or back flushing, simple to use, self-cleaning mesh doesn’t clog, reusable 100’s of times while producing clean tasting water time and time again.