Fresh air, nature’s relaxing sounds, and smiling faces gathered around the campfire—you can never get enough of this. However, when camping with your family, there’s the need to take several devices that you will need to charge. You simply can’t forget taking the fridge for keeping the drinks cold, lanterns to light up the night, cameras to record everything, laptops when boredom strikes, and so on. This might be a problem, especially in some faraway locations without electricity.
Luckily, thanks to solar technology always improving, there are many portable power options, such as solar panel blankets, solar mats, solar phone chargers, solar lanterns, and more that can make your camping experience unforgettable. So, without further ado, let’s look at some essential solar camping gear.
Make Camping Easier with Solar Blankets
Solar panel kits are fantastic for homes, and luckily, there are also alternatives for on-the-go. So, before you make your next big adventure in the wilderness, try to look for solar panel blankets and use all the natural light you can get along the way. They are perfect whenever you need instant heat and light, especially on long, sunny days.
If you’re wondering what a solar blanket is, it’s a device that consists of a few solar cells arranged in a rectangle and attached to a flexible textile backing. It would make a great addition to your camping gear since it is small, light, and easy to transport wherever you want. So, whenever you go on camping trips with your family or friends, you don’t need to worry about having enough space and how heavy it will be.
Also, you can position it however you like. You can put it on the roof rack while you are still driving to your camping place, or you can put it on the windshield once you arrive. Of course, you can always put it on the ground to get the maximum amount of sunlight possible. Just be careful when putting it on the roof or bonnet since it can get hot and damage the paintwork. If you don’t want to think about it all the time, put something underneath it and get your camp set up.
Another way you can position the solar blanket is by hanging it on one side of the car if you see any handy tabs along the sides. This is a great way to secure it on windy days as well.
But, what about when it is too hot to leave the car in the sun? Well, most solar blankets have longer cables (6 meters or more), meaning you can park your car in the shade and charge your battery while having the solar blanket in the sun. Also, some solar blankets have chargers with different ports on them, which means you can directly charge two or three devices at the same time.
Durable Solar Mats for Your Camping Trips
Another great option that you can look into is a solar mat. Just like the solar blanket, the solar mats don’t take up much space or weigh that much.
Setting it up is pretty easy too. Once you’ve arrived at your camping site, you can take the solar mat out of the car or caravan and unfold it on the ground. It has built-in legs tilting at an ideal angle for maximum sunlight absorption, making it free-standing. Once the sun sets down, you can fold it. Unlike solar blankets, solar mats fold in one direction only.
However, make sure you look for a solar mat that has extra-thick canvas and croc skin cell armour. Sometimes, the weather can suddenly change, and there might be winds, rain, etc. That’s where the extra-thick canvas and croc skin armour comes. It extends the life of your solar mat because it is heat, impact and water-resistant. As a result, you may travel to any remote location and not worry about a thing because the solar mat will withstand even the harshest weather conditions.
Charge Your Devices Anywhere with USB Solar Phone Charger
Are you or someone in your family always on their phones? Or maybe you like to take pictures a lot? In that case, you might want to upgrade your camping gear with a USB solar phone charger. Being in nature is wonderful, but it can be discouraging if you are unable to capture some of its amazing beauty. Apart from charging your phones, you can also charge tablets, cameras, lanterns that are rechargeable, and other electronic devices. Also, you may have two or three ports, depending on the model, allowing you to charge many electronics at once.
Solar chargers are usually very light, and you can take them everywhere with you. So, when you notice a low battery, place the solar charger where it will receive the most light and charge your phone directly while enjoying the sun in the camp.
Light It Up With Portable Solar Camping Lantern
Once the sun goes down, you need something to lighten up your camp, and lanterns are the best way to do it. However, traditional camping lanterns can be difficult to charge, especially if you’re going somewhere remote. Solar lamps are an excellent alternative in this case. You can choose from a variety of shapes and sizes. Some models are waterproof, have a collapsing design, are extremely lightweight, and are solar panel or USB rechargeable.
They can lighten up the camp from four to seven hours. The brighter it shines, the fewer hours it lasts. However, some solar lanterns can even last for 50 hours and come in different colours. Also, others can last for 50 hours with a single charge and recharge really fast. Do your research and choose the one that you’d like the most.
Make Delicious Food with a Solar Camp Cooker
There is nothing better than having a hot meal out in nature. Or maybe drink some tea? One of the best ways to make your next camping trip a real treat is to add a solar camp cooker. Imagine having a lightweight solar oven wherever you go. You can use natural sunlight and bake, fry, boil, steam, and roast. The solar cooker needs sunlight that is reflected onto a tube with a vacuum inside. No better way to go solar than this, right? Simply put whatever you want to cook and lay back while the sun does all the work for you.
To sum up, solar portable options can make camping more enjoyable. Whether you are travelling with the caravan and using solar panels, or you travel by car using a solar blanket, you can only benefit while still being able to enjoy the beauty and calmness of all the remote locations on your list.