Recharging in the Woods: 3 Ways to Charge Up

So you’ve decided to get a portable power source. More and more companies are catering to the tech-friendly outdoor crowd, putting out ruggedized, portable power solutions that excel in the backcountry.

Here, we break down three of the ways to recharge in the woods: portable power banks, solar panels and wood stoves.

Portable Power Banks

Goal Zero Switch 10 Recharger Starting at: $38.40

This is the most common way to recharge. You might already have a portable power bank to charge your phone on the go. Portable power banks range in size from one or two phone charges (like the Goal Zero Flip 10 and the Enerplex Jumpr Stack) to being able to charge a laptop (like the Enerplex 100 or Brunton Servo 120) to being able to charge a refrigerator (like the Enerplex Generator 1200 or the Goal Zero Yeti 1250).

Pros:

• Portability and reliability.
• You know exactly how much juice these guys will supply. Some bigger models have multiple outputs (12V, AC, USB) while smaller models are primarily USB outputs.
• You can recharge power banks from the wall – or, if you’re in the woods, from a solar panel.

Cons:

• Heavy
• They won’t recharge without a solar panel or wall outlet

Solar Panels:

Goal Zero Venture 30 Solar Kit $162.31 - $163.16

As the science behind solar power improves, more and more outdoor enthusiasts are turning to the sun for their charging needs. Solar panels are great because you can constantly recharge your electronics—so long as the sun cooperates. Smaller solar panels (like the BioLite Solar Panel 5+ and the Enerplex Kickr IV) will charge your mobile device at an impressive rate, while larger models (like the Brunton 26) are recommended for high-output tasks like charging cameras or recharging power banks.

Pros:

• Portability
• Continuous flow of energy
• You can use them to recharge power banks

Cons:

• You can’t always rely on the sun
• They don’t store energy without the use of an additional power bank

Wood Stoves:

BioLite has been changing the way people all over the world cook and charge with their revolutionary wood stoves. These clean-burning wood stoves harness heat and convert it into electricity, so you can actually charge your phone (or any USB-charging device) while you cook. While you are killing two birds with one stove, you also have to keep in mind that you won’t be able to charge your devices unless the stove is in use.

BioLite Camp Stove Starting at: $119.60 Pros:

• Kill two birds with one stove
• Alternative to solar for long-term charging needs
• Excellent choice in undeveloped countries or remote wilderness with plenty of fallen trees and burnable brush

Cons:

• You can only charge when burning wood
• You might not have access to fuel

Check out Active Junky’s power recommendations.