When you’re out camping or hiking, solar camping gear is a great solution for keeping your pack lightweight and sustainable. You can charge your gear all day while moving from campsite to campsite, hiking, or fishing, and be ready with full power at the end of the day.
You want your solar camping gear to be able to do as much as possible, weigh as little as possible, and last as long as possible.
Keep reading and we’ll break down the best solar camping gear for your next big trip, keeping in mind important factors such as weight, battery life, and multi-functionality. These products will be great additions to your next trip!
Best Power Supply:
ATEM Power 160W Portable Solar Panel
Best Lantern:
Luci Inflatable Solar Lantern
Best Camping Shower:
Suvast Solar Shower
Best Emergency Radio:
Eready Emergency Crank Weather Radio
Best for Campsite Power
ATEM Power 160W Portable Solar Panel
The ATEM Power 160W Portable Solar Panel is a great piece of solar camping gear for generating campsite energy. The ATEM is a portable solar panel and controller that allows you to power a number of different devices directly from the controller including batteries (such as an RV battery), USB devices, and direct positive/negative terminal equipment.
One of the best features of this solar camping gear is its portability. The solar panel folds up to the size of a briefcase and features latches and handles to make carrying it easy. Given its lightweight, at just under 13 pounds, and aluminum monocrystalline construction, it is also extremely durable.
The ATEM Power comes in two different output ratings – 160W and 200W – so you have plenty of energy for a campsite. Given the solar panel’s size and portability, getting enough sun shouldn’t be an issue and you can adjust its position easily throughout the day if necessary.
The size is bigger than some of the competition, so those with very little extra room may find this too big to fit their needs. It is also more expensive than some alternatives, though given its construction, this is not too surprising.
Pros
- Able to power the whole campsite
- Foldable and easy to carry
- Weighs under 13 pounds
- Durable and efficient
- 200W option
Cons
- Bigger than some competitors
- High cost
Best Solar Lantern
Luci Inflatable Solar Lantern
When it comes to light sources, there are lots of solar options. As solar camping gear goes, light sources are probably the most prolific. When finding the best one, you want to look for size, weight, and capability. The Luci Inflatable Solar Lantern is a great option to accomplish this task.
A key piece of solar camping gear, the Luci Inflatable Solar Lantern is a compact option that is very bright. It collapses to just 1 inch thick and weighs under 5 ounces. It offers 7 hours of battery life on a single charge and is very inexpensive. The only downside is it does not have other features like most of the competition.
Pros
- Inexpensive and compact
- Lightweight and very bright
- Long battery life
Cons
- Does not have other features
Best Solar Shower
Suvast Solar Shower
When you are out camping or hiking for multiple days, nothing beats a hot shower in the morning. The Suvast Solar Shower is a great piece of solar camping gear to accomplish just that. The shower can heat up 110 degrees using solar energy alone.
The Suvast Solar Shower features a bag made of extremely durable thermoplastic polyurethane, making it lightweight when empty coming in under 1.3 pounds. It holds a total of 4 gallons meaning that multiple people can use it before it needs to be refilled and reheated.
When empty, the Suvast Solar Shower folds up and can easily be packed away. The shower attachment has an on-off switch and is very easy to use, and it features an included thermostat so that you can make sure it is heated to your preference. This is a must-have for solar camping gear!
The downsides to the Suvast Solar Shower are that it takes a few hours to heat up fully, and is entirely gravity fed, meaning you must have a secure place to hang it so you can shower. Some other solar showers have a few more features but at a much higher price point.
Pros
- Heating ability
- Durability and quality of material
- Amount of water held
- Ease of use
- Included thermostat
Cons
- Missing some features
- Takes a few hours to heat
- Gravity fed so need a place to hang
Best Radio
Eready Emergency Crank Weather Radio
Having a radio can be the difference between a smooth trip and a disaster when you are out in the woods or on a mountain. A radio is a key piece of solar camping gear and survival equipment. With the Eready Emergency Radio, you can hear weather bulletins, emergency broadcasts, and other vital information.
This radio features a solar charger as well as a crank if the weather is poor, so you know you will always be able to have power. The radio features a flashlight, another critical piece of equipment, with SOS and emergency strobe features.
The Eready Emergency radio is weatherproof, lightweight, and durable. As solar camping gear goes, this is a must-have, especially given its low price point. Because of its small size, the solar cells are smaller than some competitors and the hand crank takes more rotations to charge than a larger crank version.
Pros
- Features
- Backup hand crank
- Weight and durability
Cons
- Solar cells weaker than some competitors
- Hand crank does not produce as much power as some competitors
Best Campsite Lighting
MPOWERED Luci Solar String Lights
If you are setting up a multi-day campsite, you will want some light after a long day of hiking. The MPOWERED Luci Solar String Lights are a great option for string lights and a compliment to other solar camping gear.
The MPOWERED Solar Lights are compact, all fitting in a self-contained pod. The lights are bright and have a few options in color and length, so you can get whatever works best for your situation and campsite size. One charge will last up to 20 hours and it even has other features like a USB charger.
The MPOWERED Solar Lights do not have a battery backup as some other options do, so if you do not have sun you may not be able to power them up. You also cannot change out the lights, so your only option is to use the lights it comes with.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Battery life
- Options in light color
- Can also charge USB devices
- Battery level indicator
Cons
- No battery backup
- Limited to lights that are part of the device
Best Solar Bluetooth Speaker
ABFOCE Solar Bluetooth Speaker
When on the trail or at your campsite, you’ll want to be able to listen to your favorite music. A solar camping gear must is a Bluetooth speaker. We suggest the ABFOCE Solar speaker, which has a quick charging feature, long battery life, and is waterproof.
The ABFOCE speaker needs just 10 minutes in the sun to play music for 30 minutes. At full charge, it can last 60 hours and has a dual speaker for great sound quality. The dual speaker does come at the cost of weight, as it is slightly heavier than some of the competition, and it only comes in black. Unfortunately, this speaker is not multi-functional like some competitors.
Pros
- Battery life
- Waterproof
- Charging time
- Dual speaker
Cons
- Heavier than some of the competition
- No other features
- Only comes in black
Best Solar Cooker
GOSUN Survival Gear Solar Cooker
The GOSUN Survival Gear Solar Cooker is a great piece of solar camping gear. The solar cooker can heat to an impressive 550 degrees and is very small and compact. It is perfect for those who are carrying everything on their back.
Given the temperature it can reach, the GOSUN cooker also can cook food quickly and efficiently. It features a tube to put your raw food in that keeps it self-contained, meaning you do not need any other pans or pots. Unfortunately, that does limit your use to just what fits in the cooking tube. It is also more expensive than many other options, given its design and size though it is well worth the cost.
Pros
- Much smaller and lighter than competition
- High heating capabilities
- Can cook quickly
- Unique design includes cooking tube
Cons
- Can only cook what fits in tube
- Cannot use kettles or other pans
- Expensive
Best Solar Fan
SupBri Solar Camping Lantern
When looking at solar camping gear, you want to get equipment with multiple functions. This ensures you carry as little as possible with the most functionality. The SupBri Solar Camping Lantern is a multifunctional piece of equipment that has a built-in personal fan perfect for cooling yourself on a hot day.
The SupBri also features a bright LED light, can run on a standard charger, batteries, or solar, and collapses to be compact and lightweight. Its low cost makes it a no-brainer to bring along on your next trip, and the solar panel is on top means it can charge while hiking if attached to your pack.
The SupBri is made of plastic, meaning it may be less durable than some of the competition, though it is very lightweight. The fan is smaller than some dedicated solar fans and only good for personal use versus group use. Lastly, because of its compact size, the battery is smaller than some others on the market.
Pros
- Features both a lantern and a fan
- Solar, battery or charge cable
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Battery life is lower than competitors
- Fan smaller than dedicated versions
- All plastic construction
Solar Camping Gear Buyer’s Guide
When you’re shopping for solar camping gear, you have a lot of options at your disposal. You will want to consider things like power needed, weight, other sources of energy if the weather is bad, and other features.
Power
Power hold and collection is key to judging your solar camping gear. Power hold is easy to judge – longer lasting batteries hold charge for a longer time.
For power collection, you want to make sure that your panels stay clean and free of debris. Looking for dust and weatherproof / waterproof panels on your devices will ensure that they won’t be damaged while camping.
Weight and Durability
Lightweight gear is always better when backpacking or camping. You don’t want to sacrifice strength, but if you can find equipment made of high strength light material, like carbon, aluminum and durable plastic, you will get the best of both worlds.
Cracked panels collect less energy, so any with a polycarbonate or polypropylene shielding are stronger than those that are directly exposed. These plastic composites are shatterproof and help ensure a fully functioning panel.
Other Energy Sources
Poor weather is unpredictable, and if you get caught in a storm you want to make sure you can still power your equipment. Many pieces of solar camping gear come with a few options for charging such as batteries, AC power, and hand cranks. Try to find equipment you can power in multiple ways.
Multi-functional
Equipment that can do more than one thing is always best. We already addressed wanting lightweight equipment, and if that gear can do multiple things, that’s even better. See if you can find solar camping gear with multiple functions like USB charging, flashlights, or a radio.
Solar Camping GearFrequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in Solar Camping Gear?
You will want to focus on how much charge a piece of equipment can hold and if it has multiple functions to make sure that it is efficient in your pack.
How Durable is Solar Camping Gear?
While the construction of gear varies, the included solar panels are generally pretty strong. Solar technology has evolved over the years to make the panels both efficient and durable.
Buying Your Solar Camping Gear
Just because you are off the grid doesn’t mean you need to give up some of the comforts of home, like a hot shower or music. Using the power of the sun to charge your solar camping gear means that you do not have heavy batteries to carry around, and you can still bring plenty of equipment.
Camping involves a lot more than solar-powered gear. Check out our Camping Gear blog posts for product recommendations on every kind of camping gear you can imagine!
