Who Uses Solar in the Back Country?

[FerretWYO]

How many of you use Solar to charge important gear in the back country?

What applications do you use it for?

What brand and models are working the best for you all?

[dhaverstick]

I bought this one in June on Camofire.com for $75 to my door. What I like about it is that it has a battery you can charge and then use the battery to charge your devices.

  AspectSolar DUO-Flex  

I got this for an Alberta moose hunt I'm going on in September. I'll use it to charge my phone and PLB. I have used it to charge my phone and it works as advertised.

Darren

[Dave Lay]

I use this,
     http://www.goalzero.com/p/11/nomad-7-solar-panel      
 they make several sizes but this is a rugged panel made for the outdoors  

I usually use it on extended week or more canoe trips its a excellent product
for shorter periods I use this battery pack, it will charge a typical smart phone 3-4 times  and it can be charged off the solar as well, my main use is to charge a INREACH PLB and cell phone  

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009USAJCC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

[Jakeemt]

I use a little solar charger to charge up my cell phone.

[Montanawidower]

I use one but I don't think I would backpack it...  The weight gain/loss vs just packing extra batteries is mute with my llamas.  

I got mine as a present so the cost analysis was done for me.  

[Burnsie]

I have a Goal Zero that I got off the classifieds here.  It works fine and I seriously considered taking it on my elk hunt in a few weeks,  but decided to go with a SnowLizard external charger instead. It will charge my phone over 7 times and other devices as well.  It was basically a wash weight wise and the SnowLizard is much more compact.  Plus I don't have to worry if the sun is shining.  Got a heck of a deal on one off Amazon.

[Basinboy]

I use one to charge my iPhone and the external power for my iPhone. Instapark Mercury 10. Two miles in to spike camp
Only 12.9 oz

  http://www.amazon.com/Instapark%C2%AE-Mercury-Portable-Charger-Compatible/dp/B006ZSE6TM

[wingnut]

John has one and a couple of storage batts.  We set the unit up charging a storage batt and can charge our GPS or camera batts over night from them.

Works very well.

Mike

[FerretWYO]

Thanks for the inputs guys.

[double eagle]

I use Poweradd Apollo 2 that is at the door for about $30.  Outdoorgearlab.com has a comparison of solar chargers for backcountry users.  This was an editor's choice.  You can charge by light or USB plug into a wall or computer.  You get 3-4 charges on a phone or tablet per charge.  I'm pretty happy with it and is about the size of my Note 2 phone.

[tim roberts]

Though I question taking devices that need charging in the woods, I have used one made from Anker, it is a 14watt slim profile unit that works well.
Thanks,

[chinook907]

I have a 14w folding solar panel set up coming from Anker, maybe the same as Tims.  And a 10000mAh battery.  The battery will charge my smartphone a couple times per charge, and the panels charge the battery.

I'll have a 3 day trip to work the kinks out and then a 2 week trip.  I'll play with in town also.

I'll be out of cell coverage but want to use a gps app for finding camp in the dark or fog, and seeing the terrain around me.

[ozy clint]

smart phone and backcountry in the same sentence?     :confused:     :p

[old_goat2]

I bought the one dhaverstick has, haven't played with it much though.

[Basinboy]

Originally posted by chinook907:
I have a 14w folding solar panel set up coming from Anker, maybe the same as Tims.  And a 10000mAh battery.  The battery will charge my smartphone a couple times per charge, and the panels charge the battery.

I'll have a 3 day trip to work the kinks out and then a 2 week trip.  I'll play with in town also.

I'll be out of cell coverage but want to use a gps app for finding camp in the dark or fog, and seeing the terrain around me.

I use mine the same way. 13000 mah battery that I plug into my solar panel at spike camp while I'm out hunting all day. When I come in after dark I just charge my phone off the external battery. Set it back up in a sunny spot before leaving early the next morning so it will be charged up when I get back in to camp every night.
I use the Trimble GPS app on my phone more than I use my garmin.

[sticksnstones]

Only solar thing I own is a Luci lantern. They collapse flat, can run for hours and hours, and they don't burn up my gas/propane or have a glass globe to break.  Check them out on Amazon, sold by mPower.

As for the heart of your question, I can't help as I don't use solar panels for anything else.
Thom