Solar Power: Anker 15W Dual USB Solar Charger

Part of the joy of our trips is documenting where we go using the Gaia GPS app. But, this requires that our iPhones be on all day long. The app warns that if you are in low battery mode, it may not work properly. The solution? Charge on the go.

So I did some reading and settled on the Anker 15W Dual USB Solar Charger, which was available through Amazon. I ordered it, and took it on my first trip only to find that it did not work. Not one to mess around, I returned it and indicated that I did not want a replacement.

Would you believe that a couple of weeks later, Anker contacted me and offered to send me one for free if I was interested? I said yes, it arrived, and it went on our backpacking trip to the Ruby Mountains in Nevada.

Remember, we are ultra lightweight backpackers...for example, our packs, with water weighed in at 21.5 lbs for a 7-day trip. So, when we opt for a "luxury item," it had better be worth its weight.

The Anker weighed in at a whopping 13.9 ounces, but did exactly what I needed. I simply kept it attached to the top of my pack and plugged into my phone as we hiked each day. I was able to take all of the photos I wanted and save our tracks on Gaia GPS.

Note: I always keep it in airplane mode because searching for a signal in remote areas drains the battery.

Five stars all the way on this device!

Update: My Pixel 2 would not charge with this solar charger. 

Image from Amazon