Whenever you're exploring the great outdoors, the right camping gear can make your outing easier and far more enjoyable. When we think about camping trips, we're more focused on the essentials like sleeping bags and a tent, and tech is often left off the list. And while the whole point of camping is to disconnect, that doesn't mean you have to give up every modern luxury. In fact, there is plenty of solar-powered gear out there that can actually elevate your camping experience while you're connecting with nature. From a solar-powered grill to a portable solar shower and from solar coolers to solar fans, your next camping trip can be infinitely more comfortable. If you don't know what you don't know, here's a list of some great solar-powered camping tech to upgrade your next trip.
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With 10 watts of power, BioLite's solar panel lets you charge your tablet, cellphone, and other devices even while you're enjoying the great outdoors. An integrated sundial helps you capture plenty of direct sunlight, and a 360-degree kickstand helps with positioning on uneven terrain. The collapsible design makes it easy to pack, and you can use the energy in real-time or store it for later use.
Using multiple global navigation satellite systems, this rugged smartwatch by Garmin helps you track your hikes and your health. No power source? No problem. This watch is equipped with a solar battery for solar charging and extended use.
GoSun's stainless steel solar grill uses solar power to cook your favorite camping meals in only 20 minutes. The unit heats to a maximum temperature of 550°F and cooks up to 13.5 ounces of food. To complete your camping cooking essentials, the grill comes with a cooking tray, boiling water insert, silicone baking pans, and a cleaning brush.
For camping trips during the dog days of summer, cool off with this multifunctional solar fan that doubles as a lamp.
With a 360-degree design, Elechome's solar bug zapper keeps bugs and pests out of your hair no matter what direction they fly in. Even better, this solar-powered bug zapper also functions as a white light and a flashlight (there's even an SOS mode for emergencies).
While you might think that hot showers and camping don't go hand in hand, think again. Perfect for avid campers, this solar shower features a reflector panel and insulator panel for superior heat retention and hot showers on the go. The solar shower heats water up to 110 degrees in under three hours in direct sunlight and an easy-to-read temperature gauge lets you know when your shower is warm and ready.
BioLite's SolarHome kit is essentially a solar generator. An easy-to-install solar panel harnesses the sun's rays to charge a central control box that powers up to three hanging lights, a USB charger, and an FM radio system. The SolarHome 620+ is ideal for camping power outages and off-the-grid living.
While this solar backpack is water-resistant and spacious enough to hold all of your camping gear and hiking essentials, it's also outfitted with a solar-powered 5V USB port that can prove infinitely helpful for powering cellphones, GPS systems, and even Bluetooth speakers.
GoSun's ice-free solar cooler keeps food items fresh, and when there's no ice to take up the space, there's plenty of room for the good stuff. With multiple power sources, including a power bank and flexible solar panels, this cooler can also be used to power up your devices.
The LuminAID Titan — which functions as a bright lantern and phone charger — provides up to 100 hours of light once fully charged. With five brightness settings, this solar lantern puts out 300 lumens of light, so while it's great for a campsite, it's great to have on hand in the event of a power outage too.