If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, it's important that you have the right tools in your backpack or kit. Most people include flashlights and communication equipment in their survival kit, which rely heavily on electricity. But when you’re out there, you'll need a reliable source of power to use them for an extensive period of time. This is where solar power can be a life-saver. Here are five solar powered survival tools that can help you not only survive for a long time, but thrive!
1. Your Phone
Picture this. You’re out in the wilderness and you decide to explore an interesting side trail. Before you know it, you've lost track of the trail. Being lost can be anxiety provoking, but having access to the flashlight on your phone can calm your nerves. When you grab your phone, you realize the battery has run out. This can be a nerve-wracking experience. What if you had charged your phone with solar power whilst hiking?
Whether you own an Android or iPhone, you should keep it charged and preloaded with the necessary applications. If you can power it with solar, the chances of getting home safely are dramatically improved. In areas where there’s no cellphone service, many functions on your phone may not work. But this doesn’t mean that your hope is lost. You never know - the GPS may, and often does still work.
With a solar battery charger, you can charge your phone in no time and call for help. They are completely portable and don’t require an external source of electricity to function. This makes the charger great for outdoor enthusiasts who won't have access to power for an extended period of time. So whether you’re in the middle of the desert, or halfway through a scenic hike, you can get your phone powered with ease.
Due to changes in technology, some devices are designed to work better than others with solar chargers. The solar charger you carry for your phone should have at least 7 watts. If you want to charge multiple devices, you should look for a charger with 15 watts or higher. Before you go hiking, make sure the solar device is capable of charging your phone quickly.
Since the solar panel charges a rechargeable battery, you can use your phone when there’s no sunlight. The capacity of the phone battery (mAh) will determine how often you recharge the battery. On the other hand, the power of the solar panel will determine how quickly you charge the phone.
If you’re hiking in a remote area, you may want to carry handsets that work on different networks. This will increase your chances of obtaining a signal.
2. A USB Lighter
Fire is a necessity when you’re out there in the wilderness. It provides warmth and heat for cooking. And if you’re camping in an area with wild animals, it can provide safety. For many of us, the easiest way to light fire is to use matches. But with the advancement in technology, we now have lighters that come with lithium-ion batteries. Some are solar-powered, so you can light the fire without matches.
A solar-powered lighter allows you to light the wood in your campfire pit no matter how windy or wet the environment is. Because this tool harnesses the power of the sun, you don’t have to worry that you’ve run out of the matches. Some lighters work in high altitude areas where standard lighters may struggle to create a flame.
A USB lighter is environmentally friendly and more economical. While the traditional lighters have to be filled with lighter fluid, the solar-powered models allow you to get the most out of a single charge. And because they use solar energy for charging, you can use them again and again. If you enjoy nature, you can be sure that your light will never go out.
3. A Flashlight
The number one thing you should have in your survival kit is a flashlight. If you want to conserve your phone’s battery, a solar-powered flashlight can help. It allows you to get unlimited light as long as you remember to charge in the sun. Unlike regular flashlights, these gadgets are often bright and reliable.
Some flashlights come with a weather-resistance anodized body which is great for camping and can withstand lots of abuse. While they may have different attributes and features, they have one thing in common- they give light in the dark.
Solar-powered flashlights come with rechargeable batteries that wear out after a couple of years. For optimal performance, you should leave the flashlight in a place where you can access sunlight. The more light it receives, the longer it will last. It’s worth mentioning that flashlights allow for different charging times. Some can take less than 4 hours while others can take up to 8 hours to fully charge.
Another thing to keep in mind is to identify how long the light remains bright. If you’re in an emergency, you want a flashlight that works for long without running out of battery juice. A solar-powered flashlight comes in different sizes, so you want a model that is not too heavy. This can be very helpful if you have to carry your backpack across the wilderness. Look for a small compact model.
4. Solar-powered Bluetooth speakers
If you’re venturing into a lap of nature, solar-powered speakers can give you the best outdoor experience. As long as the solar panels take enough sunlight to power the speaker, you don’t have to wait for the battery to fully charge to use it. This can be helpful if you’ve been listening to music the whole night and you want to enjoy the rise of the morning sun. No matter where you are, you can dance to your favorite tune.
5. Solar-powered LED whistle
A solar-powered whistle comes with a built-in battery. It’s great for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and other emergencies. Some have a built-in solar panel while others come with a separate unit. Shouting and screaming has no limits. If you’re out there and no one hears you, you can easily lose the attention of the rescuer. Solar-powered whistles are lightweight and resistant to rust.
Final thoughts
Since we live in uncertain times, you never know what the world will bring. When you’re out there in the wilderness, you can hardly survive 48 hours without power. But with the advancement in solar technology, there’re many cool gadgets you can add to your survival kit. Whether you’re a hiker or a mountain climber, be sure to add the above solar powered survival gear in your camping survival kit. As long as the sun shines, you’ll never run out of power. You can now enjoy fishing, camping, and other outdoor adventures without leaving the comfort of your home behind.