ANKER POWERPORT SOLAR CHARGER 21W
FUNCTIONALITY: High WEIGHT: 14.7 oz
EASE OF USE: High PRICE: Affordable
PROS:
- Compact and easy to use
- Water proof/splash proof
- Charges two devices at once via USB; relatively fast charge for a 21W solar panel
- Pocket to hold power bank and charging cables
CONS:
- The pocket uses a small Velcro touch point rather than a zipper so you have to be careful to not lose items from the pocket
REVIEW:
We used the Anker Powerport solar charger and an Anker power bank on a 9 day backcountry hunt in New Mexico. We were off the grid the entire time so we needed a reliable source of power to recharge our devices. Fortunately most of the days we were off grid were sunny. I was impressed with how effective this solar charger was in keeping our devices charged. You can use the solar charger to charge a power bank or you can hook devices up directly to the USB connections to charge directly from the solar charger. We used the charger primarily to charge our Anker power bank and then we would charge devise off the power bank.
However, a few times I used the Anker solar charger to charge my cell phone directly from the charger and it only took a couple hours to achieve a full charge. I noticed the charger worked better in direct sunlight which makes sense.
Anker offers a wide spectrum of solar chargers for a variety of different situations. I purchased the Anker Powerport Solar 21W charger because we had cell phones, GPS units, Garmin minis, SteriPENs and camera batteries that we needed to charge over a nine day period. I am pleased to report that the Anker Powerport Solar 21W charger worked great and supported those devices for two hunters.
Fortunately, the Anker allows you to connect two devices into the power port. If you are connecting devices into both ports on the solar charger it delivers 2.4 amps per port. If you use only a single port it delivers 3 amps. Charging more than one device is critical at times but also slows down the charging process.
The Anker PowerPort 21W solar charger is very durable. It uses industrial-strength PET polymer faced panels that are sewn into a rugged polyester canvas. The canvas offers weather resistance. I did not have the opportunity to test the panels in the rain but I am sure they would hold us just fine. However, I suspect they would charge much slower in overcast rainy conditions.
The Anker PowerPort 21W solar charger is approximately 11 inches by 6 inches folded and 26.5 by 11 inches opened. The charger comes with stainless steel eye-holes on each corner to easily attach it to a tree, backpack or tent. I attached it to my backpack, to a stump and to several different trees. It is very compact when folded up and weighs less than a pound.
This solar panel is compatible with most cell phones including the iPhone, Samsung, Mp3 players, GPS units, Gopro cameras, etc. Nearly any smaller form factor device that connects to a USB can be charged. Also, the solar panel can charge two devices at the same time which can be convenience if you have multiple electronics that need to be charged.
The Anker PowerPort 21W solar charger is lightweight, compact and efficient for charging most devices you will take with you into the outdoors. You can even charge a battery pack with this solar panel in about half a day. Among the extensive list of chargers available I highly recommend the Anker for a reliable power source when headed off the grid for more than a couple days.
The Anker comes with an 18-month warranty. If you are in the market for a solar charger this one is top shelf!
COST: $69.99
WHERE TO BUY: Anker PowerPort 21W solar charger
