5 Best Solar Power Banks: I'm Unimpressed!
5 Best Solar Power Banks: I'm Unimpressed!
I bought 5 of the best solar power banks and put them to the test! The results were…underwhelming.
🔋 SOLAR POWER BANKS TESTED IN THIS VIDEO
• Blavor – https://amzn.to/3FKOD9D
• 4Patriots – https://amzn.to/3QuVQ2h
• Anker – http://bit.ly/ankerSPB
• QiSa – https://amzn.to/3snlPke
• Survival Frog – https://amzn.to/3FP8OmM
☀️ SOLAR CALCULATOR – estimate savings for your home, get free online quotes
https://www.solarreviews.com/solar-estimator?aff=162985&cam=741
🛒 DISCOUNT CODES
• ShopSolar – https://shopsolarkits.com/discount/ALEX101?ref=1407 (Use code ALEX101 for $101 off your order)
✏️ MY FREE SOLAR TOOLS
• Solar Panel Tilt Angle Calculator ➔ https://footprinthero.com/solar-panel-tilt-angle-calculator
• Solar Panel Azimuth Angle Calculator ➔ https://footprinthero.com/solar-panel-azimuth-angle-calculator
• Peak Sun Hours Calculator ➔ https://footprinthero.com/peak-sun-hours-calculator
👋 CONNECT WITH FOOTPRINT HERO!
• Blog ➔ https://footprinthero.com/
• TikTok ➔ https://www.tiktok.com/@footprinthero
• Instagram ➔ https://www.instagram.com/footprint.hero/
~
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Solar Charging Test
1:07 Battery Capacity Test
3:09 The Flaw
4:03 Charging Ports & Other Features
4:35 The Winner
5:21 I’m Unimpressed.
~
I tested how much solar energy all these solar power banks collected after being left outside for 2 days. Then I charged them up and tested how much battery capacity they *actually* have and compared it to their listed capacity. I also talk about a flaw present in the current crop of solar power banks.
Note: Listed capacities came from the solar power banks themselves. In the case that the power banks only reported their capacity in milliamp hours (mAh), I calculated their watt hours by multiplying their milliamps hours by a voltage of 3.7V (the nominal voltage for the Li-ion batteries used in most power banks) and then dividing by 1,000.
~
Some of the links in this description and in the comments below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one, at no extra cost to you I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Been looking at one of these for hiking and unfortunately every solar power bank seems very poorly made. Had yet to find one that is worth it.
Avoid Chinese knockoffs
I use my 10000mah
Tko Solar powerbank as a backup battery…testing solar charge capability right now..don’t expect much 😅
I used it to top up my Anker Powerbank..it worked excellent in that regard.
AC Charging up your Powerbank is still the way to go into the woods.
Anker Solar is nologer listed on official site. Nor there are any mobile solar power banks on anker site.
Sounds about right with all the "sustanability" trend. You buy it with good intentions, and then use it as a regular powerbank plugging it to the wall.
Wow! Straight to the point. I always see these listed first on amazon when looking at affordable, beginner solar options, and I can’t believe at $20-60 that they won’t even charge a phone all the way. This really sated my curiosity!! I saved $20 thank you!
Great video, clear and concise
I’m looking to take a dream vacation and take one of these to play video games on my phone. It’s a pretty big deal to me but I’ll be able to have unforgettable experiences with these.
Good video, was looking at the specs of these power banks, and my scepticism had proved correct..
Dude has so much soy running through his body
Great video. Straight to the point. No fat. Got exactly what I was looking for when I clicked on the video. Subbed!
About 12 years ago I was spending 3-4 months at a time way off grid for some work. Due to some federal rules we were very limited on what we could bring in, so no car batteries if you could even haul one up that far. I made it three summers mostly on a combination of two of the original power bank that these reviewed packs were copying (it was some buy one give one to the developing world company) and a big brown dog gadgets solar cell. I’d charge my iPad and big lime fuel (originally limeade) off the brown dog during morning work and at mid-day I’d put on the early Panasonic 18650 lithiums for my lantern and flashlights. The lime fuel would power my 120 mm fan overnight and I’d read or watch some tv on the iPad. My phone by some miracle had signal and after the first summer would tether so I could pull new books and content for the iPad. I’d swap out the self contained banks to recharge the iPhone because it took them about two days to realistically get me the half charge it would take to pull content. I’d throw a clear vinyl sheet over it to keep it rain safe and set it out on a bench and it worked beautifully.
This scheme blew the minds of the older employees and even the rangers that would come through. They’d make fun of me for not being able to disconnect, but also would routinely ask me to pirate movies and tv for them to watch. The whole package weighed about 11 lbs in the pelican i took it up in and stored stuff in. It was a lot of my spare weight when we would pack in, but I slept in a lighter tent and used an air pad instead of the back saver pad everyone swore by so I was within a couple pounds of everyone else’s load. As time went on I actually managed to shave weight elsewhere and brought an extra lime fuel to capitalize on extra sunny days and a second 120mm pc fan to dry socks and otherwise make my tent more comfortable. Eventually I swapped the second flashlight for a string of LED clear Christmas lights to light up my tent. The final year I brought a MacBook Air and a 5v to 12v boost converter because I was working on a grant along with a third lime fuel. I had to cut a bit of weight on my toiletries and luxuries but I made it the whole summer never running out of power for stuff I wanted to do. My bigger worry was trying to figure out a better bed setup so I was more comfortable mornings.
I eventually moved on to a different job and could no longer live that life, so I repurposed a lot of the gear. I took a day hike in the year after I came off trail and half of the people doing my old job had LiFePo batteries and as much tech or more than I did. Because they didn’t have to be as conservative they even had a cooler and would keep more perishable foods longer than we had access to. Eventually the study ended and they repurposed the campsite for public use. I’ve been back once since and there’s a cabin there now for staff with all sorts of amenities we were forbidden, lol.
I’m sure they could make them better, but the last thing they want is people getting free energy.
for the blavor one, the company recommended that you charge via the outlet than the solar panel as it is barely any use and it would take 3 to 4 varying sunny days to fully charge wit h it
Very informative, thank you
What if you covered the QiSa’s 4th solar panel, the one directly connected to the battery pack, would that reduce the battery temperature/battery life of this unit? while it’s solar charging.
Solar charging is only meant for emergency use only. (Stuck in the desert with your phone on empty.) Better than nothing. My Goodaaa is rated at 43,000mAh and for the price, this is a steal.
So what size of solar panel would be needed to fully charge a phone in, say, 3 hours?
How much
Even 2 square meter (2×1 meter) solar panel only produce about 80-120 watts of energy (same as typical gan charger), even 100 watt gan charger still needs 2 hours to fill 10.000 mah power bank (if the power bank really charge at 100 watt speed, there’s no power bank with 100 watt input charge right now), so ? "solar power bank" are just a gimmick unless you let your power bank in direct sunlight for a month to fill up.
You do good reviews 👍🏾. A lot of detailed information. Thanks!
Phone never test to charge but mi pad 5 charge slow use less old solar power pank one light two charge port need rail.y charge your phone and mi
Pad 5
Products tested, in no particular order (affiliate links):
Blavor – https://amzn.to/3FKOD9D
4Patriots – https://amzn.to/3QuVQ2h
Anker – https://anker.pxf.io/AW5P97
QiSa – https://amzn.to/3snlPke
Survival Frog – https://amzn.to/3FP8OmM
I forgot to mention this in the video, but even the ‘winner’ gets the most lukewarm recommendation possible from me. It’s just hard to trust the long-term quality of cheap power bank brands – let alone one whose actual capacity is so far off from its listed capacity. So buyer beware.
A better alternative is probably just buying a dedicated solar charger and using that to charge a regular power bank. That way you can keep the battery out of direct sunlight. Not to mention, solar chargers tend to have bigger solar panels and thus output more power.
THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO
Why the annoying music? Could not finish
Thanks. this was actually a very good and useful review. Saved me some money as well.
Holy cow I’ve never seen a YouTuber go straight to the point like this, others should learn from this lad.
Finally a real honest product review , I own almost all of those and agree with everything u said thanks for sharing
Wireless charging on a power bank is the goofiest thing I’ve ever heard, especially on one that is outdoor focused. They’re probably consuming as much power as they’re producing just checking for a phone to charge
You just saved me $50 box, thx
Thank you, can you tell me what tool are you using to test for Wh
Maybe your shit tool is fucked
Thanks a lot. The single solar powerbanks are mostly used with an extra solar panel.
How can I ordered that
Awesome video. Thx
Well I won’t be buying any. Thanks to your video
Because the full when you open them
Akshada
Thanks for your research results. I’ve bought too many of these disappointing devices and get shot down on their abilities. Maybe I’ll check the development process in a few years.
These things are sooooo disappointing.
crazy question and not like I know one way or the other but do you need to fully discharge before charging to get the most accurate battery capacity ? I thought I heard that some where maybe for quadcopter lipos or something
Sounds like solar power banks suck.
I’m not surprised.
I wished I watched this video before buying my solar USB battery.
Can’t get the anker one anymore 😂
This video needs more likes. Short to the point and fair comparison
Can I charge these with outlets
THANK YOU for this purely objective review! I had been considering one of these for emergency use. NOT good enough!
I cant believe all the apologist, solar, fanboys making excuses for such dismal peformance in the comments!! Would you put up with this kind of ridiculous performance shortfall in any other device? I think not.
The "alternative energy" virtue signallers will contort themselves in three different directions trying to make the solar lie true. What a crock!
Just admit that solar is an immature technology that "may" have some future promise. But as of today, this stuff sucks out loud. And to rely on this garbage in an emergency situation is just plain stupid!
I have to admit that Two days ago
I was like.
Power or solar chargers are for homeless or wild life adventures.
Worthless for me!
But after storms left our house with no power for two days so far I think
They can safe lives.
Now. if we don’t have a phone
It Feels like we are not in it.
Great info when desperate and looking
For a portable phone charger!.
👍
👍