One of the very best things about being a part of the Review This! team is knowing that we write about the things we truly use, enjoy, and honestly recommend. The recipes are the foods we cook and enjoy. The product reviews are the things we use. Our site is not clickbait; clogged up with ads. And we very rarely write reviews because someone has approached us, asking for a review of their products. It is an honor to be a part of this group.
Anker PowerPort Solar Charger and Anker PowerCore Battery:
I go camping regularly; off-grid in West Virginia. Even though I go with the plan to be unplugged and get away from it all, I still want to have a fully charged cell phone at all times. I have 2 items from Anker that have been super reliable and keep me feeling secure at all times.
The Anker PowerPort Solar Charger was my first Anker purchase. I reviewed this charger in September 2017. I still use this solar charger during every, single camping trip and I have had zero problems with it. On 2 occasions, it shut down briefly and I thought perhaps I had broken it. But those were 2 extremely hot days and very bright sunshine. In hindsight, I wonder if it (or my phone) got overheated and shut down temporarily. That has not happened outside of those two occasions.
This charger is lightweight but folds up in a way that is easily to carry in a backpack. I HIGHLY recommend this item for camping, hiking, and other off-grid situations.
Because there were times that I was camping during several days of rain, or in the winter when daylight hours are shorter, I added the Anker PowerCore battery to my camping supplies in 2018. I also keep it fully charged during hurricane season.
This item is basically a rechargeable battery. I charge it fully using the outlet or my laptop (using the USB cord) and then keep it in my camping supplies. It provides enough power to charge my cellphone for multiple days. I have only had one issue with the PowerCore Battery and that was due to operator error. In short, Willy (my dog) got the zoomies in The Shack and ripped the battery off of a shelf when he ran under the cord. It was quite impressive how far the battery flew... and the cord now has to be finessed into the opening in order to make full contact. Frankly, I'm quite impressed that the battery didn't break during that incident.
Between the solar charger and the battery, I am prepared for any weather and several days of being off-grid - whether intentional or due to emergency circumstances.
In Summary:
Yes, that was a lot of rambling to say that I purchased these items in 2017 and 2018. I use them regularly. The dogs and I are clumsy and a little rough on things. And these two items have withstood our abuse. These two purchases were well worth the money spent. And years later, I still highly recommend them!
Reviewing the Anker Portable Solar Power Charger (on my personal blog: Treasures, Travel, Tales).
Reviewing the Anker PowerCore Portable Charger.
Getting off the grid is a wonderful way to spend the weekends, but being out of touch is a completely different matter. Out in the boonies, I'd be insecure without some way of getting in touch with someone in case of an emergency. Looks like these two items are a must have if you are out in the wilds! Thanks Dawn Rae for your update on what I would consider essentials to take along.
ReplyDeleteThe Anker Solar Charger and PowerCore Battery sound like the perfect items to have on hand to keep your communication devices fully charged and available for emergencies. I've often wondered what you did about your cell phone while up in the WV mountains far from other forms of communication or nearby neighbors. I don't suppose there are many cell towers in that area? :)
ReplyDeleteThese portable chargers can literally be life savers, especially if you plan to be camping for several days. As you mentioned, any of us could experience weather related outages and need the backups. I couldn't help but think how these devices would make great gifts for anyone!
ReplyDeleteI purchased an Anker PowerCore II 20000 20100mAh Portable Charger with Dual USB Ports to power a pair of USB task lights on my JOOLTOOL (a combination grinder/sander/polisher/flexshaft and more), an older model that doesn't have the built-in USB ports for these lights. It is working like a champ! I also have purchased other Anker products, and find that their USB cords are more durable than many other brands. For camping, the Anker solar and battery chargers you purchased sound like a must-have!
ReplyDeleteThe portable chargers are a necessity w the infrastructure and weather - was not aware of the solar version!
ReplyDelete