During testing, I wasn't able to track the exact amperage and I’m sure these numbers are ideal situations you will never be able to match, but in direct sunlight, I easily managed to repeat charging my phone in about an hour to an hour and a half. Of course, this is dependent on how much sun and at what angle it faces the sun. Like Anker’s other chargers, it has PowerIQ technology which allows it to match your device's charging speed up to 2.4 amps each port or 3 amps overall. Within the Velcro pouch, there are two USB charging ports with a small red LED to tell you there is power. This worked out great for me since I often use this in my hiking pack. ![]() ![]() It also turns out to fit perfectly in a small F-Stop Gear ICU right on top of everything in it. This makes it perfect for stashing in just about any bag that has a laptop/tablet compartment. Made up of three polymer-faced solar panels sewn into a polyester canvas material with a fourth section designed as a Velcro pocket, the entire device folds up to be about an inch thick. However, it is quite efficient and with a few little tricks, I can charge every device I currently travel with on assignment. It’s not going to charge my cell phone in 30 minutess like a wall plug will and I can't connect it to my laptop directly. The 21w PowerPort is a great price to value item. At roughly 11 x 6 inches, weighing only 15 ounces, and priced under $100, this is a device that won't break the bank or add a lot of bulk to my existing kit. ![]() That's where the Anker 21W PowerPort Solar charger comes in. I want a backup for weekend trips into the mountains or for staying in small rural villages abroad. I don’t need something to power a month in the Amazon. There have been plenty of companies selling solar panel charging kits for several years now but often if you're not putting together a large expedition or using them constantly the price didn't justify the benefit. This inspired me to look for an affordable and compact solution I could easily travel or hike with. Everyone would drop their phones off in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day fully charged. On my last trip to Africa, several of the villages had small general stores that sold charging time using portable solar panels. As an adventure photographer, I find myself in areas with little to no power charging opportunities, which often requires more gadgets that rely on yet more batteries. In addition to camera gear, I often travel with my Surface Pro 4, cell phone, and Nexus tablet. ![]() On an average assignment I carry three different cameras now, then there are the countless devices that use AAs and AAAs. They power everything we use and each device or gadget needs a different one. Yet the demand for power is ever growing.Īs photographers, batteries are our greatest weakness. Now it seems most places offer some sort of charging station and the drop in price and size of battery banks has made them easy to carry around. Charging our devices, especially when traveling, had become essential and airports fell behind in offering a solution. I remember just a few years ago sitting in airports watching everyone fight over the few wall sockets available. We often take for granted how easily we can access power, plugging everything we own into a wall socket.
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