Easy Ways To Charge Phone & Devices While Camping
There are so many options when it comes to charging your phone & devices during a camping trip. Some ways are more common than others. It’s good to know what choices you have so you can decide what will work the best for your camping situation.
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How To Charge Phone While Camping
Some of the most common options for charging while camping are with a small USB portable power bank, a car charger, a portable solar panel, or a portable power station.
Here are the other options when it comes to charging while camping.
- USB Portable Power Bank
- Car Charger
- Portable Solar Panel
- Portable Power Station
- Gas Generator
- Campsite Hook-up
- Cell Phone Battery Case
- BioLite Stove
- Lantern Power Bank
- Bluetooth Speaker Power Bank
- WaterLily Turbine
- Hand Crank Charger
- Camping Neighbor
- Ranger Station or Gas Station
Not only will these charging methods work for camping, but many of them will work for your backpacking & hiking trips as well.
Every option may not be the best option for you, so you should choose whichever method will work best for your camping situation. You might need to change your charging approach based on the type of camping (or backpacking) you’re doing.
Using Your Phone While Camping
Everybody has a different camping style. You might not want to bring your phone at all because you love to feel unplugged while you’re in the great outdoors.
We like to bring our cell phones with us for several different reasons (but we keep our usage to a minimum).
Cell phones can be used for:
- Tracking Location (for family)
- Map GPS
- Emergency Calls
- Photos & Videos
- Flashlight
- Entertainment
Whether you choose to use your phone for some or all of these uses, you’ll need to make sure you have enough power for it to last during your camping trip.
Other Devices While Camping
You might like to bring other devices with you while camping. Most of these charging methods will work great for any other device that uses a USB port for charging.
A few of the charging methods will work well for wall outlet charging. So you can choose which will work best for you based on which devices you have with you during your camping trip.
A few other electronic devices that we’ve seen people bring camping besides a cell phone that need charged are
- Garmin GPS
- Camera
- iPad
- Flashlight
- Headlamp
- Laptop
- Handheld Gaming Systems
Methods To Charge Phone While Camping
There are a handful of options when it comes to charging your phone. Most of these methods will charge any devices that use USB ports (like your phone), but some of them will even be helpful when charging other devices.
USB Portable Charger
A USB Portable Charger will probably be the best way to keep a phone charged while you are camping.
This portable power bank is a small, pocket-sized device that has stored energy in it. The size of it makes it perfect for camping, backpacking, & for any other outdoor activities.
You can plug your phone into the USB port and get a full charge.
Depending on the size of the portable charging device, you can most likely get a handful of full charges from it before you need to re-charge the device.
For example, this device has 25800mAh capacity, which should give you at least 6 full phone charges. This means, you’d be able to charge your phone to a full charge 6 nights in a row based on the size of it.
When the portable charger is dead, you typically use a wall charger to charge it back up.
Car Charger
If you are car camping, then charging your phone in the car is an easy option.
Nowadays, most cars have a USB port to charge your phone with. If not, then you can buy a car phone charger to fit your phone.
You should just be careful not to leave your car battery on for too long while you’re charging. This might leave you with a dead car battery in the middle of nowhere.
It is also a good idea to use your car phone charger while you’re driving to your campsite. Ideally, you’ll have a fully charged phone by the time you get to your camping destination.
Portable Solar Panels
Solar panels aren’t just for powering houses. There are tons of options when it comes to portable solar panels to take on your camping trip. (There are even smaller, lightweight solar panel options to take on a backpacking trip.)
Solar panels use direct sunlight to generate power and then you can plug your phone into your solar panel for a charge.
Solar phone chargers might not generate much power if you’re camping during cloudy weather, so keep that in mind. You want to make sure you have another option if the weather isn’t going to be sunny during your trip.
Portable Power Stations
Portable power stations are similar to generators, except they run on electricity (or even solar power). They are like a large battery bank that you can use during several days of your camping trip.
Most power stations will have several ports for USB, USB-C (car chargers), wall chargers, & maybe even a few others.
There is a wide variety of how much charge the power stations have that you can get for your camping trip to help you with all your electricity needs.
For example, we use this 1000 watt Jackery power station to charge our phones, camera battery, run our refrigerator, & our propane heater. We can usually use it for at least 2-3 days before we need to charge it back up.
Jackery Portable Power Station
We love that we have the option to charge it with a wall outlet or with the large solar panels.
Regardless of which power station you get, you should make sure that it has enough power output to charge the devices that you plan to use during your camping trip.
Gas Generator
Gas generators are another option to use when charging phones and other electronic devices.
This option might be best for you if it is something you already have on hand. Gas generators come in handy at home or while you’re out camping.
You can purchase a portable generator to bring with you on your camping trips to keep your small electronics charged up.
Just make sure you choose a generator with the amount of power that you’ll need for your devices.
Campsite Hook-Up
If you’re camping at a designated camp area, then you might have an electrical outlet at your site.
This would be a super easy way to charge up your phone and other electronic devices. Just keep in mind that you’ll probably only have one outlet to use, so you’ll only be able to charge one thing at a time.
Cell Phone Battery Case
For some mobile devices, there are options to purchase a phone case with a built-in battery.
This means your phone would charge itself back up through your phone case.
If you’re going on a short trip, this option would be great. You could use your phone for a full charge, and then get another full charge out of the phone case.
BioLite Stove
The BioLite Stove is a genius way to get double uses out of your gear. These camp stoves will generate power while you cook with it.
It’s also great because you can use biomass, like twigs, leaves, & wood from around your campsite to heat it with.
Simply charge your phone with the generated energy from cooking while you’re camping.
Lantern Power Bank
Another piece of camping gear that could also charge your phone is this lantern. There are a few options when it comes to lantern power banks (like this large power station lantern).
Choosing a piece of gear that will also charge your phone is a great way to pack lighter. Instead of needing to pack a charging bank and a lantern, you now just need to pack the lantern.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to be aware of how much energy you’re using from the lantern so it doesn’t run out of juice before your trip is over.
Bluetooth Speaker Power Bank
This bluetooth speaker is also a power source to charge your phone with. You can enjoy music for a few days and also be able to charge your phone a couple of times too.
Just like with the lantern, be cautious of how long you’re listening to music on this portable speaker, because it will use up the energy that is stored.
WaterLily Turbine
The WaterLily Turbine uses wind or water to generate energy. This is an unconventional way to charge your phone, but if you’re out in nature, why not use nature to generate power?
This would be a great option to charge your phone if you’re on a fishing trip or a kayaking trip to really put the water current to good use.
Hand Crank Charger
Having a hand crank charger with you is a great backup option. You don’t have to rely on any other sources, just your own strength.
You simply hand crank the device to generate enough juice to plug your phone into it for a charge.
Camping Neighbor
If all else fails, you might check in with your camping neighbor to see if they can help you charge your phone. This would be ideal if you’re at an RV park and there are plug-ins around that other campers wouldn’t mind sharing with you.
If you’re having an emergency, then you might even be able to use the phone of a camping neighbor to make a call.
Ranger Station or Gas Station
If you’re desperate, then you might drive to a ranger station or local gas station to charge your phone up for a bit.
Bring a wall charger with you so you are able to go right in and start charging your phone.
How To Save Battery Life
If you’re car camping or if you’re only taking short trips, then you might not have to choose any of these methods. You could simply charge before you go and preserve your battery life.
Regardless, it is a good idea to take proper measures to help conserve your battery life while you’re camping just in case.
Here are a few ways that you can save your battery life on your phone
- Keep phone at optimal temperatures
- Reduce screen brightness
- Turn off app updates
- Use power saving mode
- Turn on airplane mode
- Turn off phone
- Keep screen locked
- Text vs. call
- Don’t overcharge
Phone Temperature
Did you know that your phone battery doesn’t perform well when you are in extreme temperatures? That could be hot or cold temps.
One of the best ways to keep your phone battery charged for longer is to keep your phone at a moderate temperature. The best temperature range for your phone is between 32 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (0-35 celsius).
If you’re backpacking, you should try to keep your phone close to your body heat. During the night, you might even sleep with your phone inside of your sleeping bag to keep it warm.
Reduce Screen Brightness
This should be no surprise to you. If your phone is putting out more light, then it is using more battery.
An easy way to save on your phone’s battery life is to lower your screen brightness.
Sometimes it can be hard to see your phone screen while you’re in the sunlight, so you could always crank it back up when necessary.
Turn Off App Updates
There is usually a setting on your phone that allows for apps to automatically update. Your phone is constantly working to check on apps to see if they are in the most updated version.
To help your phone conserve battery, you should switch off this setting.
Power Saving Mode
Many phones will have a setting called “Power Saving Mode” or “Battery Saving Mode.” This setting is designed to lessen the amount of battery your phone is using by reducing what is operating in the background.
While you’re on your camping trip, you could turn on this mode to keep your phone alive for longer.
Airplane Mode
Airplane mode is one of the easiest ways to save battery life on your phone. When you use airplane mode, your phone shuts off all connectivity to data, wifi, & bluetooth. This will be a tremendous help while trying to conserve your phone battery.
You’ll just switch the airplane mode off when you need to use your phone.
Turn Off Phone
An instant way to save phone battery is to turn off your phone. You can keep it off while you’re not using it & then switch it back on to use.
We usually power our phones down at night to conserve the battery while we know we won’t need it.
Keep Phone Locked
If your phone is constantly lit up to show you the time & background photo, then you’re using a lot of battery power.
Find the setting that will make your screen turn black while your phone is locked to help save your battery life.
Text vs. Call
Texting doesn’t take up nearly as much juice as when you’re making a phone call.
Sending a quick text to family members and friends will help your battery life in the long run vs. calling them while you’re out on your camping trip.
Don’t Overcharge
When you charge your phone battery too much, it can actually weaken it. If you charge your phone constantly when it is already mostly charged (80% or more), it will start to wear down the battery.
It is best to wait until your phone is at a low percentage before you start to charge it.
Conclusion
Charging your phone and other devices while camping doesn’t have to be complicated. There are so many options to choose from when it comes to charging devices. Just choose what will work best for your camping situation.
Our Favorite Must-Have Camping Gear
Gazelle T4
Hub Tent
Jackery Solar
Generator
Qomotop Self-Inflating Mattress
THERMACELL MOSQUITO REPELLER
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Basic Camping Packing List
If this is your first time camping, or you need a refresh, then here is a free download for our Basic Camping Packing List. It is a full list of the basic items you need to bring for a successful camping trip.
