When you’re miles from civilization, you need your technology to work reliably, and these gadgets might just let you down when you need them most.
Camping is one way to step away from the endless activities of everyday life and just connect with nature. And while there are real physical and mental benefits to it, the truth is we’re creatures of comfort. And there are some gadgets you must bring along on your camping trip to make it safer, more comfortable, and a lot more enjoyable.
For instance, it’s cool to learn how to rub two stones together to light a fire, but you can just pack an LED lantern. You can also bring a smartwatch that tracks your location and monitors your vitals, a solar power bank to keep your devices charged, and a portable electric fan to make sleeping in a tent during the thick of summer actually bearable. Together, they help you maintain some sense of normalcy and security while being outdoors.
The problem, however, is that some of these gadgets offer more on paper than they do in the real world. And what’s even more frustrating is that you can’t always tell from a product description that a solar power bank barely charges in sunlight. You might be miles from civilization before that reality sets in, and suddenly your trip is off to a bad start with no easy way to repair or replace anything. This is where user experiences become invaluable. The products we’re looking at today have already been tested in the wild by real campers, and their feedback is a big part of why we won’t be recommending these gadgets for your trip.ToughTested 10000 Mah Solar Power Bank
One of the first things that goes into your backpack when preparing for a camping trip is a power bank. However, this ToughTested 10000 mAh Solar Power Bank is one option you’ll want to skip. For starters, multiple users report that the solar charging feature is practically useless. In one YouTube reviewer’s test, after leaving the power bank in direct sunlight for five hours, it only generated enough charge to bring a phone up to 30%. That’s a pretty disappointing return for that much time in the sun. And even then, that YouTuber was one of the lucky ones. Others have reported their units didn’t charge at all from sunlight, even after hours of exposure.
In addition, several owners have found out the hard way that this device isn’t as rugged as ToughTested marketed it to be. One review described how the power bank cracked open after a two-foot drop, the very first time the device experienced any impact. Another owner says that the solar panel separated from the main housing when the temperature hit around 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hardly extreme for a sunny camping day.
More concerning is how often people complain about this device failing prematurely. One buyer said their power bank lasted less than two months before dying. Another reported that their unit stopped working, and even after ToughTested replaced it, the second one failed in a similar fashion. All these reviews contribute to why this product holds a 3.
