Powermonkey extreme solar

[TerraMer]

How awesome is this little solar charger
Anyone else using one of these?

https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/powermonkeyextreme/

I have been using the original solarmonkey for years and it worked a treat but it is on it's last legs so this is the replacement thanks to powertraveller

[wander]

Solar panel 212 grams + Battery thingy 254 grams claimed = 466 grams, a fair bit of kit to carry. Maybe for a long O/S trip through a strange land but a bit much for even a 12 day Tassie wander.

[TerraMer]

Suppose it depends on what electronics you carry and how much you use them.
I use my iPod a few hours a day at the end of the day to get through the last painful kms and on days off to relax, mobile when in range for about 1 hour a day to update social media and check in and take photos, sat phone when mobile is out of range for 1 hr to check in and do some basic comms each night and a couple of completely unnecessary gadgets. For me it is worth it otherwise I'd be carrying lots of batteries while weeks between reliable AC power.
Plus, I can use it while kombi camping between walks

[madmacca]

wander,

9000 mAh is a lot of battery (hence the weight). Probably necessary if you are trying to run a tablet off it, but if all you are looking to do is recharge a phone/MP3, there are smaller, lighter and cheaper solutions out there.

Mad

[Joomy]

The beauty of the Extreme is that you can take just the battery for shorter trips. Most smartphones will get 5-6 charges out of it and it weighs roughly the same as a smaller solar panel/battery combo like the Powermonkey Adventurer. Then, if you need the extra juice for multiple devices or longer trips or car camping you can take the large solar panel as well which produces much more energy. That said, the Adventurer is probably the device to get for most people for most trips. Good weight and good performance, but you may not be able to charge a tablet or multiple devices for an entire trip.