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" There was a time when backpacking or camping was a way to get away from all of the trappings of modern life. But these days we usually head into the wilderness with a host of devices in tow, most of which require frequent charging to keep them from becoming nothing more than dead weight.  Smartphones, tablets, GoPros, and GPS devices have a rechargeable battery. Heck, even our headlamps, water purification systems, headphones, and watches now need to power up on a regular basis. Fear not: There are ways to keep our precious gadgets charged up and running properly even when we&amp;#039;re far from home. Battery Packs  Portable battery packs have become popular accessories for just about anyone who owns a smartphone. These devices typically feature a rechargeable battery of their own as well as a couple of USB ports that allow them to pass on the power. Most of these packs can extend the battery life of a phone several times over, and pretty much any device that can plug into a USB port to receive power can benefit from a portable battery pack. When selecting the right battery to accompany you on your travels, it&amp;#039;s important to pick one that has plenty of capacity and is rugged enough to survive in the outdoors. The capacity of a battery pack is measured in milliamp hours (mAh). Smaller USB battery packs have as few as 2,000 to 3,000 mAh, while larger ones can have as much as 10,000 to 15,000 mAh or more. If you&amp;#039;re going to be charging multiple devices, or are bringing a tablet along with you, having one of these high-capacity batteries at your disposal will definitely come in handy. Recommendation: The Venture 70 battery pack from Goal Zero\u2014which is scheduled to ship by the end of the month\u2014offers 19,200 mAh of power, comes equipped with two USB ports for charging multiple devices at once, and even has a built-in flashlight. The Venture 70 is housed in a rugged case and is IP67 certified to be water- and dust-proof. In other words, it is the perfect companion for travel and camping.  Solar  Over the past few years, portable solar panels have gotten lighter and more efficient\u2014so much so that it is now possible to keep smaller gadgets, such as smartphones and cameras, fully charged using only power harnessed from the sun.  Most small solar panels come equipped with a USB port that lets you plug directly into them and begin charging immediately. Some are designed to be clipped to the outside of a tent or backpack so you can continue to collect power all day long. Either way, getting good exposure to direct sunlight is the key.  A solar panel on its own is a good way to keep your devices charged while traveling, but pair one with a portable USB battery pack and you&amp;#039;ll have a complete energy system. This approach allows you to store the energy that the solar panel generates and save it for use at another time. It&amp;#039;ll also allow you to charge multiple devices as once, as most solar panels don&amp;#039;t have more than one USB port.  Recommendation: EnerPlex makes several lightweight solar panels for use in the outdoors, but its just-announced Kickr 7 FL (due out in October) is the one to watch out for. It weighs a mere 5.1 ounces and can generate 6.5 watts of power, making it a good option for backpackers and campers.  Portable Lithium Battery Generators  Those who need serious power in the backcountry, more than a battery or solar panel can provide, may want to consider taking a portable lithium battery generator with them. These mobile power stations carry enough juice to run everything from small electronics such as smartphones and tablets all the way up to laptops, television sets, and even refrigerators.  Portable generators store power in much the same way as a USB battery pack. They just do so in much larger capacities. A generator of this kind measures its storage in watt-hours (Wh) rather than milliamps and usually come equipped with standard AC wall outlets and 12V power ports in addition to an array of USB ports. Larger and heavier than other power sources, a portable generator is best used when car camping or in a base camp setting since you don&amp;#039;t want to carry one of these things around. They provide quiet, clean energy that doesn&amp;#039;t produce fumes of any kind. They generally have enough capacity to keep gear powered throughout your trip depending on the length of time you&amp;#039;re away and your energy needs. If you do run low on juice, however, these generators can be paired with a large solar panel to collect energy while in the field as well.  Recommendation: EnerPlex makes a line of lithium battery generators in various sizes that are perfect for use in the outdoors. Goal Zero has also announced that they will update their generators with the latest battery technology soon as well. Their current products use an older type of battery that adds considerable amounts of weight, hampering their use in remote places.  Other Options The previously mentioned power sources are some of the easiest and most efficient ways to keep your tech gadgets charged while away from home. There are other methods available of course, including a device from Brunton that uses hydrogen fuel cells and a gadget on Kickstarter that generates power from a running river. But these two options aren&amp;#039;t especially efficient or viable for most of us. Instead, choose something that is simple and works best for your needs. In the long run, that is the most important thing.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/a22491/keep-gadgets-charged-camping-hiking/>