Gear Closet: Suaoki S270 Portable Solar Generator Review

Portable battery packs designed to keep our smartphones charged while on the go have become too good that it is almost criminal to not have one at your disposal these days. Small, lightweight, and compact chargers can be found for not much money and they generally fit the needs of most day-to-day users. But what about those of us who have power requirements that go beyond the basics, but don't want to sacrifice portability either. Thankfully, we now have some good options to choose from as well, including the Suaoki S270 Portable Solar Generator, an awesome little power pack that is perfect for charging just about anything while on the go.

Lightweight and compact, the S270 never the less delivers on its promise of plenty of portable power. It is equipped with a 150 watt-hour battery and is capable of a sustained 100 watt output with a peak of up to 150 watts if necessary. That means it won't just charge your smartphone and tablet, but can also power laptops, drone batteries, headlamps, cameras, or just about anything else you plug into it. It can even power small appliances in a pinch.

The designers of S270 gave it plenty of outlets so you can plug multiple devices in at once. Along one side it has four USB ports (three standard and one quick-charging), while the other side features four DC charging ports as well. The system even ships with a female DC adapter (read: car port) for charging devices designed for that type of output. The result is a handy portable power station that you can carry with you just about everywhere.

But, that isn't all. The S270 also features two AC wall outlets as well, which expands its versatility even further. When items are plugged into these ports, they charge as quickly and easily as they do at home, extending the life of your gadgets for a lot longer.

Other nice design choices include a set of flip-up handles that make it easy to carry the power bank and a set of built-in emergency lights. Those lights can even be set to flash an SOS signal if necessary as well. The entire product is built into a rugged, durable case that feels right at home in the outdoors.   That said, the generator is only "splash proof" so you won't want to leave it out in the rain.


The S270 is the result of a successful Indiegogo campaign, which shipped the generators to its supporters back in December. I was lucky enough to get one to review, and have been extremely impressed. At home, it sits on my desk, providing a convenient source of power to my iPhone, iPad, and various other devices that need recharging on a regular basis. But, I also traveled with it over the holidays, easily slipping it into a backpack to take on a road trip. It served its purpose then too, not only keeping all my electronic toys stocked with energy, but my travel companions too. It also helped keep my MacBook Pro powered up while working on the go as well.

The massive battery inside the S270 takes about 10-12 hours to charge via wall outlet, and the device does support charging in the field via a solar panel. I haven't had a chance to test it with a solar panel as of yet, but obviously that would take considerably longer, with direct sunlight, to charge the battery fully. Of course, this is the same with just about any solar-powered generator, where your mileage always varies based on conditions.

What I like about this battery pack is that if fills a niche niche between smaller chargers designed at phones and tablets, and larger generators from companies like Goal Zero. Not everyone needs something that large, but many people need a bit more than the compact battery packs that are sold at gas stations and drug stores. For those folks, the Suaoki S270 is the perfect companion for their adventures, providing plenty of power in a surprisingly small package.

Best of all, the S270 is very affordable. Priced at just $139.95, it is less expensive than some much smaller battery packs that are on the market. Of course, not everyone needs a battery pack of this size and power, but it is really nice to have one at your disposal. The versatility that this device offers is outstanding, and I've found myself using it more places than I first thought. I think other frequent travelers and explorers will love it too.

Find out more at the Suaoki Facebook page and order your own S270 from Amazon.

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GoPro Exits Drone Business, May Be Seeking a Buyer

It was a rough day for GoPro yesterday. The company officially announced that it was laying off more than 250 people and is killing its drone business in the wake of plunging revenues and continued losses. Worse yet, according to some reports, the company that created the action camera market may be searching for a buyer to acquire the business completely.

According to preliminary reports, GoPro lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 percent of its revenue in the all-important holiday quarter as compared to the same period in 2016. Part of that is due to decreasing demand for its high quality – but pricey – line of Hero cameras, as well as sluggish sales of its Karma drone, which was introduced to much hype back in 2016, but ran into problems when early production models began losing power while in flight, causing them to plummet from the sky. 

It has been a very difficult couple of years for the action cam company. Revenues and profits have been a rare thing in recent memory, forcing GoPro to reorganize, simply its product line, and search for new ways to generate income. The Karma was suppose to be an important step in that process, but it entered the market late, was beaten in nearly every way by competing products from DJI, and received lots of negative press for its inflight power failures. That design flaw was ultimately fixed by a piece of tape that held the battery in place more securely, but the damage was done and Karma never really got of the ground, despite very positive reviews. 

At one point it looked like the company was getting back on track as it reduced costs and saw growing interest in several of its products again. But, during the run up to Christmas, sales were sluggish at best, prompting this latest move. 

It should be noted that GoPro founder and CEO Nick Woodman denies that the company is for sale, but there are plenty of reports that indicate otherwise. For now, the future of this iconic brand remains murky. Hopefully we'll still have it around in the future. 

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Men's Journal Looks Back at the Best Gear of 2017

We may have already turned the page on 2017 and are now steaming ahead into the New Year, but that doesn't mean we still can't take some time to look back on the year that has just passed, particularly if we're reviewing some of the best gear to come out during that period. That's exactly what Men's Journal did with the release of its list of the editor's favorite gear from the past 12 months.

This list is impressive and comprehensive. All told, there are 71 different items hat made the cut, with a wide range of uses. Amongst the usual outdoor products – including jackets, bikes, and shoes – you'll also find laptops, a BBQ grill, television sets, and other gadgets too. There are motorcycles, backpacks, cameras, water bottles, and a whole lot more. In other words, no matter what your favorite outdoor adventure, you'll find something here that can support the effort. And when you're ready to relax afterwards back home, there are some great items to help you do that too.

While scrolling through this list I was surprised at times to discover some of the items that earned a nod. It was a bit like moving backwards in time as I was reminded of all of the really great products that were released in 2017, including things like the new Apple Watch Series 3 and the DJI Spark Drone, two items that I'd love to add to my Gear Closet at some point.

The best part is, now that 2018 is upon us, many of these wonderful pieces of gear can now be had at discounted prices as we anticipate the arrival of updated versions sometime in the months ahead. There is of course nothing wrong with "last year's" version, but there is always something new on the horizon.

Check out the entire list here.

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Adventure Tech: Gotoky Provides Off-Grid Communications

Over the past few years we've seen several devices released that provide a method for staying in communication with friends and family while traveling off the grid. Gadgets like the goTenna or Beartooth create their own mobile networks to deliver text – and sometimes voice – communications in the backcountry. Now, you can add another such device, and this one brings some interesting options that help it to stand out.

The Gotoky launched on Kickstarter yesterday and has already smashed through its $24,000 goal. The device promises to be a completely secure off-grid communications device for use in remote areas or disaster zones. The gadget pairs with a smartphone (iPhone and Android) via Bluetooth and can connect with other Gotoky units within the area, creating a more robust network and extending the range almost indefinitely.

Once paired, it allows users to send text message or make voice calls either individually or in groups. The system supports voice messages as well, and offers delivery confirmation of messages. Beyond that however, the Gotoky can also be activated to serve as an emergency locator beacon, it can share GPS locations, and it offers navigation with direction and distance shown on detailed topographic maps, even when offline. Location pining makes it easier for users to find one another as well, as the device supports real-time tracking and recording too.

The Gotoky device can be attached to a backpack or belt to serve as an antenna to communicate with other users within range. That range varies depending on the location, terrain, and interference from other radio devices. But, because the Gotoky uses meshing, it can in theory extend its signal over vast distances thanks to its ability to skip messages off other devices that are nearby. Battery life is said to be about 72 hours, which is exceptional for a gadget like this one.

Since Gotoky has already reached its crowdfunding goal, the device should go into production on schedule early next year with a delivery set for April of 2018. At that time, a pair of the communications units will sell for approximately $240, although early-bird supporters can pre-order them now for as low as $140. Individual units can be had for less, but in reality, the device is only useful if you're connecting to a network of other Gotoky units.

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Gear Closet: Solartab Portable Solar Charger

Now days it is not uncommon to travel into the backcountry with an array of electronic devices. Most of us will take a smartphone and sometimes even a tablet. We carry rechargeable headlamps, GoPro cameras, GPS devices, and a variety of other gear. The problem is, it isn't always easy to keep the batteries in all of those gadgets charged up, and without power they mostly become dead weight. But, thankfully there are some handy methods to carry extra power with us wherever we go, and improvements in the efficiency of solar panels has made them a viable option too. Which is why the Solartab portable charger was so intriguing to me as an option for backcountry power. Recently, I had the chance to put the device to the test, and came away fairly impressed.

At its core, the Solartab is a 5.5 watt solar panel that covers the front of the device. That panel is paired with a 13,000 mAh batter that can store the power collected from the sun for future use. That's a sizable battery in its own right, and enough to recharge an iPhone six times over, with power to spare, or fully recharge an iPad with enough juice for a smartphone too. When you pair that with the built-in solar panel, you have a  way to keep your gadgets running indefinitely, at least in theory.

The Solartab – which is roughly the size of a standard model iPad – also comes equipped with a custom made case that not only protects the solar panel, but also allows the user to adjust its angle to ensure that it is always drawing the most power possible from the sun. A handy light on the side of the device even tells you when it is actually generating energy, which is automatically stored in the battery pack.

Two 2.1 amp USB ports can then be used to transmit that power to any gadget capable of recharging via USB. That includes just about any small electronic device today, including headlamps, action cameras, GPS devices, UV water purifiers, and so on. A micro-USB port on the Solartab can be used to charge up the internal battery from AC wall outlet before you leave home, ensuring that you always have enough power on the go. Indicator lights on the side of the panel are a handy indicator to let you know just how much juice is in the Solartab at any given time.

The two USB ports are actually quite fast, although when a device is plugged into both ports you'll see a drop in speed. Still, an iPhone 6S can be powered up in about an hour and a half, and my iPad Mini was restored to full strength in under three hours. That's about on par with plugging those devices into the wall.

As with most small solar panels, the Solartab can be a bit of a mixed bag at times. In direct sunlight it can charge fairly quickly, and since you have the ability to turn it to face the sun, and shift the angle to get the most exposure, it works well on clear, sunny days. But, when the clouds come out its ability to draw a charge can be severely hampered. The designers of the device say that under the best of conditions it can take about 12 hours to fully recharge the device's battery, but don't expect those conditions to come around all that often.


Still, I was fairly impressed with how the Solartab performed in reference to similar devices from the competition. The issues with collecting power from the sun aren't an issue that this charger faces on its own, as pretty much every small solar panel that I've tested has performed similarly, with some not even doing as well as the Solartab. In other words, this is about par for the course for this type of solar panel, so set your expectations accordingly.

One area that the Solartab shines is build quality. Taking it out of the package I found myself pleasantly surprised with how well constructed this product is. The device is very durable, and feels substantial in your hand. Even the integrated case has a high quality feel to it, as does all of the included accessories, which range from a USB charging cable and AC adapter, to a soft cloth for keeping the solar panel clean.

All in all, the combination solar panel and battery pack is a nifty design, and comes in handy when traveling. But, the main problem I have with the Solartab is that it is a bit heavy to carry around, especially if you're someone who likes to travel light. The charger will definitely add some bulk to your pack, which makes deciding to take it with you a challenge sometimes. On the one hand, it is a handy product for when you want to stay charged on the road. On the other, it is heavier than I'd like.

Another issue to be aware of with the Solartab is that there is no easy way to affix it to a backpack for charging while you hike. This is somewhat common for a solar panel like the Goal Zero Nomad 7, but due to its size and bulk, it really isn't a possibility here. Instead, it is mean to be set up at your campsite to gather power all day, but if you're moving around a lot that isn't necessarily an option. This won't be a deal breaker for everyone of course, but it is something to be aware of.

When it was first released, the Solartab carried a price tag of $129, which I found pricey but still worth it for the right person. It is currently selling on the Solartab website for just $89, which makes it a lot easier to recommend. I've seen solar panel and large battery packs that cost that much on their own, so getting them integrated into one device is truly a bargain.

If you need portable power to keep your gadgets functioning on the go, the Solartab is a good option. It is sleek, well made, and efficient. Yes, it does add some weight to your pack, but if you can put up with that, you'll literally have a portable power station that you can take with you just about anywhere. That alone makes it a viable solution for those of us who are routinely on the go. I just hope in the next model they can find a way to cut some weight a bit and thin it down some. At that point, this would be a nearly perfect product.

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Adventure Tech: New Trent PowerPak Ultra USB Charging System

These days when we travel, whether it is to some far off country or into the local backcountry, we tend to carry more electronic gadgets with us than in the past. Everything from our smartphones, mp3 players, GPS devices and even high tech watches, use rechargeable batteries and will like need to be juiced up while we're in the field. In the past, we've seen various methods for doing just that, including the use of various solar chargers. But for many of us, a simple battery pack with USB ports will do the trick for all but the most intensive journeys. Now, there is a new ruggedized option that seems to be designed with adventure travelers in mind.

Yesterday, New Trent officially announced it's PowerPak Ultra, a portable USB charging system that brings a lot to the table. For starters, it features a 14,000 mAh battery, which is enough recharge most smartphones as much as 7 times. It also has two USB ports, the first rated for 1A and the other 2.1A. The latter is powerful enough to charge even a tablet such as an iPad, while the former is good for use with less power intensive devices.

But what really sets the PowerPak Ultra apart from the crowd is its ruggedized construction. It's outer shell is tough enough to resist scratches and most drops, which makes it a perfect companion to take into the backcountry. It also happens to be water resistant with an IP-67 rating. That means it can be submerged for up to 30 minutes without fear of damage, which will come in handy on paddling expeditions or visits to damp climates.

Best of all, the PowerPak is very affordable. The device runs just $69.95 and his available directly from New Trent or Amazon.

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Google+ Followers Gadget for Dynamic Views

Some users who use Dynamic Views have noticed an empty space when they expand the Google+ Followers Gadget from the Gadget Drawer. To fix this issue, clear your cache and refresh the blog.

For instructions on how to clear you cache, see this help article.

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