During my U.S. bike tour this tour I want to be able to produce video, photography and other related media while traveling in locations that may not provide me with A/C power for my gear incase I needed to recharge. I knew that in order for me to achieve this I would have to ride with a solar panel. After endless research I found Voltaic Systems makes a wide variety of units that suit your needs. Whether you’re going on an alpine trip, expedition or in my case bike touring they seem to have an array of different size panels and batteries that you can pack or attach to your gear.
I went with a Voltaic Systems 17-watt solar panel coupled with their V72 battery that has a 72-watt hour charge which is enough to power my gear which will be my DSLR, MacBook Pro laptop, point and shoot camera and mobile phone. I had ample time to test out the full system before my trip and was able to get it to charge in full sunlight along with power all my gear. On days when the conditions were cold and gloomy here in New York City with very little direct sunlight, I found it hard to get a full charge. The sun definitely has to be present in order to reap the full benefits
If you’re looking into solar panel for bike touring trips I’d recommend giving Voltaic Systems a go. Solar panels are constantly growing and companies are innovating all the time. It’s a great tool for those who are off the grid and are looking for ways to power gear in remote areas. There is still a lot of innovation
Note: This product was purchased, rider tested and reviewed based on personal experience.
Parts List Breakdown
Links below to purchase all gear.
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Ridden & Written by
Dwayne Burgess (Manual Pedal)
*This review is based on my personal opinion and experience. All parts were purchased on my own and links provided are affiliate partnerships with Amazon.
