Emergency Preparedness
Your phone is your flashlight, map, radio and lifeline, and it dies fast in an outage. A power bank stores enough for several full charges, and a small folding solar panel refills it during the day. Wirecutter's solar charger pick, the BigBlue 28W, is light and folds to the size of a book. The Anker 20K bank has a built-in USB-C cable and enough output for a laptop. Charge the bank before a storm, keep it at room temperature, and top it off every few months.
Why it's hereWirecutter's solar charger pick: light, folding 28W panel with three USB ports that charges a phone straight from the sun.
Recommended by Wirecutter (NYT)USB-A only; pair with a power bank to store sun power for night.
| Rank | Product & source | Key note | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Top Pick | BigBlue SolarPowa 28 USB Solar Charger (with ammeter)Recommended by Wirecutter (NYT) | Wirecutter's solar charger pick: light, folding 28W panel with three USB ports that charges a phone straight from the sun. | ~$59.99Price checked Oct 20, 2026at bigblue-tech.com View product | |
| Runner-up | Anker Power Bank (20K, 87W, Built-In USB-C Cable) A1383Troy's pick (Anker) | 20,000 mAh bank with a built-in USB-C cable: several full phone charges, and enough output for a laptop. | ~$69.99Price checked Oct 20, 2026at anker.com View product | |
