A lot of people who start with small foldable solar panels for bike packing eventually realise that just having a panel isn’t enough if you want reliable power throughout the day and into the evening. That’s where proper solar power batteries come in.

Unlike regular power banks, dedicated solar power batteries are designed to handle the variable charging from solar panels and can store much more energy. This gives you a lot more flexibility on longer tours — you can charge during the day and have power available even when the sun goes down or on cloudy days.

For most short trips a good power bank is still the simplest solution, but if you’re doing multi-day wild camping or longer unsupported tours, adding a proper solar power battery can make a big difference in how self-sufficient you can be.