Bushnell PowerSync Solarbook 850

Today we take a look at Bushnell’s Powersync Solarbook 850, a Solar charger and battery pack locked away in a durable, adventure-proof case.

The Solarbook 850 is the Solarbook 600’s big brother, cutting charging time by 2.5 hours. Check out the features and then take a look at the video to learn about how it performs.

Features:

• Dimensions: 9.25″ x 8.3″ x 1.3″
• Unpacked length: 53.25″
• Amorphous thin film solar panels (better for charging in less than ideal sun conditions)
• 2x 5v, 1a regulated USB Output, 1 Micro USB input
• XXXX maH Dual Li Ion battery (no maH rating listed)
  • Charges over USB in 6 hours
  • Charges by sun in 3.5 hours (ideal weather)
  • Charging capacity
    • GPS/Camera 5x
    • MP3 3x
    • Smartphone 2x
    • Tablet .5x
• Weight – ~1lb 6 oz
• MSRP: $356 USD, amazon for $231

 

Testing

I’ve had this panel for over a year and it’s been tested on week long canoe trips, Day trips, camping trips, you name it. I’ve used it to charge cameras, video cameras, cell phones and more.

My Thoughts

Check out the video above for my thoughts and see how it performs on higher end devices.

Pros:

• The internal battery means that a regulated power output that higher end electronics will accept as charging sources (a problem for stand-alone solar panels).
• Amorphous Panels mean improved charging in indirect sunlight
• Dual charging ports are always a plus
• Heavy duty case can take abuse
• Attachment points are a plus

Cons:

• The plastic fastening clips can come off
• Did not charge my iPad mini (a problem for most solar charging systems that don’t have 2.1a USB power)
• More expensive than comparable solar panels.

Conclusion:

A good all-in-one portable solar charging system that will handle the majority of your electronic devices. Bushnell has made a sound entry into the market and their products are definitely worth checking out.