I got my hands on a TACAMO® Solar Power Bank Portable Charger back in November of 2019. I was smart, I bought two through a long since expired promotion, one for me and one for one of my roommates. The battery pack was something I figured we’d be able to use for some of our many adventures, whether we’re doing outdoor “ing” activities like hiking or camping, or hitting up all the thrills at whatever theme park is en vogue at the time for whatever it has to offer. I previously purchased a “high end” battery pack that worked fine, but wanted to snag these for backup purposes. They were worth it – and it’s not fair to refer to them as “backup” or not “high end.”
The power pack for those on the go
The TACAMO® power bank is a portable battery pack suitable to toss in your backpack, purse, glovebox, tacklebox, hunting bag, tool bag/box, etc. Anywhere you think you’ll need extra power, or want to top off your electronics, this pack can easily come along. The unit is sold by and distributed by Titan Survival, a veteran owned and operated company.
With alleged 10,000 milliamp hours of available power, depending on the device, you can get several charges out of it before it needs to be recharged. The unit has two USB A ports to supply power to whatever device one decides to plug into it and utilizes a micro USB to recharge.
Solar or plug-in recharge
Some of the other features on the battery pack I thought were kind of hokey, but honestly they’re not. The unit is equipped with a solar panel, which I was dismissive towards at the time of purchase. It was not until I actually used the pack and found that it would effectively charge if there’s sufficient sunlight available. Taking the pack and hanging it from the back of a backpack while continuing on adventures makes keeping the unit topped off easy.
Built-in flashlight
The product page for the TACAMO® Solar Power Bank Portable Charger notes the “integrated Dual-LED Emergency Flashlight and Micro-Compass is a must-have item for Outdoor Enthusiasts and teen-age kids.” While I don’t utilize the unit for its flashlight or compass, having both available is a nice option for survival situations. “Don’t get caught out in the cold, with a dead battery and no way to communicate. This solar powered phone charger is exactly what you need to stay connected in an emergency.”
In the field
In the few years that my wife and I both have each had one of these charging banks, it has bailed us out more than once. We try to live fairly active on-the-go lifestyles, because if you’re not going and doing, you’re dying. Whether we’ve been at a theme park all day or cruising through the wilderness, we keep these battery packs with us. Due to their small size, they will even easily stow away in the nuevoly fashionable fanny packs that once cursed the 90’s and have returned with glorious vengeance.
There are only a few real complaints I have about the unit. First is the gate that covers the charging ports, on both units, broke off. That could really be attributed to user error, rather than design flaw. So, the covers are not robust enough to take what my wife and I throw at them. Second, the port to charge the bank is a micro USB, which I would rather they offered a USB C design. Lastly, the pack does get a little angry when trying to charge two devices at the same time, with most devices needing the 2 Amp port in order to receive a charge in a timely manner.
The quick and dirty
Pluses: Easy to use compact design. Will recharge via solar panel. Will charge a standard smart cellphone – depending on model – more than once on one charge. Lifetime guarantee. Affordable price. Veteran owned and operated.
Minuses: Micro USB cable needed to charge the unit. Two different power outputs from the charging ports.
Would I recommend the TACAMO® Solar Power Bank Portable Charger? Absolutely. Considering the amount of use that my family has gotten out of these battery packs, they don’t owe us anything. These are great to give away as gifts, have and keep in bug out bags, in vehicles, emergency preparedness kits, and to just take away on every adventure – big or small. A must for hiking, backpacking, camping, hunting, fishing – any activity in the bush!
If you use the code THESQUAREREVIEWS at checkout, you’ll receive 10% off your order and we’ll get a commission! If you prefer, this product is also offered on Amazon.
From the product page:
FEATURES
- RELIABLE AND DURABLE – Compatible with iPhone, Samsung, HTC, Nexus, Go-pro Camera, Tablets and other USB chargeable devices. This waterproof portable travel power bank also includes an integrated 3-Mode LED emergency flashlight, and can be used over 1,000 times!
- PERFECT FOR EMERGENCIES – Our long-lasting solar power bank can keep your phone or portable electronics going for days. No electrical outlets nearby? Battery going dead? Stranded? No problem, just pull this baby out of your purse or backpack, plug your iPhone or Android in, and you have an instantly reliable solar charger for cell phone products. Charger dead? No problem! Just sit it in the sun, solar panel facing up, and you’ll have a constantly powered phone charger!
- MULTIPLE USB OUTPUTS – This solar powered battery pack includes Dual USB 5V 1A/2A Outputs to power your electronic devices, and one mini-USB port to charge the solar power bank. We also provide the recommended charging cable at no extra cost. IP6 10,000 mAh Backup Battery.
- INTEGRATED EXTRAS – This Solar phone charger features an integrated emergency compass on the back of the unit, as well as a 3-Mode Emergency Flashlight at the base of the unit. Perfect for keeping your kids connected, and outside activities like camping, hiking, and emergency use. Don’t leave home with out it!
PRODUCT SPECS
- SIZE: 4 x 6 x 1 inches
- TOTAL WEIGHT: 10.7 oz (304 g)
- CAPACITY: 10,000 mAh
- TSA COMPLIANT: Yes
TITAN Survival is a small, family-owned business located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, and our products are trusted and used by military personnel and outdoor enthusiasts all around the world. Our founding principle is to consistently provide the best customer experience possible, for every single person that we come in contact with.
We started the company back in 2012 as TITAN Paracord, when our founder Jarod King ran out of the 550 cord that he had stashed from his Army Infantry days. After buying lots of sub-standard and inconsistent paracord claiming to be “mil-spec”, Jarod decided to manufacture his own authentic paracord for the more discriminating client – where strength, durability, and reliability are a critical requirement.
We changed our name to TITAN Survival in 2016 to better encompass our expanding portfolio of innovative outdoor products. We believe our broad product portfolio helps our customers feel safe and secure when engaging in outdoor activities, to be prepared for emergencies in the wild, and we are proud to have become a trusted global supplier of these products for retail organization all around the world.
