Salt Lake City, UT – You’re spending a few days or more in the backcountry, but you want to keep that cell phone topped off in case of emergency. You don’t want to pack in the extra weight of spare camera batteries to capture that special sunset scene or blower powder run, either.nEnter the Restore, a new solar charging solution from Brunton. The Restore uses two 100mA solar panels to recharge a 2,200mAh internal storage battery. At only 7.2 oz. (204g), the Restore packs hefty power without a hefty pack weight. The whole unit folds down to a package only 3″ wide x 5.75″ tall x 1.13″ deep, protecting the integrity of the solar panels within its durable water-resistant rubberized case while bouncing around in your pack.
 
Brunton’s new Restore solar charger delivers a full amp of current from a 2200mAh storage battery, all in a 7.2-oz package. |
The Restore is notable for its full 1A (1,000mA) output, which is required by many modern smartphones, including the iPhone and the Palm Pre. Most other solar chargers output current at 500mA or less, and thus fail to charge many smartphones reliably. The Restore’s generous battery storage capacity means that you can charge most portable electronics several times before the Restore needs a recharge. You’re never left wondering how much juice remains, as a handy array of LEDs indicates the Restore’s charge status.
When it’s finally depleted, simply leave the Restore out in the sun at base camp as you’re skinning and skiing that spring corn, for it takes about ten hours to fully recharge in direct sunlight, although we found in testing that it takes a bit longer in filtered sunlight or during winter when the sun’s rays are at a lower angle. In winter, we found improved charge times were obtained by simply angling the device slightly upright and facing south to catch the sun’s rays more directly. Before heading out the Restore may also be charged from a USB port (four hours) or even from your car’s cigarette lighter using an included adapter (two hours).
The Restore uses a miniUSB tip and an included microUSB adapter to recharge many current devices. While adapter tips are available for other portable electronic devices, any device that includes a USB charging cable can be recharged without the need for additional tips — simply remove the integrated charging cable from the standard USB A port and replace it with your device’s USB charging cable.
We’ve tried various solar chargers over the years, but with its full 1-amp output, light weight and generous storage battery, Brunton’s Restore is the first compact, lightweight solar charger that has met our expectations for a backcountry power source. It’s just now beginning to arrive on retail shelves at a little less than $125.