What Are Some Good Solar-Powered Gifts to Give?

Solar-powered gifts were once an expensive novelty. Today, they’re widely available – and surprisingly affordable.

You can find solar chargers and power banks, for example, that can charge devices on the go. Or, you can buy solar-powered toys and robots, among other gifts.

What are the best solar-powered gifts to give? Keep reading to discover our list of the best solar toys, chargers, lights, and more.

Solar Lights

Solar lights have been around for years. Solar lights are designed for use outdoors. You hang the lights or place them in your garden, then let them soak up sunlight all day and run all night.

You may have seen solar-powered garden lights lining pathways or illuminating backyard spaces. However, today’s solar lights come in a surprising range of options. You can buy solar Christmas lights or solar lights with dancing flames, for example, to create ambiance in your backyard.

Solar lights require no wiring. Just place the lights in a place with sunlight. A good solar light runs for 10 to 15 hours after just three to six hours of exposure to sunlight.

Solar Reading Light

Solar reading lights may sound counterintuitive. If it’s light enough to charge your solar panel, then it’s also light enough to read. However, solar reading lights feature built-in batteries that charge throughout the day, giving you ample light for reading at night.

Solar reading lights are popular with campers. You can let the light charge during the day, then use it at night after the sun goes down. Some of the top-rated solar reading lights available today have multiple brightness settings, flexible necks, and easy-to-use clips, among other perks.

Solar Speakers and Stereos

You can find plenty of solar speakers and stereos at any beach or campground. These solar-powered devices allow you to enjoy music on the go wherever you have sunlight. Some solar speakers and stereos even have built-in charging ports, allowing you to charge your phone and play music at the same time. It’s an all-in-one entertainment and charging device powered by sunlight.

Many solar speakers also have Bluetooth, making it easy to play music wirelessly. Cheaper solar speakers, meanwhile, may rely on an auxiliary cord or USB connectors. Whether looking for a smaller speaker or a larger boombox, you can find plenty of solar speakers and stereos available online today, and they’re some of the best solar-powered gifts you can buy.

Solar Chargers

Solar chargers are more affordable than ever. Solar chargers are portable devices that absorb sunlight, transforming it into usable electricity. You can use a solar charger to power up your phone, tablet, or another electronic device on the go.

Some solar chargers are 5 feet long. Others fold up into the size of a smartphone, making them ideal for use when camping. Most have multiple USB connections to charge multiple devices. Some even have wireless charging (for Qi-enabled smartphones), among other perks.

Everyone needs to charge their phone. A solar charger is one of the best solar-powered gifts you can buy for people of all ages.

Solar Power Banks

Solar power banks allow you to store energy during the day, then use that energy later. Some solar chargers come with a built-in battery, while others require you to attach a power bank if storing energy for later use.

Solar power banks come in capacities ranging from 2,500 mAh to 20,000 mAh. The average smartphone battery is around 2,000 mAh to 3,500 mAh, which means a good solar power bank could charge your device multiple times over.

You charge solar power banks before use. Then, solar panels on the top of the power bank continue to charge the bank as you draw energy. Some power banks are more efficient than others, so be sure to read reviews before buying solar power banks as a gift.

Solar Powered Toys

A few decades ago, solar-powered toys sounded like something out of a sci-fi story. Today, solar-powered toys are cheap and widely available at all major offline and online retailers.

You can find solar-powered miniature cars, for example, that are suitable for kids of all ages. For older kids or tech-loving kids (or curious adults), you can also buy solar-powered electronic sets, allowing you to build your own solar array at home.

From dancing monkeys to cars to solar motors, there are plenty of solar-powered toys available online today.

Portable Solar Cookers

When you think of solar-powered gifts, you think of solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. However, solar cookers work in a different way: they use natural sunlight to heat a container, allowing you to bake, cook, and heat up food on the go.

GoSun’s portable solar cooker, for example, uses two large reflectors and a vacuum cooking chamber to heat up anything inside. You place your food inside the container, move the reflectors around, and enjoy hot food within 20 to 40 minutes. When placed in full sunlight, the interior of the device can get as hot as 550 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you’re buying a gift for a camper, hiker, or someone else who enjoys spending time outdoors, then the portable solar cooker may be the right choice for you.

Ring Video Doorbell Solar Charger

Ring offers a solar-powered video doorbell system. You can keep your home safe using sunlight.

An ordinary Ring doorbell has a battery life of 6 to 12 months before needing to be recharged. With the Ring Video Doorbell Solar Charger, however, you can extend the battery life using direct sunlight. Just install the mounting bracket in a place that gets sunlight, and you may never need to recharge your Ring doorbell again.

If you’re buying a gift for a new homeowner or a friend with a Ring home security system, then the Ring Video Doorbell Solar Charger could be an ideal gift.

Voltaic Solar Converter Daypack

Yes, you can now buy a backpack with a solar panel built inside. Voltaic Systems’ Converter Daypack features a laptop sleeve, a main storage pocket, and multiple pockets for devices.

The Converter Daypack will charge whenever the solar panels are exposed to sunlight. You could charge your devices while your backpack sits under your table at Starbucks, for example. It’s also popular with college students, campers, hikers, and others who need on-the-go charging for multiple devices.

Solar Showers

Solar showers are another ideal gift for hikers, campers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Like the solar cookers mentioned above, solar showers work using the power of sunlight – they use the sun’s heat instead of converting sunlight into electricity using solar panels.

You fill a solar shower bag with water, then expose it to sunlight. Sunlight heats up the water inside, allowing you to enjoy a hot shower anywhere you go. Most solar shower bags have five or 10-gallon options. They’re a perfect gift for hikers and campers in your life.

Final Word on Solar-Powered Gifts

Whether buying a solar-powered gift for a kid or an adult, there are more options today than ever.

From solar toys to solar shower bags to solar cooking appliances, you can find the right solar gift for anyone in your life by shopping around today.