Yes, Solar Powered Tents Exist, and We Need More of Them

The sun does much more than provide a source of heat and light. While solar power technology was once only found on homes and businesses, it’s found its way into the camping community. The roofs of RVs are a great spot to place some solar panels, but who would have thought we’d start seeing solar-powered tents? You read that right! Solar-powered tents are a thing, and we couldn’t be more excited about them!

Today, we’re looking at how this new type of tent is changing how people camp. We think you’ll love them as much as we do! Let’s get started!

Yes, Solar Powered Tents Really Exist

Research shows that 48 million households go camping in a given year. That number will likely continue to climb as going outdoors and adventuring has become incredibly popular. As a result, technologies continue to evolve to meet the needs of a new generation of campers. One such advancement has been the invention of solar-powered tents to help campers keep their electronics charged.

Orange Solar Tent

Orange’s Chill n’ Charge Solar Tent will take camping to a new level. While it’s just a concept, for now, it’s sure to be a hit when it hits the market. Campers will have the ability to keep their essential camping electronics charged. Whether it’s a GPS watch or a mobile device, dead batteries will be a thing of the past.

What Is a Solar Tent?

A solar tent is one that has solar power capabilities. These outdoor dwellings include specifically designed solar panels to keep devices charged. Whether you’re hoping to use a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, camera, or portable speaker, these tents can harness enough power to keep them charged.

Why Is Solar Power Good for Camping?

Solar power is a fantastic power source when camping because it’s extremely quiet and often readily available. You don’t have to worry about hauling a heavy generator or only camping near a power source. The sun provides a tremendous amount of sunlight as Earth circles around it. 

If you’ve ever camped near someone with a noisy generator, you know it’s not an easy task. Solar power can save you from listening to a noisy generator humming along. You can enjoy the sounds of nature while you relax in the wilderness.

Pro Tip: Protect the base of your new solar tent by using a tent footprint. Find out Why You Want One and How to Make It.

What Are the Benefits of Solar Powered Tents?

There are many gadgets that campers like to use when out on an adventure. GPS units, mobile devices, and even laptops are just a few gadgets campers bring with them these days. However, keeping them charged while doing some off-grid camping isn’t easy, but solar-powered tents are changing that.

They allow campers to keep their devices charged and usable while out on their adventures. This means getting to camp for longer and at more remote locations than ever before. These tents may not be all that beneficial for those who camp in established campgrounds, but they’re huge improvements for those who enjoy camping in remote locations with no power sources anywhere near their campsite.

Who Are Solar Tents Best For?

Solar tents are best for those adventurers who enjoy off-grid camping. These aren’t the typical tents you’ll want to get for camping in your backyard or an established campground. These tents are best for adventurers who want to push the limits when finding remote and backwood camping locations.

These tents are a great option for those who like to venture into the wilderness and practice their survival skills. Electronic devices like GPS navigation systems can help navigate trails or explore areas with no established trail. 

Where Can I Get a Solar Powered Tent? 

While there aren’t many solar-powered tents available currently, there are a couple of options. As the demand increases for these types of tents, we expect to see them establish more of a presence in the market. Let’s look at a few options you should consider.

Purchase a Solar Powered Tent

The Beach Hub Luxury Beach Tent is a solar-powered tent built for a day at the beach. It pops up in seconds and has a built-in solar panel that charges the internal battery or sends power directly to your electronic devices. If you’re tired of having a dead battery after a day at the beach, you need this solar-powered tent before your next trip.

It can help keep your devices charged and has a spacious and comfortable space to get out of the sun. At 6 feet 2 inches tall and 7 feet 6 inches wide, there’s space for a couple of beachgoers to relax and avoid sunburn.

Create Your Own

You don’t have to spend much money on a pre-made solar tent. If you have even slight DIY skills, you can create your own solar-powered tent. We recommend using a tent with an electrical cable access point. These make it very easy for you to feed solar power from the outside into your tent.

In addition to a tent, you will need a solar panel to collect and convert the solar power into usable power. The Nekteck 21W Solar Charger is an excellent option as it’s very compact and lightweight, which is great for backpacking. You’ll need a power brick or bank to store the energy for use later.

Glamping Tents

We’re seeing more Airbnb-style luxury camping options sprouting up all over the country. These experiences provide many of the accommodations of a hotel experience but in remote locations. Many of these locations use solar power to run all electronics, including refrigerators. Glamping tents are popular options for hunters at remote resorts and even home base areas.

Pro Tip: Find out How Many Types of Tents Are There and which type is the best option for you!

Why Aren’t Solar Tents More Popular Yet? The Challenges

You might wonder why we’re not seeing more solar tents on the market. And there are a few reasons why this is the case. Let’s take a look at a few hurdles manufacturers are facing.

Photovoltaic Fabric

While the technology is available, photovoltaic fabric is still under development. Currently, the price point and weight are just too high for these to be viable options for the general public. As technologies continue to evolve, the price and weight will have to drop considerably before these are viable options for the masses.

Integrating a Battery

Battery storage has come a long way, but not far enough. However, technologies continue to improve, and companies will likely grow their abilities to make power storage more portable. Lithium batteries have been a game-changer in recent years as they often weigh half as much as other batteries and carry twice as much power. They also charge incredibly fast, making them the perfect solar power option. 

Solar Power Alternatives

There are several alternative options tent campers can use that don’t require integration with a tent. Many campers looking to camp off-grid will simply use a product like a Jackery to provide their power needs. These devices have portable solar panels that can charge them and the solar generators are lightweight for carrying. These are great because you can use them even when you’re not camping in your tent.

Many campers would rather invest in a multi-purpose solar power option than one limiting use only when tent camping. The Jackery is a solid choice and has a tremendous reputation amongst the off-grid community.

Pro Tip: Love using solar while camping? Use our Ultimate Guide to Solar Cooking on your next adventure.

We Need More Solar Tents for Easy Camping

We love the idea of solar tents and think the potential is huge in the market. Setting up a tent in just about any open area and having access to power is a dream come true for many campers. We’re excited to watch this market grow and see how manufacturers continue to grow and expand the market as solar tents become a more popular choice amongst off-grid campers. 

Would you consider buying a solar tent? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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