How much battery do I need for a weekend trip?

A typical weekend (2-3 days) with moderate phone, GPS and headtorch use needs around 8,000–15,000 mAh. A 10,000 mAh power bank is a good starting point for most weekend trips. For longer trips, calculate your daily usage and multiply.

Are solar panels worth carrying?

For trips of 4+ days in summer, a 10–15W foldable solar panel can significantly reduce the battery weight you need to carry. In the UK, expect 3–5 hours of usable sun per day in summer. In winter or under tree cover, solar panels are much less effective.

How can I reduce battery consumption?

Turn on airplane mode when not needing signal, dim screen brightness, use GPS in battery-saver mode, carry a dedicated headtorch with AAA batteries instead of using your phone, and turn off Bluetooth/WiFi when not needed.

How much do power banks weigh?

Lithium power banks weigh approximately 50g per 5,000 mAh. A 10,000 mAh bank weighs about 180–220g, and a 20,000 mAh bank weighs about 350–450g. Factor this into your pack weight calculations.

CampCalcs

Battery Life Calculator

Calculate how much battery capacity you need for your camping trip.

Phone Usage

Active screen-on hours per day

Headtorch Usage

Hours per day

GPS Usage

GPS tracking hours per day

Camera Usage

Active shooting hours per day

Trip Duration

Duration of the process

How We Calculate This

Battery Calculation

Daily usage (mAh) = Sum of (Device hours x Device consumption rate)

Total needed = Daily usage x Trip days x 1.15 (conversion loss buffer)

Device Consumption Rates

Phone: ~500 mAh/hr active use. Headtorch: ~300 mAh/hr. GPS: ~200 mAh/hr tracking. Camera: ~600 mAh/hr active.

Solar output estimate accounts for panel efficiency losses and variable sun conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: 2026-03-03

All calculations are estimates. Always verify conditions and use proper safety equipment outdoors.