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When it comes to camping in the snow, staying powered in remote, off-grid locations can be challenging, especially in harsh weather. You want rugged and durable devices, including waterproof solar panels that can handle the elements.
You also need to consider your energy needs and size and weight restrictions, as these can be conflicting factors. Which one is most important depends on how you camp.
This article covers the best solar generators for winter camping, tailored to different needs, budgets, and adventures.
EcoFlow’s Best Solar Generators for Camping
- Best For Camping in Place: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max Solar Generator (PV160W)
- Best For Car Camping: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Solar Generator (PV220W)
- Best For High-Power: EcoFlow DELTA Pro Solar Generator (PV400W)
- Best For Low-Priced Backup: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max Solar Generator (PV220W)
Best For Camping in Place: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max Solar Generator (PV160W)
If you plan to camp in place, don’t need to run a lot of equipment, and want a nice lightweight and portable generator, this model is the way to go. It’s lightweight and compact enough to move around quickly and has 512Wh, so you can charge essential devices like phones, tablets, and laptops. It also has plenty of power to run your camping lights at night when prepping and cooking your dinner.
During the day, find a sunny location at your campsite and set up the 160W portable solar (photovoltaic) panel that comes with it. It will recharge your generator even in winter, and it’s waterproof, so there’s no need to worry if it gets a little snow on it. Then, you can recharge your generator during the day while you are off cross-country skiing, hunting, snow-shoeing, or doing other winter activities.
When you return to camp, it will be charged again and ready to recharge your devices and run your lights.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max Specifications
- Storage Capacity: 512Wh
- AC Output: 500W (Surge 1000W)
- Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 11-50V 13A, 220W Max
- Weight: 13.4 lbs (6.1 kg)
- Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.2 x 7.7 in (270 x 260 x 196mm)
- Operating Noise Level: ~60 decibels
- Charging Options: Solar/AC/Car/USB-C Charging14
- Battery Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP/LiFePO4)
- Depth of Discharge: 100%
- Warranty: 5 years
- App Monitoring and Control?: Yes
EcoFlow 160W Portable Solar Panel Specifications
- Rated Power: 160W
- Efficiency: 21 % – 22 %
- Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
- Weight: 12.3 lbs (5.6 KG)
- Folded Dimensions: 26.9×16.9×1.0 in (68.5×43.0×2.5cm)
- Unfolded Dimensions: 26.9×62.6×1.0 in (68.5×159.0×2.5 cm)
- Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
- Open Circuit Voltage: 21.4V
- Short Circuit Current: 9.6A
- Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max
Best For Car Camping: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Solar Generator (PV220W)
If you are car camping in the winter and want more power but still need a nice compromise between capacity and weight, the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro is a great option. It’s still light and compact enough to move it in and out of your car quickly, and it doesn’t weigh much, so it won’t impact your fuel efficiency.
It has 768Wh of capacity, so you can recharge devices and run your camping lights. You can even power small electronic appliances like certain coffee makers or blenders. The low noise level and lack of fossil fuels releasing toxic fumes means it’s perfectly safe and comfortable to use right inside your car at night, so you can use it for lights to read with, listen to music, or watch shows on your tablet.
This one also comes with a more powerful 220W waterproof portable photovoltaic (PV) panel that collects energy from the sun from both sides for ultimate efficiency. This allows you to recharge it fast whenever you stop for a lunch break or take a day off between driving. You can also recharge your battery while you drive with your car for versatile options.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Specifications
- Storage Capacity: 768Wh
- AC Output: 800W total (surge 1600W)
- Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 11-50V 13A, 220W Max
- Weight: 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg )
- Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.2 x 8.9 in (270 x 260 x 226 mm)
- Operating Noise Level: ~60 decibels
- Charging Options: Solar/AC/Car/USB-C Charging
- Battery Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP/LiFePO4)
- Depth of Discharge: 100%
- Warranty: 5 years
- App Monitoring and Control?: Yes
EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel Specifications
- Rated Power: 220W Front Side/155W Rear Side
- Efficiency: 22% – 23%
- Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
- Weight: 20.9 lbs (9.5 KG)
- Folded Dimensions: 32.3×19.7×1.3 in (82.0×50.0×3.2 cm)
- Unfolded Dimensions: 32.3×72.2×1.0 in (82.0×183.5×2.5 cm)
- Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
- Open Circuit Voltage: 21.8V (Vmp 18.4V)
- Short Circuit Current : 13A (lmp 12.0A) Front Side / 8.8 A (lmp 8.4A) Rear Side
- Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro/EcoFlow DELTA 2
Best For High-Power: EcoFlow DELTA Pro Solar Generator (PV400W)
If more power is your priority, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro is your best choice for winter camping, especially for those off-grid without access to power. It’s a much more robust model, so it weighs more, but it’s perfect for those in trucks, SUVs, vans, or motorhomes who have higher energy needs and the room to pack it.
With a 3.6kWh capacity, you can charge all your essential devices, run camping lights, and run any portable kitchen appliance you may bring. You can even use it to recharge your EcoFlow WAVE 2 Portable AC with its built-in heater that will help keep you warm and cozy at night while running up to 8 hours wirelessly on a full charge.
This EcoFlow DELTA Pro comes with a 400W waterproof photovoltaic panel with great conversion efficiency, which enables fast solar charging when you set it up in a sunny location. Then, you can have plenty of power to run everything you need to stay off-grid as long as you want without having to run into town to get more fuel. Instead, you can just sit back and enjoy your winter vacation.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Specifications
- Storage Capacity (Minimum): 3.6kWh
- Storage Capacity (Maximum): 25kWh
- AC Output (Maximum): 3.6kW continuous output (7.2kW Surge)
- AC Output (Maximum): Expandable to 7.2kW continuous output (14.4 kW surge) with 2 x EcoFlow DELTA Pro + Double Voltage Hub
- Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 3.2kW with 2 x EcoFlow DELTA Pro (16 x 400W Rigid Solar Panels)
- Weight: 99 lbs (45kg)
- Dimensions: 25 x 11.2” x 16.4” inches (63.5 x 28.4x 42cm)
- Operating Noise Level: ~50 decibels
- Charging Options: Solar/AC/Car Charger/Smart Home Panel/EV Charge Station
- Battery Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP/LiFePO4)
- Cycle Life: 3000 Cycles to +/-80% Capacity
- Depth of Discharge: 100%
- Warranty: Five years (no cycle life restrictions)
- App Monitoring and Control?: Yes
EcoFlow 400W Portable Solar Panel Specifications
- Rated Power: 400W
- Efficiency: 22.6 %
- Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
- Weight: 35.3 lbs (16.0 KG)
- Folded Dimensions: 41.7×24.4×1.0 in (105.8×62.0×2.5 cm)
- Unfolded Dimensions: 41.7×93,1×1.0 in (105.8×236.5×2.5 cm)
- Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
- Open CircuitVoltage: 48V (Vmp 41V)
- Short Circuit Current: 11A (lmp 9.8 A)
- Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow DELTA Series
Best For Low-Priced Backup: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max Solar Generator (PV220W)
If you need more power but are on a budget, the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max is the best compromise between high power and price. With 2.4kW of continuous output, you will still have plenty of energy to recharge your electronic devices, run your camping lights, and run almost any portable kitchen appliance, refrigerator, or other equipment you bring with you.
It also has enough power to run a small space heater or to recharge your EcoFlow WAVE 2 AC with its built-in heater to keep you warm on chilly nights. This means it’s still a great option for those camping in trucks, vans, SUVs, or motorhomes.
To recharge it, simply set up your super efficient waterproof 220W photovoltaic panel in a sunny location, and you can recharge it during the day while you are out enjoying your winter activities. This is great whether you are on a weekend adventure or going off-grid for a week or more at a time.
No more lugging messy extra fuels around; without fossil fuels, it’s also perfectly safe to use inside or outside your vehicle.
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max Specifications
- AC Output (Maximum): 2.4kW continuous output (4.8kW Surge)
- Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 11-60V 15A, single port 500W; dual port 1kW
- Weight: 50.7 lbs (23 kg)
- Dimensions: 19.6 × 9.5 × 12 in (49.7 × 24.2 × 30.5 cm)
- Operating Noise Level: ~50 decibels
- Charging Options: Solar/AC/Car Charger
- Battery Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP/LiFePO4)
- Cycle Life: 3000 Cycles to +/-80% Capacity
- Depth of Discharge: 100%
- Warranty: Five years (no cycle life restrictions)
- App Monitoring and Control?: Yes
EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel Specifications
- Rated Power: 220W Front Side/155W Rear Side
- Efficiency: 22% – 23%
- Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
- Weight: 20.9 lbs (9.5 KG)
- Folded Dimensions: 32.3×19.7×1.3 in (82.0×50.0×3.2 cm)
- Unfolded Dimensions: 32.3×72.2×1.0 in (82.0×183.5×2.5 cm)
- Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
- Open Circuit Voltage: 21.8V (Vmp 18.4V)
- Short Circuit Current : 13A (lmp 12.0A) Front Side / 8.8 A (lmp 8.4A) Rear Side
- Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro/EcoFlow DELTA
What To Look for in a Solar Device for Winter Camping
Capacity
When choosing a solar device for winter camping, the first things you need to consider are how you want to use it, how many devices you need to run with it, and how long you intend to be camping. Those factors will all determine what capacity you will want to carry with you.
How much energy your model stores is essential. If you only need to charge some personal electronic devices and run some lights at night, then high capacity is less important, and you can choose something more lightweight and compact. However, a larger capacity is critical to keep everything running if you are traveling in a truck, van, or motorhome and use heaters and multiple kitchen appliances.
To determine your energy needs, find the watts of all your devices and appliances you want to run. Multiply that by how many hours you want to run them to get your energy needs in watt-hours (Wh). Then, add up all those Wh, and that is your energy needs.
Durability
No matter what, camping generators should be durable, but none more so than in winter camping. The EcoFlow portable photovoltaic generators are all very rugged, durable models that can handle the elements. With convenient carry handles, they are easy to move in and out of your vehicle. The LiFePO4 batteries handle cold weather and will still work.
They have a low self-discharge rate and can be discharged to 100% without ruining the battery, giving them an extra-long lifespan compared to traditional batteries. They are also not prone to thermal runaway like their predecessors, the lithium-ion batteries. This makes these the best choice for durability and longevity in photovoltaic batteries.
You also want durable photovoltaic panels with excellent waterproof ratings of IP68 instead of the IPX4 rating many portable models come with, which just means they are splashproof. The waterproof IP68 will not stop working if you forget your panels outside, and it snows and melts when the sun comes out again. Instead, they will keep providing you with winter power for years to come.
Efficiency and Power Output
Efficiency and power output are also critical factors when choosing a portable generator. You want an efficient model that packs a lot of power into its size so that you can run all of your devices but can also be discharged to 100% so that you can use all of your capacity without ruining it. This is one of the many areas that makes LiFePO4 batteries superior to traditional lead-acid batteries.
You also want highly efficient photovoltaic panels with a conversion efficiency greater than 20%. This is important in winter when there are fewer peak sunlight hours. Older polycrystalline models with their 12-16% conversion efficiency will not work as well in winter compared to those made with monocrystalline technology. EcoFlow’s monocrystalline photovoltaic panels have industry-best ratings of 22-23%.
Portability
Portability is also essential, particularly when backpacking and visiting other hike-in primitive camping sites you cannot drive to. It is also critical for those camping inside their cars or SUVs, where space can be very limited, and you want to keep your total weight down. However, portability also means you won’t have as much capacity.
Still, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this. Whether portability or capacity is more important depends on your vehicle and the type of snow and other camping you like to do.
Output and Input Options
Also, be sure to check out their output port options to avoid having to pack power bars and converters with you. Modern generators should all have AC and DC (car cigarette lighter) ports as well as USB and USB-C for running a wide range of devices; some models even come with wireless charging for compatible devices.
Your solar generator should also offer multiple recharge options. It will take photovoltaic panels, but it should also recharge with a DC car plug or an AC wall plug, and some will even allow you to charge with an EV charger.
Final Thoughts
Solar generators are essential devices for winter camping, offering clean, quiet, and efficient energy to stay warm and safe in snowy conditions. Without fossil fuels, they are perfectly safe to use inside your vehicle to run heaters. Their portability and availability in various capacities enable campers to choose a model to power their every energy need, making off-grid adventures both comfortable and sustainable.
Your generator should come with photovoltaic panels with an IP68 waterproof rating and high conversion efficiency rates to ensure you can recharge your batteries regardless of the climate. EcoFlow’s Solar Generators are winter-ready models, allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors confidently, irrespective of the season.