Holding the Energizer Energi To Go SP2000 in my hand during OR it felt sleek, lightweight and simple to use. I’ve since tested a unit for three days of camping and climbing in Glenwood Canyon, CO.

The first thing I noticed about the SP2000 was the great number of adapter tips that came in the box. This allows you to charge your camera, smartphone (regardless of the brand) and other compact items. Energizer states you can request custom tips to fit your needs.

Clearly labeled on the box of the SP2000 is that it comes pre charged.  Mine did not, so perhaps I just had a demo version. Thus, I entered the field with an unpowered SP2000.

After an hour hike through steep, loose talus, we reached our bivi in last light. During sunrise, I positioned SP2000 to face the rising sun, then we headed out climbing for a few hours. Of note, the SP2000 feels like a James Bond tool when held in your hand. When you gently push in a button on the side of the it, two PV panels fold out from the device in a smooth, slow-motion fashion.

A little bit after noon we came down from the wall for a rest and I plugged my now dead iPhone into the now semi-charged SP2000.

To my surprise, once the SP2000 was plugged into the iPhone it turned right on. The phone continued to show the “power up,” meaning it continued to charge, as I used it for various tasks. Despite the SP2000 only able to gather a few hours of direct sunlight before I took it out of the sun, it powered my phone as it played iTunes  for much of the remaining day.

Over the next two days of camping, I powered the iPhone from the SP2000. I was pleased to see how affective the large solar panels worked to gather energy. One quirky thing I noticed was that the cable connecting the phone to the charger would easily disconnect and the charger would then beep repeatedly indicating a break in the charge.

After we arrived back in Boulder a few days ago, I plugged the SP2000 into a wall socket to take advantage of the Energi to Go feature, meaning its ability to store large amounts of energy. Charging the SP2000 took about three times as long to power up than the iPhone. It has 5 power indicators, more than my phone, and stores much more energy than the battery found in the iPhone, thuss I can repeatedly use it before  needing to gather more energy.

The SP2000 exceeded my expectations. Other portable PV panels I’ve used in the past have not been as effective gathering and storing energy as this device, nor been as versatile.This device is best suited for  long road trips, for international traveling, camping or simply as a backup power supply for your portable gadgets.