the powerpot x
The PowerPot X produces 10 watts of USB charging power via a handy cook pot.

The PowerPot X 10-watt Portable Generator Will Charge Your Smartphone on the Trail

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I CAN’T REMEMBER the last backpacking trip I made without my iPhone, and while I sometimes carry an extra charging battery, I usually just keep my iPhone use to a minimum. For longer trips or heavy smartphone users, look to The PowerPot X, a cool portable generator that turns heat into electricity, available now via a Kickstarter project.

Basically it’s a lightweight cook pot with “encapsulated thermoelectric modules” glued to the bottom that produces electricity via a flame-resistant cable to a dual-USB charger port. You heat the bottom of the pot, presumably while boiling water for a meal, and you can charge your smartphone at the same time. Because this version can deliver 10 watts, it’s also powerful enough to charge an iPad.

The PowerPot X is a must-have for survival enthusiasts and backpackers who love using their iPhones on the trail . . . especially if they use GPS mapping apps, which can suck batteries dry.

This particular Kickstarter campaign lets you snag one of the first units available — slated for May 2014 — but you better act fast: Your window of opportunity ends January 15 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. After that, you’ll have to wait until the unit eventually makes it into regular retail production.

In the meantime, if you can’t wait, the first-generation PowerPot V, which produces 5 watts of electricity instead of 10, is available now in a sweet PowerPot V Backpacker Bundle at Amazon.com.

Want an alternative option? Try the BioLite CampStove 2, which not only can charge a smartphone or similar device vis USB, but heat your food through sticks and twigs you find along the trail. Learn more in our guide to the best camping stoves.




This image shows a YETI Roadie 48 wheeled cooler on a beach with a lake in the background.


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