My $40 solar lantern was a total game changer on a rainy trip

I got a small Goal Zero Crush Light for about forty bucks before a trip to the Olympic Peninsula last fall. It rained for three days straight, so I couldn't recharge my main power bank. That little lantern, left on a damp log during a brief sunny break, charged enough each day to give us light all night in the tent. It completely saved dinner prep and card games. Anyone have a similar piece of gear that pulled through when your main plan fell apart?

3 comments

3 Comments

simonh742mo ago

It's funny how the cheap backup gear often ends up being the real hero.

cooper.phoenix2mo ago

Totally get that... my backup was a ten dollar poncho from a gas station. Got caught in a sudden downpour on a day hike, and my fancy shell jacket just soaked through. That crinkly plastic poncho kept me dry enough to get back to the car without being miserable. Felt silly buying it, but it's lived in my pack ever since.

blairtaylor2mo ago

Cheap backup gear being the real hero" is the outdoor version of your least favorite coworker saving the day. It's always the thing you barely packed that ends up running the whole show. Nature loves a good plot twist.