INTRODUCTION

   The entire world may virtually be under lockdown due to COVID-19 but that hasn't stopped people from enjoying nature so many friends of mine have gone hiking, camping and even kayaking these past months. This however also means that some of them came over asking about which powerbank to get in order to have enough juice for their smartphones, LED lamps and peripherals for the entire duration of their activities. This however is somewhat tricky since a single couple needs at least 6.000mAh for smartphone charging every 2-3 days (some even in a single day, depending on smartphone use) so adding a couple of LED lamps in the equation and 2 headsets that number easily surpasses 10.000mAh for 2-3 days and since those friends would be away for roughly a week that means they required a rugged powerbank with a capacity of at least 20.000mAh (ideally over 30.000mAh). The Survivor Camper Powerbank by Sandberg seemed like their best bet so i got one to test and see if that was really the case.

   Sandberg stands for quality and user-friendliness. If it is important for you that accessories are high quality and easy to figure out how to use, then choose Sandberg. Our ideology "IT is for everybody" is part of everything we do. Since its inception in 1985, private consumers, institutions and companies have benefited from this simple philosophy. Distributors and dealers appreciate the availability, range, simple procedures and the exceptionally low failure rate. Every year over half a million Sandberg products find their way to users in more than 30 countries. Choosing Sandberg means choosing a safe and conscientious product that meets all applicable regulatory requirements. A product manufactured by subcontractors who are committed to following Sandberg's Code of Conduct to ensure decent working conditions and reduce the environmental impact of the production and waste disposal.

   The Survivor Camper features an IP64 certified (dust proof and water resistant / -10 +45 degrees Celsius working temperature) rugged external enclosure inside which Sandberg has squeezed a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack with a massive 42.000mAh (155Wh) capacity. To use this massive lithium-ion battery Sandberg has placed numerous outputs on the Survivor Camper including a cigarette lighter output (12V/8A), DC output (12V/9A), two USB-A outputs (5V/2.1A) and a single USB-C PD output (30W). Just like many other rugged powerbanks the Survivor Camper is also equipped with 4 battery status indicator LEDs and an LED torch, this time however a very strong/effective 6W model (white) which should easily illuminate several meters at night. So, let's move forward with today's review and see what the Survivor Camper Powerbank (which by the way is covered by a 5-year limited warranty) by Sandberg is all about.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The Survivor Camper Powerbank arrived inside a black and green box the front of which is taken by 3 product pictures, the company logo and the main product features.

You can find the main product features on the right side of the box as well.

As usual Sandberg prints the product features in numerous languages (24 for this product) at the rear of the box.

Along with the Survivor Camper Powerbank and its charger (with two power cables, EU and UK) Sandberg also packs a carrying strap (camo color) and the user manual.

THE SURVIVOR CAMPER 42000MAH

The 1500g heavy enclosure of the Survivor Camper 42.000mAh powerbank is made out of plastic and rubber and measures 217mm in length, 68mm in width and 80mm in height.

To have a better understanding about the size of the Survivor Camper Powerbank i placed it right next to the XTPower MP-23000A and the Xtorm AL420 9000mAh.

Almost all of the available inputs & outputs (USB-A/USB-C/DC in/out) and the on/off LED torch button are located underneath a rubber cover at the top of the powerbank.

The cigarette power port is placed at the rear of the powerbank under yet another rubber cover.

Just over the cigarette power port we find the lanyard opening where you can put the bundled carrying strap.

As you can all see the 6W LED torch takes most of the front.

The powerbank has two long rubber feet at its base.

CONCLUSION

   After using the Survivor Camper Powerbank 42k by Sandberg for over 3 weeks with several smartphones, tablets, music players and headsets (aside 2 USB measuring tools) i was able to record a maximum output of around 33.000mAh which although not close to the 42.000mAh of advertised capacity (no powerbank is able to deliver 100% via USB - even less via the cigarette lighter) it's still a very high number. This of course means that the Survivor Camper is able to recharge most current smartphones up to 9-10 times (older models even more – depends of course on battery capacity) so it should be more than enough to cover 2-3 people for the duration of their activities (for a full week that is). Also, worth pointing out is that the Survivor Camper is not really waterproof, at least not with the full meaning of the word. Yes, it can withstand water jets but you can’t actually submerge it into water. As for the 6W LED torch it’s clearly the most powerful I’ve seen used with a powerbank.

   So just how much will the Survivor Camper 42000mAh set you back? Well right now it retails for no less than around 200Euros inside the EU and yes that’s a rather hefty price tag, for a powerbank that is. Still people who need what the Sandberg Survivor Camper offers will probably not care much about its price and this product is clearly aimed towards that segment of the market. Bottom line we have a powerbank with a rugged enclosure, massive 42k lithium-ion battery pack, multiple outputs and a very large LED torch and those reasons are the why the Survivor Camper by Sandberg gets the Golden Award.

PROS

- IP64 Rugged Housing (Dustproof, Shockproof & Water Resistant)
- Extremely High Capacity (42.000mAh)
- 3 USB Charging Ports (2xUSB 5V 2.1A / 1xUSB Type C QC 3.0)
- PD 30W Output
- 12V/8A Cigarette Power Output
- Built In 8 LED Torch
- 4 LED Battery Charge Indicator
- 5 Year Warranty

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- Overall Size (For Some)