3 iPhone Accessories Every Camper Should Have

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When camping, a phone is generally considered a distraction that you need to put away to feel more connected to nature. You leave all those notifications and doom scrolling behind so you can reset. If you have trouble following this line on your own, you can always put the phone in Airplane mode or Do not disturb mode so that it doesn’t become a distraction. Still, an iPhone in particular can be a great camping companion, especially if your goal is to make memories or if you need it to look up information about your surroundings or use the Compass or Maps app for navigation. It is also very useful in case of emergency.

As useful as an iPhone can be for your camping trip, you can make it even more useful with the addition of a few key accessories. For example, you need to make sure you have the right battery so the phone can last the entire camping trip. And since camping is an adventure where most of the action takes place outdoors, your phone needs to have adequate protection too. Finally, you’ll likely have plenty of opportunities to take photos and videos during your outdoor adventure. With all of this in mind, we’ve put together a quick list of essential iPhone accessories to make your camping trip as fun, safe, and memorable as possible.

To prevent the phone from dying during a multi-day camping trip, you’ll need something to charge it for the next day, and that’s where a power bank comes in handy. The DeWalt Heavy Duty Portable Charger, which costs $49.99 on Amazon, is a good option. It has a 10,000 milliamp-hour battery that can give your phone at least one to two charges, a USB-C port for USB-PD fast charging (there’s an additional USB-A port for a second device), an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, a rugged exterior, and a carabiner loop for attaching it to your belt loop or bag.

A portable solar panel is a solid addition to this setup in case the power bank itself needs a recharge, or if you want to charge your iPhone directly when there’s a good amount of direct sunlight. Something like the BigBlue 28W Ultra-Portable Solar Panel Charger can cover both use cases without much problem. Its typical price is $67.46 on Amazon and it has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, each with 15 watts of power and a maximum power of 24 watts for all three ports. Generally speaking, you shouldn’t rely on a solar power bank as your primary power source because its solar panel is usually not powerful enough to fully charge your devices, even after a full day in direct sunlight.

iPhones can be expensive, even if you buy a refurbished model from two or three years ago. This is why, when it comes to its protection, it is essential not to get confused. One of the most important things you’ll need while camping is a sturdy case that can withstand nasty drops, especially those that can land an iPhone on sharp rocks. You also need a model that has a non-slip handle that reduces the risk of it slipping out of your hand.

It doesn’t have to be an expensive case either, with the Jaroco Magnetic iPhone 17 case selling for $9.99 on Amazon. The manufacturer claims that the case has a drop distance of 12 feet and has been tested 8,000 times without any damage. If you want something that keeps your device from hitting the ground if it slips, you can also get a strap to go with your case. One example is the Phone Lanyard Strap, which comes with two neck straps and two wrist straps for $9.99.

If you are using a plastic screen protector, you may want to opt for a tempered glass screen protector, as it is much stronger than standard glass. A good option is the Spigen AluminaCore Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 16 Pro, 17, and 17 Pro, which costs $19.99 on Amazon. Even expensive screen protectors can break over time, but this one can take more of a beating than most.

There are just certain memories, scenarios and ambient environments that simply cannot be reproduced in the studio. Whether you want to not miss the action, take better photos, or have enough storage space for the photos and videos you’re going to take, you need the right camera accessories. One of the best iPhone gadgets to take on a camping trip is a camera grip like the $16.99 Kiwifotos Phone Camera Grip. It minimizes shake by giving you a stable, comfortably ergonomic grip, while still feeling like you’re using a traditional DSLR camera.

A good grip will also allow you to mount multiple accessories to further enhance the shooting experience. For example, the Kiwifotos Phone Camera Grip has a cold shoe mount at the top that lets you attach an Ulanzi VL49 LED video light ($16.99 at Amazon) for filming at night or in low-light conditions. Underneath there is a 1/4-inch female thread for mounting the handle on something like the Ulanzi MT-89 Extendable Tripod which costs $29.95.

When selecting these accessories, we focused on those that provide practical benefits to a wide range of people who most likely rely on their iPhone while on a camping trip. For example, if someone is heading out into the wilderness and needs a field guide, an iPhone can provide that functionality through the visual search feature. It can also help identify plants, flowers and animals, which can be a real boon for nature lovers and photographers. All of these campers need their phones on most of the time, which means charging equipment is essential since they won’t be near wall outlets for long.

In addition to looking for products that are highly useful to a wide range of campers, we also wanted to make sure that the gadgets on our list deliver on their promises and are accessible to buyers. To cover these bases, we’ve only included specific accessories that are available on Amazon and have a rating of four out of five stars or higher.