Review – Elecom’s Nestout component system features batteries, solar and lighting solutions

Nestout Component System Overview

We’ve seen a lot of batteries, outdoor lights, and solar solutions lately, but nothing quite like the Nestout component system. These guys have created a system with three distinct functions that can be mixed and matched for various outdoor power and lighting solutions. The products include batteries, lights, and solar charging and mounting solutions built to withstand the riggers of hardcore campers and overlanders, oh and festival campers too.

We met up with the Nestout team at the recent June Outdoor Retailer show to grab some samples for review and put them to the test out in the wild.

We will segment the components and showcase how we used them on a few recent trips.

Nestout Battery Options

There are three batteries in the lineup currently that all use a similar design and offer different power output options. The Outdoor Battery is offered in 5000mAh, 10000mAh (currently unavailable on Amazon), and 15000mAh ($79.99) models, which can be charged via an optional solar panel solution (2 or 4 panels) or via a traditional power outlet.

The color palette is also super slick, with military-inspired tan, grey and black options for each model. The batteries can be used to charge your smaller devices like a cell phone, tablet, headlamp, etc., or can be used with the lighting components to create fully functional lighting systems for your campsite with a variety of brightness options and retro-inspired design.

Another thing we love about this system is the compact and streamlined design of the batteries; they slide easily into your bag, along with the lighting and mounting accessories.

We tested the 10000mAh and 15000mAh models; each features the following:

• IP67 waterproof and dustproof design.
• Shockproof internal design that passes US military drop standards.
• Six circuit protection and detection to prevent damage to battery or devices, including temperature, overcharge, over-discharge, short circuit, over-voltage and over-current.
• Ultra-fast charging and USB C and USB A outputs (only on 10000mAh and 15000 mAh models offer 20W of power on 10000mAh and 32W of power on the 15000mAh model

Submerge test – We dunked the batteries into a stream for over a minute with the tops secure and had no issues. It’s important to note that if the cap is not secure, there is some exposure to potential water damage as the electronics are exposed via USB ports. This functionality comes the most in handy if you use the lighting system in the rain or damp conditions; it would be protected and allow you to still get light.

Pro Tip – When packing your batteries, ensure the screw on top that protects your USB ports is secure.

Drop Test – We dropped both batteries from roughly eight feet to simulate them falling off a tree. The batteries got some cosmetic damage but continued to function perfectly. You would have to create a severe impact to wreck these things.

Nestout Lighting Options

Two lighting attachments work with the batteries: the Lamp-1 ($37.99), a more traditional-looking flashlight head that offers omnidirectional light, and Flash-1 ($39.99), a lighting panel-style head that is directional.

Both lights allow you to control the output easily through an old-school wire handle that turns like a traditional dimmer; the more you twist, the brighter it gets. It’s important to note that the brighter you run the lights, the faster you will deplete your battery, and we found that the midpoint was often sufficient for most campsite tasks like lighting a fire, opening a beer, cleaning dishes, etc.

When the lights are attached, they need an extender to seal off the connection points to stay water and dustproof. We didn’t love the fact that you needed an additional small piece to secure the connection, but this is only a minor gripe.

Each light serves a different purpose, and we found both useful for various applications. The batteries feature a screw mount system that allows you to connect a small tripod stand and a clip that can be used to mount the lights in a tent, on a tree, etc. This flexibility is fantastic as it allows you to easily port the light around camp for different purposes, from lighting your way to your privy or providing light for food prep and beyond.

Solar Charging Cases

The final component, and one of the most innovative, is the solar charging options that double as storage cases for your batteries and cables. We tested the Solar-1 (2 panel) case ($79), which is not the most powerful but can get you enough juice to keep you going on longer trips that cut you off from AC power.

The solar case includes a current checker that displays the quality of the charge; the more direct sunlight you have, the higher this readout will be. The solar case can be used by either placing it on the ground and extending the kickstands to find the best angle for direct sunlight or folding it so the panels face out and attaching it to your backpack to get sun power on the move.

The four-panel model claims to fully charge a 5000mAh battery in roughly three hours, which we did not test, but we did get decent juice after six to seven hours of sunlight with the two panels and got our 10000mAh battery halfway charged. If you are smart with your lighting, use it at lower levels, and have decent sunlight, you can easily sustain power on long-haul trips.

Summary 

The Nestout system is one of the best component systems on the market, offering superior durability, portability, and usability. The components are thoughtfully designed, easy to use, and priced fairly for what you are getting (dare we say, priced too low). For campers looking for compact power and lighting with off-the-grid power capabilities, the Nestout system is easily the best in class and maybe the “only” in class, as we’ve not seen anything quite like it.