I have been waiting for a product like this from Goal Zero for a while now. Something with enough capacity that can charge a smartphone 3-4 times. They had the Switch 8 and Guide 10 which both charge a smartphone once. Then they introduced the Switch 10 which has a little more capacity and other features but still, can only charge a smartphone once. Then they came out with the Flip 10 which can only charge a smartphone once...there was no happy medium between these battery packs and the Sherp...a 50 until now. The Venture 30 fits perfectly between the smaller battery packs and the Sherpa 50 in both capacity and price.
I also own the Lighthouse 250, Rockout 2 speakers, and a Black Diamond rechargeable headlamp so I needed more juice than the Switch 8 was giving me, especially on camping trips. It's especially nice to have 2 independent outputs also that will both put out a high charge simultaneously. It pairs perfectly with the Nomad 7 solar panel and fits snugly in the back mesh pocket. I especially like that it will communicate with any device and select the optimal charge that will charge your device the quickest. This also eliminates overcharging which not only can be harmful to the device's battery but will prevent the Venture 30 from wasting any charge. It also has 5 light modes (high, low, high strobe, low strobe and SOS). The texture is also very nice. It's mainly a hard black plastic surrounded by a soft synthetic rubber type material which is the green part.
I also have an Anker 6400 mah battery and the thing works ok but has minimal features. The reason I upgraded to the Venture 30, besides the better features, is that the Anker 6400 was not working with my Nomad 7 which makes it almost useless to me. I like that the Venture 30 has 2 outputs and a built in charging cable. And the light is an added bonus. Plus, the style of the Venture 30 is great, the thing just looks cool. It feels good in the hand and is less than an inch thick which allows you to easily slide it into pockets or a backpack and not have to worry about it taking up too much space.
If you are looking for a battery pack of this capacity you will not regret buying the Venture 30. The price is fair for what you are actually getting. Another awesome, quality product by Goal Zero. Thanks!
I've been using the Venture 30 since June 2015 for powering multiple devices. I first used it during the 2015 Race to Alaska, a grueling 750 non-motorized race from Port Townsend WA to Ketchikan AK. Saltwater exposure and some direct spray over a couple of weeks did not affect it negatively. Since then, it has always been in my backpack to charge whatever, iPhone, GoPro, headlamp, gps. I don't use the flashlight function often but it's handy to have. It's a super reliable way to charge your s...tuff.
If you want a reliable recharger that can handle inclement weather, take a look at the GoalZero Venture 30 Recharger. Waterproof IPX6 rating, you can dunk the GoalZero Venture 30 Recharger in water, set it out in the rain, or hose it down. And no rubber plugs needed either. You can easily charge your cell phone 2 or 3 times, a tablet once, while still handling other devices. The GoalZero Venture 30 Recharger is lightweight and fits easily in your pack whether you're on the trail or traveling across the continents. There are two high-speed USB ports capable of putting out the fastest charge possible at the same time so you and a buddy can both quickly charge your GoPros and get back out on the trail or finally hit that summit.
