Name: Goal Zero Venture 30 7800mAh USB Solar Recharging Kit for Phones, Cameras and Tablets
Brand: Goal Zero
SKU: GO42020
Price: 169.95 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 4.2 (78 reviews)

Goal Zero Venture 30 7800mAh USB Solar Recharging Kit for Phones, Cameras and Tablets

Goal Zero Venture 30

Goal Zero

Goal Zero Venture 30 7800mAh USB Solar Recharging Kit

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Home Electronics

Batteries & Power Supply

Power Supplies

Solar Power

Goal Zero Solar Power

Goal Zero Venture 30 

Buy: Goal Zero Venture 30 7800mAh USB Solar Recharging Kit for Phones, Cameras and Tablets Type: Solar Power Kit

I have had my Venture 30 for seven years now and it still works great, except for the cord. It charges my phone in the back country about three times, where as my Venture 35 only gives me 1 1/2 charges. I love the shape and weight.

Lots of power, not too much weight!

I bought this for fieldwork. Right off the bat it was super hard to pull the power cord out of the unit. There were two rubber tabs that were supposed to help grip it and they broke off. Seems like poor design/user testing. We had a total of three of these at my work and every person struggled to take the power cord out. Then the power cord just stopped working. I tried using a cord I had laying around the house and it takes forever to charge. Complete waste of money, last GZ product I ever buy

Waste of Money

This battery was incredibly finicky when I first got it and solar charging was garbage, but it still has most of its charge after 6-7 years and I'm incredibly impressed on how it's held up compared to my other battery packs. One of my best battery packs still. Don't get this pack, get one of the newer ones that's been improved.

Mixed feelings

This is the second one I have used. First one broke and was sent a replacement which then subsequently broke as well. Won?t recharge from either port with and without supplied cable. Reset functionality also does not work.

Works great for a few months then just quits

The venture 30 drains al the time quickly and then the battery just died completely and doesn?t work?Called GZ customer service and they suck was then their product?Much better power banks out there then this garbage! Goodbye to goal zero and I will let everyone know about it to when I hike the AP trail?thanks for the paper weight goal zero?

Venture 30 GARBAGE

Had the Goal Zero + Venture 30 package for a while.  Within a month, it started acting wierd.  The blue LED's would turn on while it was sitting idle on the desk, and start draining. I shook it, tapped it, banged it, nothing. Then I pulled the micro USB out, and the LED's turned off. Then I misplaced it for a while during a move.  Then last year I found it again in a box, all cold and dead.  Recharged it, and thought it was working.  But, it doesn't go in storage mode.  You hold the button for 10 - 12 secs, the LED's flash from both ends to center once, and in 12 - 15 seconds it turns off, but doesn't go in storage mode. Because, its back to it's usual self.  While sitting idle, it would come on and start draining.  So, pulled the micro usb.  It turned off.  It's unpredictable. Never know what it will do next.  I can't take it with me for camping.  Unreliable.

Venture 30

Had this for two years now, I cant leave the included cord plugged in the housing because it drains the battery even in storage mode and yes I've tried resetting it multiple times.  Not being able to store the cord with the charger defeats the purpose of having a unit that has everything in one tight package.  Now I have to track down a cord each time I go to use it.  Also the two buttons are incredibly small and hard to push especially when you have to hold it down for 30 seconds to get into storage mode.   I think great idea, poor design and quality and way too high of a price compared to others for these issues to be present.

DRAINS BATTERY IN STORAGE MODE, BUTTONS TOO SMALL

I figured out, that, if the PB is charged over my MacBook it is charging fast and the blue LED is blinking also fast. But if you interrupt the charge, for some reason and plug out your Venture, after a reinsert the charging speed is the slowest ever. No way to speed it up. Then a 100% charge can take all the day. No matter if put into a powerful wall charger, nor USB3. No support for this issue from GZ.

Charging slow after, the charging is interrupted

Got this a couple days ago and been having fun with it. I got it from the open box sale items list so it had no box or instructions, not that you need instructions with something so easy to use. Came wrapped in bubble wrap and the only thing is this R scratched in the back. I still give it 5 stars because it was wrapped good and works just as it should, and like dad used to say, "I'll take function over form any day", and besides, I'm sure to put more nicks in it this summer. Will be back for more open box stuff this summer, get out, stay out after all.

I got this for my 14th b - day and have gotten very heavy use out of it. It charges my phone all day long and does not stop for anything! It did have a short in the included cord but Goal Zero quickly fixed the problem and sent me a fixed cord. Great customer service!

1 WORD: AWESOME!!!

Within the first month, the 2.4A and micro connectors came out of the cable and no longer charge the Venture.  It is pretty much useless now because it is not able to charge.  While it worked great when it was charged, the connectors are not in the cord very well and broke very easily.

Cable is junk

the built in micro to usb cable quit working relatively quickly (see other peoples comments with similar problem). Also the leds don't act as specified. I never got 5 blue lights blinking at the same time when it is supposedly fully charged even after waiting way longer than the specs say. The reboot process description doesn't match reality in terms of how the light indicate what is going on.   I would not recommend this product.

not reliable

Bought this guy for a trip I was taking to Colorado and it worked perfectly for my cell phone, Lighthouse Mini, and Guide 10 Plus (batteries for headlamp). I would seriously recommend this product to anyone looking to take the plunge into Goal Zero solar. The Venture 30 paired with my two Nomad 7s has worked great and has the best balance of stored power and solar charging speed for my needs. The battery level indicator lights and integrated flashlight are super convenient, as well as the 'smart-charge' system that the device uses.

Everything I Needed!

This is my second time I'm going to have to return your venture 30 battery pack and solar kit. The problem I had with both now is that the devices would try to charge themselves, while not connected to anything. The cord (USB-to-microUSB) that wraps around the bottom and connects both ends to the device would try to charge itself if both ends of the cords were inserted, and would get very hot and drain the battery rapidly. Neither a soft, nor a full reset would fix the problem. I returned the device got a new one and again the same problem. When a device like this cost 5 times as much as the competition for the same specks, it has to perform flawlessly! But now a second time and I use this when I'm 50 miles on foot in the middle of nowhere really ticks me off when I have to trust this thing. What a disappointment!!!

Needs an overhaul!!

Just got this along with the New Nomad 14 Plus. So far I love the features of this product. In particular the smart charging function. Be able to set profiles for different electronics is awesome!

Solid

I purchased this as an upgrade for my guide 10 batteries. Love the versatility and ease of use. I have used it multiple times car camping, backpacking and just keep it in my backpack/ car the rest of the time. Works extremely well and I get at least two full charges for my iPhone.

Great product! Operates exactly as described.

I used this kit to charge camera batteries, and GoPro on a remote whitewater kayak expedition in Northern Manitoba last fall.  We were in a remote part of the Nelson River between Lake Winnipeg and Hudson's bay.  We didn't see anyone else for 10 days and I was able to use this kit to easily power camera batteries and Gopro through out the trip.  I was never short of charged batteries and shot photos most of the day, each day.  Over 3000 images in total, and hours of Gopro video.  

We didn't need it but I would have been able to use this kit to power our team's InReach Sat phone if that had been needed, but it wasn't.  

Every time it was sunny I would pop the panels out and use the small clips provided to position it securely.  Then just leave it.  There was always enough power in the power unit.  They were rugged enough I could set it up on wet ground and not worry if there was a sudden rain shower.

I really wasn't sure what to expect from such a small set up when I received it but I was SO impressed by how much charge it packs.  Not the cheapest system out there, but the rugged build makes it worthwhile for me.

WAY Better than expected

I absolutely love this charger and use the heck out of it!  The only down side is the cable.  It sucks and I need another one.  I plug it in and have to find the sweet spot for it to charge.  Not ideal when you are constantly on the move...

Love this thing!

bought it in a week, micro USB cracked very EASILY

Low quality of the cord

With a 5 LED charge, it charged my Samsung S 6+ from 45%-100% in an hour or so, but drained charged battery down to a 2 LED charge. I'm SURE IT will not charge a tablet, or 3 I phones. But I really like the design.

Rugged design

I purchased the Venture 30 recharger just prior to my yearly high country trip to Yosemite. Following the almost immediate loss of power from my GF1 LUMIX I was left with only my  iPhone for potential photographs (and it was 
about dead). I was able to keep recharging my iPhone for most of the trip with the Venture 30 recharger. I was able to capture some decent shots following a crazy rain storm out here.

Power when you need it most.

This product worked for a week, then started flashing the charging lights when only plugged into itself.  The unit gets hot, and seems to have ruined the battery on my phone.  After using this to charge my phone for a week, i've noticed a near 20% reduction in total battery time on my phone.  I would like to like this product, but the quality is just not there.  Sorry Goal Zero...try again.

Worked for a week...

like tke look and feel of it fit nice in my bag and it has a lot of hook up on it

Great product and about my pocket size. I use this ro charge my small gears

Great features

Have had this Venture 30 for 3-4 weeks.  The best review is to say it works as advertised, and is compact and easy to carry along

It works as predicted

I was skeptical of the charging hype, but this thing charges my iPhone extremely quickly, faster than a regular outlet.  Small, tough and durable, I'm glad it's made to be weather and water resistant.  Very happy with this purchase.

Wow, what a charger!

I bought this to recharge my phone while backpacking. Solar panel fully charged the battery in 2.5 days lying flat in the sun. I charged my phone (2800mah battery) about 2.5X for about 7000 mah usable. Next I will try charging hanging on my pack. Battery stays fully charged at least 1 week (only tested 1 week so far). Love the attached cable. Appears waterproof for at least rain.

So far so good

I purchased this last month,and use it on my Gopros and cellphone when I'am off the grid.So far so good it held up on the heat and rain.I needed something small compacted to carry in my bug out bag while I'am on night ops. Patrolling the borders near Mexico.

Great Product!

I have used this in varying temps and conditions. Solid performance, and holds a charge for a decent amount of hold time. Priced reasonable too. Do it !

Solid performance!!

I bought this device about three weeks ago for a trip to Panama. I wanted to love it and have been searching for durable devices for solar travel.

Unfortunately, the cord that connects to the device broke the first time I used it.

To give an example, if you have had a cell phone charger for a while and the small metal piece bends so that you have to hold the cord/cell phone just right to get it to work - it bent like that on the first use.

I popped it back in, used it to charge a device and then when I took it out to use it again it broke completely.

Love the design/feel for the device but until they get that cord fixed there's no need. I read that others have had similar problems so it doesn't seem to be an isolated incident. I'll try again once they launch a new model.