Dokio 110W 18V Portable Kit Review

The Dokio 110W 18V Portable Kit is the most affordable solar panel for camping we've used that still works pretty well as a solar panel. This model repeatedly surprised us with its solar charging efficiency, and it's extremely lightweight, portable, and versatile as well.

Performance Comparison

Direct Solar Charging Speed

For most people, how well a solar panel works to convert sunlight into electricity is the main consideration when choosing a solar panel. With this in mind, Direct Solar Charging Speed is weighed heavily. During our testing, the Dokio performed about average with direct light. This is better than we expected from a panel that costs so little. There are many panels that did better in our direct solar charging speed tests, but those panels cost a lot more than this one.

The Dokio is a 110-watt panel, which is slightly larger than most of the panels we tested. Its monocrystalline silicon solar cells work well to generate energy from the sun but not quite as well as the most efficient panels performed.

This 110-watt panel is relatively efficient at converting sunlight to energy. On a hot and sunny day in Colorado, the Dokio generated 57.6 watt hours when charging a 240-watt-hour portable power station test battery. As we stated above, this places it squarely in the middle of the pack, but it outperforms other panels that cost about the same.

As sunlight levels varied, we watched as the measured output fluctuated. The output hovered around 55 watts, but it did swing between 50 and 60 frequently.

This panel's watt output certainly wasn't the highest, nor was it the most consistent. But it did generate an average amount of charge among the best solar panels available, which is very impressive for a panel that costs so little.

Indirect Solar Charging Speed

The sun isn't always shining as brightly as possible, so how well a panel performs in cloudy conditions is also very important. For this reason, we tested indirect solar charging speed. We weighted indirect solar charging speed as heavily as direct solar charging speed because you'll still need to charge all your devices even when the sun isn't shining.

To test indirect solar charging speed, we suspended a large white sheet over the top of every panel. This Big White Sheet simulates conditions on a cloudy day. More importantly, it creates consistent conditions for every solar panel. The Dokio didn't perform as well during our indirect solar charging test, but no panel is as efficient in cloudy conditions.

Under our Big White Sheet, the Dokio's power output was significantly diminished as well. It only put out an average of 16 watts consistently under our simulated clouds. This is below average compared to the other large solar panels we tested, but it wasn't the absolute lowest watt output.

Portability

The Dokio is one of the most portable large solar panels we tested. It weighs only 5.1 pounds and folds down to a 26 by 19-inch rectangle. It's incredibly thin—when folded, it's only half an inch thick. It only folds once, so the panel itself is a quarter-inch thick when unfolded.

This is the lightest and thinnest solar panel we tested. For this reason, it is incredibly easy to carry around. Compared to some panels that weigh 4-5 times as much, the Dokio is a dream to load into your trunk or place on a high shelf in your garage.

Some panels fold down more than once and therefore fit into a smaller footprint. However, those panels aren't as thin when folded as the Dokio, which is one of the absolute thinnest panels we tested. It's so thin that you could slide it between nearly anything in even the most packed trunks.

Functionality

The Dokio is one of the more functional panels we tested. It allows for multiple device charging with the solar charge controller. If you use the charge controller you can charge two USB devices simultaneously while also charging any battery.

The charge controller has two USB-A outputs and two DC outputs. This is, in theory, all you'd need to create a basic off-grid electrical setup. Using this charge controller, you'd have two USB-A outputs to charge your gadgets. The charge controller can also send power to DC lights and a battery. After a few weeks of testing, however, the charge controller's cover is starting to peel off. This isn't confidence-inspiring when considering the longevity of the device.

The Dokio is so light, however, that we found it can blow away in the wind rather easily. The low weight is great for transporting it, but a big gust of wind can just as easily transport it away from your campsite.

It also doesn't have kickstand legs to angle at the sun when it's lower in the sky. However, this panel is light enough that you can lean it against just about anything, including small bushes. So the fact that it doesn't have legs to angle it isn't as much of an issue as it would be if heavier. It would still make it more functional if it had kickstand legs, though.

Should You Buy the Dokio 110W 18V Portable Kit?

If you're looking to create a solar charging setup and you're on an extremely tight budget, then this panel is worth considering. It's very affordable, lightweight, and portable. It also comes with a solar charge controller, so you don't need a fancy power station, which can save you even more money. However, it's not the most efficient panel, and we aren't convinced that power station is going to last as long as the panel itself, either.

What Other Solar Camping Panels Should You Consider?

If you're looking for a good deal on a solar panel that is more efficient than the Dokio, we recommend the BigBlue SolarPowa 100 ETFE. If you're looking for the most efficient panel that's still quite portable, we recommend the Jackery SolarSaga 100. For something even more portable than this, check out a smaller option from ourbest portable solar chargers review.