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Our experts have been rigorously testing the best portable solar chargers and panels since 2013 and have personally tested over 100 individual models. This year, we purchased the 17 most promising and popular portable solar panel models for in-person testing.
The BigBlue SolarPowa 28 proved itself in our testing to be the best option for the majority of people. It managed to perform well across the board and still impressed us with its portability. If you're hoping to get a great model with a reasonable price tag, the X-Dragon 20W is an excellent value.
If you're looking for a larger solar panel for even more power on your next adventure, we also tested the top 100+ watt portable panels in our solar panel for camping review. If you don't need solar but do need some power, check out these great portable chargers.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on November 14, 2024, to better highlight key features and comparisons.
Has USB and DC outputs, relatively portable, easy to use
No folding necessary, ultra-thin, lightweight, kickstand leg to angle at the sun
Rugged design, has a built-in stand, DC and USB outputs
Affordable, large integrated battery, easy to transport
Lightweight, inexpensive, okay charging speed
Easy to use, portable, has integrated battery
Lightweight, versatile, has a kickstand, has a built-in battery bank
Lightweight, durable, lots of charging options
Three USB outputs, wireless charging, large capacity battery bank
Massive battery capacity, two USB outputs, solar panel works better than other battery banks
Cons
No kickstand legs
Hard to reach pouch makes the panel lay crooked
Expensive, heavy, not very portable
Relatively heavy, nothing to protect the charge controller and outputs
Expensive, bulky, ridged design is harder to pack, weak magnetic closure
Not as efficient as we'd hoped, expensive
No kickstand legs
Not the most efficient
Only one USB output, no integrated cable storage, not the fastest charging
Doesn't like to stay unfolded, heavy for its size, not the best solar charging
USB-C in/out can draw power from your device, not as powerful panel
Battery bank functionality isn't the best
Not as efficient as a solar panel
Not the fastest charging
Not an effective solar panel
Not very effective at solar charging, heavy
Heavy, feels cheap, solar panel not very effective
Bottom Line
This speedy solar charger powers up to three devices at once and offers reliability at a reasonable price
This low-priced, incredibly efficient solar panel converts the sun into electricity effectively
This massive panel has a large capacity and excellent efficiency, though it's far more expensive and much bulkier to cart around
This panel quickly unfolds to six panels for fast and efficient charging and packs away just as easily
A powerful, well-designed, durable panel, with average solar charging speeds
This 30-watt panel has a built-in ammeter that helps to regulate power output, but it's not as efficient as we'd hoped it would be
This easy-to-use and portable solar panel is relatively efficient and works well overall, but it doesn't stand out in any particular way
This solar panel has multiple USB outputs and a DC charging output for versatility, otherwise, it's a pretty average portable solar charger
This ultra-portable solar charger is thin and lightweight enough to bring on any adventure
This panel doesn't perform as well as we'd hoped, especially considering the price
This battery bank with a fold-out integrated solar panel works better as a solar panel than similarly designed models
This inexpensive 38,800 mAh battery bank has a 4-panel solar array that folds out for quick solar charging, but it lacks functionality as a battery bank that we'd want
This 20,000 mAh battery bank has a 4-panel solar array that folds out and stows away for easy transport
This ultralight 5-watt panel has an integrated 3,200 mAh battery, a kickstand, and a sundial to make angling it at the sun a breeze
A lightweight battery pack that has the most powerful solar panel of all the battery banks, but still not very effective at solar charging
This battery bank has three USB outputs plus wireless charging capabilities, but doesn't work well as a solar panel
This battery bank has a massive capacity, but it's heavy, bulky, and the solar panel doesn't work well
The BigBlue SolarPowa 28 impressed our testers with its ability to balance portability and solar charging efficiency better than any other solar panel we tested. This model has impressive solar charging abilities in both direct sunlight and during cloudy days, and it weighs less than all but the smallest 5-watt panels. It unfolds into four solar panels quickly and easily, and it's light enough to prop up or hang off of just about anything to get an ideal charging angle to maximize efficiency. When your portable electronics need a charge, this panel delivers it more consistently than any other. It does better than most panels on cloudy days and has three USB-A outputs, so you can charge multiple devices simultaneously. When you're done charging, this solar charger folds into a small enough size to fit in almost any backpack. It closes with velcro and has a pocket to store charging cables, a battery bank, and other accessories. This is a great all-around panel for charging all your small electronic gadgets.
One downside to the BigBlue SolarPowa 28 is that, though it's relatively lightweight for the 20-40-watt panel class, it makes some sacrifices in usability to be as light as it is. We found that all of the panels we tested perform best when they can be angled directly at the sun, and this panel doesn't have kickstand legs to get that perfect angle easily. Weighing in at 20.9 ounces, it's lighter than most of the other panels in its class, but we would be okay with a few extra ounces for that extra usability. It is light enough to prop it on a rock easily and has carabiner clips to help, too. But this panel could be improved with a couple of fold-out legs. This is still a great solar panel overall and performs better than most other panels we tested in every category. This is the panel we'd choose for most applications where we want reliable solar charging in an impressively small size at a very affordable price. The X-Dragon 20W is another more affordable option, though its charging speed isn't as great as the BigBlue 28. If you need more charging power than this, we recommend the more expensive but higher-powered 50-watt Goal Zero Nomad 50, or check out our review of larger 100-watt solar panels.
This model is often out of stock. Luckily, its larger sibling, the X-Dragon 40W is usually available. It is not as light or inexpensive, but it has about double the charging power and is still a great deal.
When you're outside in the sun, having a panel that charges quickly is key. The X-Dragon 20W has the most watts of any solar charger we tested in its price range. This 20-watt solar panel provides reliable, fast charging speed, almost as good as more expensive options, all at a reasonable price. The high conversion rate made the panel efficiently charge on sunny days better than most others, and it performs relatively well on cloudy days. It has two USB-A outputs that can each put out up to three amps, which is enough power to charge any USB device. Roughly the size of a notebook, this solar charger unfolds into three panels and has a zippered case that can easily hold two charging cables, a battery pack, and more.
Though the zippered pouch on the X-Dragon 20W makes storing your charging cables easy, it does make it harder to lay this panel completely flat on the ground. A canvas flap secures on top of the mesh zippered pouch. This flap, along with the pouch, make it so the panel sits at an awkward angle when you try to lay it flat. This isn't a huge deal, and it's easily fixed by propping it on another object, but all that extra material under one of the three panels makes it harder to deal with. But, if you're looking for an affordable solar panel to charge on the go, we think this is an excellent affordable choice for a portable solar charger. If you're looking for 10 extra watts and more charging power, we recommend you also check out the Anker Solix 30W Foldable, which is almost as affordable but rated as a 30-watt panel.
The FlexSolar 40W is a high-output model that easily unfolds from the size of a large book into six solar panels. This is our top choice if you want an easy-to-use solar charger setup that doesn't sacrifice wattage. This doesn't have any velcro, magnets, or other clasps to deal with when folding and unfolding this panel, which makes it very easy to set up. And it's just as easy to take down when you're done charging. It has a DC output capable of putting out 19 volts of power, so it's capable of charging portable power stations. It also has USB-C and USB-A charging outputs for your devices. We found during testing that the DC output on this panel could charge a 240-watt-hour power station faster than any other portable panel we tested with a DC output. It puts out an impressive amount of power while remaining relatively portable.
While the FlexSolar 40W does fold down into a small enough package, it's not nearly as light as some of the other portable solar chargers we tested. At 2 pounds 15.25 ounces, it weighs over twice as much as some other panels in the 20-40 watt range. However, it also weighs less than most 50+ watt panels we've tested, so it's more portable than many solar panels out there. It lacks a cover for the DC and USB outputs, which is a weak point in terms of durability, but perhaps its only weak point. After extensive testing, we haven't had an issue with these exposed outputs, but it's certainly worth noting. This portable panel also comes at a very affordable price, considering it's a 40-watt panel that stows away quickly, and it's certainly worth considering for all your solar charging needs. If you're looking for a panel with a similar, easy-to-unfold design that's slightly smaller, check out the BigBlue SolarPowa 30. If you're looking for a much lighter, smaller option, the Goal Zero Nomad 5 weighs only 12.35 ounces, though it is significantly less powerful.
The Goal Zero Nomad 5 is our top pick if portability is your top priority. This panel is small enough to take backpacking. It's incredibly thin and remarkably durable. Plus, it only weighs 12.35 ounces. This panel weighs less than many larger battery banks that you might otherwise bring on an extended trip so that it could save you weight in your pack. It doesn't fold but is thinner than average and has a single kickstand leg to angle it at the sun. This lets you maximize the efficiency of this 5-watt panel much more easily than with other small solar panels.
The Nomad 5 doesn't charge the fastest, but that's to be expected with a 5-watt solar panel. This is designed to charge a small device, such as a battery bank. It only has a single output for this reason. Also, this panel doesn't have a place to store a USB cable, but if you prioritize packability, you'll appreciate that this doesn't have extra stuff you won't use anyway. If you're looking for a super portable solar charger for the backcountry or something small, affordable, and durable for your daily life, this is worth a look. Or, for a larger and more powerful but still portable panel, we recommend the SunJack 25W. It weighs 29.4 ounces, 17.05 more than the Nomad 5, but it has a better charging speed. If you're looking for a battery bank and solar panel, the Hiluckey HIS025 25000mAh Power Bank is a great option.
We've been testing solar panels with integrated batteries for years, and most of the power bank/solar panel combos we've tried haven't performed well as solar panels. However, the Hiluckey HIS025 25000mAh Power Bank uses a newer design that makes it perform better as a solar panel. This power bank features a four-panel fold-out solar array. And while it still won't fully charge your entire base camp, it will work better to keep your phone and other small tech topped off for a long weekend in the mountains. Each of the individual panels is only three watts, making 12 watts for the whole setup. And when you aren't using this for solar generation, the panels fold flat against the battery bank into a small, compact package that fits in your pocket. It has two USB-A outputs and a fast-charge compatible USB-C output as well. It also has a built-in light to illuminate your campsite at night.
Although the Hiluckey HIS025 25000mAh Power Bank works better as a solar panel than other single solar panel power bank combos we tested, it's still not as powerful of a solar charging option as a dedicated 20 to 30-watt solar panel. If you want the convenience of having an integrated solar panel, then this is our top choice. But, we think an inexpensive 30-watt panel, such as the Blavor 30W Foldable, paired with that battery bank you already own is a good alternative to a battery/solar panel combination like this one. It also has a 12-volt connection and a DC output, while the Hilucky HIS025 does not.
In our lineup of the best solar panels for camping, we look at larger panels. The Jackery SolarSaga 100 continues to be the best overall and one of the best value panels we've tested. This 100-watt solar panel is significantly more affordable than its competitors, user-friendly, lightweight, and performs well in both full and partial sunlight. It is the most efficient at rapidly charging electronic gadgets of any panel we evaluated, regardless of the weather. The SolarSaga instantly folds into a compact size and weighs only ten pounds, which is light compared to similar wattage panels. The straightforward fold-in-half construction makes it very easy to transport it in your vehicle and take it wherever you roam. The handle makes it easy to transport throughout the campground. You can swiftly deploy its fold-out legs to position it squarely at the sun and get the most out of its rays in the morning and evening. It has USB-A and USB-C ports and a DC output to connect directly to devices or an external battery. A built-in pouch with a zipper on the device's rear provides convenient storage for the hardwired DC charging cable and USB ports. It's a wonderful addition to your solar camping setup or if you want to have an off-grid backpack.
Although it's light and folds into a small footprint, the SolarSaga 100 only has a single fold in its design. Because of this, its folded size is significantly larger than some of the other high-wattage panels we examined. This is your panel if you want a high-capacity solar panel that offers excellent overall value for your upcoming camping trip.
The Jackery SolarSaga 100 makes it simple and fast to charge electronic gadgets using sunlight.
Credit: Sam Schild
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Keeping base camp charged with only the sun.
Credit: Chris McNamara
How We Test Portable Solar Chargers
We've been testing portable solar chargers and panels for years and have put well over 100 individual products through our comprehensive testing process. With each new round of testing, we carefully select the most interesting, most popular, and most promising models and purchase them at full price. Then, we test each product objectively and thoroughly. During testing, we look at how quickly each model charges with different amounts of sunlight, how it handles multiple devices at once, the rate of charging, and its portability, durability, and overall useability. We used each contender in the field to test our metrics and tested them in our backyard home lab. See additional details on our testing processes in our How We Test article.
Our portable solar charger testing is divided into four mutually exclusive metrics that are weighted according to their overall importance:
Direct Charging Speed (35% of overall weight)
Indirect Charging Speed (35% weight)
Portability (15% weight)
Functionality (15% weight)
Why Trust GearLab
Our solar testing team is spearheaded by Review Editor Sam Schild. Sam is a lifelong outdoor adventurer and off-grid explorer. Over the decades, he has spent thousands of nights under the stars, far from any power outlets. Sam has powered his bicycle rides across the country — more than once — and is a seasoned thru-hiker with numerous long-distance trails across America under his belt. He uses solar panels to keep himself connected to friends and family no matter where he roams, whether on his own two feet or with the aid of a pair of bike tires. Over years of using many iterations of solar panels and continually improved solar charging technology, Sam is intimately acquainted with the benefits and limits of powering devices from the sun. He tests solar panels large and small for GearLab, based out of wherever his feet are in the American West and Southwest.
Also joining our testing team is James Lucas, a long-time writer, editor, and photographer. As an avid climber who authored the Yosemite Valley Bouldering guidebook, you can find James outdoors more days than not. He spends his time documenting the outdoors and gear testing in Boulder, Colorado, and on frequent travels to California's Sierra Nevada mountains. James frequently uses solar panels to power his adventures and charge his camera gear when working out of his van in the Rockies and when perched atop sunny El Capitan in Yosemite.
We tested every panel side-by-side in the field and the lab to measure power output, weight, ease of use, and more.
Analysis and Test Results
We chose the best, most popular, and most promising portable solar panels on the market today to test side-by-side in this review. We tested every model under the same conditions to see which ones provided the most power and which were the most convenient to use. Whether you are looking for a solar setup for car camping or a compact charger to power your smartphone and GPS devices on a backpacking trip, our review offers excellent recommendations for anybody.
What's the Best Value?
Dozens of companies produce affordable, effective monocrystalline panels ranging from small 5-watt models to more substantial, powerful options that will allow for a faster charge. Generally, the larger, higher-watt panels are going to cost more but will charge your devices faster and more efficiently.
The BigBlue SolarPowa 28 offers some of the best value overall. This 28-watt solar panel charges devices quickly, is portable, and costs less than many other panels that don't work as well. The X-Dragon 20W is also a great value. It costs less than any other 20-50-watt panel we tested but still works well to convert solar energy into electricity. The Goal Zero Nomad 5 is a less-powerful, 5-watt panel that won't charge as many things as fast but is exceptionally portable and easy to take with just about anywhere. It is incredibly light and portable and performed better in direct sun solar testing than most other smaller portable solar panels we tested.
The BigBlue SolarPowa is one of the best values for a portable solar panel we tested.
Credit: Sam Schild
We also tested quite a few battery banks with an integrated solar panel. Most of these options cost much less than solar panels without an integrated battery bank. Many of these items don't work nearly as well — several of them failed to generate a measurable charge during our 1-hour test. To get them to convert sunlight into energy, we had to have them perfectly angled into the sun and wait three times as long to get even the smallest measurable amount of charge. So, while these options are less expensive and come with an integrated battery, they aren't as good of a value when it comes to harnessing energy from the sun.
The battery banks with a fold-out solar panel setup, such as the Hiluckey HIS025 25000mAh Power Bank, QiSa 38800mAh Qi Wireless, and Blavor PN-W12 Pro, work better than the other combo models, though. So, if you want a combination panel and battery model, we think these are the best value.
Most of the battery banks with an integrated solar panel don't work as well unless you point them directly at the sun, but they cost less than many standalone solar panels do.
Credit: Sam Schild
Direct Solar Charging Speed
A portable solar charger is used to power your device when you're away from power outlets. We took this into account when we chose to weight direct solar charging speed the heaviest in our testing metrics. It's also no surprise that some of our highest-scoring panels in this metric were chargers with the largest capacity.
We executed this experiment using a set of identical 10,000 mAh battery banks. We hooked up each panel to one of these battery banks and then set them in the sun for one hour. We then measured the amount of charge each panel created in milliamp hours using a digital multimeter. We performed this test three times on every panel and averaged the results.
The BigBlue SolarPowa 28 generated some of the most power in one hour of direct sunlight, an average of 1682 mAh. This 28-watt panel consistently put out power and even outperformed a few higher-watt panels we tested. The X-Dragon 20W also performed admirably in direct solar testing, generating an average of 1433 mAh in an hour.
We tested all panels in side-by-side testing using identical battery banks in identical contitions.
Credit: Sam Schild
We performed most of these tests with the panels lying flat on the ground for maximum consistency. During early morning and evening testing, though, we also performed some tests with the panels angled directly at the sun. We found that generally when a panel is pointed directly at the sun, it performs better. So, when the sun is high in the sky, directly overhead, it's best to keep them flat on the ground. But when it's lower in the sky, near the horizon, you should angle the panel at the sun to achieve maximum efficiency. Also, when the panels aren't lying directly on the insulating ground, they stay cooler. And when solar panels are less hot, they work better.
We tested a few solar chargers that have DC power outputs, and these performed the best when hooked up to the DC power stations we used in our 100+ watt solar panels test. The FlexSolar 40W performed better when using its DC charging output, generating 2000 mAh in an hour compared to 972 mAh in an hour when using the USB-A port hooked up to the 10,000 mAh test battery.
The SolarPowa 28 performed the best in our direct solar charging test despite not being the largest-capacity model in our lineup.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Goal Zero Nomad 50 generated an average of 1931 mAh over three tests, though it didn't perform noticeably better when hooked up to a larger battery with its DC charging output. The Goal Zero Nomad 20 also has a DC charging output, so it's capable of charging DC power stations as well, but this 20-watt panel only put out an average of 899 mAh in an hour and also didn't perform noticeably better when using the DC output.
The FlexSolar 40W solar panel has a DC charging output, and it put out more power from this output than the USB-A output we used for our main test.
Credit: Sam Schild
The BigBlue SolarPowa 30 and Blavor 30W Foldable each have a DC charging port as well. Both of these panels performed better when charging a battery using the DC power output rather than the USB-A port. The BigBlue 30 put out an average of 1011 mAh using its USB-A port but 1600 mAh using the DC charging capabilities. The Blavor 30W put out nearly twice as much power using its DC output, 1200 mAh, compared to 681 mAh using its USB-A port.
The BigBlue Solarpowa 30 performed better using its DC power output than it did when using the USB-A output.
Credit: Sam Schild
During direct solar charge testing, we found that the portable battery banks with an integrated solar panel weren't nearly as efficient as the others we tested — the Blavor Qi 10,000mAh, the Mregb 42800mAh, and the Riapow 26800mAh were especially inefficient. This isn't to say that these panels don't work at all, but their conversion efficiency is incredibly low and slow. Not one of the integrated battery banks with a solar panel worked as well as the larger panels we tested. Additionally, we repeatedly had issues with these batteries overheating when placed on the ground in direct sun.
We found these panels really worked best only if you angled them directly at the sun. Even then, they're far less efficient than even the other 5-watt panels with slightly larger surface areas. First and foremost, we consider these panels battery banks. The integrated solar panels on these shouldn't be relied on like you would any of the other panels we tested here.
The Goal Zero Nomad 50 performed well in direct solar charging and it has a DC output so it can charge larger power stations.
Credit: Sam Schild
During our first round of testing, we devised a separate test for these lower-watt portable solar chargers with integrated batteries. We left each of these panels to charge in the sun for three hours, hanging so they wouldn't overheat. None of the panels generated nearly as much power as the larger models, but they did generate some charge eventually. In three hours, the Mregb 42800mAh created 339 mAh, the Blavor Qi 10,000mAh generated 235 mAh, and the Riapow 26800mAh generated 134 mAh. All four of these failed to generate any measurable charge during our regular testing, and we'd encourage people to think of them more as portable chargers than as highly functional solar panels.
All the solar panels with an integrated battery performed better when angled at the sun than they did when flat against the ground.
Credit: Sam Schild
This year, we added several more power banks with integrated solar panels, but this year's additions have fold-out solar panels. This means they have four times as much area to generate power from the sun than the battery bank and solar panels mentioned above. These panels, the Hiluckey HIS025 25000mAh Power Bank (313 mAh in one hour), QiSa 38800mAh Qi Wireless (434 mAh), and Blavor PN-W12 Pro (422 mAh) performed better than any of the other battery-panel combos in our standard 1-hour power generation test. The Hiluckey performed particularly well when angled directly at the sun, generating a respectable 495 mAh of power in one hour.
Over multiple years of testing, we've found that the battery bank and solar panel combos can work as solar panels if you're careful to keep the battery cool. After struggling to keep the battery from overheating, we found the slightly larger panel on the Mregb 42800mAh Power Bank created slightly more power than the smaller battery packs with a single integrated panel if we were able to keep it cool. The Mregb generated 201 mAh of power in one hour when angled in a way that keeps the battery off the ground and, therefore, cooler, and points the panel directly at the sun.
We found any panel with an integrated battery works best if used on a surface that stays cooler if you're trying to generate power during the summer.
Credit: Sam Schild
The BioLite SolarPanel 5+, which has a smaller 3,200 mAh battery bank, performed better than most of the battery banks without a fold-out solar panel array. It generated an average of 101 mAh in one hour. It has a much smaller battery capacity and looks a lot more like a solar panel than the four brick-style battery bank “solar panel” combos we tested. The Biolite 5+'s solar panel worked comparably as well as the other 5-watt solar panel we tested, the Goal Zero Nomad 5, but was less efficient overall. The Nomad 5 generated 384 mAh over one hour.
The Nomad is small and mighty, especially compared to other 5 watt solar panels we tested.
Credit: Sam Schild
Indirect Solar Charging Speed
In this metric, we consider the following questions: is your panel going to quit on you just because one cloud passes overhead? To test this, we performed the same test we used to test direct solar charging with a white sheet suspended over all the panels to simulate a cloudy day.
Again, the highest-performing models in indirect solar charging speed were the ones with a larger watt rating. However, their performances do not directly correlate to overall wattage, with notable diversions where smaller panels converted more electricity.
Like in direct solar charging speed, the BigBlue SolarPowa 28 performed near the top in indirect solar charging testing, generating 872 mAh in an hour. The Sunjack 25W performed about as well and generated 873 mAh of charge in one hour. These panels did better when charging under our while sheet cloud simulation than the larger 40 and 50-watt panels we tested. Compared to other similarly-rated panels in the 20-30 watt range, the SolarPowa and Sunjack blew the competition out of the water.
Testing solar panels in indirect light to simulate a cloudy day.
Credit: Sam Schild
Unsurprisingly, the solar chargers with large surface areas did better in this metric because there were more cells exposed to the sun at one time. The Goal Zero Nomad 50 did well in indirect solar testing, generating 626 mAh of charge in an hour. This panel is massive, so it stands to reason that it would do at least okay in less-than-ideal conditions where every bit of solar power is needed.
The SunJack 25W performed better than almost every other panel under simulated cloud cover.
Credit: Sam Schild
The X-Dragon 20W generated 676 mAh in one hour, which is quite impressive for a 20-watt panel. Compared to the other panels we tested of similar wattage (in the 20-25 watt range), this performance is better than the competition. It even performed better than the FlexSolar 40W, a 40-watt panel that put out 461 mAh in one hour.
Because not everywhere is like sunny Colorado, we tested these panels under a thin white sheet.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Goal Zero Nomad 20 proved to have less of a decrease in power generation from direct to indirect light than almost any other panel we tested. Though its output isn't quite as impressive as other 20-watt panels we tested, this increased consistency across weather conditions is notable and appreciated. And though it wasn't the most impressive panel of its watt size, it generated 262 mAh in one hour.
The BigBlue SolarPowa 30 also performed well in direct solar charging. The panel, which has a built-in ammeter that helps to maintain consistent power in inconsistent conditions, generated 717 mAh of power in one hour. We were a bit surprised that this panel didn't perform better, since the BigBlue SolarPowa 28, which doesn't have an ammeter, has performed so well in the past. However, in this year's side-by-side testing, the tried and true original BigBlue 28 performed better under our simulated cloud cover sheet than the newer BigBlue 30.
The Anker Solix 30W Foldable also performed well in indirect sunlight, generating 630 mAh of power in one hour.
Disappointingly, if perhaps not surprisingly, all four of the battery banks with a single solar panel combo units — the Blavor Qi 10,000mAh, Mregb 42800mAh, and Riapow 26800mAh — failed to generate any charge at all during our indirect sunlight tests. This solidifies them, once again, as portable battery banks, first and foremost, with unreliable solar charger performance.
The Goal Zero Nomad 20 performed relatively better in indirect solar charging than it did in direct solar charging testing.
Credit: Sam Schild
The newer battery banks and solar panel combos to the testing lineup performed better than the battery banks with a single panel. These panels didn't generate a lot of power in one hour, but they generated a measurable amount. The Hiluckey HIS025 25000mAh Power Bank generated 182 mAh, the QiSa 38800mAh Qi Wireless generated 212 mAh, and the Blavor PN-W12 Pro generated 55 mAh of power in one hour.
The battery banks with fold-out solar panels performed better in indirect light than the battery banks with a single built-in panel.
Credit: Sam Schild
Portability
We looked at each model's portability in terms of packed size and weight. Some panels fold down into a small package but aren't very light, while others are lightweight but don't fold at all.
We considered how easy each portable solar charger is to set up and take down. We considered if they have storage solutions for your cables or features that make them easier to pack into a backpack or bring along on a camping trip.
The lightest models we tested were some of the battery banks with integrated solar panels. The Blavor Qi weighs significantly less than any other model we tested, 9.3 and 8.7 ounces, respectively.
We weighed and measured every panel, then we carried themith us to asses how portable they are.
Credit: Sam Schild
Both of these battery banks with integrated solar easily fit into a pocket or clip to the outside of your backpack. However, as we discussed earlier, these should be considered battery banks more than solar panels. The solar panels on all the brick-style battery banks really aren't big enough to rely on for solar power generation. While their low weights make them portable in this lineup, there are other portable chargers we've tested without solar panels that are lighter.
While the Blavor Qi easily fits into a pocket, it should be considered a power bank more than a solar panel.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Goal Zero Nomad 5 stands out for its portability among the rest of the lot of solar panels. This panel weighs a mere 12.4 ounces and is incredibly thin. It easily slides into any backpack, no matter how full it is. You can strap it to the outside of your pack if you want to get some charge while on the move and lean it against just about anything when you get to camp. This panel doesn't fold, and it could be smaller if it did, but then it would have more heavy material and less total area for the actual solar panel. This panel strikes the perfect balance between ultralight weight consciousness and solar efficiency.
The Goal Zero Nomad 5 doesn't fold but is thin and small enough to strap on top of your pack while backpacking, making it pleasantly portable.
Credit: Sam Schild
The BioLite SolarPanel 5+ is another highly portable option. It weighs 13.4 ounces and is about the same size as the Goal Zero Nomad 5. The BioLite 5+ also has an integrated 3200 mAh battery, which makes its low weight and small size even more impressive.
The BioLite SolarPanel 5+ is another one of the most portable solar panels we tested and has an integrated 3200 mAh battery.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Blavor PN-W12 Pro (20.9 ounces), Hiluckey HIS025 25000mAh Power Bank (18.7 ounces), and QiSa 38800mAh Qi Wireless (19.5 ounces) all weigh a similar amount. And these all fold down to about the same size as well — slightly smaller than an actual brick. And since these panel and battery bank combos work better as solar panels, their portability is even more impressive.
The Hiluckey HIS025 25000mAh Power Bank easily folds down to a pocket-sized package.
Credit: Sam Schild
The BigBlue SolarPowa 28 is the most portable panel we tested that's larger than 20 watts. This panel folds down to about the size of a notebook and weighs 20.9 ounces. It's more than light enough to throw in a backpack or on your bike to charge your devices anywhere. Compared to the Goal Zero Nomad 5, it weighs almost twice as much but packs serious charging power. On the other hand, compared to the beefy Goal Zero Nomad 50, which weighs 110.4 ounces, the SolarPowa 28 feels practically featherweight.
The SolarPowa 28 is one of the most portable 20+ watt panels we tested.
Credit: Sam Schild
The X-Dragon 20W is almost as light as the BigBlue SolarPowa 28 and about the same size when folded, too. The X-Dragon also has a large storage pocket, which makes it slightly easier to stay organized when you're transporting your solar charger. It has a large zippered pouch for storing cables and a battery bank protected by an extra flap of canvas. The canvas flap secures over the mesh pouch with velcro.
The X-Dragon 20W has a large zippered pouch that's protected by an extra flap of canvas.
Credit: Sam Schild
The FlexSolar 40W isn't the lightest panel at 47.3 ounces, but it does fold down very quickly and easily, making it notable despite its size. It's the easiest to pack away of any folding panel we tested, so it is more portable than its weight may make it seem. Once folded, it becomes a compact package. However, it lacks cable storage or charging port protection, which we don't love.
The FlexSolar 40W features six panels that fold down into a surprisingly small package.
Credit: Sam Schild
The SunJack 25W also folds and unfolds quickly, much like the FlexSolar 40W. But the SunJack only weighs 29.4 ounces, which is much lighter than the FlexSolar. This isn't quite as light as the BigBlue SolarPowa 28 or X-Dragon 20W, but it's more than light enough to carry around. We also appreciate that it has an excellent zippered compartment to store cables and a battery bank, which makes it that much easier to stay organized.
The SunJack 20W is one of the lighter panels we tested and has three panels that fold down quickly and easily.
Credit: Sam Schild
Functionality
Some solar panels are easier to use than others. We evaluated many aspects of functionality in our testing of portable solar chargers. We looked at the number of devices each panel can charge simultaneously, integrated battery capacity, other charging options, and anything else that makes these panels more user-friendly.
As you might guess, when tasked with the challenge of charging multiple devices at once, the more powerful models performed better than lower-wattage models. Smaller panels, such as the 5W models, don't have the power to sustain two gadgets at once. If this is a priority for you, then select a panel with a higher wattage.
The BigBlue SolarPowa 28, SunJack, Goal Zero Nomad 50, and FlexSolar 40W all did a good job charging multiple devices at once. After so many rounds of testing these portable solar chargers' ability to juice multiple devices at a time, for the most consistent results, we recommend not doing this. Instead, it's generally more effective and efficient to use your solar panel to charge a battery bank and then charge all your devices off of that battery.
The SolarPowa 28 has three USB outputs to charge multiple devices at the same time and a velcro pocket to store cables and more.
Credit: Sam Schild
Solar chargers with built-in battery packs excel in charging multiple devices at once, but we really consider these just battery banks, so that's to be expected. The Blavor Qi and Riapow are capable of charging compatible smartphones wirelessly as well. This is a useful feature, as it allows you to leave your cables at home, further cutting weight and system complexity.
The Blavor Qi 10,000mAh has a USB-A and USB-C output and is also capable of charging smartphones wirelessly.
Credit: Sam Schild
Beyond multiple device charging, several of the panels we tested have multiple types of outputs, which help to charge a variety of devices. The Goal Zero Nomad 50, Goal Zero Nomad 20, FlexSolar 40W, BigBlue SolarPowa 30, and Blavor 30W Foldable all have USB-A outputs and DC outputs, so you can charge more types of battery banks, including portable power stations. You can also connect multiple Nomad solar panels together to increase power output. You can even mix and match many of the Nomad sizes and models (though not the small, Nomad 5) to create larger stations pulling more power from the sun.
The Goal Zero Nomad 50 USB and DC outputs and is chainable with other solar panels, so you can double your power.
Credit: Sam Schild
All of the Goal Zero Nomad panels have kickstand legs that make it easy to angle them directly at the sun. The BigBlue SolarPowa 30 also has a kickstand leg for this purpose. This greatly improves solar efficiency when the sun isn't directly overhead, so you can maximize sunlight in the mornings, evenings, and during non-summer months.
The Nomad 5 has a single kickstand leg that lets you angle it directly at the sun to pull more power at harsher angles.
Credit: Sam Schild
The BioLite SolarPanel 5+ also has a kickstand leg. Uniquely, this model has a sundial to help take the guesswork out of pointing the panel directly at the sun. The integrated battery on the Biolite makes it possible to keep a small charge for when the sun goes down, but its limited capacity isn't enough to fully charge most modern smartphones. However, in an odd twist (in our opinion), there is no way to bypass the battery bank. So if the battery doesn't have a charge, you'll have to wait for it to charge before you're able to charge your device.
The BioLite SolarPanel 5+ has a kickstand leg and an integrated sundial to help angle the panel at the sun when it's lower in the sky.
Credit: Sam Schild
How to Pick the Best Portable Solar Charger
With the growing solar market and all the technical jargon, figuring out what to buy can be confusing. We will start by saying it can often be worth it to purchase from a reputable company with a clear warranty policy on its website. That way, if you end up with a dud, you can hopefully get your money back or a replacement.
We use many different measurements to test solar panels—amps, volts, and watts—but we aim to make it easy to understand which panel despite the electrical jargon.
Credit: Sam Schild
Amps, Volts, and Watts
We realize this can be confusing, so we're here to break it down for you. Watts (electric power) and amps (current) are two common units you will see listed for these products. Amps can be thought of as the amount of electricity moving through a given system. Volts can be described as the pressure that electricity is flowing with, think pressure exerted in a water hose. Watts is the cumulative power output from amps and volts that measures how much power and consumption you are drawing. Therefore, higher-wattage devices should deliver more power and charge devices faster, under the assumption that the devices are compatible with the amps and volts requirements.
A basic understanding of solar charger terminology goes a long way in making an informed purchase decision.
Credit: Sam Schild
What Devices Do You Need to Charge?
Once you get an idea of charging capacity and your intended use for a portable solar charger, it's time to figure out what devices you plan on using. For smaller handheld items such as smartphones, a portable solar charger with five to fifteen watts should suffice. For those hoping to charge larger items such as laptops or multiple devices at a time, higher wattage panels with twenty to fifty watts of power are recommended. Factors such as duration of use, amount and intensity of sunlight, and how often you plan on charging your devices all play a significant factor in how quickly and efficiently your devices will charge.
If you need to power a laptop, then a larger 20 to 50-watt panel is the best tool for the job.
Credit: Sam Schild
What About Size?
The size will often be relative to output and charging capabilities. Deciding on the right size will depend on the type of use and trips you plan on using your solar charger for. Someone who plans on taking backpacking trips and just needs a little extra reassurance to charge their GPS device will want something small and light. For those who have the space and need a solar charger while on work trips or weekend outings, a charger with a bigger footprint will be best suited.
Picking the right size solar charger comes down to charging needs and size preference.
Credit: Sam Schild
How Important is Weather?
The amount of sun exposure and sun intensity can significantly impact a panel's charging capabilities. Consider the type of areas and climates you plan on spending time in. To produce peak charging efficiency, solar panels need adequate sunlight. Make sure to place your panels in ideal locations to capture sunlight and avoid running out of juice sooner than expected. Features such as kickstands and legs can help create a more optimal angle for charging.
Choosing the right location for your solar charger can make a big difference in charging capabilities.
Credit: Sam Schild
Conclusion
Deciding on the right portable solar charger can be an overwhelming task. We hope that our breakdown of these mobile models has helped you to narrow down the right choice for your devices, your weather, and your budget.
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