How many Watts should a portable solar charger 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.

Are portable solar chargers a good idea?

Portable solar chargers don’t have this problem, and as long as the proper conditions are met, they can provide a practically unlimited supply of electricity for your mobile devices, flashlights and battery packs or portable chargers. Compact and lightweight, they’re perfect for camping, travel and emergency use.

Which solar charger should I buy?

The Goal Zero nomad 2 has everything you might need in a solar charger: high wattage, an abundance of USB ports and a business-like folding design and the leading monocrystalline panel type. For mains-style power output on demand, the Ecoflow portable power station and 220W panel is highly recommended.

How much does a portable solar charger cost?

Specifically for this buyer’s guide, we conducted online research and identified over a dozen portable solar chargers ranging in price from $30 to $649. After careful consideration, we narrowed down the candidates to a handful that we tested in real-world conditions.

What is a portable solar charger?

Portable solar chargers are typically designed to fold for storage, making them easy to keep around in a bag, seat-back pocket or emergency kit while still providing a large enough surface area to capture sufficient solar energy to produce electricity. This all means a portable solar charger is an extremely valuable addition to your emergency kit.

Are portable solar chargers good for camping?

Portable solar chargers balance packability and charging capacity. Solar panels for camping are generally larger than portable models. They also have a higher capacity to convert sunlight into energy. The chart below shows the overall score for each model we tested.