BigBlue 28W Solar Charger Foldable with Digital Ammeter, Outdoor Solar Powered Charger With SunPower Solar Panels Dual USB Ports(5V/4A Overall) for iPhone iPad Samsung Galaxy LG Cellphones and Devices

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Even in less-than-ideal lighting situations, such as a cloudy day with snow on the ground, I was able to achieve 10W output (when using both 2.4A ports). With this more nuanced (and accurate) information taken into account, I went about testing the unit under various lighting conditions to see if it would perform as detailed in the product description. In my testing across various sky conditions, the unit performed right on par, maxing out at just under 17W in direct sunlight on a perfectly sunny day (when using the two 2.4A ports). Even in less-than-ideal lighting situations, such as a cloudy day with snow on the ground, I was able to achieve 10W output (when using both 2.4A ports).

Moreover, the ports have intelligent circuit recognition to optimize the charging process along with an auto-restart feature.The solar cells are encased in impact-resistant plastic and the units usually have an IPX4 water-resistant rating, meaning they can handle water splashes but not much more than that. That shouldn’t be a surprise since the majority of portable solar panels have standard USB-A ports with no waterproof cover. Battery capacity The Goal Zero Nomad 50 is a larger solar charger that also wins our award for Best Solar Charger for Car Camping and Best Solar Charger for Basecamping and our Best Upgrade Solar Charger award. At 50 watts, it’s the biggest and heaviest solar charger we tried. But if we were doing a couple of weeks in a high mountain cirque with fellow adventurers and we wanted to cut battery weight while keeping our electronics charged, this is the charger we’d choose.

Yes. In good sun and when properly oriented portable solar panels do work well. How many amps solar charger do I need? With solar cells covered in a polymer and the whole unit encased in a durable polyester, the Nomad is like the larger sibling of the three clones (Big Blue, Anker, and Nektek). Of course, to charge it up you’ll need at least one of Anker’s 531 solar panels. Anker sells the PowerHouse 767 in bundles with one or two, and you can use up to four simultaneously if you buy them separately. On a particularly sunny March day, we were able to get around 170W to 197W per panel, at least when the clouds were out of the way. This is enough to charge up the generator in around 13 hours with one panel or seven hours with two. In our experience, the Big Blue (or other similar solar panels) will integrate best into your outdoor lifestyle with the help of an external battery, like the Anker. The solar panel charges the battery, and then the battery provides a steady charge to reliably and safely charge your phone. See our section below on batteries for more details.The SolarPowa 28 isn't the absolute fasting charging portable panel, but it still charges fast enough. And if you need an ultralight solar option, this panel also might not be the best choice. At 21.8 ounces, there are certainly lighter models out there to consider. But if you need a lot of consistent power in a relatively portable size, the BigBlue is a great option we highly recommend. And it's pretty affordable to boot.

Tired of seeing “This accessory is not supported by this device” messages? X-DRAGON will fix that for you so you can charge all your devices, regardless of brand. This kind of performance was unexpected based on what I’d read from other hikers. Many said they didn’t bother carrying a solar panel because it wouldn’t keep even a single person’s phone charged, let alone two. Technology is constantly improving though, and perhaps they haven’t tried the BigBlue. DurabilityWhen it comes to accessories, there are two main accessories you can use with the solar panels, cords and batteries.

For a solar charger to produce optimal power while hiking, you’d have to be hiking primarily northbound in the northern hemisphere and primarily southbound in the southern hemisphere — all day, in direct sunlight, and without any shadows from trees or clouds. You’ll meet these conditions in desert or snowfield hiking. The best solar chargers need to be reliable, long-lasting, and charge your devices when you need them. It’s a simple concept but really describes what a quality solar charger should achieve.It’s neither the speediest solar charger nor the fastest charging power bank, but it’s a handy and affordable option that could work well on a hike or camping trip. When considering a solar charger, you need to consider how and what you’ll use it for and how many people are likely to need power from it for their devices. Before choosing a solar panel and power bank, ask yourself the following questions: What type of trips will I use it on? The BigBlue solar panel successfully kept our phones and power banks (and a Kindle and Garmin InReach Mini) charged as much as needed on both trails. Aside from our pesky need for food, we could have lived out there forever without ever needing a wall plug. This allowed us to avoid sleeping in towns when they were too expensive or crowded, and to enjoy our few town breaks without needing to crouch beside an outlet for hours. Under the bright sun, the charging was steady for all the devices. The 28W overall capacity helps to charge lighter and heavier gadgets simultaneously. According to the product listing, the BigBlue Solar Charger is waterproof, however, no specific waterproof rating is given, which made testing this detail a little challenging. Determined to figure out just how far I could push it to the limits though, I started with small spritzes of water from a spray bottle and worked my way up to completely submerging the solar panel section into a bathtub full of water.