I'm looking for a Christmas gift for a relative. I have seen ads for small, light, flexible solar panels made for camping, backpacking, etc. but have no experience with them. What do I want and where can I get it?

Thanks, RS

https://buyersguide.org/solar-panels/t/portable?msclkid=7de623889af81093d9a340da5a259b9a&m=e&d=c&c=83150726577775&oid=kwd-83151122169769:loc-190&qs=portable%20solar%20panels%20for%20camping&lp=93657&li=&nw=s&nts=1&tdid=9267819

All of those are too big for backpacking.

Hiking equipment retailers and etailers.

I've used Goal Zero and been very pleased.

https://www.goalzero.com/

This sounds obvious, but make sure they can use it in a place with lots of sun. I'm in the PNW and it takes very little cloud cover and shade to make my Anker solar panel useless. It was more worth it to take a bigger battery or a second battery rather than rely on it. Maybe they're better now.

They're a little heavy but some of the newer jump starters are very useful for charging phones & GPS's. During the off season, they can also be used to start an engine.

Went with the Goal Zero Nomad 20 solar panel. Just what I was looking for. Thanks for all of the input.


RS

Good choice

Yep. I've been using a Goal Zero setup for well over a decade, and it still works great.

I use Anker's 15w and 21w panels on 5+ day hunts, super light and work well

I strongly prefer a battery pack.

I have a 20k mah pack that will charge my phone many times. Now you can get them with over 30k mah. Those will charge a dead phone 6 or 7 times...without worrying whether the sun will shine. I don't know how the weight compares to a solar charger.

Agreed, I much prefer a battery bank too. For 3-5 day hunts my 10kMAH is perfect, but for extended stays the 15w Anker Solar lite is perfect for recharging the bank, zoleo/inReach, headlamps, etc

I have a battery bank with a solar panel on one side of it. It charges slowly in the sun, but does work.

Same, use both. The Knog PWR Solar Panel 10w: Link

and the,

Knog's, 10,000 mAH PWR Bank Large: Link

but they also have the small 3350 mAh, and the medium 5000 mAh units too.

Buy them direct from the manufacturer's web site.


Phil

Mine is similar to this:

Solar power bank

And I see they make fold-out versions now, too:

Fold-out solar power bank