5 Best Backpacking Solar Chargers [2024]

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This is a gear review of the best solar chargers for hiking and backpacking 2024.

If you are going on a long hiking trip, then you may want to consider investing in a portable solar charger for Backpacking. These Backpacking Solar Panels allow you to charge your electric devices such as your Smartphone, Hiking GPS, Hiking Watch, Emergency PLB, and Hiking Camera.

There are certain electronic devices that backpackers have become more reliant on, therefore, portable solar panels have become more popular.

As long as there is sunlight available, then the charger will be able to store electricity and charge your other devices easily. If you also take a Lightweight Power Bank for Backpacking your electronics could potentially stay charged indefinitely.

In this article, I have put together the best portable solar chargers for hiking and backpacking that are on the market in 2024.

How We Tested

All the Backpacking Solar Panels in this review have been extensively evaluated and researched by the expert author who has more than 30 years of experience in Thru-Hiking, Backpacking, and Hiking. He also spent several years managing a hiking retail store and is regarded as an expert in the outdoors. The research, testing, and experience of the author have combined to come up with the best solar chargers for backpacking for 2024. Read the Review Policy for further details.

Best Portable Solar Chargers for Backpacking 2024

The Best Portable Solar Charger for Hiking and Backpacking in 2024 are:

Best Solar Charger for Backpacking – Overall

Big Blue 3 28W Solar Charger

Weight: 1 lb. 5 oz / 600 grams
Pros:
> 3 USB-A ports to charge up to three devices at once.
> Can be folded down, for easy storage and portability.
> Solar Panel has a PET polymer surface, which protects them from rain or any kind of moisture.
Cons:
> You need to put the solar panel in direct sunlight if you want it to charge quickly. It will charge in the shade, but the device will just take longer to charge up.

The Big Blue 3 has three USB-A ports that allow you to charge multiple devices in one go. What we found really clever about this charger is that there is smart charge technology installed on this charger.

The Big Blue 3 can recognize the device you want to charge and provide it with the optimal charging speed. Alongside this, there is protection against short circuits, overcharging, and overheating that comes along with this product. 

The solar charger is quite portable as it can be folded down to about the size of a tablet. So can fit into any backpack and is light enough to carry around. If you go much bigger than this you would be better suited to use camping solar chargers.

It is a durable solar charger and the solar panels use a PET polymer surface. This protects the solar panels from any kind of moisture from rain, fog, or mist. Alongside that, the USB ports have a rubber covering to protect them from moisture and dust or sand. 

Just unroll the charger and plug in our devices to charge. This solar charger can charge most backpacking electronics, but it cannot charge laptops or iPads.

Overall this is the best solar charger on the market at the moment. Although it weighs just over 20 ounces it is well suited to backpacking, especially if you are in a group of 3 or more hikers. This will also be a great solar panel for Bikepacking and bicycle touring.

Best Portable Solar Charger

Anker Solix PS30 30W

Weight: 2 lb. 6 oz / 1077 grams
Pros:
> USB ports with super-fast 3A charging
> Can be folded down, for easy storage and portability.
> Solar Panels have a PET polymer surface 
Cons:
> You need to put the solar panel in direct sunlight if you want it to charge quickly. It will charge in the shade but will take longer to charge.
> Quite heavy

The Anker Solix PS30 30W Solar Charger is one of the faster portable chargers in this review. It has a charging speed of up to 3 amps under direct sunlight. It is a very efficient charger, as it can charge two devices simultaneously at optimal speed. 

Just like Big Blue 3, the Anker Solix PS30 30W Solar Charger can be folded down to make it easier to store and transport, however, the Big Blue is smaller and lighter.

The Anker Solix PS30 30W Solar Charger can be attached to your tent, trees, or your backpack while you are on the move. It has a very thin design but at 2 lb. 6 oz / 1077 grams, it is quite heavy and best suited for someone who needs a lot of solar charging power when backpacking.

Overall, the Anker Solix PS30 30W Solar Charger is a good foldable solar charger for backpacking and hiking. With 2 high-speed charging ports, this could be the perfect portable solar panel for couples when hiking, backpacking, or bike touring.

Best Solar Power Bank for Backpacking

Biolite SolarPanel 5+ 2.0

Weight: 13.8 oz / 391 grams
Pros:
> Comes with a kickstand that allows you to position the product perfectly towards the sun.
> A built-in sundial allows you to precisely angle your charger at the sun
> Has an integrated battery pack that will take only 2 hours to recharge itself.
> Small size, it is around the same size as a laptop or iPad.
Cons:
> This is a pricey product, and one of the more expensive ones on our list today.

The Biolite Solar panel 5+ 2.0 can power all small devices from smartphones to GPS and tablets. This is due to the charger’s 3,200 mAh lithium-ion battery pack, or when the sun is shining.

I like the built-in kickstand that has a built-in sundial. As a result, you can take full advantage of solar charging with precise alignment with the sun.

The Biolite Solarpanel can recharge its integrated battery pack within 2 hours and produces 5 watts of power.

Overall, I like the Biolite Solarpanel 5+ 2.0 which is a lightweight solar battery pack and charger combination that will be enough for most people when hiking and backpacking. This is one of the best solar power banks for backpacking 2024.

Best Ultralight Solar Panels for Backpacking

Flexsolar 20W Solar Panel Charger

Weight: 14 oz / 398 g
Pros:
> Ultra lightweight Solar Charger
> IPX67 Rated – These Solar panels can withstand dust and water
> Eyelets on the corners can be used to attach this product to a tree, tent, or backpack for convenient solar charging. 
Cons:
> Not as powerful as some of the other chargers

The Flexsolar 20W Solar Panel charger is a foldable yet lightweight solar panel. However, you can charge up to two devices directly from the three solar panels.

You can charge devices such as smartphones, cameras, tablets, and GPS, all using the sun’s rays, using the USB ports. 

This solar panel is made from durable materials, so it can withstand whatever your backpacking trip throws at it. We also learned that these solar panels have an IPX67 rating, which means they can withstand dust and water.

Also, the eyelets that can be found, allow you to attach this panel to your backpack to use while walking or on trees. Note that power banks are not included in this unit so consider taking one with you.

Overall the Flexsolar 20W Solar Panel charger is a powerful yet compact and portable solar panel charger that has enough power to charge tablets and some laptops.

More Backpacking Solar Chargers

Goal Zero Nomad 20

Weight: 1 lb. 4 oz / 1030 grams
Pros:
> Goal Zero Nomad 20 can be hooked onto your backpack to change on the go. Or you can use the flip-out kickstand to angle the charger precisely at the sun.
> Small, portable, and lightweight product
> 1-year warranty
Cons:
> Only 1 USB charging port

The Goal Zero Nomad 20, is known for its high efficiency. It also has a 180-degree kickstand that can be adjusted to get more of the sun’s rays. Alongside that from testing, we discovered that you can also hook this product onto your backpack even while on the move. 

The 20-watt panel has one built-in USB port, which is ideal for single-device charging. You can use this charger alongside a power bank from Goal Zero as well.

However, the solar panel will take around 4 hours to recharge portable power banks.

Overall, the Goal Zero Nomad 20 is showing its age as newer models with better technology produce better results. Having said that, it still does a good job as a solar charger for hiking and backpacking.

Backpacking Solar Charger Comparison Table

Number of USB charging Ports

The first thing you need to decide is how many devices you will be using and how many will need to be charged during your trip. This will help determine how many USB charging ports you will need.

You also need to think about how long your trip is going to be. This is because, the longer the trip, the more gear you will need to bring. Therefore, you will need a solar panel that is small and portable, that doesn’t take up too much space in your backpack. 

Weight

All the Portable Solar Chargers in this review are lightweight, portable, and suitable for backpacking trips. Most are more suited to hiking in groups or couples where it is a great idea to split the weight you carry so the overall load is lighter per person. Overall, most of these weigh similar to the weight of a Lightweight Backpacking Power Bank Battery.

Charging Time and Speed

There are a lot of options out there, but not all of them are really powerful. You want something that will charge your devices efficiently, so then it’s less of a worry for you on your trip. 

Also, these chargers require sunlight to work. All these chargers will work when it is cloudy but not with the same level of efficiency. And any of the ones in this review will do a good job as a portable backpacking solar charger.

Conclusion 

Overall all the portable solar chargers in this review are awesome and can be a great addition to your lightweight backpacking gear list, or even your Bikepacking gear list.

The Best Solar Charger for Hiking and Backpacking in 2024 are:

Frequently Asked Questions

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