Best solar chargers: Portable battery packs that harness the sun’s rays

Yasmin Rufo
·7 min read
(Amazon)
(Amazon)

Why is it that tech gadgets always run out of battery at the most inconvenient times?

Whether it’s maps’ essential GPS shutting down halfway through your adventurous weekend hike, no juice when you need to book a cab home or your phone powering off as you try to snap yet another picture of your festival outfit, being without the devices we rely on the most is never ideal.

Enter the solar charger - a nifty device that generates electricity through the power of sunlight. The sun’s rays are turned into energy that charges up all types of gadgets including mobile phones, laptops and tablets. This must-have item can be as small as your usual portable charger and is reliable and long lasting.

Our phone battery life only lasts an average of one day (if you’re lucky) and yet with the cost of living rising, it can be draining to charge up all your favourite tech and keep them at maximum battery. That’s why a solar charger has never been more essential than now - just a glimpse of sunlight will keep your gadgets powering on for hours.

There are seemingly endless varieties on the market, and we’ve rounded up everything from the small and portable to the large and foldable. There are also models that can charge multiple devices at one time - perfect for that family camping holiday - as well as ones that are large enough to power car and motorhome batteries. You’ll find that most solar chargers come with a battery pack as not all of them can be plugged directly into a device.

If you’re planning an outdoor adventure where you might not have access to a socket for a long period of time, it’s worth investing in a solar charger that will keep your power-hungry gadgets satisfied.

Shop our top reccomended below.

Riapow Solar Power Bank

- Capacity: 26800mAh

- Connectivity: USB Type C and USB

- Output ports: Three

- Charging: Plug socket and solar

- Additional features: LED lights on back

This solar power bank has an enormous capacity - at 26800mAh there’s enough power to charge the iPhone 13 seven times and the Galaxy S20 over five times. Not only can you juice up your gadgets over and over, but phones can be powered up from zero to 50 per cent in just 30 minutes, whilst the rapid recharge means it’s ready to go again in eight hours. If you want to charge your headphones and tablet as well, you’re in luck as three devices can be plugged in simultaneously.

The 60 bright LED lights on the back of the charger is the perfect bright light for when you’re camping, and it comes with various modes including strong, strobe and SOS. Designed specifically for the outdoors, it’s incredibly durable as well as being water and shockproof.

Buy now £38.99, Amazon

BigBlue 28W Solar Charger Foldable

- Capacity: 28W

- Connectivity: USB

- Output ports: Two

- Charging: Solar

- Additional features: Comes with USB-A to USB-C Cable and four hooks

One of the most capable solar panels on the market, BigBlue has a panel efficiency of up to 24 per cent and comes with a built-in ammeter and chip that will ensure a stable charge and show the number of amps present. It’s best for use with Android products as it comes with an attached Type C cable. At its full size it measures 33 inches in width, but can be easily folded down to a mere 11 inches.

We were impressed with the stainless-steel eye holes on each corner that allows for easy attachment to a tent or backpack if you’re on the move and the Exclusive Smart IC Technology is intelligent enough to detect what device is connected in order to deliver the fastest possible charging speed.

Buy now £82.99, Amazon

Goal Zero Nomad 20 Solar Panel

- Capacity: 20W

- Connectivity: USB

- Output ports: One

- Charging: Solar

- Additional features: Comes with integrated charging cable

This foldable high efficiency 20W solar panel is perfect for charging small to medium devices such as phones and tablets. The built-in kickstand allows for the panel to be placed at multiple angles so it can be positioned towards the sun for optimal solar collection. It comes with a 8mm cable and a USB port so there’s no need for an additional power bank. The foldable nature means it’s easy to pack in a rucksack and at just 1kg it’s impressively lightweight.

Buy now £181.50, Amazon

BioLite SolarPanel

- Capacity: 220mAh

- Connectivity: USB, Micro USB

- Output ports: one

- Charging: solar, rechargable batteries

At 6.6mm in depth, this ultra slim solar panel is the perfect gadget to take on your next outdoor adventure. At peak sun, it provides a power output of five watts per hour meaning it can charge most small and medium-sized devices. The 360 degree kickstand is an impressive feature as it can help with the panel’s positioning on uneven terrain.

Coupled with the Optimal Sun System - an integrated sundial that captures energy efficiently  - you’ll have 100 per cent battery in no time. It also comes with an integrated 2200mAh battery pack that provides a full mobile phone charge.

Buy now £100.00, Amazon

Pxwaxpy Solar Power Bank

- Capacity: 26800mAh

- Connectivity: Type C USB, Micro USB

- Output ports: Three

- Charging: Plug socket and solar

- Additional features: External battery pack

As the cheapest solar power charger on our list, this option offers real bang for you buck as it boasts many of the same features as the more expensive alternatives, but at a fraction of the price. The power bank has a 26800mAh large capacity that can charge mobile phones and tablets several times over.

There are various charging ports including dual USB output, Type C and Micro USB. The device supports two gadgets at the same time and has 2.1A fast charging built-in. Its portable design makes it perfect for slipping into a pocket for on-the-go usage at outdoor events and festivals. The 4 LED indicators on the bottom show how much charge the power bank has left, so you’ll never be caught out again.

Buy now £28.95, Amazon

Topsolar SolarFairy 30 Foldable Solar Panel

- Capacity: 30W

- Connectivity: Dual USB ports

- Output ports: Two

- Charging: Solar

- Additional features: Comes with 14.4V output to charge car and boat batteries

If you’re after a solar panel that can charge more than just your small devices, look no further than Topsolar. As well as its USB smart charging technology that is designed for smartphones and tablets, it comes with a 14.4V output meaning it can charge 12 volt batteries for cars and boats. At its longest, it features four solar panels that measure almost 34 inches in width, and this can be folded up to a compact size that’s easy to transport and hook on a backpack or tent.

Buy now £59.99, Amazon

BigBlue 3 USB Ports 28W Solar Charger

- Capacity: 28W

- Connectivity: USB

- Output ports: three

- Charging: solar

- Additional features: comes with Type C cable (65cm) and four hooks

This BigBlue solar charger is one of our top rated thanks to its triple USB port that has SmartIC Technology that supplies optimal charging efficiency up to 5V/2.4A. The temperamentality of British weather means we can’t always rely on a cloud-free day, so we love the Automatically Adjust Current and Auto-Restart functions that will easily reconnect charge after passing through a cloudy patch.

It has a 23 per cent energy conversion which is one of the highest in our roundup and the special polymer surface and cloth flap protect from rain and fog interference. Its compact size measures just 11 inches in width.

Buy now £72.99, Amazon

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