5 Best Solar Chargers

The design of this solar charger is simple: three solar panels that fold out to maximize sunlight collection. Lay it flat on the ground, set it up like a three-frame house, or clip it to your backpack—there are many ways to use it, and all will give you excellent energy generation!

With three solar panels, you can collect more energy than most of its competitors. And yet, it’s surprisingly lightweight at 1.4 pounds, and folds down small enough to fit in any backpack.

This solar charger ties with the top-rated pick for instant energy production (10.7 watts), and only falls slightly behind in terms of cumulative wattage (43.7 watt-hours). The fact that it can generate so much energy means you’ll have enough juice to keep your tablet and phone charging at the same time.

But that’s not all! The charger also has built-in SolarIQ technology that will adjust the voltage and current according to the device you’re charging, thus helping to maximize energy usage to decrease charge time. You get up to 3 amps total output when both ports are in use, or up to 2 amps per port when used singly.

Reliability on this bad boy is absolutely guaranteed! It’s built with durable components and a rugged design, and is FCC and CE Certified. The US-made solar cells are built to last and will generate reliable energy for years to come.

Though the waterproofing isn’t as good as our top pick, it’s good enough that you won’t have to worry if there’s a light rain, damp, or fog. It’s tough, rugged, and built to last—making it a hiker and camper’s best friend.  

At $55 for the solar charger, you get reliability, a quality design, and a device guaranteed to charge your phone and tablet all day long. What’s not to love?

This is the perfect device for anyone who’s serious about phone usage over an extended hiking trip. With the built-in battery bank, you have a way to store the power you generate even when your devices aren’t plugged in. Though the charging power is slower than average (see below), the battery bank makes this a real winner compared to other solar charger-only devices.

When folded down, the charger is barely larger than an iPhone 8+, though significantly thicker. It also weighs fairly little—just over a pound—despite having four solar panels to charge with. With two built-in USB ports, you can keep multiple devices juiced up at once!

As a bonus, you get an LED flashlight to use for night walking or moving around camp.

Each solar panel claims to be capable of up to 5 watts, with a total watt-hour generation of up to 92.5. However, upon real-life testing, the energy output is far lower—closer to 25 to 35, dependent on cloud cover and sunlight.

The good news is that this energy output is still more than enough to keep your devices charged, and the battery bank along with it. While not the most energy-efficient charger, the fact that you get a built-in battery bank means you’ll be able to generate and store energy even when your devices are fully charged.

The 25000 mAh battery bank has enough juice to re-charge your phone 8 to 10 times (model-dependent) and a full-sized tablet 3 to 4 times. Definitely worth using if you’re planning a trip longer than a weekend!

Compact, lightweight, and highly durable, this little solar charger with battery bank is a very reliable option. It’s built to be dust-proof, shock-proof, and waterproof (more accurately, water-resistant), so it’ll serve you well for many hiking, camping, and backpacking trips to come.

The built-in regulator will adjust energy output according to the number of USB ports being used. Set it up on the ground or clip it to your backpack and let it charge your batteries!

$47 is nowhere near too high a price to pay for this bad boy! Not only do you get decent energy production, but you’re also getting a built-in battery bank that will make it easy for you to always keep your phones and tablets charged and ready to use.

If you’re parking your vehicle for a few days or weeks and want to make sure it’s not going to run out of juice, use this amazing solar charger! Designed to attach to your dashboard or windshield via suction cups, it will collect all that bright sunlight throughout the day and feed it to your vehicle’s battery.

It’s simple to use: just unroll it, set it up, and plug it straight into your vehicle’s 12V cigarette lighter or power port. As long as it’s plugged in and facing the sun, it will generate enough energy to prevent energy trickle draining from sapping your battery life.

This isn’t a high-capacity solar charger—it’s just enough to stop your car’s alarm, clock, or other internal passive systems from draining your battery dry. The 15-volt solar panels will generate just enough energy throughout the day to keep your battery from losing all its charge, enhancing its lifespan and preventing sulphation (the primary cause of vehicle battery failure).

Fair warning: this isn’t intended for long-term use. It’s recommended not to leave the solar panel connected to your vehicle for more than a few days at a time, or else you risk over-charging your battery. It’s especially important not to leave it connected if you’re using the jumper cables rather than the 12V power port.

Not only is this solar charger compatible with any vehicle—RV, boat, ATV, and car—but it will work in any weather, thanks to its durable ABS housing and ultra-clear polyvinyl glass. The built-in diode will stop the charger from draining the car’s battery, preventing reverse-charging.

Thanks to the built-in LED battery life indicator, you can see when your battery’s sufficiently charged, so you can unplug your charger rather than letting it keep juicing. It’s a highly effective way to ensure you get good battery life no matter how long your vehicle is left sitting!

At $35, this is a total steal, and very well-worth it for anyone who wants to keep their vehicle battery topped up. Best of all, you get a 12-month warranty to make sure it’s working well and a reliable product.

This solar phone charger is designed to be set up and start charging in seconds. Simply unfold it, flip out the kickstand, and you’re ready to get charging.  

With built-in magnets, you can literally snap it shut in a second and it will stay closed as long as it’s packed. It’s the most user-friendly solar charger, and it stows in your pack instantly.

It weighs just over 1 pound, but it’s slim and small enough that it’ll fit into any hiking backpack. Or, use the carabiners to clip it onto your pack – definitely a design any hiker or camper can love!

Energy capacity is where the solar charger isn’t quite on par with our best pick. It’s designed to produce just 13 watts per hour, which is enough to ensure your phone stays charged, but might not be enough to re-charge multiple devices quickly. But, as long as you’re not using your phone throughout the day, the solar charger will give you enough juice to keep it tanked up as long as there’s sunlight out.

It does come with two USB power ports, with a total of 2-amps of total power output, or 1.6 amps total when both devices are plugged in.

Once you get past the reduced power generation (13 watt-hours), you’ll find it’s a highly reliable little solar phone charger. The weather-resistant materials make it suitable for the outdoors, and the fact that it’s so easy to pack up means you’ll always be able to get it stowed in your pack before it rains.

The built-in fabric pockets also give you storage space for your devices, and you’ll find that the charger is compatible with just about any 5V device.

At $40, you’re getting decent value for the price. It’s especially useful if you want a lightweight, instant-setup option for keeping your phone battery charged all day long.