Portable Solar Chargers: What to Look for Before Buying in 2026

Ironically, Outdoor Tech Dawn Solar Panel ($130) was a bit of a dark horse. It was among a few related solar products that the company sent us for testing. But we didn’t seriously consider it until we noticed how it compared to other contenders.

For example, the GoalZero Nomad 20 and the BioLite SolarPanel 10+ each retail for $150. This solar panel, which offers two and four times the power, costs twenty bucks less than either of them. So it represents a great value in terms of what you get for what you pay, second only to the EcoFlow 220W Bifacial.

Other than its value, the Outdoor Tech Dawn is well-designed. It’s easy to carry since it has built-in handles that magnetically clasp together. Its zip-up pouch stores three integrated (non-detachable) cables, one USB-C for phones and tablets, and two DC for charging external batteries. Plus, it sports a standard USB-A port, so you can charge tons of small devices.

The module connects to the integrated cables in the pouch and features a digital display that offers real-time feedback about the energy coming in and going out. It’s quite handy, and given how powerful the panel is, it makes sense to want to track that data.

Outdoor Tech’s Dawn Solar Panel isn’t the cheapest or most powerful solar charger on this list. But it’s the best combination of power and affordability. If you’re looking to spend under $150, it’s pretty much a no-brainer.

It was a close call, but the GoSun Solar Panel Backpack ($129) just narrowly edged out the competition to win the solar backpack category. It did so by being minimalist on the one hand and maximalist on the other.

The minimalist part is that the GoSun Solar Panel 10 that comes in the bundle is the thinnest, lightest solar panel on our list. Most panels are pretty thin, but this one’s super svelte, roughly the thickness of just two credit cards.

And the Solar Panel 10 barely weighs anything. It’s just a hair lighter than the Pale Blue Earth Approach, a single panel we’ve used a bunch this past year that offers less wattage and a little more than half the weight of the only other 10W folding panel on this list.

In the name of being sparse, this GoSun panel makes sacrifices in positioning and convenience. It doesn’t feature a built-in stand. Though it does have holes in the corners, the bundle doesn’t include straps to actually lash it to the backpack — which is a nice bag, by the way. And the panel lacks an attached pouch on it for holding charging cables.

By contrast, the Outdoor Tech Mountaineer Solar Backpack that we tested directly attaches its solar panel via four sturdy side-release plastic buckles. That panel also features a nice webbed cargo pouch, which we like. But the downside is that it’s a single panel that generates 35% less wattage, and it doesn’t easily attach or position other than to the backpack itself.

Where the GoSun Solar Panel Backpack really shines is with all the fun accessories it includes. It comes with a flat fork and spoon, small battery pack, USB-powered LED task light, and a poncho with its own carrying case. Considering the solar panel retails for $39 on its own, the backpack and all these extra accouterments make this an excellent bundle.

A car shade that’s also a solar charger? Genius! But even more than that, the GoSun Shield ($199) can be a lifesaver.

In addition to USB-A and USB-C ports, this clever solar charger has a DC port for use with the two included cords. The first, with barrel connectors on both ends, is meant to charge up a power bank. The second, with a barrel connector on one end and a pair of alligator clips on the other, can theoretically jumpstart a car.

We didn’t get a chance to test this function, but a few months ago, we were car camping on a remote part of Hawaii’s Big Island and foolishly left our keys in the ignition overnight, draining our car’s battery. If we had this product, then we would’ve gladly tested that functionality.

Barring emergency situations, this product is still super useful. It can be used as an ordinary car shade either inside or outside the windshield. By supposedly blocking up to 80% of the sun’s radiation, it doesn’t cool your car but will definitely keep it less warm.

If placed inside, it’ll be significantly less effective as a solar charger, but thanks to its included straps, it’ll at least attach pretty easily via your visors. And thanks to the integrated adjustable stands in the back, it functions just as well as a regular solar panel away from the vehicle as it does atop it.

One of our quibbles with the 9-pound GoSun Shield is that this four-panel folding array isn’t easy to carry. It has a strap that holds it all together but no handles or carrying case. It also doesn’t tuck away neatly into a backpack. Also, solar-wise, it’s relatively weak for its size.

By comparison, the BioLite SolarPanel 100 is 30% smaller yet can generate 66% more power. But if you want a solar charger that can both throw shade into your car and potentially jumpstart it, this is the one.

For the better part of a year, we’ve been using the Pale Blue Earth Approach Portable Solar Panel ($80). So when we decided to compile this buyer’s guide, it was among the first we thought to include.

It’s lightweight, sturdy, and simple to throw into a backpack or beach bag for backup power. We also like how it packs two USB-A charging ports and a cargo storage pouch to hold our phone, so our beloved device doesn’t have to sit on a sandy beach or wet pool deck while charging. Even better, using the included grip cords, it’s easy to lash to a beach chair or tent.

Now that we’ve tested over a dozen portable solar chargers, we can see some of the Pale Blue Earth Approach’s shortcomings. First and foremost, it’s a bit weak for its size. For context, the GoSun Solar Panel 10 is smaller when unfolded and provides a few more watts of power. Also, the Approach isn’t very powerful relative to its price. For about 60% more money, the Outdoor Tech Dawn boasts almost six times as much power.

To be fair, the Approach also comes in a 21W version (essentially, three of these panels conjoined). But again, compared to the Outdoor Tech Dawn, which costs less and offers more, it’d be hard to recommend that bigger brother.

So while the Pale Blue Earth Approach Portable Solar Panels aren’t the most powerful or the best value, it’s still sturdy, light, affordable, and convenient to toss into a bag for peace of mind.

Taken just on its own, the GoalZero Nomad 20 ($150) is a decent solar panel. But pair it with the GoalZero Sherpa 100AC power bank (that we also tested) and it becomes a dynamic duo worth writing home about.

In terms of its price relative to its power and its power relative to its size, the Nomad 20 represents an average value on both counts. Its weight is a little on the lighter side of average. Its weatherproofing is good and protects it from dust and water sprays. But pair it with that Sherpa battery, and this mild-mannered solar panel goes from average to amazing.

The Nomad 20 charges the Sherpa 100AC with its integrated DC cable. (The panel also features a USB port for charging small devices directly.) After unwinding the DC cable enough to plug into the Sherpa, the LED readout on the power bank lights up, indicating how much power it’s getting and roughly how long it’ll take (given steady conditions) for it to fill up. It can be a little tough to make out the smaller numbers in super bright sunlight, but it’s readable.

Once the Sherpa 100AC starts to fill up, you now have two USB-A, two fast USB-C and one AC outlet at your disposal. The USB and AC charging can be activated separately. And if your phone supports fast wireless charging, this 25,600mAh power bank can do that, too. So it’s big enough to power laptops and all your smaller devices, and it’s small enough that you can take it on a plane in your carry-on with no problem.

Unlike other panel and battery combos that are too big or too small to travel with, the GoalZero Nomad 20 and GoalZero Sherpa 100AC power banks are just the right size to take care of all your basic charging needs on the fly.

About the same size as a smartphone but twice as thick, the BoomPods Neutron Power Bank ($55) packs plenty of functionality.

First and foremost, it’s a 10,000mAh power bank capable of charging most smartphones a couple of times. In fact, you can charge two phones — or a phone and a tablet — at once via its dual USB-A ports. To keep its splash-proof rating, those ports need to be covered with its rubber stopper.

A built-in flashlight runs across the back of its body. In low mode, it emits a good mood light for hanging out in a tent — and even has a built-in hook-and-loop strap to hang it from the rafters. In high mode, the light is both cooler and brighter than our phone’s flashlight. Thus, it’s worthy of guiding the way around your campsite in the dark or foraging for gear buried in your backpack.

Last but not least, it does feature a solar panel. It’s not big, but we can attest that it does work. It might take a day or two in strong sunlight to fill up. But it also fills up (more slowly) from indirect light on cloudy days. Still, it’s better than having a power bank that can only be charged off your car, a wall outlet, or a power station.

At the end of the day, the BoomPods Neutron Power Bank is an affordable power bank with a built-in flashlight that can recharge via solar. It’s tough, light, and pocketable. And we prefer the white colorway, which doesn’t get quite as hot when we leave it in the sun.

Since we just discussed a power bank with a built-in light, let’s talk about a light with a built-in power bank. The MPowerd Luci + Powerbank ($55) is a crowd pleaser for how little space it takes up in your bag and then gets inflated. But it’s also a very well-designed product.

For instance, its breakapart straps on top allow the solar panel to be unencumbered for charging during the day and the lantern to be hung up at night. It also has a static strap on the bottom, so it can be lashed to your bag, collecting sunlight while you’re on the move.

In low mode, the lantern is rated to provide over two full days of continuous light. It also has a medium mode that could set a 4-person tent aglow and a high mode bright enough to illuminate a small campsite. It’d be nice to have a few colored lights thrown in, but the white light is fairly warm and soothing.

We tested but decided not to feature a couple of other battery-packing lights. The Solight Qwnn is mesmerizing in its origami splendor. And it’s nice to be able to just swing open rather than have to inflate. But it costs twice as much as the MPowerd Luci + Powerbank and it wasn’t easy to position its solar panel toward the sun. We also considered the highly affordable Duracell 2000 Lumen Tri-Power Lantern but decided against it for being bulky and not weatherproof.

Thus, although other light/battery combos exist, we prefer the MPowerd Luci + Powerbank. It’s simple, affordable, weatherproof, fun, and decorative. Plus it can top off your phone via USB-A or fast-charging USB-C. So it’s a great little gadget to sneak into your bag.