PSA: That $80 solar phone charger I got off Amazon was a total dud

Bought one of those foldable solar panels thinking I'd charge my phone during hikes, but in real overcast conditions it barely put out enough to keep it from dying. Lost $80 on something that only works if you're in the desert at noon. Anyone found a portable solar charger that actually works in cloudy weather?

2 comments

2 Comments

seanlee3d ago

Blamed the same thing man, thought I was getting a deal till I realized those things are basically toys. You gotta look for panels with higher efficiency, like monocrystalline ones, they handle shade a little better. Even then though, you're fighting physics - on a cloudy day there's just way less light hitting the panel. I ended up getting a bigger 20 watt one from Goal Zero that worked okay in overcast, but it's not cheap and it's bulky for hiking. Honestly, if you're doing multi-day trips in the woods, a little power bank you charge at home is way more reliable than hoping the sun shows up.

parkera223d ago

Yeah man totally, I fell for that too and now I just bring a power bank instead of messing with a panel.