Updated on Oct. 16, 2024
For working and camping off-grid, portable solar panels help you ditch the noise and fumes of generators. Here's what to know, plus our favorites.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Every second, the sun releases 384 yottawatts worth of energy — the rough equivalent of 384 hydrogen bombs. With a portable solar panel, you can grab enough of that energy to run everything from laptops to power tools.
My partner and I mostly use our portable solar panels for camping. Our 400 watts of power run the electric cooler, coffeemaker, laptops and phones. We connect the panels to our portable power station to keep its battery charged, but some solar panels come with USB ports for charging electronics directly.
On This Page
To maximize panel efficiency, regularly wipe off the dust and periodically clean them with mild soap and water. If you need maximum charge, move them throughout the day so they’re optimally lined up with the sun.
There are two main styles: suitcase-style, which come in a rigid aluminum frame with hinges to fold it in half, or foldable, encased in a heavy-duty canvas-like material. Most foldable solar panel faces are also coated with a substrate called ETFE, which protects them from the elements and makes them water-resistant.
Suitcase-style panels are generally heavier and larger, which makes them less portable but more stable in windy conditions and often more durable. They’re most commonly used in longer-term RV setups. Note: Neither should be confused with flexible solar or amorphous panels, typically mounted atop curved surfaces like vans and boats.
My partner and I field-tested several portable solar panels. We focused on foldable style panels between 50W and 200W because of their greater portability and packability. Here are some of our favorites, in alphabetical order.
Similar to their portable power stations, Anker’s pricing on their 100W portable solar panels is a better deal per watt hour than most other major brands. This panel includes their Suncast technology, which helps you align the panels with the sun for maximum charge.
It also has built-in USB-C and USB-A outputs, so you can charge two devices directly from the panel at the same time.Pair with Anker’s 757 PowerHouse or 521 PowerHouse portable power stations.
Specs: 11 pounds, folded dimensions 20.7-in. by 18.5-in. by 3.4 in.
We toted BioLite’s SolarPanel 100s from Colorado all the way down the Baja Peninsula and back. Nice and compact, they also come with an integrated sundial called the Optimal Sun System for best alignment. The panels performed well, with a consistent 70% output.
Other features include USB-A and USB-C ports for direct electronics charging, chain-ability up to four panels with an adaptor cable and an integrated cable storage pouch. Pair with BioLite BaseCharge 1500 or BaseCharge 600. Biolite also makes a nice 10+ solar panel for backpacking.
Specs: 9.5 pounds, folded dimensions 20.1-in. by 14.25-in. by 1.5 in..
Most solar panels come in 100W or 200W sizes, which puts the 120W Bluetti PV120 Solar Panel in a helpful in-between range. It’s still easily packable, only slightly larger than most 100W models. Its extra 20% input is especially helpful in areas where daily sunlight might be limited by obstacles or weather.
It also includes an easy-carry handle and snaps on the kickstands, so you can determine and fix your desired sunlight collection angle. Bluetti also makes a 200W version. Either can be paired with the Bluetti AC200P Portable Power Station.
Specs: 12.57 pounds, folded dimensions 21-in. by 18.5-in. x 1.5-in.
BougeRV’s 100W solar blanket folds down to the size of a laptop thanks to its thin-film CIGS technology, which is different from monocrystalline. Because it’s configured with 12 small panels, it can drape over a tent or truck bed. That way, some panels are always getting a charge even if you don’t reposition it throughout the day.
Other features include a built-in charge controller and carry case.
Specs: 4.85 pounds, folded dimensions 14.1-in. by 10.6-in. by 1.2-in.
The Go Power DuraLite 100-Watt Solar Kit comes with a 30-amp charge controller and battery clamps, so you recharge vehicle and other freestanding batteries without a portable power station. It also comes with built-in USB chargers, magnetic closures to keep it together during transit, 12 feet of cable, comfortable plastic handles and a storage bag.
If you’re just using it with a portable power station, you can save a little money and get the DuraLite 100W Expansion Solar Panel instead.
Specs: Nine pounds, folded dimensions 21.1-in. by 23.8-in. by 1.8-in.
We also used the Goal Zero Nomad 200 during our Baja run. Because it’s 200W, you don’t need two 100W arrays. That’s more convenient as long as you can handle its larger footprint in your vehicle.
This durable panel includes stake-down loops on the foldout legs, a carrying case and a built-in USB-A connector. You can also link it to other panels with a power port combiner. Goal Zero also makes 100W and 50W Nomad foldable panels. Pair with Yeti 500X or Yeti 1500X portable power stations.
Specs: 22 pounds, folded dimensions 28.2-in. by 22.3-in. by two inches.
The size and weight of Lion’s 50W panel make it top of its class. At just three pounds, it’s half the weight of competitors’ 50W models, so you can easily take it backpacking. It features USB-A and USB-C ports plus a 10-foot barrel-to-barrel cord.
Specs: Three pounds, folded dimensions 11.25-in. by 11.25-in. by 1.63-in.
For the best price on a decent 100W foldable solar panel, check out this Nicesolar. As compact as the other 100Ws, it features USB-A and USB-C ports for directly charging personal electronics. It also comes with a carrying case and an array of connectors to make it compatible with pretty much any portable power station.
It’s got a few quirks the name brands don’t have, but overall it’s a great value. It also claims to be waterproof, but the connector can actually get wet. Son’t leave it in the rain without adequately protecting that. Nicesolar also makes a 200W model.
Specs: 7.3 pounds, folded dimensions 20.7-in. by 14-in. by 1.6-in.
Renogy is best known for its off-grid home and RV solar solutions. We installed one of their systems in our van camper, which we’ve greatly enjoyed.
But Renogy also makes some terrific portable solar panels, including the E.Flex 80. They’re durable, consistently perform well on input tests (around 70%) and can be left in the rain without worry. They also come with comfortable carrying handles, a waterproof storage case, a five-in-one adaptor and eight feet of cable.
Pair with Renogy’s Phoenix 500 portable power station.
Specs: 7.3 pounds, folded dimensions 24.8-in. by 17.1-in. by one inch.
