Although people see camping as something that should keep you away from any kind of electricity source, it doesn't always have to be like that. You can enjoy some fresh air while still having power for a mini-freezer or charging your smartphone.
How can you get the power output you need for all those things? Portable power stations are often the answer many people would say, but we are here to show you an alternative to them. We are talking about solar panels!
Whether they are big or portable solar panels, getting them for camping offers you all the power you need to keep your electronic gadgets on while sleeping in the woods. However, you will only see their benefits if you buy the right ones.
We are here to help you pick the best solar panels you can find on the market! Read this page to know the 10 best alternatives out there and some things you should keep in mind when buying these products.
Key Takeaways
- You only need 100W solar panels for camping.
- Monocrystalline solar panels are better options for people looking for sturdy and durable alternatives.
- It's ideal for bigger and small solar panels to include a kickstand, a wireless charging pad, and a carry bag.
Is Buying a Solar Panel for Camping Worth It?
The short answer is yes, but you need to invest some money in them. It's not simple to find cheap camping solar panels in Australia, and it's easier for some people to just get a power bank that offers a worse power output for a more affordable price.
However, people looking forward to saving money, in the long run, should get camping solar panels. Australia is a country where energy bills can be expensive at times, but people with bigger solar panels often use them at their houses to make those bills more affordable.
If you buy the best camping solar panels on the market, you will get a product that gives you more power and efficiency than the standard portable battery or power bank.
What Should I Consider When Buying Solar Panels for Camping?
As mentioned before, you will only see the benefits of a solar panel if you get the best camping solar panels you can find. Some products claim to offer excellent benefits but fail to meet the expectations people set for them.
You may know which solar panels to look for if you already know a thing or two about the matter, but people who don't know anything about solar panels often struggle to get a decent match for them.
Buying the wrong solar panel or a product that doesn't meet your needs can make you lose a lot of money, so you should spend all the time you can trying to make a purchase you won't regret in the future.
Are you buying solar panels or solar blankets for the first time? These are some of the things you should keep in mind when looking for one:
Weight
The weight of a solar panel doesn't determine if it's a better or worse option for you, but it does change the power output you will receive from them.
If you just want a portable solar panel to charge your smartphone and other gadgets while camping, you are good to go with a lightweight option.
Bigger caravan solar panels, on the other hand, offer more power and solar collection features, so you can use them to power bigger appliances such as mini freezers.
Portability
Portability is directly related to the weight of the polar panels you get since you clearly need to make a greater effort to carry a heavier solar system kit around than it would be with folding solar panels or lightweight alternatives.
The best folding solar panels for camping also include additional accessories that make them easier to carry around, and that makes them ideal for going into the woods or to the beach since they allow you to make space for other things.
If you want to go camping, it's best for you to go for fixed solar panels rather than bigger alternatives, even if they offer a better power output.
Type of Solar Cells
Not all solar panels have the same solar cells, and each of them offers different features, benefits, and drawbacks. The solar cell types for these products are:
- Monocrystalline solar cells
- Polycrystalline solar cells
- Thin film solar cells
Monocrystalline alternatives are some of the best camping solar panels you can find online, as they are the sturdiest and most durable ones. If you buy a decent monocrystalline solar panel, you won't have to worry about getting a new one for the next 25 or 30 years.
These solar cells come from one pure crystal to make electrons flow smoothly through each solar cell.
While polycrystalline products are not the best camper solar panels, they are the most affordable ones. These solar panels won't last 30 years, but you can use them for three to 10 years with no problem.
Why are polycrystalline solar cells more affordable? Because they are made of inexpensive materials.
Getting to the last solar cell type for solar panels, we have thin film solar cells. The thing about thin film solar panels is they are still made of modern technologies that need further development, so although they are easy to install and lightweight, they don't offer a power output as well as the other alternatives we just mentioned.
Power Output
The power output of solar blankets or solar panels determines how much energy they can produce. Most people think they will be good to go as long as they pick products with a high power output instead of the best camping solar panels they can find.
Even if the solar blankets or panels you get give you outstanding deals of energy, they will be too heavy for you to carry around while camping, which will turn them into a nuisance as you keep getting into the woods.
Therefore, campers should get fixed solar panels that give them just the energy they need when exposed to direct sunlight.
Campers only need products that produce up to 100 watts while camping, so you shouldn't go over that unless they are solar panels developed to offer more energy while staying lightweight.
Accessories
The reason you can find cheap solar panels and way more expensive alternatives on the market is that some products forget about accessories or features. Do portable solar panels need features to work? Not exactly, but they make your life easier while camping.
When Should I Go for Portable Solar Panels Over Bigger Alternatives?
If you want to use solar panels for your house, you are good to go with a bigger-size solar panel since it would give you all the power you need for house appliances. The same happens if you are going in a van since transporting all the accessories that come with the product would be easier, too.
Nonetheless, if you are just going with some friends with backpacks, it's not the time to look for big solar panels. Overall, we recommend you only pick portable solar panels if you are planning on camping.
These products will help you get energy for your mobile phones and other gadgets without needing to carry heavy panels all around the woods.
Top 10 Best Solar Panels for Camping
Now that you know everything you need to know before looking for thin film, polycrystalline, and monocrystalline solar panels, we want to show you the best options available on the market.
You don't need to go through all the hassle of reading a thousand reviews online as long as you pick one of the products on this list. All of them are excellent alternatives, so don't hesitate to buy the one that best fits you.
#1 Goal Zero Nomad 10 Solar Panels
The first product on this is a portable solar panel with monocrystalline solar cells, and it takes the first place on this tier list thanks to its portability and excellent accessories.
You don't need to worry about charging your smartphone or other devices since these portable camping solar panels include built-in USB ports.
Taking this portable solar panel is not a problem since you can fold it and put it in your backpack when you are not using it. Additionally, it's not a heavy product at all, so taking it with you won't be a nuisance for anyone.
Using this solar panel with monocrystalline solar cells is easier than it would be with other products since it features an integrated kickstand that allows you to put the solar panel in the ideal position to produce as much energy as possible.
While all those features make this product one of the best solar panels for camping on the list, the Nomad 10 also has a LED indicator that tells you how optimal the current solar conditions for solar collection are.
The only drawback to using these camping solar panels is they need uninterrupted sunlight to produce energy properly. Charging this product also takes more time than it would take with other portable solar panels.
#2 Exotronic 200W Portable Folding Solar Panel
Getting to the runner-up of this list, we have the Exotronic 200W Portable Folding Solar Panel.
Although this solar panel is the one with the best power output on this page, it's not as heavy as others, so it's the perfect pick for anyone looking for a relatively lightweight product that has enough energy to power up some appliances.
This is also a foldable solar panel, and each section is wired independently. Is that helpful? Absolutely!
One of the main problems people have when using a solar setup is the whole system stops working if one of the solar cells or sections stops working.
If this happens with the Exotronic Solar Panel, the other sections will keep producing energy for you.
#3 Dometic Portable Solar Panel PS120A
Although the Dometic Portable Solar Panel PS120A is a bit heavier than most portable solar panels, it makes up for that by offering a 120-watt power output.
Dometic is not a solar panel-focused company since it includes several products related to camping, and that helps it understand all the things camping solar panels need to help campers.
Although it's a 14kg product, it still has decent portability since you can fold it and take it in your backpack or van.
The Dometic Portable Solar Panel has monocrystalline solar cells and includes innovative accessories to optimize its user experience. Firstly, you can use its built-in 10-amp voltage regulator to make sure you get the exact power output you need.
Additionally, this solar panel includes an adjustable feel for campers to place it in an optimal position for solar collection and redirect it as the day goes on. One of the main reasons people get solar panels is how durable they are, and monocrystalline options show that.
This solar panel has a sturdy build made of monocrystalline silicon, so you can expect it to stay with you for at least 25 years.
The Dometic Portable Solar Panel's temperature sensor also helps keep it from overheating or staying too cool, which makes it one of the safest alternatives on the list.
Finishing up with the accessories you get when you buy this solar panel, it also comes with a protective carry bag. It's worth noting this product is one of the most expensive ones on the list, so you should only go for it if you have the right budget.
If you do, keep in mind camper solar panels from this lineup have a one-year warranty.
#4 Enerdrive 100W 24V Monocrystalline Fixed Solar Panel
The Enerdrive 100W 24V Monocrystalline Fixed Solar Panel is perfect for people working on a budget, so we recommend you get it if you don't want a solar panel with a high power output.
Nonetheless, this solar panel offers you 100 watts, which is more than enough for campers.
Buying this product also helps you save some money since it includes free shipping. The only drawback to buying the Enerdrive Solar Panel is that you need to pay an additional price for its accessories.
This product's set of quick-connect solar panels is $30, and you can get a twin solar cable with EN4 plugs for $103.
#5 Camec Portable Folding 120W Solar Panel Kit
While the Camec Portable Folding 120W Solar Panel Kit is one of the heaviest camper van solar panels on the list, it's not the heaviest one.
If you don't care about carrying heavy small portable solar panels with you, you should get this alternative to enjoy all the features you would need in a solar panel for camping or beach use.
The power output these camping solar panels offer is outstanding for a small model since it gives you 120 watts when fully charged. Regardless of that, the Camec Portable Folding 120W Solar Panel Kit shines for its accessories.
This product comes with a 15amp PEM charge regulator, which is stronger than the regulators other camping solar panels offer. Apart from that, each solar panel on this kit has alligator clips and a plug for you to connect the kit to a motorhome.
Although more people are slowly starting to look for the best portable solar panels on the market or larger solar panels for their houses, not many of them know how to set them up to optimize sunlight exposure.
If you don't position your camping solar panels correctly, you won't get all the solar power they are meant to produce.
This Camec monocrystalline model addresses that problem by adding a fold-out stand to the kit that makes angling solar panels easier.
You get two warranty policies when you buy this product since the company needs to cover the solar panels you get and their accessories. The warranty for the former is 25 years and five years for the latter.
#6 Drivetech 4×4 200W Portable Monocrystalline Solar Blanket
While the Drivetech 4×4 200W Portable Monocrystalline Solar Blanket offers you the same power you get with the runner-up of this list, it's not the same to buy solar panels as to get solar blankets.
It's often easier to pack and move solar blankets since they are more lightweight, and this product shows that. Regardless of that, solar panels are often less expensive than them.
#7 Projecta 120W Folding Solar Panel
Although it didn't take the first place on this list, the Project 120W Folding Solar Panel is still one of the best solar panels for camping on the market right now.
Unlike other monocrystalline panels offering a power output of 120W, this alternative only weighs from 5 to 7 kilograms, so it's still a lightweight option.
While almost all camping solar panels have the same design, this Projecta product wanted to be more innovative than other brands, so it features a frameless foldable design that makes it lighter and easier to carry around.
Setting up other smaller solar panels for camping is not that easy due to how they are designed, but using this one is a straightforward process since you only need to unfold it and plug it into your car's battery.
The reason why this is one of the best camping solar panels is that its only drawback is how expensive it can be for people working on a budget.
Aside from that, it's difficult to find something bad about this solar panel since it also includes support legs, a hard fibreglass backing, an integrated 8.5amp solar controller, and battery clips for a 5m lead.
#8 Anker Portable Solar Charger
Getting flexible panels for camping allows you to move them more than you could manoeuvre rigid solar panels. However, the problem with that is some solar panels are too flexible but not as durable as you need them to be to represent a decent investment.
The Anker Portable Solar Charger is excellent since it's both flexible and durable, so you get the best of both sides.
On top of that, this solar panel includes a fast-charging feature that helps you charge your mobile devices quickly as long as the solar panels are exposed to direct sunlight.
#9 Allpowers Flexible Solar Panel
Durability and resistance are these solar panels' greatest strengths since they are water-resistant, durable, and semi-flexible. Apart from that, you can mount it on an RV, boat, cabin, car, and other irregular surfaces.
Like others on this list, the Allpowers Flexible Solar Panel gives you the 100W you need to charge your mobile devices and power up some appliances.
#10 Blavor Solar Charger
Getting to the last product on this list, we have the Blavor Solar Charger, which offers a modern design optimized for energy conversion.
This kit includes five solar panels that are magnetically attached, which makes it work as an individual portable power bank.
Bottom Line – Should I Get a Portable Solar Panel for Camping?
If you have the money to afford it and want to get a bit more energy than most power banks would get you, you should get a portable solar panel.
Naturally, all products will give you different features, but foldable models work for almost all situations, so you are better off with one of them.
We recommend you go for any of the solar panels we mentioned on this list. However, if you feel better looking for a different one yourself, keep in mind all the factors you need to know before buying a solar panel you read on this list.
