Best Flexible Solar Panels

Archive for the ‘Portable Solar Panels’ Category

Brunton 26 Watt Array on Sale Here

Brunton 26 Watt Solar Array Review

If you’re looking for a panel from a great brand that does it all, then this is the one you want.  Not only does this portable solar panel generate an impressive 26 watts of power, it does it for under $250.  Just in case you’re wondering, 26 watts is more than enough to charge any of your personal electronic devices — cell phones, laptops, Ipads.  Only a handful of panels offer this much power, and they’re pretty expensive.  26 watts for less than $250 is really a steal, especially from a reputable brand like Brunton.  They’re not just some noname company that makes crap equipment.  This unit folds up nicely into the size of dvd case and has a carrying case for easy transportation.  And it has a reverse flow protection system which is always nice, to makes sure you keep your gear protected.

Some Perks

1. Durability — One great thing about this personal solar panel is that it’s manufactured by a great brand, Brunton.  So not only should it not break on you or wear out quickly, but Brunton gives a 1 year warranty on this panel, meaning that if you somehow manage to get a faulty unit, you can return it for another one.
2. State of the Art Cells – Brunton uses state of the art High-performance CIGS solar cells, which are effective even in low light conditions.  That’s a real selling point, because even when the weather isn’t perfect, you can still expect a high power output from this unit.

Cost

For the money, it’s tough to beat this solar array.  Brunton is one of the leaders in durable, high output solar panels, and they’re usually a pretty expensive brand.  One of the reasons why I like this portable solar panel is that it should last for many years.  And as the power demands of our personal electronics grow, the 26 watts offered by this solar array should still be able to handle all your power needs.  As Ipads and other technologies continue to have high power demands, it’s nice to have a panel with extra juice that can handle the growing trend of high power usage devices.

Goal0 12301 Nomad Flexible Solar Panel on Sale Here

Goal0 12301 Nomad Portable Flexible Solar Panel Review

This is just an awesome portable, flexible solar panel for personal use.  The cost is right, the power, and the durability.  It’s smaller than comparable units, cranks out the same amount of juice, and it has all the nice accessories, including USB charging port and a port for a 12 volt cigarette adapter.  With decent sunlight, this flexible solar panel will charge just about anything smaller than an Ipad.  For those who own Iphones and needs lots of juice, this is probably the best, cheapest model that you can buy.  Though their website states that the Goal Zero Nomad may not work directly with an Iphone, testimonials say otherwise, with people reporting no problems hooking their Iphones directly into the charging port.  If, however, you do run into a problem, you can always just go through a battery charger first and then charge your portable devices.

The only con with this personal solar panel is that it takes a bit of time to warm up.  If you hook your phone or other electronic device to it and put the panel out in the sun, it may not start charging for fifteen minutes or so.  This makes it a bit difficult for people who are always on the go and thus, need a portable solar panel that works on the go with them.  But of the many testimonials I’ve read, the time to start charging is less than 15 minutes, usually around 5 before the trickle of power starts to flow.  Still, with a little bit of foresight, you can place the panel out in the sun for a bit before charging to make sure the panel is fully ready for when you need quick power.  The Goal0 12301 Nomad has gotten amazing reviews in testimonials.  Here’s what one user had to say about it:

Caleb R. Said:

This is bar none the best portable solar charger I’ve come across. It charges basically anything smaller than an iPad. I’ve charged countless toys in little amounts of time during hikes in / or fly fishing. Amazing piece of technology…

Click here to read the full testimonial

||Sunforce 22005 Flexible Solar Panel on Sale Here||

Sunforce 22005 12 Volt 6.5 Amp Flexible Solar Panel Review

Here’s another prime example in the world of portable, flexible solar panels.  This Sunforce pad yields an impressive 6.5 amps and 12 volts.  Well alright, that’s not really all that impressive, but it is considering that the pad is only $80.  Though I generally like more power from my portable solar pads, it’s hard to pass up a pad like this that’s so durable and inexpensive.  Depending on your needs, this pad will charge just about every personal electronic device you own, short of a laptop.  I really like this model not only because of how lightweight and compact it is, but also because it’s a 12 volt charger, making it useful for a lot of different technologies.

Durability

This flexible solar panel is obviously made with campers and backpackers in mind.  The material used in its construction is extremely durable.  Not only that, but Sunforce is a quality company, based out of Canada, and have awesome customer service.  They’re known for replacing defective models and models damaged excessively through normal wear and tear.  If you’re a camper or a backpacker and are looking for a quality flexible solar panel to carry around with you, this is definitely a good candidate.  This and the last portable solar panel we reviewed are both awesome for camping.  Check out both.  They’re both around the same price.  Here’s what one customer had to say:

J. Rush

I often go Gold & Gemstone hunting and use quite a bit of 12volt equipment, including a forgotten 12v cooler plugged into the dash. Upon leaving the car for a day to prospect a small stream, the cooler drained our battery dead. As the sun was setting we “tried it” and there was just enough charge to start us up and we drove the 12 miles out of the forest instead of having to walk it out for help.
Not only does the product work, but it has changed the way I think about solar energy…

Click Here to Read the Full Review

|| Powerfilm Personal Flexible Solar Panel on Sale Here ||

PowerFilm Personal Flexible Solar Panel USB AA Charger Review

The PowerFilm USB + AA charger is an awesome flexible solar panel in the world of AA battery chargers and USB chargers.  The great thing about this model is that it’s able to charge both types of applications, both AA batteries as well as USB devices.  It’s a solar charger for NiMH batteries, which come with the product.  And the cool part about this setup is that it can transform the voltage of the 2.4v NiMH batteries and ramp to 5v, which then allows you to charge a USB device once the batteries are charged.  That’s a really cool feature because as long as the batteries are charged, you can charge your USB devices anytime you want.  The solar panel charges the AA batteries in approximately 4 hours, so as long as you’ve given the charger enough time in the sun, you can then charge your USB devices anytime you feel like it.  Another great thing about this solar panel is how it folds up.  It folds up into a size that can actually be fit inside a pocket, which is pretty handy.

This particular flexible solar panel was most likely made with backpackers and campers in mind.  It probably isn’t the best pad for other applications, but if you’re a backpacker or a camper, you really can’t beat this model. It’s made of durable material that won’t get destroyed or damaged through normal wear and tear.  One of the worst things about flexible solar panels that are supposedly made for rugged use is that they often don’t stand up to the wear and tear they were designed for and get broken or beat up easily.  This model was built tough and can endure quite a beating.

Cost

This portable flexible solar panel is a great deal for the cost.  Ordinarily, the unit runs for around $135, but right now it’s on sale for just $85.  That’s a price that’s difficult to beat.  This is a very good entry level model for people who haven’t worked much with personal flexible solar panels before.  This model is fairly inexpensive and comes with a lot of accessories, including the two AA rechargeable batteries that are optimally suited to the solar pad.  For $85, you can have everything you need to be able to charge a lot of your personal devices in the great outdoors.

||The Brunton 14 Watt SolarRoll Flexible Solar Panel on a Great Sale Here||

Brunton SolarRoll 14 Watt Flexible Solar Panel Review

The Brunton SolarRoll 14 Watt panel is really first rate.  There’s a lot of reasons to really love this panel, but one main thing that may hold you back.  What’s that, you ask?  The cost.  Even on sale, this 14 watt personal solar panel is still over $300.  That’s a lot of expense to have to justify for a personal solar panel.  But in the world of rollable, personal solar panels, the Brunton 14 watt SolarRoll really can’t be beat.  Brunton is a very quality brand in the field of solar panels and for its size, pretty much nothing can beat it.  It’s a bit difficult to tell from the picture, but this solar panel is only 12  by 57  inches when unfolded.  That’s incredible, considering the fact that this little panel generates 14 watts.  Not only that, but the Brunton SolarRoll is created from extremely durable materials which are not only tough but also waterproof and UV resistant.  Another cool thing about the Brunton SolarRoll is that multiple rolls can be hooked together if more power is needed.

Cost

Cost is probably the biggest drawback of this particular model.  There are similar flexible solar panels that cost quite a bit less than the Brunton 14 watt SolarRoll.  Even on sale, this model costs just over $300.  It’s probably not for just the occasional user.  If you’re seriously considering buying this unit, you’re probably the type of person that’s going to use it a lot.  That being the case, you definitely can’t get a better portable solar panel than this.  Durability is the reason why we recommend this panel above others.  Flexible solar panels have the tendency to get damaged.  Trekking around in nature has the tendency to beat up equipment.  Buying a cheap flexible solar panel will probably come back to haunt you after about the 5th backpacking trip, when you find a tear in the unit and realize it no longer works.  If you’re an avid outdoors person and want a piece of equipment that’s of the best quality, then the Brunton SolarRoll is the one you want. There’s nothing like sitting on a park bench in the shade, while a small portable solar panel absorbs the sunlight just next to you powering your laptop, Ipad, or Ebook Reader, allowing you to sit back and enjoy yourself all day long.  This unit is on a great sale right now.  If you’re considering buying a personal flexible solar panel, then don’t miss out while the time is right.