While the word “solar panels” may trigger images of big, bulky solar panels, the reality is that there are plenty of very portable solar panels out there.
They come in different shapes, sizes, and types (there are small solar panels, foldable solar panels, and much more as you will see on our review list) but they all have in common the fact that they are more portable than traditional solar panels.
If you are interested in greening up your life, we are here to help by reviewing 3 really good portable solar panels. If you want to buy one right now, we recommend getting the Renogy Monocrystalline Solar Suitcase.
A Spotlight On Some of The Best Portable Solar Panels 2021:
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Renogy Monocrystalline Solar Suitcase
To start off the review list, we are going to be taking a look at a very pricey, but also undeniably well-made solar panel in the form of the Renogy Monocrystalline Solar Suitcase. In terms of quality, it is tricky to overstate just how well-designed this solar panel is. It is the perfect option for showing you how just what portable solar panels are capable of doing.
First off, this is a very high-capacity solar panel (depending on what model you go for of course). The specific model that we are reviewing is an impressive 100 watt solar panel. While 100 watts isn’t the absolute highest that you can go, as you can find 250 watt solar panels out there as well, it is still pretty high and more than enough power for most uses.
Despite being so powerful, the Renogy is also extremely easy to use. It folds up extremely easy, which makes it much simpler to store and to transport around. It charges very quickly and there are plenty of good safety features installed to prevent overcharging. All-in-all, a very high-quality solar panel that you are sure to enjoy.
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- Folds up easily.
- High power output on the 100 watt version.
- Very safe to use.
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- Costs around $400.
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DOKIO 200W Foldable Solar Panel Kit
For the next product review, we have something that is going to appeal to those of you who read our last review and scoffed a bit at the price. While the DOKIO isn’t much of a downgrade in terms of actual quality when compared to the Renogy panel, it is most definitely a massive improvement in terms of price, costing only around $120.
As the name of the product states, this is a 200 watt solar panel. 200 watts is very powerful, and it is good for a wide variety of uses. We would hazard a guess that this is going to meet the power needs of a good majority of those reading through this article. It can charge most appliances and other electronic items with relative ease.
However, where the DOKIO panel kit really shines is when it comes to how convenient it is to use and how portable it is. We aren’t exaggerating when we say that the DOKIO can be folded up and stored or folded out and used in seconds (once you have a bit of experience with it). Also, when it is actually folded up, it is protected by this thick fabric.
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- Super easy to use.
- Folds up quickly.
- Decent power output.
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- Some parts, such as the charging cables, must be purchased separately.
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Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel
If you are looking for something a bit more low-key, then the option that you are going to want to go for the Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel. At only 60 watts of power, this panel is a good option for those looking for something on the lower end of the spectrum (both in terms of price and power output).
In terms of portability, the Jackery is fairly standard when it comes to features. It folds up easily enough and it is pretty simple for you to transport around once you have it setup. The panel also happens to be fairly well-made and reliable.
It charges pretty quickly and you can trust that it won’t fail on you or anything of that nature. It is durable enough to last for a fairy long time before needing to be replaced. Overall, a decent product for a decent price.
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- Moderately priced.
- Good portability features.
- Good performance overall.
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- A bit expensive for only a 60 watt panel.
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Portable Solar Panel Buying Guide
In the second part of this article, we are going to go over some things that we think are useful for you to know if you decide to buy a portable solar panel.
Power Output of the Panel
This probably isn’t going to be any sort of great revelation, but when it comes to buying solar panels, you should make sure that the power output of the panel matches whatever it is that you are planning to use the panel for.
As we hopefully showed you with our list, solar panels can come in an absolutely wide variety of wattages. There are 50 watt panels, 100 watt panels, 200 watt panels, and probably even more powerful options than that. So, it pays to have a good idea of what you actually plan on using the solar panel for before searching for one.
How Truly Portable It Is
The second thing that we recommend looking at is how truly portable the solar panel is. While every entry that we reviewed on this list is technically “portable,” most of you probably know that this means different things to different companies. So, you want to look at how truly portable the actual solar panel is; how easy is it to pack up, how easy is it to carry around, and so on.
Conclusion
If you want to give your own take on solar panels, such as whether you prefer going with a 100 watt solar panel over a 250 watt solar panel, or what types of portable solar panels you like best, then you can do so by going to our comment section and leaving your response there.
