The great outdoors is a wonderful place to be, and anyone who has a love of camping enjoys those long, quiet evenings watching the sun go down. Having a love of the outdoors, however, doesn’t have to mean disconnecting yourself from the technology of the modern world - nor does it require you to run car engines and pollute the clean environment in order to get a little power.
From 10 watts to 100 watts or more, we have got you covered with our selection of environmentally friendly portable solar panels, which can make all the electricity you need to keep your favourite devices charged. From those to be fixed on top of caravans, to those which can be draped over your bag, we've found the best solar panels available to buy online and can be easily purchased through Amazon!
Quick List - Top Portable Solar Panels
Eco-Worthy
Easy-Carry Powerful Portable Solar Panel
Hiluckey
Super Portable, Wireless Qi Charging Solar Panel
Renogy
Reliable for the Longer Hauls With a Charge Controller
Renogy
Quality Fixed Panel for Camper Vans and Caravans
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Choosing the right portable solar panel for you primarily requires understanding your needs. Are you just after a quick boost to keep your smartphone alive or do you need to power your caravan's leisure battery, keeping it at full power as it heats the shower or cools the mini-fridge? We have a variety of solar panels to show you, with different primary purposes and additional features, so let's shed some light on things.
There are two main types of solar panels that are designed for your lifestyle - a vehicle-based or a lightweight panel. The former can be permanently attached to your camper van, caravan, or even yacht; while the latter is designed to be carried with you or stored in the vehicle until needed.
Fitting your vehicle with a solar panel or two will give you an extra level of freedom. Coupled with a fixed leisure battery, a fixed solar panel will convert sunlight into charge throughout the day - and a good one means you will never have to worry about running out of juice again.
The best type of fixed solar panels is also physically flexible, allowing you to bend them around the curves of your vehicle. They are tested to remain in place and perform in windy conditions, are proofed against poor weather, and are capable of getting a charge even on overcast days.
Solar panels designed to be fixed to a vehicle can also be chained, or connected, allowing you to add multiple panels to generate more electricity for a faster charge.
With a range of power categories, multiple USB connections, and size considerations, lightweight panels are designed to be brought with you and used as is convenient.
Some are small enough to fit inside a small bag, while others fold themselves into briefcase-like forms. So consider whether you are looking for something that you can stow in the boot of your car, or something you can easily fit into your rucksack to use on hikes.
For that reason, it’s sometimes reasonable to look for a panel with a larger output than you might at first consider needing, especially living in the UK where days of nothing but bright sunlight are traditionally less frequent than in other areas of the world!
All of the devices featured below, however, are more than capable of charging a phone, even on a cloudy day. It’s when you want to add higher demand devices, such as laptops or electrical cooking devices, that the drain can cause problems. Adding a battery to the equation, such as a car leisure battery or portable smartphone battery pack, can provide an extra layer of support to your outdoor electrical system.
Consider the devices you plan on charging when selecting the available ports on the panel. Most portable solar panels will come with a USB connection - thankfully, this is the most common use connector for devices, and if you have the right USB lead for your phone, headphone, or other objects, you will be able to easily connect. Looking for multiple ports in order to connect to multiple devices is recommended.
Higher-end systems can come with additional connectors, and a few even include charging controllers that are designed to regulate the output correctly for your devices. If you plan to have a variety of non-USB devices plugged in, then consider one of these solutions. Additionally, vehicle-based panels are designed to be hardwired directly into the vehicle's electrical system.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Eco-Worthy Foldable Solar Panel Charger With Charge Controller | ![]() | Easy-Carry Powerful Portable Solar Panel | |
2 | Hiluckey Wireless Solar Charger Qi Power Bank With 4 Outputs & LED Flashlight | ![]() | Super Portable, Wireless Qi Charging Solar Panel | |
3 | Renogy Monocrystalline Portable Solar Suitcase With 20A Voyager Waterproof Charge Controller | ![]() | Reliable for the Longer Hauls With a Charge Controller | |
4 | Renogy Extremely Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel With ETFE Layer | ![]() | Quality Fixed Panel for Camper Vans and Caravans | |
5 | Anker PowerPort Solar | ![]() | Perfect and Portable: The Powerport Solar | |
6 | Photonic Universe Monocrystalline Solar Panel | ![]() | A Fixed Panel Perfect for Camper Vans and Boats | |
7 | Dokio Portable Foldable Solar Panel | ![]() | A High Quality Reliable Panel | |
8 | RAVPower Dual USB Port Waterproof Foldable Camping Travel Charger | ![]() | Lightweight. High Charge: Great for Smartphones | |
9 | Dokio Monocrystalline Flexible Lightweight Solar Panel | ![]() | Roof or Side-Mounted Quality Panel | |
10 | Choetech Waterproof Portable USB Outdoor Solar Panel Charger | ![]() | Durable and Effective Solar Smartphone Charger |
Able to be folded into a small briefcase-sized carrier, this Eco-Worthy foldable panel provides the best of both worlds for a pleasurable camping experience. The high-quality panels output a significant 120 watts, while its foldable nature makes it as easy to move as any of the smaller devices on offer.
The controller comes with an LCD display and a range of standard connectors, making this an easy-to-use piece of technology able to immediately power your devices, whether a simple smartphone or the integrated electronics of a caravan. With so much included, this has to take the top spot.
When you really want to travel as light as possible, a portable panel that can attach to your rucksack as you walk in the day and then charge your phone wirelessly at night is the perfect way to travel.
With a built-in torch and three USB ports, it's the ideal way to keep all of your necessary items charged and even lend it to some of your friends. Additionally, you can charge it up at home via USB-C charging before you take it on a trip to maximise its usage.
Corrosion resistant material helps keep this solar panel durable for longer and with a negative ground charge, the risk of fire related problems are negated. Great for camper vans or just on the floor.
Equipped with the solar panels is a waterproof charge controller with an LCD display to help you better understand the operating information and data. A simple must have for anyone really serious about solar energy.
For long term fixed use, the Renogy flexible panel provides power as a top-quality component of your overall camping electrical solutions. High-grade polymer design means the panel is lightweight, will bend and flex to fit all van shapes, and is easy to fit. It is also tested to withstand both high winds and heavy snow.
The high standard of materials includes hot spot resistance and specialised transparent dot refraction, increasing the charge potential from the sunlight twofold. This clever technology means even in low levels of direct light, the Renogy panel will continue to provide current to your system through the waterproof junction box.
Equipped with industrial-strength PET polymer, Anker's Powerport Solar is the perfect companion for anyone bracing the harshness of the outdoors. We know how unpredictable the weather in the UK can be, so this is a really safe option.
What's more, with stainless steel eye-holes, you can freely equip this on your rucksack, bag or even tent and charge up to two devices simultaneously. A safe bet in the world of solar panels.
With high-quality temperature-resistant components, the Photonic Universe panel is an excellent option for those looking to kit out their portable home with a constant eco-friendly energy source. A five-metre cable with MC4 connectors makes this easy to connect to your vehicle electronics, with great positional flexibility.
The panel can easily be mounted either directly to the outside of your vehicle or stored inside for occasional use at campsites. With a solid 160W output, it’s excellent for recharging leisure batteries while on the move and will form an integral part of your camping energy system.
With high-quality components, the Dokio foldable panel resists hot spots and provides long term charging at a reasonable cost. Designed for regular campers, the fabric casing provides durable protection and allows the entire unit to be stored easily, making this one of the more discrete options on the market and extremely suited for camper vans and caravans.
The panel comes with a solar charge controller, enabling charging up to 12V for larger batteries in addition to the standard mobile phone, tablet and laptop use. Compared to some other solar panels of this size, 100W may not be ideal for everyone.
With two USB ports, this solar-powered charger provides a reliable way to keep your tablets and smartphones going while on the move, although the low voltage output of the panel does mean that it is not suitable for charging larger devices such as laptops.
Designed primarily for portability, the RAVPower charger can easily fit into your backpack for any camping trip or outdoor adventure - if you're planning on climbing a mountain, trekking across a national park or spending a few days off-grid, this is a compact solar device that will keep your gadgets charged.
When it comes to enhancing your campervan, caravan or luxury yacht with a limitless source of power, the Dokio flexible panel is a reasonable choice. Despite its slightly higher pricepoint, this solar panel is a great option if you are thinking of adding permanent solar panels to your vehicle.
The flexible material means you can bend the panel over a surface up to 30 degrees, allowing for a professional fit on almost any body shape. Once in place, it delivers enough power to keep a leisure battery fully charged even in cloudy weather. Fixed panels may not be as convenient as some of the other offerings on this list, but provides long-term reliability for the regular vehicle camper.
If you are just looking to keep your smaller gadgets charged, then this waterproof portable charger fits the bill. A small LED lights up when there’s enough sunlight around to make charging possible and then it powers up whatever USB device is connected.
As a low-cost choice to keep your smartphone active, the Choetech is a good option, although its slow charge speed and need for stronger sunlight keep it from stealing a top spot! Suitable for use anywhere, however, this small device can be added to a general bag and used whenever needed - from the car dashboard to hanging over your bag while walking around!
Portable solar panels are such a convenient product to have if you find yourself away from an electricity source, but what are the logistics of these underrated products? We have the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on the internet.
This is something that you should check on the manufacturer's description as it can be a feature that is left out of certain designs. While the odd drop of water here and there most likely won’t cause any major damage, if you’re expecting heavy rain, it’s best not to chance things.
Your average portable solar panel should last you for a good 20 years before you start to see any signs of decline. However, if you’re frequently out in the elements you may find the wear and tear will occur a little sooner. Nevertheless, you should still have a solid decade of use.
Yes, portable solar panels will work even on a cloudy day. The only difference is that it will generate a much smaller amount of energy than it would on a clear, sunny day. Therefore, you should be more sparing with how you use your panel on days such as these.
Getting out and exploring is one of life's greatest joys. Make sure you give yourself the most enjoyable experience by kitting yourself out with gadgets and clothing to keep you safe, warm/cool and able to deal with what the world can throw at you. Take a look at some of these related products or search for what you're looking for in the mybest UK search bar!
Being able to relax and not worry about when and where you can charge your phone, or fearing the low battery warning on your laptop, can help keep the peaceful dream of your camping holiday alive! Knowing that when night comes you won’t be struggling around in the dark wishing you’d charged a torch or two is another great bonus!
Harnessing the power of the sun to keep your gadgets going is an amazing feeling and it’s now so easy to do, with a great selection of top-quality portable solar panels available to UK buyers - it’s another reason to hope for good weather whenever you make plans.
Author: Josh Welch
No. 1: Eco-Worthy|Foldable Solar Panel Charger With Charge Controller
No. 2: Hiluckey|Wireless Solar Charger Qi Power Bank With 4 Outputs & LED Flashlight
No. 3: Renogy|Monocrystalline Portable Solar Suitcase With 20A Voyager Waterproof Charge Controller
No. 4: Renogy|Extremely Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel With ETFE Layer
No. 5: Anker|PowerPort Solar
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