Solar panels for at the crag

Looking for a small solar pad to use to charge n power items while climbing I.e headlamp cell phone or what have you looking for something smaller to save on limited bag space what's your opinions

I have a small "Solio" solar panel (about 2" x 6") I got about 4 years ago and it will charge my iPhone about 50% on a full days sun. No idea how much the efficiency has improved since then. I find myself bringing a little battery pack more often. A playing card box size battery will charge my phone fully 1.5 to 2 times.

Yeah, solar panels are a pain - keep a big panel back at base for charging the battery, and take a battery bank instead - much more versatile solution unless you are away from base for many days

Chargeable batteries work great and is really all you need, but if you need a panel, I've had outstanding success with Goal Zero. I have the Nomad 7.

I'd avoid anything GoalZero. They are insanely overpriced, like Patagucci. I second the battery pack. You can get a cheap one on Amazon that will recharge your phone enough times to last four or five days, it will cost far less and take up less space. If you use the panel, keep your phone under the panel and out of the sun. Lithium ion batteries are temperature sensitive and continue exposure to high temps will cause them to degrade faster than normal.

Look up anything made by Anker (available on Amazon). AMAZING quality, excellent customer service and 1/4 the price of anything by Goal Zero!

I picked up a goal zero for this purpose. Yes it was expensive but it's a great kit. It's nice to have it on you so you can adjust it to face sun all day, and not leave it unattended at camp. I do what others have mentioned, keep a battery pack or two around and charge those, then plug in your device or pop the batteries into whatever you want to have a full charge. Easy peasy and working a system like this keeps headlamps and phones charged on any camping trip.

clint helander wrote:Look up anything made by Anker (available on Amazon). AMAZING quality, excellent customer service and 1/4 the price of anything by Goal Zero!

+1 for Anker and avoiding goal zero (esp. with iPhones they are a pain even when using charger battery pack). I recently replaced goal zero panel with wildtek source and pretty good so far - it can charge 2 usb devices directly from panel with no issues and still small enough you can clip it to a bag and take it to base of climbs if need be:

amazon.com/gp/product/B01G4…

Happy with the Anker 21W solar charger. Needs to be in full sun to charge a phone directly otherwise it cycles my phone screen on/off every time it stops/starts charging and drains the battery rather quickly. Definitely the battery pack is a necessary supplement

Anker 21W 2-Port USB Universal PowerPort Solar Charger

Awesome guys thanks for the input

Pokemon? Just climb. It will be there when you get back

I picked one of these up during their 50% off sale (I think it's still 40% off): eddiebauer.com/product/Sola…

Looks like you can charge it up via plug at home and then fill it up with solar while you are out. Haven't tried it out yet but for $20 figured I might give it a go. I've also got one of those extra battery packs and it has been sufficient for charging up on overnight trips when I don't have access to an outlet. Useful to charge up from but also handy to just plug into like an outlet when you want power right away.

Just get an external USB brick battery. No need for a solar
Panel unless u are spending 3 weeks on Denali or something. Much more
Reliable and less hassle than solar.