Travel Products Tech Essentials The 7 Best Solar Phone Chargers of 2023 We’re big fans of solar chargers with multiple features like working as a power bank while doubling as a flashlight. By Grace Gavilanes Grace Gavilanes Grace Gavilanes is a freelance writer-editor who has covered a wide range of topics. Her writing has been published in InStyle, Food & Wine, Glamour, and Mic, among other outlets. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 6, 2023 Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact checker, and researcher with more than 25 years’ experience in consumer-oriented content. Travel + Leisure Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Tips for Buying FAQ Why Trust T+L We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Amazon Picture this: You’re driving to your campsite or hiking on an unfamiliar trail, when suddenly your phone dies — right when you needed to double-check your maps. It’s an unfortunate circumstance that happens far too often. While wall chargers and outlets are hard to come by when you’re on the road or in the middle of nowhere, solar phone chargers come in handy for moments like this. We’ve found our favorite after extensive research and can’t recommend the Blavor Solar Power Bank enough. But don’t let its best overall rating steer you from checking out the others. They’re all winners in their own right: From a solar phone charger that doubles as a high-powered lantern to a lightweight option that’ll rival your wall charger’s speed, these offerings are bound to make an appearance on your next few trips. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Blavor Solar Power Bank at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: Hiluckey Outdoor Portable Power Bank at Amazon Jump to Review Most Durable: Goal Zero Nomad 50 Solar Panel at Amazon Jump to Review Best Lightweight: Go Sun SolarPanel 10 at Gosun.co Jump to Review Best for Multiple Devices: BigBlue 28W Solar Charger at EBay Jump to Review Best Charging Speed: Ryno Tuff Portable Solar Charger for Camping at Amazon Jump to Review Best Flashlight: LuminAID 2-in-1 Power Lantern at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Blavor Solar Power Bank Amazon View On Amazon Why We Love It It can charge up to three devices at once, has a built-in flashlight, and can be used wirelessly. What to Consider Only a USB-A to USB-C cable is included, and the look is utilitarian. Everything you could possibly need in a portable solar charger can be found in this lightweight power bank. It boasts three ports and wireless charging for your phone or AirPods. A built-in LED flashlight is great to have as an extra light source when you’re off the grid, as is the buffer-boosted exterior that helps protect it from falls. Since it’s dustproof and IPX5 waterproof (meaning it can withstand low-pressure water streams), you can feel confident bringing it along for beach trips. To easily expose it to sunlight when you’re out and about, it comes with a carabiner clip that has a compass on it. A USB output, wireless charging pad, and a USB C output/input are included. You get your pick between five color options, and if you want even more functionality, Blavor’s four-at-once charger is also available. Price at time of publish: $50 The Details: 3 ports | 10 ounces | 10,000 mAh | 5.9 x 3.1 x 0.8 inches | Built-in battery | Waterproof Best Budget Hiluckey Outdoor Portable Power Bank Amazon View On Amazon Why We Love It It features four large, high-performance solar panels. What to Consider As is typical with solar chargers, for the most effective charge, consider first charging it via USB. While this solar charger was built for outdoor use, it can also be charged via USB cable if you’re near an outlet. It charges phones up to 10 times and tablets up to four times, separately. On average, the portable solar charger can be used nine times per charge, making it a staple for extended trips. It’s available on Amazon at a steal compared to chargers on the market with similar battery lives. Price at time of publish: $57 The Details: 2 ports | 1.34 pounds | 25,000 mAh | 6.18 x 3.54 x 1.38 inches | Built-in battery Most Durable Goal Zero Nomad 50 Solar Panel REI View On Amazon View On Walmart View On REI Why We Love It You can use it to charge phones, laptops, and mini fridges. What to Consider To avoid ruining your phone’s battery, don't plug this panel into your device directly; instead, pair it with a power bank like the Yeti 200x Power Station first. This heavy-duty solar panel (that’s lighter than it looks) is big enough to capture sunlight to charge any device with help from an external power bank. From phones to laptops and even mini fridges, it can collect the amount of solar power needed to maintain your devices for long periods of time away from the hustle and bustle. However, since this panel does have a charge controller, you should only transfer power from it to a heavy-duty power bank that can then be used to power up your devices. Price at time of publish: $250 The Details: 3 ports | 6.85 pounds | 50 watts | 53 x 17 x 1.5 inches (unfolded); 17 x 11.25 x 2.5 inches (folded) | Built-in battery | Water-resistant The 13 Best Portable Chargers of 2023 Best Lightweight Go Sun SolarPanel 10 Go Sun View On Gosun.co Why We Love It In addition to being collapsible and lightweight, it’s weatherproof. What to Consider Because of its convenient size, it may be more difficult to collect and transfer solar energy to power your device. Claiming to “charge about [as] fast as a typical wall outlet charger” when the sun is fully out, this solar panel can easily fit inside a tote bag thanks to its near-flat design or can freely hang on a backpack. It can also charge any device in as little as three hours due to its 10-watt power output, according to the brand. A bonus for those with overloaded suitcases? It weighs less than a pound. This charger is water-resistant but won’t stand up to being fully submerged. Price at time of publish: $99 The Details: 1 port | 0.65 pounds | 10 watts | 10.5 x 7 inches (unfolded); 5.25 x 7 inches (folded) | Water-resistant Best for Multiple Devices BigBlue 28W Solar Charger 4.2 Amazon View On EBay Why We Love It It folds and has holes for easy hanging. What to Consider It’s unable to store power for future use. With three USB-A ports, this four-panel solar charger is able to power up your favorite devices, such as your phone and Bluetooth speaker. This charger comes equipped with smart chips to ensure your device is always protected and charged safely without experiencing over-voltage. It’s extremely thin for slipping into a backpack or tote, and when you need to hang it up to soak in the sun, holes with heavy-duty metal lining come in handy. Price at time of publish: $80 The Details: 3 ports | 1.34 pounds | 28 watts | 33.1 x 11.1 x .2 inches (unfolded) or 11.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches (folded) | Waterproof Best Charging Speed Ryno Tuff Portable Solar Charger for Camping Amazon View On Amazon Why We Love It It charges two devices at the same time. What to Consider There’s no internal battery, meaning energy can’t be stored. The Ryno Tuff Portable Solar Charger can fully charge a phone or tablet in approximately two hours. Another standout feature of this solar charger is its ability to stop charging when it senses your device is overheating or has reached its full capacity. Two carabiner clips are included with the foldable charger for hanging and hauling needs. In addition to providing your phone with top-notch energy, the team at Ryno Tuff is also committed to giving back to the earth — with every purchase of this solar charger, the company will plant a tree through the National Forest Foundation. Price at time of publish: $63 The Details: 2 ports | 1.04 pounds | 21 watts | 18.1 x 11.8 x 0.12 inches (unfolded); 5.9 x 11.8 x 0.79 inches (folded) | Waterproof 14 Travel Adapters and Converters That’ll Save Your Next International Trip Best Flashlight LuminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1 Power Lantern REI View On Amazon View On REI View On Luminaid.com Why We Love It It’s waterproof and shatterproof. What to Consider It can only charge one device at a time. With five brightness settings to light up your chosen environment, this backpacker-favorite lantern features adjustable straps so you can easily hang it from trees or inside a tent. It’s also collapsible (a must for those on the go), shatterproof (made from heavy-duty TPU, an elastic plastic that’s PVC-free), and waterproof (it can survive being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes). Price at time of publish: $50 The Details: 1 port | 0.53 pounds | 2,000 mAh | 6 x 6 x 6 inches (unfolded); 6 x 6 x 1 inches (folded) | Built-in battery | Waterproof Tips for Buying a Solar Phone Charger Consider device compatibility When it comes to finding the perfect-for-you solar phone charger, it’s important to consider the types of ports (USB being the most common) your charger houses, as well as when you’ll be using it. A key rule of thumb: The bigger the solar panels, the faster your phone will charge, since the larger solar panels will capture more sunlight, thus providing more energy to your device. If you’re looking for something more compact, just know the charge time of those chosen power packs — which can typically reach 10-plus hours for solar phone chargers — will be on the lengthier side. Know the difference between direct and battery-bank solar chargers A built-in battery (i.e. a battery-bank solar charger) is important if you’re looking to charge your phone overnight or during a cloudy day, for example. The built-in battery will store any unused energy from the sun for future use (no sunlight needed as this is happening), while a portable direct charger without a built-in battery is best for on-the-go usage. For example, when you attach your solar panel charger to your backpack and connect the USB cord to your phone during an especially sunny hike, your phone will charge as you carry on with your adventure. Think about portability One of the biggest points in purchasing and using a solar phone charger is to bring it with you while caping, hiking, or enjoying other outdoor activities. You'll want to make sure your charger isn't so bulky or heavy that it become difficult to take with you while still providing all the capabilities you're looking for. Frequently Asked Questions How do solar phone chargers work? As the name suggests, solar phone chargers are powered by the sun. Here’s how: Photons carry energy from the sun, creating an electric field that produces energy that’s transferred to the charger itself, which is then delivered to the device.So, do solar phone chargers actually work? It really comes down to your expectations. Charging speed and durability are reflective of how you’re using your portable solar-powered charger. A few tips to consider: Make sure the solar panel is completely exposed to the sun, without any obstruction, and be patient — depending on which solar pack you choose, it’s important to remember that garnering a full charge will take more time than it would with a classic wall charger. What power output should I look for in a solar phone charger? Power output is measured in either mAh (milliamps per hour) and watts. Both units speak to the energy charge. The higher the number (for both), the more energy can be stored—meaning a longer battery life. Can I take a solar phone charger on a plane? You can take your solar phone charger on the plane if and only if your charger doesn’t contain a built-in, lithium-ion battery (the most common type of battery used in chargers). Lithium-ion batteries are susceptible to “[creating] sparks or [generating] a dangerous evolution of heat,” which is why the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and TSA do not allow portable chargers containing this battery in checked luggage; you can bring it on the plane with you, but only if it’s packed in your carry-on. Have a battery-less solar phone charger? You’re cleared to check it in as long as it’s able to fit into your suitcase. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Grace Gavilanes is a writer-editor who has covered a wide range of topics — from celebrity news and beauty to food, wellness, and travel — for close to a decade. Her writing has been published in InStyle, Food & Wine, Glamour, and Mic, among other outlets. To curate this list of the best solar phone chargers, she drew from her own experience as a lifestyle writer and researched dozens of products. The 12 Best Waterproof Phone Cases of 2023 Love a great deal? 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