FlexSolar 8.5W Foldable Solar Charger, Waterproof Sunpower Solar Charger Panel, Mobile Solar Charger for Power Bank, iPhone & All 5V Electronic Devices

I love camping and I love being out in nature but I also have 5 kids that have a hard time letting go of their devices cold turkey which was what they had to do before we got our FexSolar foldable solar charger. We took it on a test run and it worked great! It was able to charge their devices (iPad, iPhone) and they were able to still use their devices to take pictures which out in the middle of nowhere that was pretty much all they used them for. I am also happy we won't run out of battery and will always have our phones charged in case of an emergency. It folds up nice and compact and I can just slip it away when not needed. Looking forward to taking on backpacking trips and all of our outdoor adventures!

Love this. Its lightweight, works well and great price. I spend alot of time camping and hiking and this is a perfect go to solar charger. It also comes with a multifunctional charger for USB and iPhones :)

this is worth the money spent for charging my iPhone. this panel works so well even in a November light cloudy day.

So this panel does work in (ONLY in direct sunlight!), but there's one huge issue with mine that might even damage your device: if there's any shade or a cloud goes over the sun, instead of stopping charging the controller will continue to attempt to output power, which results in the voltage dropping extremely low. This is bad for your device and means that you can't use this panel on a backpack or hiking or anywhere with shade. As a result my review is reduced to 2-stars.Original review below, for reference:What I Like:-Consistent 0.8 - 1A output @ 5V (in full, direct sunlight)-Easy to use, just unfold in sunlight and it automatically turns on-Folds up into a compact package smaller than an iPad-Durable feeling construction-Hooks to hang from a clipWhat I Don't Like:-Charge controller makes a slight whine at lower outputs-Not strong enough panel to charge devices in the shade-Attempts to charge device even when not getting enough power-Voltage drop in shadeConclusion: My recommendation with a solar panel like this is to buy a battery bank and charge them together instead of directly charging a mobile phone or device. The reason for this is sunlight fluctuates, and phones are not as well equipped as battery banks to handle the drops and jumps in current. From my experience with this panel, in bright full sunlight, I got at best just under 1.3A of charging, with an average of 1000mAh. Given the solar panels rating of 8.5W, this is expected. The panel is rated for a peak output of 1.7A and there will be some loss in circuitry, sunlight intensity, heat, etc. The one issue I noted with this panel is at lower outputs (in the shade particularly), the charge controller makes a quiet high pitched whine when there is not enough light. I also encountered a serious voltage drop before the controller decided to stop trying to charge in low light. Will have to test that more.In non-technical terms, in direct sunlight it will take approx. 3 hours to charge a smartphone. Things like clouds blowing past, a window or intense heat can push this a little longer. Since it's inconvenient to be connected to a solar panel for several hours in a row, I recommend buying an external battery bank with the panel, despite the fact that they take longer to charge. For example, a 10,000 mAh battery bank will take about 10 hours to charge with this panel in direct sunlight. However, charging a battery bank means your phone is not constantly tethered to the panel and you can move freely with it. It is also better for the phone, because this panel does not charge much in the shade, and phones need a consistent amount of power to charge properly. If you want to charge multiple devices at once, or charge better in mixed sun/shade you will need a higher wattage panel.I wouldn't recommend buying this because the charge controller does not have that safety cut off. So while it does work you might find it damages your device.

Charges in indirect sunlight! This is a huge pro. The panel works as a charging panel even in less than ideal conditions. Solid construction. The fabric backing of the panel is very durable. Comes with 4 carabiners, with holes at both ends to hook them up to your backpack or tent. I like it.

I love this unit , great idea and will take it out on the road , camping and just sitting outside . I'll have to buy another to keep with all the camping gear. Great idea !Jo