10 Best Budget Portable Solar Panels 2024

Ever dream to get a break from all the chaos in your big city? Well, we all have. And it would be so nice to go and explore the woods or at least live in a deserted area for a weekend. Although if you are planning to do so, you will need all the resources like water and electricity to survive. Here, you can very well rely on the portable solar panels for your little trip or camping to explore nature and live away from the chaos.

Not just for camping and long trips, the solar panels are useful to use at your home as well. After all, you can never know when the blackout happens and you find yourself in the dark. Although people would prefer regular solar panels for their homes, portable ones are very useful and efficient to use.

Benefits of Portable Solar Panels:

• Eco Friendly: One of the benefits of having a portable solar panel is that they are eco-friendly. As you would know, the solar panels would extract the power from the sun and turn it into electric energy which can be used to power your electric appliances. This means you will reduce the overall carbon footprint and can also reduce the detrimental power sources.
• Lightweight and Portable: Well, since you are investing in a portable solar panel, you would get the benefits of having a lightweight solar panel which you can carry around anywhere with yourself such as camping, and always have a source of power with yourself.
• Emergency Supply: One of the other reasons why you should invest in a portable solar panel is that you would always get an emergency supply. So whether it is a blackout in your locality or if something happens to your electricity supply, you can always have the electric power source.
• Safe and Easy to Use: One of the other benefits of having a portable solar panel is that you can safely use it on your own as it is easy and convenient to use. You won’t have to struggle with wiring and setup as it is quite easy to use. All you have to do is simply put it under the sun and connect to your equipment that needs the electric supply.
• It will make you self reliant: One of the other reasons that you should buy a portable solar panel is that you would be more self-reliant. That is, you don’t have to rely on other power sources and you can always have an eco-friendly and easy-to-use power source whenever you need it.

These are some of the benefits that you would get with a portable solar panel. Now the next question is, where will you find the ideal portable solar panel that can serve you well and makes sure you are never short on electric supply.

Well, there are many choices in the market, but as these don’t come that cheap, you would want to be careful while shopping for them. That is where you need some assistance with choosing the best portable solar panel for yourself.

In this article, we have chosen the top 10 portable solar panels that you can find and use conveniently. We have also listed down a buying guide at the end of the list so that you can know how to choose the best solar panel among the others. Go ahead and take a look at the following list and find the best portable solar panel for yourself.

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Best Portable Solar Panels

1. Renogy Monocrystalline Portable Foldable Solar Panel Suitcase

Our first pick for the best solar panel is Renogy Monocrystalline Portable Foldable Solar Panel Suitcase. This one is the leading choice for customers who are seeking the highest efficiency and more powerful solar panel which can always power their electronic appliances and gadgets anywhere and anytime.

There are many reasons why we find this one as the best solar panel option. It comes with many amazing features, such as adjustable height, corrosion-resistant aluminum (this can withstand saltwater) and it also features heavy-duty handles and latches. According to the availability of sunlight, it can provide 500 watts-hours per day.

As per its portability, this one is compatible with many vehicles such as RVs, boats, trailers, and many more. Its low voltage system is another unique system that ensures safety from shock hazards. It would take care of any task at hand which makes it highly versatile.

It comes with a charger control with an LCD. It is also waterproof featuring IP65 ratings and for more protection, it comes with a casing for protection.

Overall, with all things said, this is undoubtedly the top portable solar panel you can find so far.

2. Eco-Worthy 10W 12V Off Grid Small Solar Panel Kit

If you are looking for something that can help you to power the small things that require less power output then the Eco-Worthy 10W 12V Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit should be your best choice. This one is perfect for maintaining the batteries of cars, motorcycles, boats, or snowmobiles.

The solar panel comes with a cigarette lighter adapter, a pair of battery clips, and PV suckers (4). The high-quality battery clips ensure full safety and make sure that these prevent short-circuiting. Furthermore, this is also an energy-saving solar panel as it possesses a built-in blocking diode which will prevent discharge from the batteries. It produces only 12 volts which can be sufficient for small tasks.

Overall, if you are looking for a cheap portable solar panel that can meet your small needs then this one should be your best option so far. It offers great value for money and makes sure you get everything you have ever wanted.

3. Anker Portable Solar Panel Charger

Anker is one of the leading brands that we have today and they have impressed us with numerous electronic appliances and gadgets which are of high quality and come under the budget as well. So when we were hunting for the top portable solar panels, Anker was one of the first choices of brands to look for.

This would ensure that the user can easily take this one with themselves and it is ideal for backpacking as well. It features a compact design and the design is created in a way that it can be attached to a backpack bag or tent. The available wattage is 21, this is enough to charge two devices simultaneously with an efficiency of 21.5-23.5%.

The product is sewn into a polyester canvas which makes it weather-resistant, if not water-resistant. The panel can be easily folded down and becomes very compact. Moreover, it weighs less than 1 pound so it would be super easy to carry it around with yourself. Overall, it is undoubtedly one of the top-rated portable solar panels to investing in.

4. Newpowa Polycrystalline Solar Panel

Looking for a high efficient portable solar panel? Well, we have found one for you and this is Newpowa Polycrystalline Solar Panel. This heavy-duty solar panel is 100 watts which would be able to power many devices and make sure to meet your power demand. Although it is quite heavy (20 pounds) it features pre-installed diodes and cables. The panels are also framed with heavy-duty anodized aluminum, this results in enhanced rigidity and durability. It would work well when the sun is all bright and shiny in the sky but you can also expect it to get power when it is cloudy outside.

This one also offers a great value for money and provides you the best performance as well.

5. Nektek Solar Panel

If you were impressed with Anker’s design and features but you don’t want to buy that one, then you should certainly take a look at the Nektek Solar Panel. It features almost the same design but varies in efficiency, performance, and price.

This lightweight and compact solar panel is your best friend if you like to live all by yourself in a deserted area or go on long road trips. It weighs only about 18 ounces and measures 11 inches in length, so it becomes pretty easy to carry it around with yourself.

It comes with canvas stitching which ensures durability as it can easily withstand rugged conditions. It is also rustproof, and waterproof. It also features advanced microchip technology that can detect devices that are plugged into it. It would fast charge the phones without the risk of overheating. It is easy to fold and travel with. It also features higher efficiency as it would produce enough power for small devices.

6. Goal Zero Boulder Solar Panel Briefcase

Goal Zero is another one of the top portable solar panels that we have found for you. It is another powerful and leading choice for a solar panel that can very well meet your power demand and can be your energy power supply too.

Although it is a bit heavy, around 25 pounds and the size is also reasonable, it is easy to travel with. It can take up the briefcase form which makes it highly portable. It is constructed with anodized aluminum and tempered glass which makes it highly rigid and durable. The available wattage is 50 and 100, this would be sufficient to power your important electronic gadgets.

7. Jackery Solar Saga 100W Portable Solar Panel

We have found a versatile portable solar panel that you would be happy to invest in. The brand is very well known for its premium quality solar panels for more than a decade now and they have never disappointed us either. So here, we have one of the best portable solar panels for you.

It features a 23% conversion efficiency rate which can harness enough power for many devices such as cameras, camping equipment, and so on. It features multiple USB outlets which make sure you can charge multiple items at once. On the downside of its excellent quality and powerful nature, this can be a bit heavier, but it shouldn’t bother you if you are looking for a high-power solar panel.

8. Rockpals Foldable Solar Charger

Rockpals is another top-rated portable solar panel that you would find so far. Here, you would certainly like this solar charger as it can charge multiple devices at once with 6 amps of energy. One of the unique features of this solar panel is its circuitry design which would tell you the optimum charging rate which ensures quick action.

The solar panel is compatible with many cords available in the market which makes it quite versatile too. It is also scratch-free and moisture resistant which makes it durable and rigid enough to withstand the outer environment. Although its larger size can be a concern too.

9. TOGOPOWER Portable Foldable Panel

We have yet another foldable portable solar panel that can help you to meet your power demands when you are on the road or in the middle of the blackout. It is highly efficient and powerful as it can draw 120 watts of power at once.

It features a straightforward design that makes it easier to use and power the devices. It features 18 volts of output and 23% efficiency rates. This one is user-friendly too, as there are no setup requirements either. Overall, this can be your best budget portable solar panel so make sure you consider this one.

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10. BigBlue Foldable Solar Charger

The next top portable solar panel on our list is BigBlue Foldable Solar Charger. This one too is easy to carry around and it can easily attach to a tent or backpack as you prefer. It features a 4.8 amp flow with a 23 percent efficiency rate as well. The panel features polymer film and polyester backing which makes it durable and rigid. There are a total of 3 USB outlet points and it can catch sun rays from 3 different angles. It is lightweight and well designed to meet your power needs on the go.

Buying Guide for Portable Solar Panel

There are many things that you would have to consider while you are buying a portable solar panel for yourself. Here, we have a list of things that you would need to consider that would help you to choose the best portable solar panel for yourself:

1. Type of Portable Solar Panels

There are many types of portable solar panels found in the market and each one has its own benefits. Here are the types that you will find:

• a) Polycrystalline – This type of portable solar panel uses structured pieces of silicon which would catch the sun’s ray. The cells are brought together in lines, this makes a complex structure. Due to its structure, it becomes more efficient and can draw more power. On the downside, the complex structure makes it heavier and hard to fold.
• b) Thin Design – Another popular type of portable solar panel is the thin design. This is also the most commonly found design too, and it is made up of blended materials. Usually, it is a mix of elements that would be beneficial in catching the rays. The materials include silicon, gallium, copper, indium, and selenide. This makes it more or less efficient and also affects its weight distribution.
• c) Monocrystalline – Monocrystalline is another type of portable solar panel that you would find. It uses a single large crystal which makes them the most efficient portable solar panel type. This is because it can draw more sunlight and would be able to produce more power as well. This makes it the most expensive type of solar panel as well as most durable. These show the least sensitivity to higher temperatures.

2. Folding
One of the other things that you need to consider in a portable solar panel is its folding ability. It is important that your solar panel features a large surface area so that it can catch more sunlight. At the same time, they should be able to fold down to a very compact size which would make it easier to carry it around and use as well. Although you have to find a balance between mobility and efficiency.

3. Stand
You need to look at the stand of the solar panel as it would rest at a certain angle so that it can get the maximum sunlight without any damage. It would be better if the solar panel is elevated instead of just leaning on the ground. It would prevent the damage and absorb more sunlight which makes it more efficient. So it would be better if you get a stand with a portable solar panel.

4. Battery
Not all portable solar comes with a battery but some of them do feature a battery with the whole set. This adds a lot of value since you won’t require full sun exposure to use it.

5. Outlets
The next thing you need to consider would be the outlets as you will need to extract the power from the panel to power your appliances and electronic gadgets. Most of them feature USB and sometimes it also features a car adapter that would be used to draw power.

6. Size and Weight
Another one of the features that you need to consider before buying the portable solar panel is the size and the weight. Since you are buying a portable solar you may be planning to use it where you would go and take it with you. This would require a lightweight structure and compact design that takes less space and isn’t too heavy for you.

Make sure you check the dimensions of the solar panel and see if the weight is ideal for you to travel with.

7. Maintenance
One of the other things that you need to feature is maintenance. You have to look for a solar panel that doesn’t require too much maintenance and would be easy to handle. You would need to keep it scratch-free and place it somewhere safe. You will also need to wipe it down, remove the dust and keep the surface clean as well. Make sure you know how much time the solar panel would require and how much time you can give to its maintenance.

8. Supply
One of the other things that you need to consider is the supply of the portable solar panel. You need to consider the power demand by the appliances that you wish to use via the portable solar panel. You need to go see if it can fulfill your demands and charge your appliances. In most cases, a large surface solar panel would be able to produce 100-watt power.

9. Overall Reliability
You need to make sure that you can rely on the solar panel whenever you need it. This includes using the panel while you are on the road or even in a deserted area. The panel should be made up of water-resistant material as well.

10. Price and Brand Value
Another one of the most important features that you would have to consider is the price. You would want the best budget portable solar panel which features the highest efficiency at an affordable price. So make sure you set your budget first and then look for the best portable solar panel in that budget.

Here, brand value is another important factor to consider. Each brand has its value and standards, so you may want to consider the brand as well.

Conclusion

Here, we have listed all the popular and best portable solar panels that you can find so far. Here you would certainly like these portable solar panels as they meet higher standards and quality and would be a good companion for road trips too. Customers have also given their positive reviews and called these the top-rated portable solar panels.

Overall, you would be pretty happy with these portable solar panels. So choose any of the aforementioned portable solar panels, you won’t be disappointed.