When the mains is down for days, sunlight is the one power source that keeps coming. A foldable solar charger keeps phones, power banks and small devices alive off-grid.
Our picks cover a high-output all-rounder, a compact charger from a trusted brand, and a keenly-priced waterproof panel.
A portable solar panel provides renewable off-grid power for charging devices and power banks indefinitely. The ultimate self-sufficient power source for extended expeditions and prolonged emergency situations.
For smartphone charging, a minimum of 10 watts is needed; 20-28 watts is ideal for faster charging and overcast conditions. Look for monocrystalline panels with 22-24% cell efficiency — these extract the most power from the limited and often indirect sunlight typical in the UK.
A folding multi-panel design packs flat in your rucksack but unfolds to a large surface area for maximum light capture. Built-in grommets, carabiner loops, or elastic straps allow you to clip the panel to the outside of your pack, a tree branch, or a tent guyline for hands-free charging on the move.
A good solar charger includes an intelligent charge controller that regulates output voltage regardless of light intensity fluctuations. Without this, intermittent cloud cover can cause charging to start and stop repeatedly, which some devices interpret as a fault and stop accepting charge entirely.
The panel surface is inherently waterproof, but the USB ports, wiring, and junction boxes need protection. Look for an IPX4 or higher rating and sealed USB port covers. In UK conditions, your solar panel will inevitably encounter rain — it needs to survive this without damage.
UK cloud cover can reduce solar panel output to 10-25% of rated capacity. A 20W panel may only deliver 2-5 watts on a grey day. Manage expectations and pair your solar charger with a power bank to accumulate charge over longer periods. Do not rely on solar alone for time-critical charging.
Fluctuating light conditions cause inconsistent power delivery from a solar panel. Some phones handle this poorly, repeatedly connecting and disconnecting. Charge a power bank from the solar panel (power banks tolerate variable input better), then charge your phone from the power bank for a stable, reliable charge.
A foldable solar panel with multiple USB ports to recharge phones and power banks off-grid. Keeps essential devices going through a long, sunny outage.
A compact foldable 21W solar charger with two USB ports from a trusted brand. A reliable way to top up phones and small devices off-grid.
A waterproof foldable 21W solar panel with dual USB output at a keen price. Strong value for keeping devices alive during a long, sunny outage.
A foldable 100W monocrystalline panel designed to top up a Jackery Explorer power station, with USB outputs so it can charge phones directly in a pinch. This is the piece that turns a battery into something you can actually keep alive through a long outage. Output depends on real sunlight, so pair it with a power station rather than relying on it alone.
A 40W foldable solar panel sized to top up a power bank or small power station when the grid is down and the sun is out. Best thought of as a slow daytime trickle-charger for extending battery life over a multi-day outage rather than fast charging. Output drops sharply under cloud, so pair it with stored battery capacity rather than relying on it alone.
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