Some people find the thought of camping rather scary, and it’s not for the venturing into the unknown, into the grand outdoors, but for the lack of power. The great news is you don’t have to go completely off grid and cut off civilisation to get the rejuvenating effect out of staying away from the hustle and bustle of city life – you can always rely on solar energy to power up your appliances.

Do I Need a Solar Panel for Camping?

It doesn’t matter whether you’re planning on staying just for a day or two, or longer, like a few relaxing weeks, the convenient portable solar panels for camping are reliable, noiseless, easy to set up and use to power up your devices. 

They’re the type of investment that’s affordable in the long run, all the while it helps you keep up with your sustainable lifestyle as it reduces energy waste. Not to mention, it keeps you comfortable and safe throughout your stay in the wilderness without adding much weight or taking up much space from your storage. 

Depending on the setup, you can power up the simplest and smallest of devices, or even most of your appliances. It all comes down to what it is you need and the lifestyle you lead, but to be on the safe side it’s advisable to get a panel that produces more energy (up to about 20%) than you require. This is especially helpful when you get stuck outdoors in rainy weather for days on end.

How to Find the Ideal Solar Panel?

With the various options of panels available nowadays, it’s easy to lose track of what’s important and end up buying something unsuitable for your trip. To avoid hefty mistakes, and the headaches that come with them, focus on the essentials like: 

Portability 

Even if you’re not backpacking and you’ve got an RV like us, weight can be a problem so always opt for something portable and lightweight. Panel designs like mats and blankets are ideal for that lightweight solution when on the go, especially those you can use on their own or incorporate them in a larger setup. 

They’re great because they’re foldable, so you can set them up yourself as you see fit and as the sun’s position changes to make the most of it; Even if you park in the shade, you can still use them in the sunlight. They’re easy to be stored too, and protected in their own cases. This is the kind of versatility you should be after if your trips change, like when you decide to extend your stay outdoors longer than planned. 

Power Output

This is crucial so you don’t get lack of energy surprises along the way. Be sure to take into account each and every device, appliance or light you’d like to power up so you’d get the idea of which the perfect portable solar panel model would be. 

LED lights, phones and cameras could do with small capacities like up to 20W. But keep in mind, if you’re not travelling solo that would mean more of these devices to be charged. Fans, GPS devices, tablets could do with a bit more, up to 50W, whereas for running laptops and fridges, or several devices at once, then it’s best to get a more powerful panel. From 60, all the way up to 200, 250 and 300W, there are plenty of options.

Panel Type

If you can afford to invest more in this crucial camping tool, go for the monocrystalline panel type as it’s a highly-efficient design that’s also compact, and works great even in low-light conditions. If you can’t afford the top-notch one, and you have space for a larger panel, then you can get the budget-friendly polycrystalline. 

Features

What is it you find useful in transportable solar panels? If you’re after enhanced usability and functionality, look for panels with USB ports for direct powering up of devices, DC ports for pairing with solar generators, and waterproofing properties to have the peace of mind when you use them in not so convenient weather. But keep in mind, the more the features, the higher the price would be. 

Budget

It’s important to weigh in your musts to have a general idea of the type of panel you should be after, and see if you have the budget for it. Perhaps you want to make the most of a high-end panel that can directly plug in electronics but it’s more expensive and of less capacity – so you end up requiring an inverter and a battery too for a regular setup. 

When you have everything in mind, then you won’t have to go through unpleasant surprises. If you can, it’s also better to invest more in a top-notch and durable product made from rugged materials from a reliable brand than go for the cheaper option as that would mean it’s more resistant to the weather, and requires lower maintenance overall.