Power banks are excellent accessories, allowing you to charge up your devices in a pinch. Problem is, they’re just portable batteries, which means their charge will eventually deplete after you’ve charged enough devices enough times. If you want a truly off-grid way to charge your devices on-the-go, you’ll want something like the Nestout 4-Panel Solar Charger V2.
As the name implies, this is the second generation of the outfit’s solar charger. From what we can tell, the main change is the port availability. Instead of the dual USB-A ports of the last generation, it comes with one USB-C and one USB-A slot, allowing it to charge both older and newer devices that you like taking with you on the go. Very handy.
The Nestout 4-Panel Solar Charger V2 folds up into a compact bundle that measures just 11 x 6.1 x 2.4 inches (length x width x thickness), allowing you to easily throw it in a backpack for easy transport. It’s also small enough to carry in hand, so you can grab it and move over to a sunny spot to do your charging. Truth be told, it looks little more than an oversized wallet or an EDC pouch, so it’s not too weird to carry around everywhere either. Suffice to say, this is a very convenient tech to bring to your outdoor adventures.
It comes with four SunPower MAXEON Monocrystalline Cell solar panels, which claims a 24 percent conversion efficiency. That translates to a maximum 28W of output on optimal sunlight, giving you plenty of power to charge your phones, tablets, and other small gear. Sadly, it doesn’t seem capable of charging USB-C laptops (it’s not listed on the compatible devices), which is kind of disappointing. It has a built-in LED ammeter that shows real-time-charging output, allowing you to monitor its exact performance at any time, making it easier to make adjustments, since you can easily see whether it improves or deteriorates on the fly.
The Nestout 4-Panel Solar Charger V2 comes with an integrated adjustable stand making it easy to position the solar panels to any ideal sun-drawing angle. That means, you can easily fine-tune the panels’ positioning throughout the day to maximize their sunlight exposure. It’s not just meant to be used stationary, either, since the panels can actually be hung on your backpack using any of the six integrated attachment loops, so you can hike a trail while this thing draws in sunlight and converts that into energy to power your smartphone, handheld GPS, or satellite messenger.
Other features include an attached pouch (sized to fit charging cables, power banks, smartphones, and other small devices), a nylon fabric shell, limited water resistance (do not use in the rain), and a hiking-friendly weight of just two pounds. If you want something even slimmer and lighter, they also offer a two-panel version that produces a maximum of 14W. Do note, it doesn’t come with its own battery, so you have to charge devices on it directly. If you want to store power, you’ll have to bring a power bank separately.
The Nestout 4-Panel Solar Charger V2 is available now, priced at $129.99.
