A dead phone in the middle of a long-distance trail means losing your GPS, your camera, and your way of calling for help if things go wrong. A solar charger solves this without adding unnecessary weight: no battery to charge from the mains, no power bank to watch over like a hawk. The question is which one to choose, what kind of battery life you can realistically expect, and how to fit it into your camping kit. Here's our selection, tested out on the trail.
Our pick of the best solar chargers for hiking
Two complementary options: a portable solar charger for everyday power on the trail, and a foldable solar lantern for evening light with no batteries or mains charging needed.
Why bring a solar charger hiking
On a multi-day trek, your smartphone does it all: GPS map, photos, backup torch, sometimes your only means of contact in an emergency. A standard power bank lasts a charge or two, then becomes dead weight. A solar charger changes the game: clipped onto your rucksack while you walk, it charges continuously as long as it catches light, with no need to hunt for a socket at a mountain hut or B&B. It's no coincidence that our 35W model already ranks among the top results when you search for a hiking solar charger on Google: its flat, lightweight design, direct attachment to your rucksack via carabiners, and sufficient power for a phone make it a reliable choice, even for your first trek.
How to choose: power, weight, panel type, waterproofing
Four criteria make the difference between a solar charger you'll actually use and one that gathers dust at the bottom of your rucksack.
Power is measured in watts (W): below 10-15 W, charging a phone becomes too slow to rely on over a day's walking. Around 20-35 W, you can charge a smartphone in a few hours of decent sun, which covers most hiking needs. Beyond that, the panel gains speed but also weight and bulk — a trade-off best kept for groups or heavier electronic needs (camera, dedicated GPS).
Weight and shape matter just as much as output: a flat, lightweight panel that attaches directly to your rucksack (via carabiners, eyelets or straps) stays exposed to the sun as you walk, without throwing off your balance. Models that are too bulky or poorly attached almost always end up stuffed at the bottom of your rucksack - and left unused during the day.
Panel only or built-in battery: some chargers simply convert light into current in real time (nothing is stored if your phone isn't plugged in), while others include a small buffer battery that holds onto the energy collected during the day so you can use it in the evening, once you've stopped walking. The second type is more versatile for camping trips.
Waterproofing isn't a minor detail: a panel left attached to your rucksack has to cope with rain, trail dust and constant handling. Aiming for at least splash resistance (IPX4) will save you a nasty surprise after a downpour.
Real-world battery life: what to actually expect
This is the area where marketing promises the most and real-world conditions on the trail bring you back down to earth. A panel advertised as "35 W" only delivers that output in direct, full sunlight, with the panel perfectly angled. In practice, under a hazy sky, in the partial shade of woodland, or later in the day, output drops noticeably - sometimes by half. Polycrystalline cells (the most common type on this kind of charger) perform slightly less well than monocrystalline cells in overcast conditions, but they're still enough for a full charge over a day's walking with at least some sunshine. UFC-Que Choisir tested several solar chargers out on the trail and confirmed this gap between advertised output and real-world performance: it's best to build in a margin rather than count on a full charge by the end of the day.
| 35W Portable Solar Charger for Hiking | Foldable Solar Lantern | |
|---|---|---|
| Main use | Charging your phone, GPS, or power bank | Lighting up camp without using batteries |
| Power | 35W | — |
| Weight / size | Flat panel, attaches to your rucksack with carabiners | Foldable lantern, hangs up |
| Battery life | Depends on how much sun you get during the day | Several evenings after a full charge |
| Price | £46.90 | £38.90 |
Managing your energy well on a bivouac
On a bivouac, the challenge changes: it's no longer about recharging on the move, but about managing the energy you've captured during the day for the night ahead. The foldable solar lantern takes over from the charger here: it charges while you walk or during a break in the sun, then lights up camp without using a single battery. For extra light — moving around the bivouac, finding something in your rucksack once night has fallen — a rechargeable head torch remains the handiest extra, leaving your hands free.
£38.90
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For a multi-day bivouac, the trio works together naturally: the solar charger captures energy while you walk, the lantern gives off ambient light around camp once it's set down, and the head torch takes over for precise tasks as soon as the sun goes down. USB-rechargeable, it offers several power levels so you can adjust the light to suit the task — reading in the tent, preparing a meal, or simply moving about in the dark — without wasting charge on jobs that don't need it. Here's what this trio looks like side by side, ready to head out for another night in the wild.
When it comes to staying organised, a simple habit is to plug in the solar charger last thing in the morning, angled towards the sun, and save the lantern and head torch for nightfall: that way, you're not drawing on two devices at once from a resource that's still limited. For the full kit list to bring along, our guide on what to pack in your hiking rucksack covers the essentials beyond power and light, and our range of hiking and camping accessories brings together the rest of the kit we've tested out on the trail.
A solar charger put to the test on the trail (video)
To see a hiking solar panel in action — attached to the rucksack, angled towards the sun, with real-world charging times — this field video gives you a genuine sense of how it performs day to day, beyond the numbers on the spec sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best solar charger for hiking? For everyday use (phone, GPS), a light, compact panel of 20 to 35 W offers the best balance of power, weight and price. Our 35 W portable solar charger (featured above) fits this format, with direct attachment to your rucksack so you can charge while you walk.
What's the best portable solar charger? The best choice really depends on how you'll use it: a lightweight panel attached to your rucksack is great for charging on the move, while a model with a built-in buffer battery is more versatile, letting you draw on stored power in the evening once you've stopped.
Which solar panel is best for hiking? Go for a light, compact panel with an output of 20 to 35 W, and at least splash resistance (IPX4) so it can handle rain and trail dust without any risk.
What are the 5 best solar battery packs? Rather than a fixed ranking, it's better to choose based on how you'll use it: sufficient power for your devices, a compact format suited to attaching to your rucksack, and a minimum IPX4 water resistance rating — these criteria matter more than the brand.
