solar charger

[ferris bugler]

Do you guys have a recommended backpacking solar charger for usb type electronics?

[Herb]

Goal Zero Nomad, IIRC

[Indian Summer]

I'm using a Brunton

[WindedBowhunter]

With my use and customer's responses, this is how we would rate them:

Powertraveller PowerMonkey Extreme
Brunton
Goal Zero

I personally have sold my Brunton, since I received my Powertraveller last spring. It holds a charge longer.

I did a test over the winter, where I charged the battery to full capacity.
Then let the battery set on the front concrete porch overnight in below freezing temps.
Then attempted to charge my Droid Razr Maxx HD which was dead (as in would not power on)
I was able to charge my Droid Razr Maxx HD 4 full times and 5th, but only partially before the Powertraveller PowerMonkey Extreme battery was depleted.

That is much more power than any other battery pack that I have used.

The 2013 PowerMonkey Extreme has more improvements over the the model that I am currently using.

[ferris bugler]

Any idea whether or not these chargers work with an Iphone 5 or a kindle?

[WindedBowhunter]

PowerTraveller in addition to supporting any device with a USB charging port makes 2 sets of adapters:
Female USB, which allows any device with a USB adapter for use of charging
MonkeyTails - which have iPad, iPhone, Micro USB adapters

Brunton supports any device with a USB charging port

Goal Zero supports any device with a USB charging port

I chose all-in-one device, as that suited my needs. If you need a larger capacity look at the two-piece solutions from Goal Zero and Brunton.

[ferris bugler]

Thanks. Very helpful.

[BobcatJerry]

Used the Goal system last week, and did great job. Charged AAA and AA's and used the battery pack all week as my camp light. They cows even licked it and stepped on it, lucky it was a direct hit. I found to charge the Garmin Rino battery pack it won't get the job done off of the 12V charger. I have the Nomad 7 and the guide 10 power pack and just rotate batteries each day. Maybe a larger charger would.

[WindedBowhunter]

I found to charge the Garmin Rino battery pack it won't get the job done off of the 12V charger. I have the Nomad 7 and the guide 10 power pack and just rotate batteries each day. Maybe a larger charger would.

In our experience, you should get better results with the Sherpa 50 instead of the Guide 10.