SolarPanel & On-Board Battery 5+

BioLite SolarPanel 5+ — backup power for the days off-grid

The gist: A pocketable solar panel with a built-in battery that keeps one phone alive through a day of hiking, van life, or a hostel with unreliable outlets.

• 3,200mAh onboard battery (8Wh): stores sun for later, so you can charge a phone after dark instead of only while the panel is out.
• Optimal Sun System: an integrated sundial and 360-degree kickstand help you angle the monocrystalline cells for direct sun on uneven ground — useful on a balcony, trail, or campsite.
• 13.76oz (390g), 10.1 x 8.2 x 0.94in: slim enough to strap to the outside of a daypack without eating your carry-on weight allowance.
• IPX4 weather resistance: shrugs off rain spray, which matters more than "waterproof" marketing on most trips.

Desk to Dirtbag's review found it reliable for topping off a single device at a time, though not the best value per watt compared to larger panels built for multi-device charging.

Best for: solo travelers and van-lifers who need a backup charge for one phone, not a full off-grid power station. Skip it if: you're traveling with a laptop and multiple devices — the 8Wh battery and 5W panel charge slowly and some users report the stored capacity fading below spec over time. Runs ~$44.98 — check the current price before buying.