Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit

$99.95

(5)

Item # 851177

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Gear and Advice You Can Trust

This item ships for free! Learn more

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

The Goal Zero Switch 8 solar recharging kit combines the Switch 8 battery pack with a Nomad 3.5 solar panel, allowing you to gather and store solar power, and recharge your devices almost anywhere.

Small but mighty, the Goal Zero Switch 8 portable recharger breathes life into your phone, music player, or tablet; bring it wherever your adventures may lead
Powerful lithium ion battery is light and powerful and holds a charge for up to 6 months; charge it up from the included Nomad 3.5 solar panel, wall plug or a car outlet
USB in and out offer a simple and straightforward design for easy use
Simply lay out the light and portable Nomad 3.5 solar panel and use the sun's power to charge the Switch 8 battery pack
Compact, weather-resistant solar panel is smaller and more powerful than comparable panels

Imported.

Item 851177

$19.99

with coupon code ANNV13
May 17-27 Details

Not a member? Add a Membership

This item contains hazardous or flammable materials and is restricted to surface shipping only. Online orders for shipment to Alaska must be picked up at the Anchorage REI store (follow options for Free Shipping to REI Store when ordering); shipment to any other Alaska address is not offered. Sorry, this product cannot be shipped to Hawaii, APO, FPO or international addresses.

More about FREE shipping with REI Store Pickup

View all Goal Zero products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit

3.8

(based on 5 reviews)

80%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Reliable (4)
Good value (3)

Cons

Best Uses

Emergency equipment (3)
Portable electronics (3)
Travel (3)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Quality oriented (5)
- Primary use:
- Personal (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (5)

Reviewed by 5 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-5

May

2013

2.0

Backpack-mounted solar charger

By eric

from Sunny Santa Paula, CA

About Me Quality Oriented

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact size
Great Battery Pack

Cons

Cheap Design
Not The Lightest
Poor Mounting Points

Best Uses

Basecamp
Having Around The House

Comments about Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit:

I've been on a search for the perfect backpack-mounted solar charger. My two main requirements are:

1. Durable design that can be mounted on the outside of my pack and,
2. Lightweight

My basepack weight is around 6.5 pounds so item #2 is pretty important - but durability will always win out for me so a little extra weight in exchange for durability is OK.

I started with the Power-Film USB/AA Solar Charger - mainly because of it's extremely lightweight (6.6 oz). Soon though I found durability of the electronics was lacking. All three units eventually just stopped charging after 2-3 uses.

I then tried this product, The Goal Zero "Switch 8" Solar Kit (11.2 oz). I liked the flat solar panels like the Power-Film unit and the Goal Zero's zippered pocket to hold charge cables. The seperate battery pack is nice because you can disconnect it at the end of the day and bring it into the tent to charge GPS, etc. without removing the panels from your pack... that's an OK feature too.

Brought it home pulled it out of the package and noticed that the cordellette "loops" that are sewn around the outside seam of the panel "case" had a lot of hanging threads. Didn't think much of it at the time. Then I started with a few different options of mounting it to the pack with black stretcy cord. Decided to mount it on the four side loops and the on the top loop. Mounted snug put not tight. While adjusting it, the top loop just pulled out of the threads on the panel!! This makes the mount totally worthless!

Using mostly ultralight gear, I am very careful with my gear - so I wasn't rough with it at all. I then noticed that these cord loops sewn in to the panel are just small bits of cord sewn with only a miniscule thread, not a continuous piece wrapped around the outsied of the entire panel that would help to strengthen what is a very important part of this product!

I can't recommend this product when such an integral part of the item is so poorly made. I think of what would have been if this happened while in the backcountry.

However, I did like the switch 8 battery pack, that is the reason I gave it 2 stars.

Next, I am going to try the Solar Monkey Adventurer (REI Item #843129) and mount the panel only to my pack without the "wallet". The hard case (without the "wallet") has handles that can be used to mount to the pack... since it's part of the case it should be much more durable. And, this unit is 2 ounces lighter than the Switch 8 Solar Kit!

I'll post a review on the Solar Monkey Adventurer once I've had a chance to try it... the search continues!

Comment on this review

May

2013

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Does what it is supposed to do

By livingupnorth

from Minnesota

About Me Quality Oriented

See all my reviews

Pros

Good Value
Reliable Performance

Cons

Best Uses

Emergency Equipment
Good Size For Backpacking

Comments about Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit:

I bought the switch 8 for backpacking and canoe tripping to charge small devices like cell phones/kindle/mp3. Portable size and ease of use makes it ideal for this application.

It charges my smart phone fully in about 1 3/4 hours off of the battery pack. No issues charging the basic cell phone, kindle, and MP3.

The only problem I initially encountered was getting the smart phone to charge off of the battery. It would not charge using the phone's USB cable. The solution is to use a "charge only" USB cable (no sync/data capability).

Overall, well thought out and well designed product.

Comment on this review

May

2013

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great quality and value. Awesome choice

By SM-C323

from Cumming,ga

About Me Quality Oriented

See all my reviews

Pros

Good Value
Great All Around Design
Reliable Performance

Cons

Best Uses

Camping
Portable Electronics
Smartphone Recharge
Travel

Comments about Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit:

I have been looking for a good solar charging product. There are so many out there but few are lightweight and can be rugged. I will be at the 2013 National Jamboree this summer and this product is perfect for my use. REI's unquestionable customer service and return policy make it a no brainer to purchase. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone.

Comment on this review

May

2013

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Reliable, portable solar recharging

By R Varo

from San Francisco

About Me Quality Oriented

See all my reviews

Pros

Charges Quickly
Good Value
Reliable Performance

Cons

Best Uses

Emergency Equipment
Having Around The House
Portable Electronics
Travel

Comments about Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit:

I've been using this solar recharger to keep my Droid phone, Kindle, and iPod charged. In full sun, it charges up in just a few hours. The panel and storage battery are light and easy to carry around. I had to buy an $9 cable (w/ mini USB, micro USB, and iPhone connections) to connect it to my devices.

Comment on this review

Mar

2013

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great but slow ultra-light charger

By Lost Creek Wanderer

from Stanley Idaho

About Me Quality Oriented

See all my reviews

Pros

Reliable Performance
Ultra Light

Cons

Charges slowly

Best Uses

Emergency Equipment
Portable Electronics
Travel

Comments about Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit:

I picked this great little charger up at REI after spending 6 weeks backpacking through the Himalayas and constantly struggling to keep my electronics charged (Camera, ipod, headlamp, GoPro). With sporadic access to unreliable electricity, and with extreme cold temperatures that kill your batteries quickly, this would have been the PERFECT piece of gear for that situation. (I also plan to use it on my cross country motorcycle trips, where I don't have a cigarette lighter charger available).

I chose this particular charger because it seemed to be quite a bit lighter weight than its larger siblings, while still charging at an acceptable rate. (The larger the panels, the faster the fuel cell will charge, but then when you plug your electronics into the fuel cell, it charges at the same rate as the larger panels). I have only been testing it for a couple days now on mostly sunny days and it seems like it takes a good 10-12 hours to charge the Switch 8 (the fuel cell), which in turn gives my smart phone (or camera, ipod, headlamp) a good full charge in just a couple hours. So, this is pretty much the perfect solar recharging gadget for excursions when you are looking to recharge your electronics every few days on long excursions or travles. Small, light weight,sleek and cool. But if you are going to need to charge multiple gadgets a day, then this isn't the one for you. You'll need bigger, heavier, faster charging solar panels.

Lastly, it's pretty awesome that you can charge the Switch 8 before you hit the road or trail simply by plugging it into your wall or any USB charger to give it a nice full charge in just a couple hours.