Goal Zero  Nomad 20 Solar Panel

This solar panel worked really well, and I'm very satisfied. I bought it since the pandemic had me running out of juice on all my power banks, with no way to recharge them since all the shops were closed. Originally, I was going to use it to power larger items but I realized that in the event of a storm-related power-outage, a standard generator shared with friends would be a more effective option. Instead, I decided to just use this to recharge power banks and batteries at campsites. It happens to be really effective- I tested it in full sun and on slightly overcast days. Even in a spot where I got only 4 hours of straight sunlight, it still fully charged two powerbanks within the 4 hours. It comes with adapters for multiple types of banks. It IS a little heavy, and I might trade it in for the two-panel since it so effectively does what I need it to do. Overall, it earned its place in my camping gear and will save me time in the future. I used to make sure to take a trip to a coffee shop or deli midway through camping trips to recharge things. With this, I can envision being able to comfortably stay out longer. I might actually stop making fun of people with battery-suck GPS units.

Before taking this unit on a camping trip, I tested it thoroughly at home. I used only the USB charging port, which my phone, tablet, and combo power bank/light (the Lander Cairn XL) use. This unit would only effectively work in full sun--and even then would only effectively charge a cell phone. It took just a bit longer than if I had plugged it into the wall--that's good. Everything else? Not good: Even in full sun, It would not charge my tablet at all (which uses a 19.5V wall adapter), and took all day to charge the power bank/light. In dappled, or partly cloudy conditions, it would not work very well at all. I talked to Goal Zero customer support, and they advised to power up a power bank first. But as I said, that required a whole day of full sun. I have a rooftop solar power system which monitors power production in 15 minute increments. I tested the Nomad 20, charging the phone and measuring the increase in phone charge against the rooftop efficiency. In the morning, with the sun just beginning to break through morning fog, the rooftop was running at 40% capacity, and the phone was charging about 16% as rapidly as it would charge in full sun. With a bit more clearing, the rooftop was operating at 80% efficiency, and the Nomad was charging the phone about 33% as rapidly as it would charge in full sun. Goal Zero's website has a picture of somebody hiking with the Nomad 20 strapped to his backpack. From my experience, this would work in morning or afternoon if the sun were always at your back--and then for a phone only. But midday, or if the sun were to the side, or you were hiking through trees? No way. Goal Zero said the 8mm port is more efficient, but it connects to larger, heavy power banks--the kind you would NOT be taking backpacking. So if you have such a large power bank, you would not need such a mobile solar charger as the Nomad 20--you probably would be using a larger and heavier solar charger anyway. I'm returning this unit.