REASONS TO BUY
Very durable
Charges quickly
Does well in all conditions
Waterproof
Strong adjustable fold-out legs
REASONS TO AVOID
Quite heavy
Charging cable is often sold separately
Renogy 100W Foldable Review
The folding version of the type of solar panel you could permanently mount to the roof of your vehicle
The Renogy 100W is one of the most powerful panels in direct sunlight.
Credit: Sam Schild
By Sam Schild ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 19, 2023
Our Verdict
The Renogy 100W Foldable is a hard-sided solar panel with a strong aluminum frame. This model is a folding version of the type of solar panel you would mount to the roof of your overlanding vehicle or even on top of your house. It's significantly heavier than most of the other panels we tested, but that's beneficial if you want a durable panel that won't blow away in the wind. It's fully waterproof, has a high solar charging efficiency, and comes with a hard-sided carrying case that will protect the panel during transport. It has the strongest and most secure fold-out legs of any panel we tested. This panel is a great choice for those who aren't going to be moving it around that much but need plenty of power.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Renogy 100W Foldable is one of the best solar panels if you want to set it and forget about it. It's extremely efficient, very durable, and fully waterproof.
The Renogy 100W Foldable is one of the most efficient and durable panels we tested.
Credit: Sam Schild
Direct Solar Charging Speed
The Renogy 100W works very well in direct sunlight. This panel consistently performed as well as other top performers in our direct solar charging speed tests. It's consistent and efficient in full sunlight.
The Renogy charged its 240-watt-hour test battery faster than every other panel we tested. In previous years, this wasn't the absolute highest-output panel during testing, but it's always been nearly the top performer. You'll never be left wondering when you'll be able to charge your tech or turn on your powered cooler with this panel.
Like all the best solar panels, it uses high-efficiency monocrystalline solar cells. This panel consistently put out some of the most power compared to all the panels we tested in direct solar charging speed. In our comparative direct-sun solar charging speed test, the Renogy 100W Foldable generated 60 watt-hours of energy in a single hour.
The Renogy 100W does well in direct solar charging scenarios.
Credit: Sam Schild
With an average output of 49.7 watts in direct sunlight at 5,000 feet above sea level, the Renogy once again proves itself a powerhouse of energy generation from the power of the sun. Occasionally hitting levels as high as 70 watts during peak sunlight, this panel is about as powerful and efficient as it gets.
Even compared to some stiff competition, this panel puts up an impressive performance in energy conversion.
The Renogy 100W is one of the most powerful panels in direct sunlight.
Credit: Sam Schild
Indirect Solar Charging Speed
Since the sun isn't always shining, it's important that solar panels are as efficient as possible in cloudier conditions as well. The best panels make the most out of the dispersed light created on cloudy days, but not all panels do as well in cloudy conditions.
The Renogy 100W Foldable was one of the top performers in our indirect-sun solar charge speed tests as well. We simulated a cloudy day using a white sheet on a sunny day, suspended over all the panels side-by-side. Within this veritable blanket fort, the Renogy proved its efficiency even when the sun is blocked.
In one hour, this panel generated 20 watt-hours of charge. This is the most of any solar panel we tested.
Similarly, the Renogy 100W put up impressive stats in terms of point readings of watt output. Even under our cloudy day sheets, this panel managed to produce an average of 12.3 watts of power. Very few others we tested can compete.
The Renogy performed very well under our simulated cloud.
Credit: Sam Schild
All in all, the Renogy performed better than every other panel in indirect solar efficiency tests. This panel does not sacrifice efficiency for anything. It was a top performer in all of our solar charging tests.
The Renogy panel was very efficient in simulated cloudy conditions and on clear, sunny days.
Credit: Sam Schild
Portability
The Renogy 100W is not very portable. We dreaded every time we had to load this panel in and out of our car. This model is technically portable because it folds and has a carrying case, but it's one of our least favorite models to actually move around. We wouldn't recommend this panel if you live in a small apartment or will need to carry this panel up and down staircases, as we did during testing.
It weighs 21.2 pounds, which is more than twice as heavy as some of the more portable solar panels for camping we tested. Its carrying case is 26.5 by 22 inches and 3.5 inches thick. Twenty pounds doesn't seem that heavy, but depending on how far you have to go with it or how high you have to lift it, those pounds feel heavier quickly.
The hard-sided carrying case makes the Renogy a little easier to transport. It protects the panel from the inevitable moments when you knock it into something because it's so big and bulky. It fully unzips and opens like a clamshell, making it in and out of the case mercifully easier.
The Renogy 100W Foldable is technically portable, but it's a workout lugging this thing around.
Credit: Sam Schild
Functionality
The Renogy 100W is very functional. It's more durable than many panels in our test group, and it's fully waterproof. It's able to be connected in a continuous daisy chain with other panels, and Renogy often sells this panel as a package with a handy solar controller and connector cables.
It only charges one device at a time, but that's common for panels with universal standard MC4 solar connector cables. The main purpose of this panel is to be connected to a battery as part of a complete off-grid system. The Renogy support legs are some of the best of any panel we tested. They're made of aluminum, like the rest of the panel's frame, and can infinitely adjust and secure in position with a threaded knob on each leg. These legs securely hold the panel up and work better in high winds than those of any other panel.
The aluminum legs on the Renogy 100W foldable are some of the strongest and most secure we tested.
Credit: Sam Schild
Should You Buy the Renogy 100W Foldable?
The Renogy 100W is an all-around great-performing solar panel. It's one of the most powerful and energy-efficient models we tested and offers serious durability and weather resistance. Seemingly regularly, this 100-watt panel is on sale and makes for a great value option at some of the prices we've seen. At the end of the day, as long as you don't have to move it around too much, the Renogy is an exceptionally sturdy and efficient option.
The Renogy 100W is a durable and efficient panel to set up at your campsite and leave out all day.
Credit: Sam Schild
What Other Solar Camping Panels Should You Consider?
If you're looking for a more portable solar panel with user-friendly features at an affordable price, we recommend the Luvknit 100W Foldable. If you want a more portable solar panel that's still waterproof but is slightly easier to transport, check out the EcoFlow 110. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you need something that's seriously portable, check out our review of solar power banks.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Renogy 100W Foldable versus top competing products:
—Sam Schild
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