FlexSolar 60W Review

The FlexSolar 60W includes three input ports that cover the most common cables you might need: USB-C, USB-A, and DC. All we had to do was unfold and point the six monocrystalline panels toward the sun, plug in a device for recharging, then sit back and let the charger charge. It really is that easy.

Direct Solar Charging Speed

In direct sunlight, the FlexSolar 60W lives up to its 60-watt rating: It easily outperformed solar chargers rated at lower wattages, which is not always the case in our tests. In our USB-C tests while collecting midday sunlight in July in Idaho, it averaged more than 5,100 mAh per hour. This means that we could recharge a typical smartphone with just an hour of quality light.

For the test, we connected multiple panels to identical battery banks, let them charge for an hour, then drained each battery bank using a USB multimeter to record the usable mAh. We repeated the tests three times over three different days.

When we tested this solar charger with a more efficient DC connection to a small portable power station, we were blown away by the extra kick: 8,276 mAh in just a single hour of Idaho sun at 2,400 feet of elevation. On a few different occasions, the panel delivered over 50 watts, which indicates excellent efficiency. In the real world, solar panel wattage ratings indicated by the manufacturer are maximums that could be theoretically achieved at the perfect angle in perfect sunlight.

What we really like about the FlexSolar 60W is that it lets us play away from camp all day, then catch some rays for a few hours at the end of the day and the beginning of the morning and still collect enough energy to recharge multiple phones and camp gadgets.

Indirect Solar Charging Speed

When we challenged the FlexSolar 60W during our indirect sunlight test, it again easily collected more energy than smaller panels. When placed underneath a white sheet suspended over the panels, it was able to average nearly 1/3 of its direct sunlight capabilities.

We conducted this test three times to help determine how well panels perform on cloudy days, and this panel averaged 1,624 mAh.

We even recorded one hour under high cloud cover in Idaho, without a sheet, at 1,930 mAh over USB-C. Let's put it this way: When cloud cover is part of the day's weather report, this is the lightweight solar charger we want on hand.

Portability

The portability of the FlexSolar 60W depends a lot your expectations: Compared to small ultralight solar chargers, it's a bulky beast. Compared to typical 100-watt solar panels designed for camping or home emergencies, the FlexSolar 60W is more like a slim butterfly. In reality, it folds down to the size of a notebook, just 12 x 10 x 1.1 inches.

It does not have any velcro or snaps to secure the folded panels, but it's plenty durable so we weren't worried about it. We found it easy to stuff into a camp box with other gear like camp stoves and lanterns.

Previous generations of FlexSolar panels were much heavier than this latest generations. At 3.5 pounds, we don't want to take it backpacking, but we would take it on a canoeing or kayak trip.

The solar charge controller extends beyond the folded panels, but it's a smooth design that seems more protective than chunky controllers stuck to the backs of some competitive panels. The ports have a rubber covers that keep dust and debris out when not in use, which we appreciate.

Functionality

The FlexSolar 60W is super easy to use. Its three ports — USB-A, USB-C, and DC — give you most of the options you might need to charge most portable devices in the field.

Better yet, it comes with a cool multi-purpose charging cable with XT60, DC5521, DC7909 and Anderson Output ports for different charging stations you might have or encounter.

The FlexSolar 60W has carabiner loops and comes with two carabiners so you can hang it to charge when the sun is low on the horizon. Unfortunately, it doesn't have kickstands to angle it at the sun, though.

Should You Buy the FlexSolar 60W?

The FlexSolar 60W is small enough to be easily packable and portable, but it's large enough to charge as quickly as most people's USB wall chargers when exposed to direct midday sunlight in many parts of the world. Because its 60-watt panels are larger than most solar chargers, we were easily able to collect more than enough energy to recharge a typical smartphone in just one hour of direct sunlight. With a DC connection and a few hours, we were able to recharge multiple devices easily. If you're looking for a no-fuss solar charger to connect to battery banks for recharging small gadgets, this one can handle small groups and family needs with ease. While we're not impressed with its typical MSRP, when it's on sale it's a great value.

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