Solar panels allow for a reusable supply of electricity, even if you're in a remote area. While we know some campers want to get away from it all and rough it, it's hard to completely disconnect from electrical devices these days. Electricity is even more important for wilderness campers and hikers who want to stay in touch with friends and family via cell phones and field devices. Fortunately, the sun provides us with a never-ending supply of renewable energy. The camping solar panels can use this convertible energy source to help power a variety of devices. They come in different sizes, wattages, and designs to fit almost any camping style.

Over the past few years, I have started using solar power for my camping adventures. This led to the development of a complete solar system for my camper conversion. I spent a lot of time figuring out what adapters I would need to convert power from the MC4 to the 8mm. In figuring out the best solar panels for this list, we also considered many other important factors for each panel:

Wattage: What is the maximum amount of power the panel can draw from the sun?
Connections: What type of connectors does the manufacturer use? How easy are they to connect to the battery or solar generator?
Size and weight: Is this panel intended to be mounted on the roof of an RV? Or is it built to be stored in a backpack to charge a cell phone?
Durability: Is this a panel that will be outside 24/7? What type of metal is the frame made of?
VALUE: Does the panel's functionality and construction match the price tag?

In addition to the obvious environmental benefits of using the sun's rays as a renewable energy source, campers can benefit greatly from solar panels in other ways. The biggest is the ability to stay in a decentralized campground with no hookups while still being able to utilize all of your electronic devices. With the nightly price of campgrounds increasing every year, the freedom of a modern campground can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year, depending on how much camping you do.

Overcharging with solar panels can damage the battery. However, this is becoming less of a concern these days. Many panels and portable generators have built-in overpower and surge protection that stops charging once the battery reaches full capacity. We also recommend never leaving the panel completely unsupervised to ensure that such accidents never happen.

Most companies put maximum wattage on their solar panels, but in my experience, it is rare to get maximum input from most panels. Using the 100-watt panels I use, I have found that on a clear day, the maximum wattage tends to be about 50 to 80 watts of output. Cloud cover also plays an important role in the efficiency of solar panels. Some panels do better than others when the sun is hidden. But never expect great charging when the sun is up or down.

In addition to cloud cover, the angle of the panel and its position relative to the sun is also important. With portable folding panels, it's easy to stay turned to follow the sun throughout the day. Meanwhile, panels fixed to the roof can only reach peak capacity for a limited time each day.