What is Reddit's opinion of Lixada Solar Panel Charger USB Port Portable High Power Paper Shaped Monocrystalline Silicon for Cell Phone Camping Hiking Travel?

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I got one of these for $15.99: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01MCXZJ8Y I've cut it down a bit and it now weighs 83grams.

I measured the output of it in close to "average conditions" for a sunny day and was able to reliably get 1.5watts for the output. While this is far from what it's marketed as, it's enough to tickle charge my battery enough to justify the weight for longer trips. Not yet field tested.

Initial results with the Lixada 10W solar panel from Amazon are pretty good!

My Pixel 4a and my wife's Pixel 3a both resume charging without having to reconnect the cord after passing through shadows, which was a potential big caveat of solar charging I've seen mentioned. Anker battery packs also resume charging after darkness.

I haven't measured power output, but my phone still shows as charging off-angle and even backward (some light passes through the translucent back + ambient reflection I guess). In full sunlight My Pixel 4a estimated 35 minutes to full from 79%.

Unmodified weight is 3.39oz on my scale. $20.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MCXZJ8Y/

Doesn't look exactly the same, but close: Amazon link for folks in the US

Thanks. I was wondering about the black one. I'd be interested to see how the aliexpress ones turn out too. 5

I have the white panel that you linked there at the bottom. The "10W" 🤣🤣 one. It definitely puts out 1.2 Ah or even a little more in direct summer sun. Not 10W but better than a classic iPhone charger! Restarts very quickly when shaded and handles partial shade very well. Unlike my Goal Zero which I had to unplug almost every time it got shaded. Actual weight for mine is 92g.

Duct tape makes sense for the MPB21. I've read others complain about how easy it is to disconnect.

Oh damn, price went up to $26 :)

https://www.amazon.com/Lixada-Effiency-Activities-Lighting-Monocrystalline/dp/B01MCXZJ8Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?crid=32QNF2LGQVTWD&keywords=hiking+solar+panel&qid=1664245762&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjE2IiwicXNhIjoiNC40OSIsInFzcCI6IjMuODYifQ%3D%3D&...

I agree what others said, without full direct sun and being stationary long enough it is a wash compared to just bringing a larger battery bank.

When I was doing my research this panel was the best for output Vs weight.

Lixada Solar Panel Charger USB Port Portable High Power Paper Shaped Monocrystalline Silicon for Cell Phone Camping https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MCXZJ8Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_F4D675R4R7S2GF9SAQXH?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Pretty much everyone asks this same question at some point in their planning. And you only are confident in the result after you ask it yourself.

I only saw one person with a solar rig. They were one of the 10lb-11lb base weight people -- Superheros? Freaks?...we still don't know -- and they carried this Lixada panel. They only got ~5W-7.5W out of it, at best, but it was reliable.

The issue they said was getting sufficient sunlight relative to their phone useage. They knew they could manage in some sections but were going to swap for a power bank in others.

And, as you've sorta discovered, and as most people do, ya...you could curtail your electronics use to work within that bottleneck of a solar rig <or>...you could carry a reasonably light power bank.

The Nitecore 10000 and Anker Powerline Slim PD 10000 are some common favorites.

This style is good for carrying around. Very lightweight and decent output. If you shop around you can find them for $10.

Avoid anything that folds or is built into a powerbank.

I have used a Lixada 10W panel in the past. Only my scale, it only weighs 80g (just over 2oz) without the accessories.

In direct sun, one panel will charge a battery at around 900mah. If you double the panels, they will charge up to 1200mah. I think the output of the panels and a y-splitter is capped at 6W.

I only really use it to top off my battery (Anker Powercore 13,000mah) and as a backup, in case I don't have access to a charger.

R/ultralight favorite is the 3.3oz Lixada 10w 4.5-5w actual), only panel I’ve seen that yields >1 w/oz. Can link 2 in parallel for twice the output. Always use a USB multimeter dongle with solar.

I bought one of these, they really do put out 2A in full sun and less in semi-cloudy weather. I also have a folding one that has a 19v output for a laptop and USB. Can't remember the brand.

I know solar panels are pretty terrible and battery banks are better because you can recharge them in town. These days, when you’re supposed to keep your town time to an absolute minimum, a solar panel may deserve a second look. So in that spirit, I tried out this lightweight solar panel ($18, 3.5oz) in my back yard.

I first tried to charge my phone with it directly, but my iPhone decided that as soon as the current dropped, it was going to stop charging until I plugged the cable in again. So first cloud and that was a fail.

Second method was to charge up a battery bank from dead and then see how much I could charge my phone using that battery bank. I tried it twice in direct sun on a “poofy cloud” day (most of the time the sun was blasting, but there are high clouds up there). I managed to get 15-20% charge using 1 hour of solar time.

I think most people budget 50% of a cell battery charge per day, so you’ll need more than 1 hour, but if you toss the panel on the top of your pack and it’s a sunny day, I suspect you may be able to get what you need out of it. Maybe even with just lunch/rests/end of day, if you angle the panel correctly.

So there you are: 3.5 ounces is pretty good, and it does actually work, even if it isn’t a miracle product. Have fun and stay safe!

AirPods are the only change to my original set-up. Panel is the Lixada 10W, r/ultralight’s favorite - here’s a dual set-up I tested (with protective film), but I only EDC ~half that. Tip: don’t attempt solar without testing with a USB multimeter dongle - everything matters with solar, and you won’t have a clue what’s failing without the instant feedback of the meter.

Lixada 10w, 3.3oz and 5W max. HEREs the older 4W version (keep in mind most of the panel manuf specs fib by a factor of 2x). You can daisy chain 2 for double the amps too.

Won’t find many (any?) other panels that can beat 1W actual per oz.

If you really want to use solar, I highly recommend using a USB multimeter with it. Panels, cables, and devices all matter, on top of weather, angle to sun, etc.. and you won’t have a clue what’s failing without the instant feedback of a multimeter. The multimeter can also turn your electric consumption/charging planning and management into a math exercise.

THIS is also a great article and explanation of things.

Lixada is by far the best - for durability, efficency, and variable light conditions. But, its "water resistant" not "waterproof" - so stick it in your pack during a rainstorm. Mine weighs in at 85 grams.

I did some thorough testing this year on six section hikes of 4-7 days. Trekking through the woods (mostly shade) it'll put out 100-150 mA per hour. Full noon-time sun, it maxes out at 800-850 mAh. So, for the most part, you should get about 2000 mA per day out of the panel; which can be a good top-up and help extend you an extra day or two if the weather cooperates.

But, just as important is your choice of powerbank. Some, like Anker, will shut down charging when the solar panel is putting out very low amperage (i.e. when you're in the shade) and you have to physically disconnect and reconnect the panel in order to resume charging in the sun which makes the whole exercise of hiking with a solar panel atop your pack useless. I found that my RAVPower powerbank worked best for continuous charging from solar; I also had an Endurance PocketJuice charger that I bought at Costco a couple years ago that dealt with the variable-rate charging well.

But, I've got to be honest: I wouldn't suggest completely relying on a solar panel for power while thruhiking. Most of the time, you'll have to stop mid-day to put the solar panel out, aimed at the sun and not moving around, to maximize energy production. Weather is too variable; 3-4 mostly-cloudy days will ruin you. Buy a 10,000 or 20,000 mAh quickcharge powerbank and charger (depending on your power needs) and charge in-town.

Oh - and don't go down the road of a BioLite stove - you'll need to burn sticks for 4.5 hours, cleaning it out every 30 minutes in order to generate 2000 mAh.

It’s a Lixada 10W

Panel, Y Cable, and USB Multimeter I normally use (may need cut panel edges for dongle clearance when plugged directly to panel). Powerbank is an older RAVPower 10k (honest capacities), but anything from a respectable manufacturer is fine.

No more than I've given above...

Here's the link to that panel I have.
https://www.amazon.com/Lixada-Effiency-Activities-Lighting-Monocrystalline/dp/B01MCXZJ8Y

Seems to be one that comes with a USB C cable now but its still USB 2.0 https://www.amazon.com/Lixada-Charger-Portable-Monocrystalline-Silicon/dp/B08MW6JFYY

There may be some better choices now but most are too heavy.

They work best if you charge the brick rather then the device directly. The brick must have a USB 2.0 capable charge port. I did manage to charge my Garmin Mini directly with the top one

One modification I did consider was directly wiring the cable since the USB A plug on the back makes the panel not waterproof despite the its claim to be so.

It’s the 10w (most panels overstate by 2x) here, and this is a daisy chain set-up (note shipping plastic film still attached).

So the bivy, have you been in the rain for an extended period of time with it yet? I had an OR helium bivy, I found it to wet out in constant rain unfortunately. I'f not,I'd advocate for somthing like the following.

Drop the bivy, get a Borah Cuben bivy (4.5 Oz for side zip)... back ordered quite a bit so if you don't want to wait, find on on r/ULgeartrade

Next get some sort of tap to go with the bivy. Like a Zpacks pocket tarp of an SMD Gatewood Cape (11 Oz if you replace the lines with 1.2mm dyneema cord.)

If you go with the cape, you can drop your helium jacket because the cape doubles are your rain gear.

So Sierra Designs bivy + helium Jacket = 21.4 Oz

SMD gatewood cape + carbon stakes + Borah bivy = 16.5 Oz (so this option saves you nearly 5 Oz)

Zpack Pocket Tarp + carbon stakes + Borah Bivy + Helium Rain Jacket = 18.1 Oz

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Next up is your clothing!

Drop whatever bag your using to store you sleeping bag in. store your sleeping bag in you Zpacks dry pillow bag. Store your clothes in your mosquito net (use it like a stuff sack).

Those down pants... what time of year are you going? I'd argue that with the summerlite and the Xlite pad, you'll be fine switching those out for some warm thermals instead for most of the summer along the JMT. I'm a pretty cold sleeper too so I almost always bring thermals or a bag that's way over rated. The Capilene Air Bottoms are the warmest for weight that I have tried so far.

Is that 3 shirts I see on that list? I'd advocate to bring that down to at most 2 if not 1.

Same with those socks, at most 2 pairs, not 3.

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Electronics:

Switch that headlamp out for a nitecore NU25 with the shock cord mod.

I don't see a solar panel or wall charger on the list, what are the plans for charger that power bank? If you go the solar panel route, I recommend the Lixada 10W Solar Panel(93 grams, $24). and instead of multiple cables, be sure to use only one USB-C cable paired with adapters.

If you go the solar panel route, be sure to place the solar panel on the top of your pack using shock cord and mitten hooks like this. I personally used Zpacks bathtub groundsheet connection system(11 grams, $10) to perform this task. This solar panel and the NB10,000 worked great for me on the JMT last year.

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Cooking:

Now a the semi controversial opinion here, drop the Pocket Rocket, and grab a BRS 3000-T.

Reasoning: If you boil water with the BRS turned down low(were talking 5-6 minute boils), it's just as efficient as the Pocket Rocket. If its wind resistance your worried about, the pocket rocket is nice... but I assure you, there are plenty of large rocks to make wind a screens/block for your stove if a site doesn't already have one made by someone before you. I'd say about 80% of the places I slept on the trail already had little stove windblock made.

And lastly but not least... your Pot, could I interest you in an astronomically exceptionally expensive UL heat exchanger pot i'm working on? ;) I just finished what I consider to be nearly the final iteration of the pot and am at the point where im looking for people to test it out this summer (unfortunately I cant give them away, i'm too poor, but I can sell them at cost to anyone who wants to test it out). Currently they are weighing in at 3.1 Oz with lid, boils 2 cups of water with 3.7 grams of fuel on a BRS stove (efficient enough to use just a 100 gram canister even on your longest stretch). Its essentially a jetboil but for the weight of a snow peak mug. Here's a link to a previous iteration of the project, current pot iteration looks a little different though.

Anywho, if you prefer a more tried and true method (and much more affordable), I suggest looking at getting a Sterno Inferno Pot. If you drop the lid (replace with foil) and the silly wind screen, it weighs a little more than your current pot (4.2 oz I think), but should be able to get you the efficiency to drop down to the 100 gram fuel canister instead of the 200 gram one, so ultimately saving you some weight there.

I use the Lixada solar panel (98g / 3.5oz) with the Nitecore 10,000mAh power bank (154g / 5.4oz). I attach the solar panel to the corners at the top of my backpack's mesh pouch. My tent is stuffed into the pouch, so the "hump" creates a pretty good angle to capture the sun. I secure the bottom two corners to the rings below my mesh pouch using a piece of 1/16" shock cord. (It's just enough to keep the panel from bouncing around or getting blown upwards by the wind.)

I charge my electronics from the power bank at night. The solar panel keeps the power bank topped off if I hike in the sun the next day. And on cloudy/shaded days, well, that's why I have 10,000mAh as a buffer.

I rarely need to charge my power bank in town. Finding an outlet is one less thing I need to deal with.

I use the Lixada (marketed as 10W, but who knows) attached to a NiteCore 10,000mAh power bank.

I attach the solar panel to the corners at the top of my backpack's mesh pouch. My tent is stuffed into the pouch, so the "bump" creates a pretty good angle to capture the sun. I secure the bottom two corners to the rings below my mesh pouch using a piece of 1/16" shock cord. (It's enough to keep the panel from bouncing around or getting blown upwards by the wind.)

I charge my phone (airplane mode Pixel 3a), my NiteCore headlamp (rarely used except midnight potty runs), my DJI Osmo batteries (usually 1 dead and 1 half) and my Garmin inReach Mini (charged every couple days). On a sunny day (NOBO is best...with the sun on my back), my battery bank is back up to a full charge by the end of the day. On a cloudy day, obviously not.

Thus, I carry a solar panel more to supplement my battery bank rather than to replace it. It saves me from having to carry a heavier battery bank. And it saves time in town because I rarely need a full charge on my battery bank.

The solar panel weighs 98 grams on my scale. The power bank weighs 154g.

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For all you naysayers out there: YES, IT DOES WORK.

Lixada 10W - I’ve seen 5W in ideal dry summer conditions, but usually count on 4-4.5W in direct cloudless conditions year-round. Most solar manuf. overstate specs by 2x. I primarily use a 5W iPhone charger for everything, so it’s fine for me.

Amazon says I bought the 10W white one but there is no way for me to tell whether a 7.8W was shipped and delivered. I have the all-black arriving tomorrow.