GADGETS | Xenta Backpack Solar Panel – Review

June 9, 2015 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

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What We Tested

Xenta Backpack Solar Panel
5w portable solar panel
Ideal for hikers and campers
Charge any USB device, best for smartphones and iPods
Compact 19.6 x 29.3cm size
£39.99 from Xenta.co.uk

The Lowdown

The solar panel is small and light, featuring a single USB port on the rear which is located inside a mesh pocket, and there’s a handy hanging loop at the top of the panel too. The backpack charger does not have a built in battery, so you’ll need to make sure it’s plugged into the device you want to charge for it to work, and it also needs to be outdoors and in direct sunlight for the best results.

The sturdy loop at the top of the panel allows you to attach it to a backpack if desired. I used a small carabiner to attach it to mine, though during vigorous walking it did flap around a bit. On the rear side there is a handy mesh pocket along with the power socket, which allows you to plug in a single USB device. A phone or iPod can then be zipped securely into the mesh pocket and held in place with the two internal elastic straps.

Whilst my old Xperia Z2 is a big handset, it’s by no means the biggest on the market and it just about fitted inside the mesh pocket. The pocket is not large enough to fit a very big handset inside, so if you have something like the Galaxy Note, you’d need to stow the phone in your bag or pocket and simply run the USB cable from there, into the charging unit.

It doesn’t charge particularly quickly; in full sunlight outdoors, we found it took about 4.5 hours to charge my Z2 smartphone from 50% battery up to 98% battery. Compared to an empty to full charge time of 3 hours on mains electricity, but still, it was impressive for such a light and relatively small panel.

Our Verdict

We think the Xenta Backpack Solar Panel is ideal for walkers, and anyone spending a lot of time outdoors in the summer. We liked the simplicity of the product, and think it provides a reliable power top up for phones and small USB devices, for walkers, festivals goers or for off-grid campers.

Priced at £39.99 the Xenta Backpack Solar Panel offers decent value for money, especially if you don’t want to stretch to something pricier like the iSIS Freeloader, justt don’t expect to achieve good charging efficiency out of direct sunlight.

Solar Charger Pictures

Thank you to Xenta who supplied the solar backpack charger for us to test.

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Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Editor & Owner at Camping with Style

Shell loves all things travel and outdoors and is a nature-loving, comfy-camping kinda girl. Shell started the Camping with Style blog after a serious snowboarding accident which left her with a broken back. Despite this she used the outdoors and healing power of nature to aid her recovery and she continues to spend time outdoors whenever she can.

From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she's written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.

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