Solar is what keeps the fridge cold and the phones charged when you camp off-grid. Adventure Kings sells three kinds of panel for that: a fixed glass panel, a semi-flexible panel and a folding solar blanket. We’ve reviewed one of each. To compare them with other brands, like the San Hima solar blanket, see our camping solar panels guide.
Two of them are part of our own setup. The 160W semi-flexible panel sits on top of our rooftop tent, and the 240W blanket comes out when we’re parked in the shade. Here’s how the three compare and which one suits which kind of camping.
Quick picks: Kings solar panels comparedQuick picks
| Product | Score | Price | Power | Weight | Size | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for the rooftop tentKings 160W Semi-Flexible Solar Panel | 9.7 | Low | 160 W | 3.9 kg | 120 × 78 cm | Check price at Amazon |
Best for shady campsKings 240W Solar Blanket | 8.5 | High | 240 W | 6.6 kg | 165 × 94 cm | Check price at Amazon |
Best fixed panelKings 100W Fixed Solar Panel | 7.8 | Mid | 100 W | 6.6 kg | 80 × 70 cm | Check price at Amazon |
Price bands are based on what we paid.
Best for the rooftop tent: Kings 160W Semi-Flexible Solar PanelRooftop tent: Kings 160W
The Kings 160W semi-flexible panel scored highest of the three. It’s thin and light enough that we stuck it onto the top of our rooftop tent with corflute and heavy 3M double-sided tape, and it has been there for over a year with zero issues.
It keeps our 120 Ah battery fully charged, whatever we charge overnight, and our 40L fridge runs on it continuously. The only downside is that it can be on the low side for DC-DC chargers or the heavier power use of a family or bigger group.
Kings 160W Semi-Flexible Solar Panel
Scored 9.7 out of 10Our take: A great panel, and a great deal at $120. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Keeps our 120 Ah battery charged
- Runs our Kings 40L fridge nonstop
- Over a year on the roof, no issues
- Only 3.9 kg and 3 mm thin
- Anderson plug: plug in and go
- A great deal at $120
What we don’t
- 160 W is low for heavy power use
- Not enough alone for families
Best for shady camps: Kings 240W Solar BlanketShady camps: Kings 240W
The Kings 240W solar blanket is the one for when the car is parked in the shade: we lay it out in the sun and run an Anderson extension cable back to the car. In full sun in the middle of the day it puts a strong charge into our battery box.
It feels like a solid build and folds into its own carry bag. On the ground it picks up dirt easily, which can cut the input, it’s still quite heavy to pack away and it doesn’t fit in our drawers.
Kings 240W Solar Blanket
Scored 8.5 out of 10Our take: A solid solar blanket that lets us park in the shade and still charge. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- 12 to 14 amps in full midday sun
- Charges while the car is in shade
- Feels like a solid build
- Folds to 46 × 44 × 6 cm in its bag
- Anderson plugs: unfold and plug in
- Side loops for hanging it up
What we don’t
- Picks up dirt on the ground
- Quite heavy to pack at 6.6 kg
- Doesn’t fit in our Titan drawers
Best fixed panel: Kings 100W Fixed Solar PanelFixed panel: Kings 100W
The Kings 100W fixed panel is a slimline panel with tempered glass and an aluminium frame, made to be mounted permanently on a roof, canopy or caravan. In sun it charged the battery steadily, enough for a fridge and lights.
Because it’s fixed, you can’t angle it or move it out of the shade. It needs mounting brackets, and it’s heavier than the flexible panel. It suits a first, simple setup.
Kings 100W Fixed Solar Panel
Scored 7.8 out of 10Our take: A tough glass panel that tops up the battery whenever the sun is on the roof. It bolts onto a rack, canopy or caravan, charges while you drive and gives 4.95 A at its maximum power point. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Tempered glass, aluminium frame
- Slim 1.8 cm frame sits low
- Charges while you drive
- Anderson-style plug
- Panels can be wired together
What we don’t
- Can't be angled or moved
- Brackets sold separately
- Heavy at 6.6 kg for 100 W
How we use them together
The panel on the roof does most of the work. It charges our 120 Ah battery while we drive and whenever the car is in the sun, and that battery runs our fridge, the camp lights and our phones.
We like to park in the shade, though, and then the roof panel gets nothing. That’s when we lay the 240W blanket out in a sunny spot and run a 6 m Kings Anderson extension cable back to the battery box in the car. Between the two, the battery stays full.
How to choose a Kings solar panelHow to choose
Start with where the panel will go. A panel fixed to the roof, a canopy or a rooftop tent charges all day while you drive and costs no space inside the car; a blanket goes wherever the sun is, which matters when you camp in the shade, but you lay it out and pack it up every time.
Then work out how much power you use: a fridge, lights and phones need less than a DC-DC charger setup or power for a family. Kings solar panels come in three types:
- Fixed
Toughest
A glass panel in an aluminium frame, bolted to a rack or a canopy.
MountingBolted to a rack or canopyFollows the sunNoLike - Semi-flexible
Lightest
Thin and light enough to stick or strap onto a rooftop tent.
MountingOn a rooftop tent or roofFollows the sunNo - Blanket
Movable
Folds up for the car and unfolds in the sun while the car stays in the shade.
MountingLaid out each timeFollows the sunYes
Also check
- RegulatorThe panels don’t include one: you need an MPPT or PWM regulator, or a battery box with one built in.
- How much powerFor a fridge, lights and phones, a roof panel often does. For more, add watts or a blanket.
- WeightFixed glass panels are the heaviest for their watts; a semi-flexible panel is much lighter.
- StorageA blanket needs a spot in the back of the car; a roof panel takes no space inside.
Want to put a panel on your own tent? See how to mount a flexible solar panel on a rooftop tent. For a blanket from another brand, read our San Hima 160W solar blanket review. New to remote touring? Our beginner’s guide to 4WD touring helps you prepare before hitting the road.
How we test
We buy the gear ourselves and take it on camping trips around Australia to put it to the test in real outdoor conditions, in the 4WD and at camp, and to see how it holds up over a few trips. We weigh everything on our own scale and photograph it ourselves. If we haven’t used something, we say so, and if anything fails later on, we update the review.
Scored out of 10 on
- Ease of use
- Performance
- Portability
- Durability
- Value
