San Hima Solar Blanket (160W) Review

What’s in the box

Four solar panels with HPBC cells, edged in orange and folded into a black carry case with a handle. A zip pocket on the back holds the MPPT charge controller, battery clips and the leads, and the case doubles as a stand to hang off the bonnet.

Quick Specs

At camp

Unfold it, lay it on the bonnet, a rock or the ground in the sun, and plug the Anderson lead into the controller or your battery box. At Coorongooba we laid it across the Prado’s bonnet with the pocket hanging over the front, in full view of the cliffs; in the bush we put it on the ground in a sunny gap away from the car. It kept our fridge and 12V gear running on those trips, and it’s light enough to move around camp as the sun moves. Loops along the edges let you hang it from an awning or lean it against a chair. There are no legs, though, so it lies flat or leans on something, which makes it harder to angle at low winter sun.

The controller

The included San Hima MPPT controller (12V/24V, 20 A) sits between the blanket and the battery. A button sets the battery type, lead acid, AGM/gel, calcium or LiFePO4, with lights for solar and load. It also has USB-A and USB-C outlets, handy for charging camp lights or a phone straight from the sun, and a manual mode to wake up a lithium battery whose BMS has shut it down. San Hima lists protection against reverse polarity, short circuits and over- and under-voltage.

Cells and build

The blanket uses HPBC cells, which have their contacts on the back so more of the front catches light; San Hima rates them at 24% efficiency. The surface is a smooth ETFE film that wipes clean and the panels have an anti-crack backing. Like any blanket, it gives its best in full sun, and you can’t link several together.

160W or 260W?

San Hima also makes a 260 W version of this blanket with the same HPBC cells, the same 20 A MPPT controller and the same leads. It gives about a third more current in full sun, 12.3 A against 9.2 A, but it’s heavier at 6.4 kg against 3.9 kg, and it folds a little bigger. We’ve tested the 160 W: it was enough for a fridge and 12V gear on our trips. If you run more, like a bigger fridge, or want to charge faster on short winter days, the 260 W is worth the extra weight.

Solar blankets compared

We also use the Kings 240W Solar Blanket. It has more power and eight panels, so it charges faster, but it’s heavier at 6.6 kg, costs more and has no controller of its own: we plug it into our BatBlock, which has one built in. The San Hima is much lighter at 3.9 kg and comes with its own MPPT controller and USB outlet, which suits a simpler setup like the Kings 24Ah Power Pack. Our Kings solar comparison has more on the Kings blankets.

	This oneSan Hima 160W	Kings 240W→
Controller included	Yes	No
USB outlet	Yes	No
Panels	4	8
Folded size	40 × 42 × 6 cm	46 × 44 × 6 cm
Power	160 W	240 W
Weight	3.9 kg	6.6 kg
Price paid	$200	$325
Our score	8.7	8.5

Conclusion: San Hima Foldable Solar Blanket 160W

The San Hima Solar Blanket is a great 160 W blanket: light at 3.9 kg, quick to set up, and it comes with its own MPPT controller with a USB outlet, so you can plug it straight into a battery. It kept our fridge and 12V gear running at Yengo and Coorongooba. It needs full sun for its full output, you can’t link several together and the case stitching could be thicker. I paid $200, and it’s good value. For lighting at camp, see the Adventure Kings LED strip light, and for a hot shower off the same setup, the San Hima shower.