Solar keeps your second battery charged at camp, so the fridge stays cold and the lights stay on without running the engine. The choice is mostly about where the panel goes: fixed to the roof, where it charges all day without any setting up, or a folding blanket you lay in the sun while the car stays in the shade. Plenty of 4WDers end up running one of each.
We’ve reviewed four camping solar panels on our Prado. Here’s how they compare and which one suits your setup. For a closer look at the Kings range on its own, see our Kings solar comparison.
Quick picks: the best camping solar panels comparedQuick picks
| Product | Score | Price | Power | Weight | Type | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best overallKings 160W Semi-Flexible Solar Panel | 9.7 | Low | 160 W | 3.9 kg | Semi-flexible | Check price at Amazon |
Best solar blanketSan Hima Solar Blanket (160W) | 8.7 | Mid | 160 W | 3.9 kg | Blanket | Check price at VicOffroad |
Most powerKings 240W Solar Blanket | 8.5 | High | 240 W | 6.6 kg | Blanket | Check price at Amazon |
Best fixed panelKings 100W Fixed Solar Panel | 7.8 | Mid | 100 W | 6.6 kg | Fixed glass | Check price at Amazon |
Price bands are based on what we paid.
Best overall: Kings 160W Semi-Flexible Solar PanelBest overall: Kings 160W
The Kings 160W Semi-Flexible Solar Panel has been on top of our rooftop tent for over a year with zero issues. It keeps our 120 Ah battery fully charged, however many lights and phones we charge overnight, and runs our Kings 40L fridge nonstop. It’s 3.9 kg, 3 mm thin, and plugs in with an Anderson plug.
160 W can be on the low side for heavy power use or a family on its own. At $120 it’s a great deal.
Kings 160W Semi-Flexible Solar Panel
Scored 9.7 out of 10Our take: 9 kg semi-flexible panel that has sat on our rooftop tent for over a year with zero issues, keeping the battery full and the fridge running. 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 solar blanket: San Hima Solar Blanket (160W)Solar blanket: San Hima
The San Hima Solar Blanket is a 3.9 kg folding blanket that comes with its own MPPT controller, with USB outlets, so it plugs straight into a battery. It kept our fridge and 12V gear running on trips to Yengo National Park and Coorongooba.
It needs full sun for its full output, it has no stand, so it lies flat or leans on something, and you can’t link several together. $200.
San Hima Solar Blanket (160W)
Scored 8.7 out of 10Our take: 9 kg in a carry case. It kept our fridge running at Yengo and Coorongooba; it needs full sun for full output. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Own MPPT controller included
- USB outlet on the controller
- Light at 3.9 kg
- Folds into its own case
- Anderson plugs
What we don’t
- Needs full sun for full output
- No stand: lies flat or leans
- Can't link several together
Most power: Kings 240W Solar BlanketMost power: Kings 240W
The Kings 240W Solar Blanket charges our 120 Ah battery while the car stays in the shade: laid out in the sun on our Kings 6 m extension lead, it puts 12 to 14 amps into our battery box at midday. It feels solidly built and folds into its own carry bag.
It picks up dirt easily on the ground, it’s quite heavy to pack at 6.6 kg and it has no controller of its own. About $325.
Kings 240W Solar Blanket
Scored 8.5 out of 10Our take: A solidly built 240 W solar blanket that folds into its own carry bag and charges our 120 Ah battery while the car stays in the shade.6 kg. 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 Solar Panel is a slimline glass panel in an aluminium frame, made to mount on a roof rack and keep the battery topped up in full sun. Several can be wired together for more power.
It can’t be angled around shade, it needs mounting brackets and at 6.6 kg it’s heavier than the flexible options. $149.
Kings 100W Fixed Solar Panel
Scored 7.8 out of 10Our take: A tough 100 W glass panel in a slim aluminium frame that bolts onto a rack and charges whenever the sun is on it.6 kg. 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 to choose a camping solar panelHow to choose
Decide where the panel will live. A panel fixed to the roof charges whenever the sun’s out, even on the road, but the car has to park in the sun. A blanket can go wherever the sun is while the car sits in the shade, but you set it up and pack it away each time. Then make sure you have enough watts for what you run.
- Semi-flexible
Light, on the roof
Thin and light, it sits on a roof or rooftop tent and charges all day with nothing to set up.
Best forRooftop tents, roofsLike - Solar blanket
Folds away
Lay it in the sun on an extension lead while the car stays in the shade. Packs into a bag.
Best forShady campsitesLike - Fixed glass
Built to last
Glass and an aluminium frame, bolted to a rack. Tough, but heavier and it can't be angled.
Best forRoof racks, trailersLike
Also check
- Watts160 W keeps a fridge, lights and phones going for a couple; more fridges, an inverter or a family need 240 W or more.
- A controllerSome blankets come with an MPPT controller; otherwise use a battery box with one built in, or add one.
- An extension leadA 6 m Anderson lead lets a blanket sit in the sun while the car stays in the shade.
- Full sunAll panels give much less in shade and cloud. Keep them clean, and move a blanket with the sun.
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
