“Small folding solar panels are the most basic way to charge your portable power stations.”
Benefits of small (under 200w) folding solar panels
- Lightweight form factor
- Easy to setup and use
- Some include USB charging & other accessories
- Easiest form factor for storage in small spaces
- Most can easily be connected in parallel configurations
- Many in 2022 are now weather resistant
Drawbacks of small (under 200w) folding solar panels
- Not as durable as glass panels
- Most expensive per watt
- Not as efficient as glass panels
- Cannot be permanently mounted
- Difficult to use in windy conditions
- Some models are not weather resistant
- Some models can’t be run in series
Recommended Folding Solar Panels Under 200 Watts
How We Rate Solar Panels
Solar panels are rated on the following criteria:
- Output: How much power the unit outputs under full sun compared to its rated output
- Durability: How well built the unit is and how long it should last vs. competing folding panels
- Compatibility: How compatible is the unit with different generators available (as of March 2022)
- Ease Of Use: How easy is it to setup & tear down and how intuitive is its use
- Features: How many cool features does it have vs. the competition
- Accessories: How many accessories does it come with vs. the competition
- Cost: How does it compare on price vs. the competition (higher is better)
- Overall Value: This is the average of all the above ratings
Note: Only retail products (no crowd funds, prototypes, pre-orders, vaporware) are considered in this list!
This page was last updated on 3/26/2022
2nd Place
Bluetti PV120 120w Solar Panel
IP65 Water resistant and made with SunPower cells the Bluetti PV120 is just about the best folding 120w panel available with ETFE coating and MC4 connectors standard along with tilt adjustable legs.
- 23.4% efficiency rating for high output
- Higher voltage panel (24.4v) good for MPPT
- Long MC4 cable suited for series and parallel
- Very cool tilt adjustable legs
- 4 panel design makes it more unstable in wind
- No accessories or USB charging
Output: 
Durability: 
Compatibility: 
Ease Of Use:
Features: 
Accessories: 
Cost:
Overall Value: 
The higher output voltage, adjustable legs, and standard MC4 connection makes this one of the best overall panels suitable for virtually any power station on the market. The only thing holding it back is a lack of charging accessories for non-Bluetti sogens and 4 panel design that is hard to setup and control in windy conditions.
Rated at 24.4v Voc @6.4A via MC4 connector only
Retail $279
$274 w/code HOBO100
1st Place
Jackery “SolarSaga” 100w Solar Panel
IP65 water resistant and made with SunPower cells the Jackery 100w is just about the best folding 100w panel available with one of the quickest setups thanks to its magnetic closure system.
- High power output for the size
- Magnetic closure system makes for quick setup
- Durable long-lasting 2 panel design
- High price vs competition ($3/watt)
- No standard MC4 connection (8mm output only)
- Cannot easily be setup in series connections
Output: 
Durability:
Compatibility:
Ease Of Use:
Features:
Accessories:
Cost:
Overall Value: 
Despite the proprietary 8mm connection, Jackery solar panels work the best with Jackery generators and also work well with Bluetti and other generators with an 8mm (7955) solar input. Others will require an adapter to MC4 or 5521. Use of MC4 adapter does allow for two panels to be used in series which is required for some Bluetti models. This panel also offers standard USB-A and USB-C charging (no quick charge or PD available).
Rated at 21.6v Voc @6A via 8mm + USB-A and USB-C charging
Retail $299
$263 w/code SPRING (until 3/23)
3rd Place
EcoFlow 160w Solar Panel
IP67 water resistant and made with SunPower cells the EcoFlow 160w is one of the best deals on name brand folding panels with a low cost per watt, but lacks features.
- Best “bang for the buck” at around $2/watt
- High quality scratch resistant panels
- Separate carrying case is bad design
- Kickstand is completely inadequate
- No accessories or USB charging
- Only a 12 month warranty
Output:
Durability:
Compatibility:
Ease Of Use:
Features:
Accessories:
Cost:
Overall Value: 
The Ecoflow panel is high quality, but its lack of features and poor design such as the “kickstand case”, short warranty, and lack of accessories and USB charging puts it in a solid 3rd place. It is still a good buy if you want a lot of power in a small package and plan to hang the panel or camp in locations without wind.
You must be logged in to post a comment.