Solar gadgets that are worth it (and some that are not)
We measured real-world charging so you do not have to.
By Elin Park · Sep 7, 2026 · 1 min read
We measured real-world charging so you do not have to.
Our editors spent time with each product in everyday use: commuting, working and travelling. Here is what stood out.
Ridgeback Sunpack 20
A folding solar panel with a 20,000 mAh battery. Sunpack charges its own battery during the day and your devices at night, and folds to paperback size.
- 21 W folding solar panel
- 20,000 mAh battery
- USB-C 45 W output
Petrichor Solar Speaker
A repairable speaker that tops up in the sun. Made from recycled ocean plastic with screws instead of glue, and a solar panel that extends playtime indefinitely outdoors.
- Solar top-up
- Screw-together repairable design
- Recycled plastic shell
Petrichor Charge Garden
A window solar charger shaped like a planter. Stick Charge Garden to a window and it banks solar energy for phones, with a small herb planter on top.
- Window-mount solar cells
- Built-in planter
- 10,000 mAh battery
The verdict
If you only pick one, start with the Ridgeback Sunpack 20. It is the most complete package here and the one we kept reaching for.
This article is fictional demo content created for development.
