Portable Solar Panels

Shopping for folding solar panels? Looking for the most portable solar panel option for camping, emergency backup or mobile use? We carry only the highest quality folding solar panels.

Wondering what the biggest difference between a "normal solar panel" and a folding solar panel is? The short answer is really obvious, one folds and one doesn't. A lot of people wonder though is "one better than the other"? Again the answer is pretty simple, not really - they both do the exact same thing, harness power from the sun and drive it into some sort of battery. 

You might have noticed that folding solar panels are typically a lot more than a standard rigid solar panel. So why would someone pay so much more? 

People pay more for the convenience. For the portability. For the ability to store them under an RV, in a car trunk or for quick ease of use. Folding panels usually have built in legs or standing mechanisms that allow them to stand on their own, anywhere.

This convenience comes with a price though. The engineering that goes into building a folding solar panel requires a lot more steps and precision than a standard rigid panel that can be stamped off an assembly line by the thousands. So because of this, it's reflected in the folding panel prices.

The other thing to consider is that we usually see folding solar panels don't have as long of a life span as rigid panels because of the ability to "port them around".. They get thrown around, stored in different places, folding and unfolded multiple times which naturally means more wear and tear than a rigid panel that's typically mounted permanently or stays in it's storage place until it's needed. 

At the end of the day, we tell our customers not to over complicate things. If you NEED a portable solar panel option, then it's totally worth it. A folding solar panel is super nice. The built in legs are very handy and being able to fold it up and throw it in the trailer is awesome. 

BUT, if you don't really need the portability and are going to be storing the solar panels in the garage for emergencies only, then the cost increase might not really be worth it. A rigid solar panel will do just as good of a job at recharging your batteries. 

If you still have questions about which solar panels make the most sense for you, don't hesitate to reach out or give us a call today at 877-242-2792.