Product Review: Sunjack Solar Charger

The Sun-power Technology We Have Been Waiting For

Review by Danielle Breteau

[su_dropcap style=”light” size=”5″]S[/su_dropcap]olar chargers and gadgets that run on solar can be found all over the place, and like many I have tried almost all of them disappoint. Some never fully charge, lose their charge too quickly, fall apart, short out if they get wet or any number of things that render it useless after just a couple tries. These are all the reasons I fell in love with Sunjack.

First: The basic specs for the 14-watt version (also comes in 20-watt)

– Four solar panels that come in an easy-to-carry and pack case

– Fast-charge battery pack

– Fast charge cable

– Carabiners

– One-year warranty

Second: The dimensions

– Folded 9″ x 6.5″ x 1.75″ (23cm x 16.5cm x 4.5cm)

– Fully unfolded 9″ x 31″ x 1″ (23cm x 79cm x 2.5cm)

– Weight 1.75 lbs (0.8 kg)

The good stuff

My first impression of the Sunjack after taking it out of the package was wow! The quality of the case, stitching and construction was exceptional – good sign. Then I expanded the case and was impressed to find four full solar panels. Surprising for such a thin case, but the test was yet to come, and test it I would.

The Sunjack was clearly designed by those who need and use these devices. It comes with a carabiner and multiple attachment points around the case, so that you can hang, attach, suspend and clip onto almost anything and any angle. Nice touch.

On the back of the case – non solar-panel side – there is a mesh compartment which neatly stores the Sunjack portable battery (more on that in a minute) and cable as well as the solar plug-in with dual USB ports. This is actually attached to the case, so you cannot lose it. I would lose it.

Some solar chargers only offer the ability to either charge a portable battery or charge directly to a device – not both. Sunjack offers both.

Let the testing begin – Mwahahhahaa!

I can be pretty tough on things, so I expect my gear to take a beating. I put the Sunjack through some pretty impressive paces to include purposely leaving it out in the rain, dropping it and the battery pack numerous times and basically using it as it was intended – to provide power for the earth-wandering explorer/survivor. Almost to my dismay, it continued to work flawlessly.

Charging directly

Using my iPhone 6 Plus, I ran down my battery to just five percent and plugged it directly into the solar charger. It took about three hours to fully charge my phone. It also charged my Ipad in about 3.2 hours from a 10 percent starting point.

Charging the battery pack

Charging the battery pack that was included with the kit took about two full hours. Not a bad rate of charge considering the time it took to charge a phone and tablet.

Charging the iPhone from the battery pack

This is where this little device excels. Charging directly from the already charged battery pack, I was able to charge my iPhone from eight percent to fully charged in 32 minutes … twice! On a single battery pack. This means that if I left my house with a fully charged Iphone and battery pack, I could get three full iPhone-battery cycles without plugging into a wall – SOLD!

No other solar charger or solar battery pack has ever provided this kind of speed, and the battery pack is tiny – about the size of a standard iPhone.

Another great feature is the battery-pack charging port. Because the port is not one of the two USBs on the pack, you can charge the battery pack and an iPhone simultaneously.

I love this little device, and am happy someone in the solar world finally got it right. Thanks, Sunjack. 

This article originally appeared on SailingwithJODA