Increasingly, for better or worse, when we go outdoors we take more and more electronic equipment with us. While there’s a lot to be said for a purist approach of cutting back to the basics, there are also occasions when security and safety dictate that you bring along your smartphone and GPS, or your desire to document your trip requires you bring a camera, GoPro, or another handheld technological marvel.
But all of this technology has one weak point: the need for additional power. Typically, our devices each use different types of batteries, and the more you use them, the more spare batteries you need to carry.
What if, instead of carrying a bag full of different batteries, we could instead recharge those batteries on the go, as we need them? Wouldn’t it be lighter, and perhaps even more environmentally friendly, to re-use and re-charge with a renewable energy source?

Solar boost

This is what Goal Zero is trying to achieve with their solar chargers, and their Guide 10 Plus Solar Recharging Kit, therefore, seems a perfect fit for the technologically dependent backpacker.
The Guide 10 Plus kit includes the N 7 Solar panel and the Guide 10 recharger, plus 4 AA rechargeable batteries, a AAA adaptor, USB cord, and12v cigarette adaptor for use in cars. The N 7 has a nice integrated pocket to store everything in so you don’t lose anything essential. It’s very solidly made – the panels are encased in a tough material that folds up into a16.5 x 23cm wallet, sealed with a magnetic clasp. The kit is sold in Goal Zero’s Ultra-Light class of products, however Goal Zero’s claimed weights for the panel – 362g – are somewhat off: the panel weighs 526g on my scales.

Not one without the other

A solar panel is only as good as the charger it is paired with. Fortunately, the Guide 10 Plus charger is very good, especially when used in conjunction with the N7. The advantage of designing and building a complete recharging system has allowed Goal Zero to perfectly match the charger with the panel. The N7 has three outputs: USB, 12v (for larger chargers), and a special output for the Guide 10. While the USB output can be used to charge any third-party power bank, it does so at 5 volts. The connector for the Guide 10 outputs at 6 – 7.5 volts, allowing it to charge much faster. Similarly, while the Guide 10 itself can be charged from any USB power source, it will take a lot longer (8 to 10 hours) than when charged directly from the N 7 (2-4 hours).
While it is possible to charge devices directly from the N 7, it is generally smarter to first recharge the batteries in the Guide 10, and then recharge your devices from that. Sunlight often fluctuates in intensity, especially if you are moving, and this will cause intermittent drops in supplied power. Smartphones especially often require a constant power input, and this can only be provided from the Guide 10. I use an iPhone 5S, and I was able to charge the battery from empty in about 90 minutes, and there was enough power left in the batteries for an additional 25-30% charge. Different devices have different power requirements – a tablet, for example, has a larger battery and will only receive a 25% boost – but I’ve used the Guide 10 with smartphones, a satellite locator, and a GPS watch, and all have re-charged quickly, and the unit functioned perfectly. You simply connect the appropriate USB cable, power the Guide 10 on, and leave the rest to science.
Guide 10 also has a built-in LED torch, which offers 100+ hours of light. While this is quite handy, I prefer to use a dedicated headlamp with rechargeable batteries that I can power up if needed.
The panel has several attachment loops, so it can easily be strapped to a backpack or tied to your shelter and left to charge while you hike or go off exploring.
The Guide 10 weighs 174g with the batteries, so when carried with the N 7, the total weight of the kit is 700g – not exactly ultralight, but reasonable enough for the functionality it provides. If you don’t need to use AA/AAA batteries, and can charge all your devices via USB, Goal Zero offers the simpler Switch 8 kit, comprising a smaller solar panel and a power bank, and weighing a claimed 220g. Lastly, you can connect multiple Normand 7 panels together to speed up the charging process, which is helpful for group travel.
As to its usefulness in the field, this largely depends on the length of the trip you plan to use it on, and the amount of equipment for which you need power. An AA battery weighs about 30g. So, for a short trip of a few days, you might only need to carry a few spare batteries or a power bank, weighing just 120-150g. Carrying 700g of solar recharger kit might, therefore, be overkill for short trips (unless you are seriously addicted to social media). For a longer adventure, however, I can see the Guide 10 Plus Kit being essential if you have a lot of equipment that needs to be regularly topped up: it charges quickly, and offers a lot of flexibility in charging options.

Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus solar recharging kit review summary

It should be noted that I live in Lapland, and at such high latitudes, the power of the sun is lower than in areas such as central Europe, so many people might experience faster charges than this. I found that the N 7 charges reasonably well in cloudy conditions too, although much longer charging times are to be expected.
If I had to pick one thing I’d change, it would be the material used to house the solar panels: it’s a heavy, canvas material that easily gets wet, and doesn’t dry very fast. A waterproof material would be more practical, and probably lighter.
There is something very satisfying about using the freely available power of the sun to charge your electronic gear, and the Goal 10 Plus makes a neatly integrated solution – and one that has uses far beyond the backcountry.