Goal Zero Portable solar charger? Or other solar battery chargers?

[oguruma]

I am looking for a lightweight and portable battery charger for backpacking. I have seen reviews of a few different ones, and it seems a lot of them don't work worth a crap. Does anybody have any experience with this one? It can be had for about $110, and includes 2 small solar panels, a small inverter, and a battery pack (you must supply your own AA or AAA rechargeables). I had the small little wing looking thing that you had to fold out, but I threw it away because it took a dump. Anybody have any input?

Thanks
Jeremy

 

[Gollnick]

I got to examine one at a retail store recently. It's nicely done, but remarkably heavy.

 

[Turbo Tension]

I've been looking at a Powerfilm model that runs around $85. When I have the coin, I'll be picking it up. I believe it does AA and AAA.

 

[Les Snyder]

I have a Goal Zero 7w panel but got it without the Guide 10 charger with a gift card... at the time I don't think they offered the Guide 10 separately, so purchased another processor controlled charger and Sanyo Eneloop AA NiMh batteries...the charger had an AC plug in addition to the 12v cigarette plug... used it to charge the partially charged Eneloops and took a little less than 4 hours... 2 with the AC....with hurricane season close here in Fla , just ordered the Guide 10 pack as the USB cable at a lower voltage should be able to charge at a higher current rate than the 12v, and being able to charge my cell phone is a plus if I'm separated from my car charger....

if you can experiment with a borrowed one...drive a 16d nail as perpendicular as possible to the top of to a piece of scrap plywood'...take outside to a sunny spot...place a piece of scrap 2x4 under the top....adjust the 2x4 until the shadow of the nail falls upon itself....that will give you your latitude, but will have to move it every hour or so.. I fashoned a cable...12v cigarette plug terminating with battery clamps to use as a backup to charge a couple of auto batteries I use for bedroom ventilation if the power goes out.... 6 days in 04...temps in the high 80's well past midnight...