Renogy 400 Watt Solar Panel Blanket, N-Type Portable Foldable Solar Panels 25% High Efficiency, Lightweight 16-Fold Space-Save, Fast Setup for Camping, RV, SUV, Pickup Truck, Marine, Off-Grid Outdoor

This review is for the Renogy 200 watt portable solar blanket.I had modest expectations for this solar blanket because my last one (different brand) was unwieldy and under-performing.This portable panel is folded up into a neat package. Its handles are folded nylon seat belt straps. Simple, strong and comfortable.The panel is kept tidy when folded up by two buckles and the orientation of the carrying handles.The outside is a Cordura style nylon fabric. It feels very durable. It should hold up well.There is a generous pocket for the included cable with plenty of room for more. The zippers are the water resistant style. There pocket flap is V shaped with double zippers. If you hang this is the correct orientation, it should be easy to keep incidental rain out of the electronics. In good weather, there is also a buckle to keep the flap closed and for easier access.I tested the panel laying flat on my driveway and across the windshield of my SUV.My driveway has minimal slope. It is facing west. I tested the panel around 5 pm in good conditions. On my driveway, it produced about 130 watts. Lying across my windshield and my hood with my car facing west, it produced 146 watts. As a reference, I connected a Renogy standard 100 watt solar panel, leaned against my front bumper about 15 minutes later and it produced 75.5 watts.If you plan on lying this panel across your windshield/hood, you should plan on protecting your hood somehow because the panel has metal rings. You will also want a way to secure it so a gust of wind doesn’t turn it into an expensive kite.My only critique for this product is the meager USB-C output. It is easy to find USB-C batteries that will take a 100 watt or even a 140 watt charging. USB-C batteries are much smaller and more common than power stations. In an emergency, it would be nice to be able to quickly charge USB batteries or even power a laptop directly off solar power.

I've used smaller solar panel kits before and was happy with what they can do, but this one is excellent. I'm truly impressed with the construction, compactness, efficiency, and ease of use. Firstly, I will say that the construction of the cells is really great. The solar panels are in a multi-fold setup that unfurls to a 200W solar blanket. The size is considerable, and it will definitely take up the whole windshield of an average-sized vehicle. It utilizes the newer type of solar cell, "N" style, and the panels seem thinner and more pliable than others I have used, which is great for portability.The bag it comes in is made out of heavyweight Cordura and has a lot of extra room in it if needed. However, if you want to keep it to max portability, I wouldn't add anything and I would use it as is, as it folds up and is really thin and weighs about 8 or 9 pounds. It works great for me as I keep it in the trunk of my vehicle. I am pairing this up with a power station and other smaller USB-C power banks.As for performance, I feel it is top-notch. It was getting 12V+ and about 150W just by leaning it against my car windshield. If I had better conditions and placement according to the time of day, I don't doubt being able to get 200W as advertised. This is an excellent upgrade for me and a key piece of my emergency/survival kit. I highly recommend it for a couple of specific reasons. The compact and easy-to-carry case made from quality materials is important and seems like it will be able to be stored and carried without worrying about getting damaged. The solar cells and the readings I was getting with just minimal effort demonstrate the efficiency that is possible with these panels. Lastly, the ease of connection to my power station and power banks through the USB-C connection makes it easy to use by anyone.Extremely happy with my choice, and would give the Renogy Portable Solar Panels five stars!

I have used a LOT of different solar panels over the years. This is by far the lightest and most compact 200 watt panel I’ve ever seen. The is the newest style solar BLANKET with new tech.Starting with the outside of the carry bag. It has carry handles on the top. Great build quality material. The straps are adjustable. Zippers have water protection as well. I lot of thought went into the design of the carry case and it shows!The solar blanket itself uses the newer “N” type cells as opposed to the older types and that should make it more efficient. This may be why they were able to pack so much power into such a small package.I placed the panel on the hood of my truck and it was light enough for me to handle it but it was heavy enough that the wind didn’t move it around.Since this blanket puts out more than 12 volts with the 200 watts, be sure to check the voltage limitations if you are using a smaller (or older) power station. The newer power stations have a much larger voltage range than some of the older models so none of those will be an issue.I think this is BY FAR the best solar panel I own. I’m thrilled with it and highly recommend it. Since it’s a cloudy and drizzly day, I have a smaller power station in my photos. I will be primarily using it with a Bluetti 180 when traveling. Lots of bang for the buck with this product.I live less than a half hour drive from Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, NC. These were some of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Helene. My entire town was without power for days, I was personally out for over a week. Gas stations didn’t have power to work the pumps. Grocery store generators didn’t last long enough to save the cold foods and the only way to purchase anything was by using cash. I mention all of this to emphasize the importance of portable power stations and solar panels. These light weight panels are especially important to have in case you need to evacuate.