Ground Zero- Nomad 7

The Official Review:

Specs
Uses: Camping and backpacking
Size: 17x9x0.1"- pretty small
weight: 12.9oz

Here is what we like
This is the coolest thing since sliced bread, why?  Because it allows one to bring all the marvelous technology with you where ever you go.  Also, this solar panel dubs as a emergency energy device or in case of a brown/black out (which we have been getting more and more frequently in CA).  We picked the Nomad 7 because of it's lighter weight and small size.  All you have to do is plug in your device via USB or cigarette lighter port and pull it out strap it to the back of your pack and let it charge your devices.  Simple right?  I used the panel as soon as I got it on my phone.  Now, the weather was very cloudy so I will have to test it out in the sun but, it did take my 5% charged phone and bring it up to 40% in 2.2 hours in thick overcast weather.  Not bad for completely off the grid.  Another feature I like is its light weight, we could pack batteries in but we do not need to do that any more.  I need to go get the battary pack for it which is light weight, charges off the solar panel, I will post on that as soon as I get it.  One other thing I really like is how it straps on to your backpack while you hike, charging while you go, hassle free.

     *Update*  Tested out the solar panel on my cell phone and I am not as impressed as I had hoped.  The problem is my phone has a large battery capacity, larger than the amps put out of the Nomad 7.  However, the fix to this is the Nomad 10 Power Pack so all-in-all, I love this thing and would suggest it to any one going on an extended trip where you need to keep linked into any electronic equipment.  It takes a few hours (I have not tried to power my phone from 0% on a bright sunny day.  I have tried charging it in cloudy weather (charged 5% in 20 min) and in sunny weather (charged from 20% in 1 hour) so this solar panel would charge my phone it would just take like 4 hours.  As of now, I am not patient enough to test my phone with the Nomad 7 because it seems like the charge is constantly being interrupted by phone calls and other data information...  On the trail, the only thing that will be running is the GPS and the rest of the phone will be on airplane mode to save energy and keep the phone from continually searching for a cell signal.  I will update when I purchase and test the power pack, tomorrow, stay tuned.