As of now you can buy the solar charger for $37.99 USD. This gets you is a solar panel, 2 stock cables (that I replaced them with the higher-quality braided cables), and 2 small carabiners that can be used to attach the panel to, for example, your hiking backpack. The weight of the panel is 350 grams, or a little less than 9 ounces: manageable.

But the main question is: does it actually work? Can it charge gadgets? I packed it into my backpack next to my lunch, and headed to the beach after work.

Testing BW-L2 in the evening sun

It was a little after 5 PM when I got to the testing ground – the post-work downtown rush held me back a little. I picked English Bay beach as the location: it is on the Western side of Vancouver, which gives it the maximum sun coverage. It was a very bright and hot day, which meant that the test results would likely be as accurate as possible. I parked, walked down to the rocky area and commenced the process. The two devices that I wanted to test-charge were the power bank that they sent me and my smartphone. I also brought the voltage meter so that I can provide the more exact measuring.

I found a well-lit place for the panel and commenced the test.