Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Review - A Canadian Perspective

A lot of places sell the Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus solar recharger. MEC sells it. Costco often sells it. Modern Outpost sells it. Is it worth the money?

In this brief article, I'll tell you what you need to know about the Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus so you can make an informed decision before buying this or one of its competitor products.

What's In The Box?

When you purchase a Guide 10 Plus solar kit, you are getting a Nomad 7 solar panel, and a Guide 10 AA/AAA USB power bank.

Brief Specifications Overview

Nomad 7 Solar Panel
Solar Cell Type : Crystalline
Rated Power : 7 Watts
Actual Power : Up to 5 Watts (from the USB port, or the 12V socket), Up to 7 Watts on the proprietary Guide 10+ connector port (Guide 10 only).

Guide 10+ AA/AAA Power Bank
Maximum Output Power : 5 Watts (that's 1A @ 5V on the USB Port)

Kit Weight : 1.2 lbs / 545g
We put the kit on our scale and found it to actually be 1.5lbs (668g).

Analysis

The Guide 10 Plus Kit is a well-built solar charger, but like any tool, it is designed for specific applications, and may not be appropriate for your use.

Power...

The Nomad 7 specifications are not always clearly stated on websites. Although this is technically a 7 Watt solar panel, you will only get a maximum of 5 Watts from it unless you use the Guide 10 Plus' proprietary solar port cable.
This solar port cable is only 8" long, which means the Guide 10 can only be packed in the Nomad's mesh pocket, and not in the safer, and more weather-resistant confines of your backpack or tent.

Performance...

As a crystalline solar panel, the Nomad 7 was designed with strong, direct sunshine in mind. Africa, Nepal, the Southwest US are all places this panel will perform well.
Crystalline solar panels do not perform well in low light, overcast, & partial shade conditions. In fact, shade as little as 10% of the Nomad panel, and you will get no power from it at all.
Rating for tropical & mid-latitude destinations : Excellent
Rating for northern latitudes & variable weather : Poor
The Guide 10 Plus AA/AAA power bank is very handy if you have AAA or AA batteries to charge for headlamps or radios. We recommend using Imedion brand NiMh rechargeables with the Guide 10, as they will not self-discharge like regular NiMh cells will.
However, if you don't have AA or AAA battery devices, then the Guide 10 is not the most efficient power storage option. Lithium battery packs offering the same capacity are 60g (or 30%) lighter, and will not have the same self-discharge problem as the Guide 10 (when used with standard NiMh cells).

Weight...

Compared to other options in its power class, this is a heavy kit. If you are carrying it yourself, you will notice the 1.5 lbs (668g) of extra weight.

Weather Considerations...

Overcast? : No
Partial Shade? : No
Direct Sunshine? : Yes
Rain? : Not going to charge, so stow it... the panel won't charge, & the Guide 10 battery is typically stored in the back pocket of the panel, and should NOT be exposed to rain or excessive moisture
Waterproof? : No (not appropriate for kayaking, canoeing, or other water sports)

Works With...

Small USB Devices? : Yes (ie iPhones, iPods, eReaders, p/s cameras)
Large USB Devices? : No (ie iPads & tablets)
dSLR Cameras? : No (unless using a universal USB charger, but performance is slow)
Laptops? : No

Conclusions...

If you are looking for a lightweight solar charging solution for backpacking, the Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus is NOT your best choice. It was designed around African humanitarian aid projects, and remains best suited to such applications.
There are UltraLight solar kits available using the same crystalline solar cells that are half the weight for the same power output.
The fact that the Guide 10 Plus solar kit will not charge dSLR camera batteries is a definite drawback. A typical dSLR will need a 5W solar panel, but operating in the 12V range, not USB.

Lastly, this is not the best solar kit for Canadians who plan to use the kit primarily in Canada.
During summer months, at Canada's lower latitudes, the Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar panel will perform very well, provided it can be exposed to direct sunshine for as many hours of the day as possible.
At higher Canadian latitudes, the panel's solar cells are not sensitive enough to generate power that would justify carrying the weight of the kit. Thin Film solar panel kits are a much better choice for Canada in general, as their sensitivity, and tolerance of low-light & partial shade conditions, generates more power in less-than-ideal conditions.

Tropics, Deserts, High Altitude : Yes
Canada & Northern Latitudes : No

Avoid Solar Disappointment This Holiday Season

I just completed an important comment on a review I read of the Bushnell SolarWrap Mini on Trailspace. The review lacked performance numbers & prompted me to write a bit more about pocket solar chargers. Here is a link to the review (my comment follows)...
Bushnell SolarWrap Mini Review

The Problem With Pocket Solar Chargers...

In attempting to reduce size, weight, & cost, manufacturers are prone to eliminating performance to any reasonable level.

In brief, I don't recommend any solar charger under 2 Watts (solar cell peak power), and all solar/back-up battery packs should be at least 2500 mAHr.
And, if the product doesn't state these specs clearly, you should smell a rat.

The Explanation...

The typical electronics-equipped trekker is taking a smartphone & camera into the wild. Often, the camera is a dSLR with a larger battery pack than the iPhone. Sometimes there is a need to charge AA or AAA batteries for headlamps or GPS receivers.
Let's run a scenario with the basics: iPhone & dSLR.

The Smartphone's power budget...

The iPhone 6 now packs a battery size of 1800mAHr (up from the iPhone 5's 1500mAhr). The iPhone 6 'plus' is up to the 2900mAHr range. The Samsung Galaxy S5 packs a battery in the 2,800mAHr range these days.
What does this mean?
It will take at least 9 Watt-Hours of power to fully recharge the iPhone 5, and at least 15 Watt-Hours to sully recharge the latest iPhone 6 or Samsung Galaxy S5.

Now the camera...

Most point & shoot camera batteries are in the 1,000 mAHr range, while the bigger dSLR batteries are in the 1800-2000mAHr range. Let's take the case of the popular Canon LP-E6 battery which is used in the 5D, 60D, 7D camera models.
The LP-E6 battery is 1800mAHr @ 7.4V which means it will take at least 18 Watt-Hours to fully charge it.

The other issue is the battery's voltage. Charging a 7.4V battery from a 5V USB source requires a special charger. 12V charger cradles are available, but let's keep the cost & size of the system down by choosing to stay in the USB realm.

Total Power Budget...

Let's assume that you are taking your Canon 5D Mark II camera, and your fancy new iPhone 6 into the bush for a week of trekking. You are planning to drain both the camera each day, but the iPhone should last 2 days.
By the numbers, you will need to replace 18 + 8 = 26 Watt-Hours of power each day. 18 for a full LP-E6, and half of the iPhone 6's 15 WHrs.

Attaching a solar charger to a backpack means less than ideal exposure to the sky (except during stops), so allowing for that, plus occasional tree cover, you would need a solar panel of at least 10 Watts to keep up with your power needs.

A solar storage battery should ideally be twice your anticipated demand, which puts us at 52 Watt-Hours in our example (or 14,000mAHr in a USB battery).

Your Options...

If you look around the market, you'll see PowerMonkey products in the 3-4W range, and Goal Zero in the 3-7 Watt range. These will not keep up with the demands of our scenario. And you can certainly forget the little chinese clamshell chargers in the 0.5-1.5 Watt range!

Look for the components you need...
Waterproof solar panels for kayaking & canoeing. Sensitive thinfilm panels if you are going north or expect tree cover or questionable weather, or crystalline panels if you are at altitude or tropical latitudes. You're not going to purchase a separate system for each (probably), so consider what trekking you plan to do most.
The battery should be thin & light, and able to support all your electronics. Keep it safe & dry. Please don't believe that you can trek properly with an AC inverter... too much added weight, cost, & complexity. Stick to USB or 12V.

What About Just The Smartphone?

If you're considering a gift of solar this holiday season, stick to solar chargers that have a solar panel of at least 2 Watts. This will give you up to 50% of a typical smartphone charge each summer day. That is a level of performance most people can live with. Combine that with an internal boost battery in the same range as the smartphone (2500 mAHr or more), and you will have a satisfied trekker!

Need Any Help?

Send me a note! I can help evaluate any products you are interested in.

Considering A Goal Zero Solar Kit? Read this first.

Everyone in the solar industry has at least heard of Goal Zero by now. They are the American portable solar power company that was born out of african humanitarian aid projects. Goal Zero builds some fantastic products... heck, I sell a lot of them myself (see here). And Goal Zero does a great job of marketing their equipment, which is why you can find it almost everywhere solar panels and innovative outdoor gear are sold. But, should they be on your equipment short-list?

Just as the old saying goes: "There is a tool for every job", so it is with packable solar power systems. In this article, I will take a look at several popular Goal Zero power kits, suggest the best applications for them, and suggest excellent alternatives that may be better suited to your specific needs.

A few numbers to help you compare:

     Smart Phone battery full charge = 5-6 Watt-Hours
     GPS receiver battery full charge = 8+ Watt-Hours
     Tablet PC battery full charge = 20+ Watt-Hours
     Laptop battery full charge = 50+ Watt-Hours

Onward...

The Goal Zero Switch 8 : $139.99 (est)

This is the latest kit release from Goal Zero. It features their Nomad 3.5 folding panel, with the new Switch8 lithium USB battery pack. Following are the key specifications...

     Solar Panel Type : Monocrystalline

     Max power generation : 2.5 Watts (USB)
                or 3 Watts if using the Guide10 battery

     Power Storage : 7.92 Watt-Hours
     Max output : 1,000mA @ 5V USB
     Total Weight : 310g (11.2oz)

The verdict:
Like all Goal Zero products, this kit is very well built to take the abuse of wilderness use. The monocrystalline panel is best suited to direct sunlight, so it makes sense for regions that have a lot of sunshine (Africa, SW USA, Mexico, etc).
But, an integrated Voltaic charger like the Fuse 4W provides better performance with the same solar technology for less money, plus you get a very nice gear case...

Voltaic Fuse 4W : $129.99
     Solar Panel Type : Monocrystalline

     Max power generation : 4 Watts
     Power Storage : 11.1 Watt-Hours
     Max output : 1,000mA @ 5V USB
     Total Weight : 600g (20.8oz)

So, that being said, what USB solar charger would be my lead recommendation for difficult Canadian & other North American locations? If there is a good chance you will get partial shade, variable sun exposure, variable weather, or will be working at high latitudes, then the following will be the best options for you...

1. SUNLINQ1 + Voltaic V11 : $99.99 (est)
        Solar Panel Type : CIGS thin film
        Max power generation : 2 Watts
        Power Storage : 11.1 Watt-Hours
        Max output : 1,000mA @ 5V USB
        Total Weight : 2.21g (7.9oz)

        - lighter weight, more sensitive in low-light & partial shade,
          & more affordable

2. SUNLINQ2 + Voltaic V39 : $189.99 (est)

        Solar Panel Type : CIGS thin film
        Max power generation : 4 Watts
        Power Storage : 39 Watt-Hours
        Max output : up to 2.1A @ 5V USB (supports tablets)
        Total Weight : 540g (19oz)

        - More power in any light condition, greater sensitivity,
          & greater power storage.

The Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Adventure Kit : $119.99 (est)

This is the most popular Goal Zero kit. It features their Nomad 7 folding panel, with the Guide 10 Plus USB battery pack. This kit has all sorts of strange specifications... it says the rated output of the panel is 7 Watts, but the most you can get out of it is 6 Watts (USB) if connected directly to the Guide 10 pack using the special cable.
Following are the key specifications...

     Solar Panel Type : Monocrystalline

     Max power generation : 2.5 Watts (USB), 3 Watts (12V socket),
                          or 6 Watts via special Guide10 interface cable

     Power Storage : 12 Watt-Hours
                         (using 4 NiMh rechargeables - included)
     Max output : 1,000mA @ 5V USB via Guide 10,
                         (see above for max solar-direct performance)
     Total Weight : 540g (19.2oz)

The verdict:
I find this kit to be a bit disappointing... for $120 you get a very low-power 12V charger, and a very ordinary USB charger. I like the concept of the dual-voltage Nomad panel, but it is NOT a 7W panel! At the performance level of the Nomad 7, you should not expect to be able to charge many things directly from the panel... certainly not your iPhone or iPad. The monocrystalline solar cell type is best suited to direct sunlight, so it makes sense for regions that have a lot of sunshine (Africa, SW USA, Mexico, etc), so you might get frustrated in non-intense sunlight.
The Guide 10 performs well, and being able to use NiMh cells comes in handy, but even it lacks the punch to support many of the new 'smart' devices while they are running.

So, what alternatives would I recommend for Canadian latitudes & most North American locations? What systems would properly support 12V & USB devices in difficult weather & mountainous terrain?...

1. Powerfilm F5 + Novuscell 24 : $279.99 (est)
        Solar Panel Type : Amorphous thin film
        Max power generation : 4.8 Watts (12V)
        Power Storage : 24 Watt-Hours
        Max output : approx 20 Watts (2.1A @ 5V USB -or- 2A @ 11.1V)
        Total Weight : 340g (12oz)

        - lighter weight, more sensitive in low-light & partial shade,
           & powers far more 12V & USB devices (which is the point!)

2. Powerfilm R-7 + Voltaic V60 : $289.99 (est)

        Solar Panel Type : Amorphous thin film
        Max power generation : 6.9 Watts (12V)
        Power Storage : 60 Watt-Hours
        Max output : up to 48 Watts @ 12V, 16V or 19V, plus 2.1A USB
        Total Weight : 840g (29.6oz)

        - More power in any light condition, greater sensitivity,
          waterproof solar, & greater power storage,
          varied output voltage support.

Keep these options in mind, as they form a foundation for looking at the next level of portable power. This brings us to the last of the three Goal Zero kits I will look at in this article...

The Sherpa 50 Solar Recharger : $349.99 (est)
Goal Zero has put this kit together to address the varied needs of remote camps, serious trekkers, and anyone who has a comprehensive list of electronics to keep running while miles from civilization. The 13W Nomad panel is a good match to the Sherpa 50, and the combination supports both 12V & USB devices.
Here are the details...
     Solar Panel Type : Monocrystalline
     Max power generation : 13 Watts (12V), 5W (USB)
     Power Storage : 55 Watt-Hours (Sherpa 50 v2)
     Max output : 75W @ 12V & 1.5A @ 5V USB
     Total Weight : 1.22Kg (2.7 lbs)

The verdict:
This is a good kit, but again designed for sunny, tropical environments. The Nomad 13 panel provides solid 12V output, plus a USB option that is strong enough for fussy USB devices (in full sun of course). If you really need household AC power (not recommended), there is an inverter option for the Sherpa and this in itself is unique for a lithium system.

So, what alternatives to the Sherpa 50 Solar Kit would I recommend for Canadian latitudes & most other North American locations? What systems would properly support 12V & USB devices in difficult weather & mountainous terrain?

First, I will dispense with an AC inverter option. This is rarely needed as there are more efficient DC options available for most devices. Therefore we are left with specifying a comparable solar panel, but with improved low-light sensitivity, and bundle it with a storage battery that supports 12V & USB devices.
Here they are...

1. SUNLINQ4 + Brunton Sustain : $444.99 (est)

        Solar Panel Type : CIGS thin film
        Max power generation : 12 Watts (12V)
        Power Storage : 72 Watt-Hours
        Max output : up to 60 Watts @ 12V, 16V or 19V, plus 2.1A USB
        Total Weight : 937g (2.06 lbs)

2. Powerfilm R-14 + Voltaic V60 : $379.99 (est)

        Solar Panel Type : Amorphous thin film
        Max power generation : 13.9 Watts (12V)
        Power Storage : 60 Watt-Hours
        Max output : up to 48 Watts @ 12V, 16V or 19V, plus 2.1A USB
        Total Weight : 1.14Kg (2.5 lbs)

This concludes my little report on Goal Zero and what alternative equipment combinations I would recommend for Canadian & North American locations. Again, the point of the exercise is to pack along equipment that will work under the widest range of conditions. Goal Zero equipment is good, but not the best option in challenging northern latitudes.

I understand that I presented quite a few numbers here. Sorry about that. I tried to keep them simple so that you can make meaningful comparisons between devices. If you have any questions regarding anything I have presented here, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Cheers!