40W three-section solar charger with folded fabric bag, cable, adapter tips and hooks

Solar Blankets

A solar blanket is a fabric-backed folding solar panel: the cells are sewn or laminated into sections that fold into a pouch, so it packs flatter and lighter than a rigid suitcase panel. Lay it on the bonnet, a camp chair or the ground at camp, run the lead to your power station or solar regulator, and fold it away when you move on.

This is not a pool cover. The "solar blankets" here generate electricity for camping, 4WD trips, caravans and vans. Every model below lists its weight, folded size and outputs on the product page, so you can compare what fits in the vehicle before you compare watts.

Which solar blanket size do you need?

Size the blanket from the energy you use per day, not from the biggest number you can afford to carry.

Add up your daily watt-hours. Watts × hours of use, for each device. One watt-hour is one watt used for one hour (EIA).
Divide by peak sun hours. A peak sun hour is one hour of sunlight at 1 kW/m², so a site's daily solar energy in kWh/m² is also its number of peak sun hours (NLR). Look up your location in PVWatts from NLR.
Allow for losses. PVWatts uses a default of 14% total system losses (soiling, shading, mismatch, wiring and more) (NLR). A blanket on the ground that you don't re-aim during the day will usually do worse than that, so round up to the next size.

Worked example: loads totalling 600 Wh a day at a site with 5 peak sun hours. 600 ÷ 5 = 120 W, then 120 ÷ 0.86 ≈ 140 W. Choose a 160–200 W blanket rather than a 120 W one. Using 300 Wh a day at the same site, a 100 W blanket covers it on paper (300 ÷ 5 ÷ 0.86 ≈ 70 W) with room for cloud.

Solar blankets in this collection

All are fabric-backed or fabric-pouch folding panels. Figures are taken from each product page.

200 W eight-section solar blanket: N-type 16BB cells, ETFE surface, about 4 kg, folds to 16.14 × 15.35 × 3.07 in. Listed outputs are USB-C PD up to 45 W and two USB-A ports up to 18 W; IP65 panel surface.
200 W fabric folding panel, four sections: Oxford-cloth construction, 4.2 kg, folds to 23.5 × 21.25 × 2.3 in. USB-A QC3.0, USB-C and DC5525, with MC4 cable options; rear supports adjust 30–60°.
200 W foldable panel with carry pouch: six sections, 4.8 kg, folds to 460 × 415 × 75 mm. 20 V working voltage, 24 V open-circuit, output lead.
200 W folding panel, 24 V: fabric-backed, 8.05 kg, folds to 579 × 608 mm. Vmp 24 V, Voc 28.8 V, so it suits an MPPT regulator or a power station whose solar input accepts that voltage.
100 W two-section folding panel: fabric-backed, 3.2 kg, MC4 leads, with DC barrel and Anderson adapter options (verify the cable configuration you order).
100 W six-section panel: 2.7 kg, folds to 39.9 × 26.7 cm. DC output up to 20 V / 5 A with a DC5521 to Anderson/XT60 cable, plus USB-C PD up to 45 W.
100 W two-fold fabric panel: 2.6 kg, 18 V operating voltage, zippered pouch and corner eyelets.
100 W four-fold panel, 18 V: 2.8 kg, folds to 475 × 426 mm, fabric pouch and edge eyelets.
80 W eight-section panel: 2.67 kg, folds to 12.5 × 9.6 × 2.5 in. Vmp 19 V, Voc 24 V; USB-C, USB-A and XT60/Anderson-style connection options.
80 W four-section panel: polyester fabric layer, 2.9 kg, folds to 370 × 252 × 5 mm. DC port 7–28 V / 5 A max, plus USB-A QC3.0 and USB-C.
60 W four-fold panel: grey fabric backing, 1.4 kg, folds to 219 × 407 mm. DC barrel, USB-C and USB-A.
40 W foldable charger: black fabric, 1.1 kg, folds to 11.97 × 8.86 × 1.77 in, for devices and small power banks.

Connecting a solar blanket to a battery or power station

12 V battery: put a solar regulator (charge controller) between the blanket and the battery. The product pages say it plainly: battery charging needs suitable charging control, not a direct panel-to-battery connection.
Portable power station: check the station's solar input window. The panel's open-circuit voltage (Voc), not its nominal wattage, must sit inside that window, and the plug and polarity must match. A plug that fits is not proof the voltage is right.
USB devices: USB port ratings are per port and are not added together; the 200 W rating is not a USB rating.
Anderson, XT60, MC4: several models list Anderson or XT60 adapter options. Confirm which cable is in the package for the exact model before you plan the run to your regulator.

Solar blanket or something else?

A blanket is the right call when the panel travels with you and comes out at camp. If the panel is going to live on a van, caravan or boat roof, a bonded flexible solar panel is the better fit; for typical roof setups see RV solar panels. Lighter USB-only chargers for hiking are in solar phone chargers, and all folding formats, including framed and bifacial ones, are in portable and foldable solar panels. For campsite power planning beyond the blanket itself, see solar power for camping; for roof plus portable setups, see campervan solar panels and caravan and motorhome solar panels.

Frequently asked questions

What is a solar blanket?

A folding solar panel with a fabric backing instead of a rigid frame. The cells are split into sections (two to eight in this collection) that fold into a flat pack with a handle or pouch.

Is a solar blanket the same as a solar pool blanket?

No. A pool blanket is a plastic cover that warms swimming-pool water. A solar blanket for camping makes electricity from photovoltaic cells.

How many watts of solar blanket do I need for a camping fridge?

Use the fridge's daily watt-hour figure from its manual, divide by your site's peak sun hours, then divide by 0.86 for losses. For 600 Wh a day at 5 peak sun hours, that is about 140 W, so a 160–200 W blanket.

Can I leave a solar blanket out in the rain?

Several models list an IP65 panel surface, but the product pages also say to keep the electrical connectors dry. Fold it away or cover the connection area in rain, and pack it dry.

Can a solar blanket charge a power station directly?

Yes, if its output voltage and plug sit inside the station's solar input specification. Models with DC, MC4 or Anderson-style outputs are the ones to look at; USB-only models charge devices, not power stations. More options are in solar panels for power stations.