Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

At 70 years of age, I've been a camper/hiker, of one kind or another, ever since my Dad threw me over his shoulder and took me fishing. Over our years together, we had many adventures in Mother Nature's Grandeur, but, in those days, the only 'technology' that went with us was Dad's bamboo fishing pole! Today, car/tent camping is my choice and with all the electronics that we all think is necessary now days, I had to find a way to power all my toys while exploring the backroads of America. I wanted a substantial power source, but it had to be portable and could be recharged if it was needed for longer excursions. Being from the Stone Age, I figured I'd end up with some kind of gas or propane generator, but as I researched, I discovered the new world of high capacity portable batteries with built in AC, DC and USB plugs, rechargeable with AC, DC or a Solar Panel. If you'd like to learn more about which Portable Power Station I chose, see my review of the Jackery Explorer 500 (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RQ5LWS1DHIDBW?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp) Since I have a road trip planned for next summer, I wanted to obtain some kind of solar panel to keep my Explorer 500 charged up, so I chose Jackery's SolarSaga 100 Portable Solar Panel and decided to experiment with it over the Winter. I received prompt delivery of my new Solar Panel and as it turned out, it was just in time for the first test. Living on the rural Oregon Coast, it's not unusual to loose power when there's a storm. Although I did have some modern conveniences ( wood heat, running water and propane generator to keep the frig/freezer going and the camp stove for cooking), I'm happy to report that despite being without electricity for 4 days, I was able to keep my toys and my neighbors toys charged. We were able to watch all the TV we wanted through our iPads and MacBook Pros and kept all our iPhones (3), iPads (2), MacBook Pros (2), Bluetooth Speakers (4) and Bluetooth lanterns and flashlights (6) fully charged. Life would have been very boring if I hadn't been able to keep our 'toys' functioning, so I felt this was an excellent investment. Included are pics of my Jackery Explorer 500 with the complimentary SolarSaga 100 Portable Solar Panel which shows the rugged, compact unit encased in a protective storage bag with attached pouch for cables and instruction card. Support legs are attached as well which flip out to angle the panel properly for sun exposure. One edge has a compact plastic enclosure encasing the plug-ins and a storage compartment for the attached charging cable. I decided to keep the panel hooked up to the Explorer 500 all the time so it was fully charged and ready for whatever 'toy' needed power. Fortunately, the sun finally came out and then the panel did an even more outstanding job of keeping us going. This was a good 'dry run' to get familiar with this unit's capabilities, as I do a lot of car camping every summer and now have a better idea of how this set up will serve me as I travel and in future home emergencies. Some reviewers have questioned why Jackery's SolarSaga Solar Panels (60 and 100) are more expensive that other brands. Folks, we all know that some manufacturers produce higher quality products made with high end components and constructed properly. Personally, I always try to purchase the very best product I can afford, so if that means spending a little more, it's usually worth it. The other important and valuable aspect of choosing a top notch product is choosing a reputable company that provides excellent service and stands behind their products. We've all had poor experiences with companies that provide little customer service or worse yet, no customer service. Let me tell you that the Jackery Staff is the very best that you'll find! Prompt, polite and frankly, I get the sense that they are genuinely concerned that you are happy with their products. I simply had some general questions on their equipment functionality, and I received feedback within a few hours, not days! If you're looking for an outstanding, top quality portable compact power station with a complimentary solar panel, I highly recommend spending those few extra bucks (it's not that much more) for Jackery's Products. If you just can't afford the larger units, then start out with a smaller power station and the 60 watt solar panel. They offer various capacity power stations (160, 240, 500 currently, but are coming out with a 300), two solar panels (60 and 100 watt) and several portable power banks of a variety of sizes to throw in your pocket that can supply you with much needed power for your outdoor adventures or as emergency backup. Take the leap with Jackery, Friends, as you'll be making a solid investment and you'll be very pleased with their customer service!