Solio Classic2 Battery Pack and Solar Charger (Silver)

This device works great. The usual solar limitations hold. It cannot charge faster than light hits it, therefore a single charge on an iPhone overnight, which drained it down to 40% battery (60% used up), took literally all day to recharge. Any deficiency in operation comes down to this: It can only charge so fast. The red light on the bottom, indicating when it's charging, is a huge help. The pencil hole is essential to keep the Solio Classic 2 aimed toward the sun. The charge level blink system is a very good way to figure out how much it's got stored. So it's got what it needs. It's amazing that there is so much functionality out of one little button. Because it's hard to hang on to manuals, I took a Sharpie and wrote a lot of the essential instructions on the back of the upper two "leaves". That's helpful when I hand the Solio to other people to use. Also, it holds its charge when in storage like nothing else I've seen. Pull it out after a week, hold it toward the sun, and it barely blinks red before shutting off because of a full-charge condition. The instructions say, it'll keep a year in storage. Well that's about right.

This product can charge an iphone 5 from empty to full no problem. It can partially charge the phone again without additional charging, if the Solio battery was fully charged. It takes several days of charging via solar alone to fully charge it.The solio will shut off to avoid overcharging its battery once it's full. Overall good product, but solar is a slow means to obtain power.

I bought mine for a trek in the Picos de Europa, northen Spain. I used the Solio Classic2 on the back of my rucksack walking west. In one day's trek It charged to 3/4 of full in perfect conditions with sun behind me. This was enough to charge my iPhone one 1.5 times. Attaching it to the rucksack was feasible but not simple and the device is a little large. Opening and closing the "flower" is too easy with it flopping closed if you get the positioning of the petals wrong. The Solio Classic2 is not appropriate for charging on the move. It will keep your phone running when you do not have a power source and there is plenty of sun but don't expect much more than a full charge once a day.

I wanted to love this product. I purchased it in addition to having one of their earlier 'Classic' models for a trip to Africa where I was going to need to charge my iPhone and camera without regular access to power. I shouldn't have wasted my money on this newer model. As has been commented before, the locking of the blades as they rotate open is anything but positive. The whole unit feels loose and cheaply assembled. Which is a shame, because the overall aesthetics are nice. Shortly after removing it from the packaging and opening/closing it a few times, I noticed shards of white plastic falling out of the hole of the hub. Turns out, the cylindrical clips that hold the blades together as one unit are weak and brittle. They had broken off with only a couple of delicate openings. This problem only worsened and while I was on safari and needed this product most, it failed completely and all three blades became disconnected from one another.Do not buy this product! Buy other products from this company, but not this one. I have an older classic model that is a champ and has stood the test of time. It saved my battery-dependent butt in Africa. But this product is poorly made. Again, do not buy this.

Got this after seeing it a few years ago its great to keep in my car when I'm at work. It will charge all day then I can charge my phone tablet etc. at night real money saver!!! One of the panels came off the track (inside) but it works all the same just one is kind of loose. Great gift. Truly magnificent. Shipping was faster a little banged up but product wasn't damaged! Fast transaction!

I bought this solar charger to have for backup in case of earthquake, hurricane or volcano event here on the Big Island. It takes a bit more than one full day of sunshine to fully charge it, though I have to admit that I only go out and re-orient its direction once during the day at about 12:30. Then I can quickly charge up my Samsung Galaxy SIII from 80% to 100% about 3 times, or charge the phone once + my Kindle with their own USB charging cords. The Solio has a full-sized USB connector slot, so that makes it easy to connect to various devices. It is fairly light, so would be easy to take on camping trips, etc. I tried charging my Samsung 8.9 tablet with the Solio, but that seemed to be much slower, though it was charging it. I feel like this device met my needs and expectations and was reasonably priced.

Great charger BUT takes a full 8 hours in sunlight to get a great charge AND after one use the swivel joint broke. It still works (I hope). Compact solution for backpacks