Where can I find a portable solar panel that will charge a laptop when out in working in the field.

There are some amazing options available. If you want light and portable try the Solaris foldable. It is about as compact as a DVD case. If you like the idea of an all-in-one laptop bag for the field and battery then check out the Voltaic bag. It lets you store your computer and charge it. Finally, if you want a battery you can stow in your stuff ready to pull out when needed the Gorilla should do the trick. All of these are rated to work with laptops and the manufacturers are very clear about their limitations.

More information from the Manufacturers:


  Gorilla Battery : Dimensions: 10.4" X 7.8" X 0.74". Weight Only 1.5 lbs. Output Capacity: 500 mAh @ 20V and 500 mAh at 5V. Water Resistant: YES (except for the power connectors). Green LED charging indicator. Includes: 15 connectors pack: 8 male notebook connectors and 9 "monkey nuts" connector tips for mobile/cellphones  clearly labelled on the pack. Connector tips for cellphones: Nokia & Mini Nokia, Motorola V66, Samsung E900, LG Chocolate and Sony Ericsson wide connectors. Mini USB for Motorola Razr V series, BlackBerrys and Blue tooth headsets. Female USB charging tip for smart phones, PDAs and other USB powered devices. Micro USB for the latest Motorola and Nokia series. Solargorilla's 24 volt and 5 volt USB socket make it the ultimate renewable power station for your laptop, mobile phone, iPod and many more devices. Solar gorilla works via two PV (photovoltaic) solar panels, which generate electric current when they are exposed to light. The green LED on the solargorilla indicates the strength of charge - the more UV intensity - the better it will work! The technically advanced solar panels ensure superb power and reliable performance, all housed in a tough outer casing. Please Note: To use with Macbook Pro, Macbook Air and Macbook you will need an Apple MagSafe Airline Adaptor (Available at Apple Store) Don't forget to ask our competitors if they are including the 12V Car Socket with the SolarGorilla (not included by manufacturer). We are adding it in at no extra charge for increased compatibility and easy connection to the Magsafe Airline Adaptor for Macbook (available at Apple Store)

The Voltaic solar bags are solar chargers designed to charge and store your notebook. The case has a battery that is solar charged. Using an adapter, you can power your notebook from the case's battery. It's a neat and efficient concept to keep power constant.
The Voltaic Generator is the first solar bag powerful enough to charge a laptop. This solar laptop charger has high-efficiency cells and includes a battery pack custom designed to efficiently store and convert the electricity generated. It will also charge cell phones and most other hand held electronics. Material - 600D shell made from 100% recycled PET (soda bottles). Webbing, mesh and 150D lining all made from 100% recycled PET. Aluminum frame covered in UV resistant PU. Aluminum and PU hardware Silicon handle Unit Weight - 4.5 lbs (2,050 grams) including solar panel and battery. Unit Dimensions - 17x12x 3.5 (43x31x9cm) -- will hold up to a 17 MacBook Pro Volume - 700 cubic inches (12 liters) Note - Not all manufacturers enable charging from external batteries and Voltaic adapters do not fit all laptops. Results may vary by model, but laptops by Apple, Dell, HP, IBM/Lenovo and Panasonic typically do charge. Brands less likely to charge include Fujitsu, Sony and Toshiba Indicator light inside the handle shows when the panels are generating a charge Voltaic bags use fabrics made from recycled PET i.e. soda bottles. We worked extensively with suppliers to develop these fabrics, since they were not previously available. Recycled PET fabric is light weight, extremely durable, UV resistant and water resistant. It even looks better than the nylon it replaced. Most importantly, it uses significantly less energy to produce and creates demand for recycled materials. The solar panels are waterproof The Voltaic battery is a 50 Watt hour battery (58wh throughput in normal conditions) A typical small-medium laptop battery is about the same.


The next generation of Solaris foldable technology is here. CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide) is the most efficient thin film solar technology available. By maximizing performance while optimizing portability, it makes the Solaris 26 the most compact high output model available. The built-in blocking diode prevents reverse battery discharge. Provides a lightweight, compact design that includes; Storage Sack, Vehicle outlet cable, Multi-link cable, Battery clamp cable. One Year Warranty. Contact us for Customer Service, Technical and any other question at 1-800-443-4871 (or) support@brunton.com


Hope this helps you keep a charged laptop in the field!