Ultralight Hike
The Kolumb 10.6W solar panel is a particularly light panel. The manufacturer specifies an output of 10.6 watts, compact dimensions of 32x24.5 cm and a weight of just 198g. With these figures, the solar panel is ideal for trekking tours far from power outlets.
This panel differs from the XTPower panel in its construction. While the latter consists of solar cells cast in epoxy resin and covered with fabric, the Kolumb panel is laminated between two layers of plastic. Among other things, this has the following advantages:
Like the fabric-wrapped solar panels, the two solar modules of this model are connected to each other by wire-mesh conductors. Thanks to the lamination, these conductors are insulated watertight. Only through the USB port can water still damage the panel. To solve this problem, Kolumb includes a small silicone seal with the panel, which is meant to prevent water from entering the electronics in the rain.
Usually, fabric-wrapped solar panels are wrapped in 1000-denier "bomb-proof" fabric. This heavy fabric significantly increases the total weight of a panel. With my SP13 panel, the panel’s weight is almost doubled by the weight of the fabric.
The panel encased in ETFE plastic is noticeably thinner than those cast in epoxy resin.
Despite its low weight, the solar panel’s performance is quite respectable. The panel also works excellently with the MYOG power bank. A good example of this combination was the Saturday of the Ultralight Trekking Forum’s autumn meetup 2016. For most of the time there was hazy autumn weather with lots of fog, which even gave Madeira a run for its money. Thinkably bad conditions for testing, yet the panel still managed to charge the battery to 90%. For comparison: on Madeira, the smartphone battery could not be charged at all under such conditions without a power bank.
This solar panel will accompany me on trips of at least six days without recharging options, in spring and autumn at the very least. If the China A5 solar panel doesn’t prove itself, the Kolumb panel will also accompany me on longer trips in summer.
The measured values from the test in November are also nothing to sneeze at. In the future, I will add the panel’s values for summer as well.
A1 - output in amperes with the solar panel aimed at the sun
A2 - output in amperes with the solar panel not aimed at the sun
A3 - output in amperes in diffuse sunlight
| Product | Output | A1 | A2 | A3 | Weight | Weight Red. | Grams/watt | Price |
| 10,6W | 1,3 | 0,32 | 0,03 | 204 | - | 19,62 | 48€ |
Note: I bought the item at the regular price from Amazon; since then, Amazon has apparently raised the price of the product significantly.
