My Review of the Goal Zero 42005 Sherpa 50
Here are my thoughts on the Goal Zero 42005 Sherpa 50.
Not everywhere you go is going to have an electrical outlet.
In today’s digital world, this can often be a bit of a problem.
While excursions such as camping trips, hiking, and long road trips are often a great chance to get away from your digital devices for a while, often times you’d rather have them along.
So how do you keep a tablet charged while you’re out in the wilderness? Or how do you keep your laptop running on a trip across the country?
To provide a solution for situations like these, Goal Zero has come out with a recharge kit cable of running entirely off of solar energy.
It’s a great innovation that I was excited to have the chance to research. In this review, we’ll take a look at the various features and functions of the remarkable Goal Zero 42005 Sherpa recharging kit.
What to Look For When Purchasing a Recharging Kit
When purchasing any recharge kit there are a few things you will want to look for to make sure you get the best value for your money. These are:
- Charging Time
- Various Functions
- Durability
- Portability
To better understand why the Sherpa is such an excellent little kit, this review will focus on how well it performs in each of these areas.
Zero to Charged in Just a Few Hours
One problem with many consumer solar technologies is the fact that they take a terribly long time to fully power whatever it is they are connected to.
Thankfully, this is not the case with the Sherpa. Using sunlight collected from its Nomad solar panel as its only power source, the Goal Zero Sherpa is able to fully charge itself in five to ten hours.
Connected to a power outlet it’s even faster, reaching full charge in two to three hours, and connected to a car it can charge itself in four to six hours.
Once the Sherpa is charged, it is fully ready to keep a laptop, tablet, or phone running for long periods of time. For example, the Sherpa is able to add one to three hours of life on a single charge to a laptop and as much as fifteen hours of life to a phone or tablet.
Simple and Useful Functions
To start, the Sherpa is able to charge most any device that has USB connectivity, meaning that it can be used to prolong the life of GPS’s, MP3 players, phones, e-readers, tablets, personal gaming devices, and digital cameras.
Beyond this, the Sherpa also includes a bolt-on inverter that allows you to use the device as a wall-plug, effectively powering anything with an AC power plug.
This is an excellent feature that most recharging kits do not have. Use the Sherpa to power a pump, coffee maker, television, and anything else you can think of-all from places where no power outlets are anywhere to be seen.
A Good, Solid Construction
Solar panels are notorious for being fragile. Thankfully, Goal Zero has done a great job making their Nomad solar panels very durable.
Reviews of the Sherpa have said to have taken the included panels on climbs up mountains, long rides down rough roads on the back of an ATV and even kayaking without experiencing any problems out of them.
Indeed, the quality of the construction is evident on the entire unit, ensuring it will last for many years to come.
Easy To Transport
Thoughts of solar panels generally bring to mind images of grandiose devices about the size of aircraft wings.
Obviously, devices this size simply aren’t practical for a trip of any sort. Fortunately, the Sherpa is able to achieve its energy gathering efficiency in a much more compact package.
The entire unit weighs only eight pounds, and the folding panels are incredibly easy to store in a backpack, making the Sherpa as portable as it is effective.
Goal Zero 42005 Sherpa 50 Features
- Recharge by: USB, 12V, AC
- Power Output: USB, 12V, AC*
- Ideal for: Tablet, Laptop**, Camera
- Kit Includes: Sherpa 50 & Nomad 13
- Weight: 2.8 lbs
Technical Specifications
SHERPA 50 TECH SPECS |
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Charge Times
Battery Details
Light
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Ports
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General
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NOMAD 13 SOLAR PANEL |
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Charges the following:
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Solar Panel:
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Ports
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General
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How Much Should You Expect to Pay?
The Goal Zero Sherpa has a list price of $509 for the entire kit. As of now, however, Amazon sells the Sherpa for much less.
It can be purchased there for a 36% discount and they also offer to ship the item for free.
What’s Included
- Goal Zero Sherpa 50 Recharging Kit with Nomad 13 Solar Panel
- wall charger
- DC inverter
- instruction manual
Does it Include a Warranty?
Yes, the Goal Zero Sherpa 50 does come with a 6 month warranty.
What Others Are Saying
The Sherpa is well reviewed on Amazon, receiving an average of 4.2 out of 5 stars on customer reviews. Here are what a few pleased users had to say:
- “I use it on car camping trips and around the house, and couldn’t be happier”
- “Quality item, well made, and a reputable company that stands behind its products”
- “This product is a must have”
- “Excellent quality…Exceeded expectations”
- “This combo does everything I hoped it would do”
- “Great solar charging kit!”
Any complaints?
One wish that people have stated would make the Sherpa even better is if it was able to put out a little more power for charging larger items such as laptops.
Where Can You Buy the Goal Zero 42005 Sherpa 50?
The best place to purchase the Goals Zero Sherpa 50 recharging kit is from Amazon. They offer the best price on the kit and ship it for free.
Where Can You Read More Reviews of the Goal Zero 42005 Sherpa 50?
If you would like to learn more about what people have had to say about the Sherpa the best place to begin your research is Amazon. Currently, there are forty customer reviews of the kit there. Click here to read them.
See how innovative and practical the Sherpa 50 is…
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Tags: Goal Zero 42005 Sherpa 50
Categorised in: Articles, Goal Zero, Inverter Reviews