Goal Zero Sherpa 100 Review
Page Contents
- Portable
- Wireless charging
- Interactive OLED display
- 4 durable cables (all included)
- Built-in low battery protection
Weight: 2 lbs. (.9 kg)
Dimensions: 7.5 x 1 x 5.68 in (19.0 x 2.54 x 14.4 cm)
Colors: Black
Battery type: Li-ion
Charging port: 50W
Our Verdict
The Goal Zero Sherpa 100 is a powerful product for professional photographers, writers, or artists. This power bank has the ability to charge laptops twice, including MacBooks, which take up the most energy and are typically used for editing photos and recording music. If you’re a travelling artist who needs to consistently recharge your devices, our Goal Zero Sherpa 100 Review will show you why we think this product is for you.
The Sherpa 100 is slightly larger than the Sherpa 50, but it can manage almost twice the power. With two charging ports and multiple charging methods, it’s sure to be convenient and essential on-the-go.
Compatibility
The Goal Zero Sherpa 100 works with just about anything you need when you’re away from electricity. It will recharge your laptops, tablets, cameras, headlamps, and solar showers.
When fully-charged, the Sherpa 100 can charge a laptop twice, a smartphone 8 times, a tablet four times, and something simple (like a POV camera) up to 18 times. It can be charged via USB or Solar, and it’s most compatible with the Nomad 28 Plus solar panel. If you’ve decided to buy this model, that solar panel will charge your power bank very quickly.
Durability
With a boxy build formed from industrial plastic, this unit is fairly durable. While it isn’t shock-proof or weatherproof, it can withstand the hustle-bustle of the backpacking life. It’s also fairly portable, which helps when it comes to durability. You can sandwich it between soft items in your pack or you can cover it with some quick bubble wrap while traveling. You can also purchase the Sherpa 100 AC sleeve, which will help greatly when it comes to protection.
Easy Of Use
All ports are clearly labeled with the Goal Zero Sherpa 100. Whether you’re using a USB source or a solar panel for power, you’ll be able to easily locate where to plug things in. The fact that this model comes with its own cables is also extremely helpful. There should be no confusion about what goes where.
That being said, this is a complex piece of equipment. You will need to familiarize yourself with the display panel. The display panel will show you detailed port information, set roles for ports, power in/out, and how much battery time you have left. Knowing how much power you’re utilizing and how much you have left is essential, so be sure to read the user manual. The panel is the most complex thing about this power bank, and it’s quite easy to familiarize yourself with it over time.
Features
Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Goal Zero Sherpa 100 is the interactive display screen. It’s small in size (the unit itself is not large by any means) but it tells you a lot of information. From the display screen you’ll be able to see how much more power is needed to bring you up to 100%. On top of that, you’ll be able to assign a button to each port, set roles for the ports, and check the power going in and out. The screen is very bright when activated, so you’ll be able to see it in the nighttime as well.
Another unique feature is that this model actually has storage for your lightening, Micro USB, USB-C, and USB-C to USB-C cables. Not only are the cables included with your purchase, but the unit has little pockets for each cable. You never have to worry about losing your cables while traveling. If you’d like more options as far as features are concerned, feel free to take a look at our list of this year’s best solar power banks.
Design
This model looks almost like a WiFi router. It’s in the shape of a rectangle with ports going down the sides. With a matte black finish, it looks professional and durable. The built-in compartments for the cables are discreet and they fit in nicely with the design. There is nothing about this unit that is bulky or difficult to manage.
What We Like
The best thing about the Goal Zero Sherpa 100 is its compatibility and longevity. Not only will it charge your most-needed devices, but it will charge them multiple times before it needs to be recharged. It’s tough enough to travel with you, but it’s attractive too. Durability and design don’t always coincide, but in this case, they do.
The reason why we ranked this so high as far as value for money is mainly because of the technology. The screen will allow you to customize ports and understand where you’re at as far as charging is concerned. It’s a great piece of equipment that is sure to last a long time, so it’s worth putting in the extra money. If you’re using the Nomad 28 Plus solar panel mentioned earlier, charging times are minimal. You can be fully-charged and ready to go after just 6 hours of direct sun exposure.
Pros:
- Can charge laptops
- All cables included
- Interactive display screen
- Modern and durable
Cons:
- Costly
- Not weatherproof or waterproof
