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Instapark Mercury 10M18U with battery Review

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Instapark Mercury 10M18U with battery Review
Credit: Instapark
Price:  $48 List
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Manufacturer:   Instapark
By Lyra Pierotti ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jan 30, 2016
71
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Output Power - 30% 8.0
  • Weight - 20% 4.0
  • Portability - 20% 8.0
  • Ease of use - 15% 8.0
  • Versatility - 15% 7.0

Our Verdict

This solar charger is no longer available for sale.
REASONS TO BUY
Light
Inexpensive
Simple
Can charge two devices at once
REASONS TO AVOID
Included battery is clunky
Weak
Low capacity
Heavy
The Instapark Mercury 10 was easily the most underrated panel in our tests--that is, until we started stacking all of the specs of the panels in our review, side-by-side. The Mercury proved to be a solid contender--a Jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. Quickly, subtly, and solidly, the Instapark Mercury 10 established its seat among this review's award winners.

Our Analysis and Test Results

After a thorough assessment, the Mercury 10 proved itself as a good solar panel with great value. It is big enough to do some fast charging and relatively lightweight. This year, Instapark included their own battery in a kit with the Mercury 10, but we were severely disappointed in the battery. However, the simplicity and reliability of the panel alone still hold its spot as a Best Buy winner, with the battery having only bumped up the already very low cost about $17.

Performance Comparison


instapark mercury 10m18u with battery - instapark mercury 10 solar panel was one of the smaller and lighter...
Instapark Mercury 10 solar panel was one of the smaller and lighter panels we tested.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti

Output Power


At 10 watts, this panel was on the more powerful side of the panels we tested, but not the most powerful; however, the USB ports provide 2 amps of current, which makes a huge difference when charging energy hungry tablets or newer smartphones. One port is labeled for iPad/iPhone, which on some devices denotes the port with higher amperage, but from the best of our research, it appears that both of these ports charge at two amps.


Last year, our testers were impressed by the Mercury 10's ability to hold the charging connection to our devices when we momentarily shaded the panel--this proved to be a particularly annoying problem with a few panels, which would drop the connection and fail to reconnect with our devices after someone walked briefly in front of the panel. This year, it still re-established the connection when completely shaded and then un-shaded, but it did not reset with the same ease when a cloud passed overhead. The Goal Zero Nomad 7 and the Anker 15W PowerPort Solar Lite with PowerIQ technology performed much stronger in this area.

instapark mercury 10m18u with battery - the instapark mercury 10 set out upside down to show the inside of...
The Instapark Mercury 10 set out upside down to show the inside of the pocket, the special USB iPad port with higher amperage for tablets, and the scale compared to an average smartphone.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti

Last, the proprietary Instapark battery. The included battery is one reason the Goal Zero Venture 30 Recharging Kit won our Editors' Choice award, but the Instapark battery ise a sore spot for the Mercury 10. This should have been a relatively high capacity battery, but we found its performance to be unpredictable. At first, it charged our iPad almost 20% in one test. In a subsequent test, it conked out after charging only 6%. In this latter test, the fan turned on and the battery felt warm to the touch.

instapark mercury 10m18u with battery - the instapark performed reliably in low light conditions, better...
The Instapark performed reliably in low light conditions, better than some more purportedly powerful panels such as the RavPower 15W. In the two bottom photos, it split the power differently between an iPad and an iPhone, once evenly and once in favor of the iPad, and we were not sure why.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti

Performance aside, we also thought the battery was big, clunky, and heavy. We much prefer the very sleek proprietary batteries to match the Goal Zero Venture 30 kit.

instapark mercury 10m18u with battery - now charging two devices at a time with the instapark external...
Now charging two devices at a time with the Instapark external battery: the top iPhone amperage reads 0.48A, and the bottom reads 0.54A
Credit: Lyra Pierotti

Ease of Use


This is an excellent panel for charging any devices that charge via USB, which is most modern personal technology items such as smartphones, tablets, many cameras, and some GPS consoles.


The Mercury 10 has a large, convenient pocket for stashing (and protecting) your device while it is charging, and keeping your cables organized while on the go. The panel has loops around the edges for hanging from trees, tents, etc. This makes it very easy to orient the panel for optimal sun exposure.

instapark mercury 10m18u with battery - showing off the instapark mercury 10's generous usb storage pocket...
Showing off the Instapark Mercury 10's generous USB storage pocket. High marks for this.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti

We also really like the sewn loops for hanging the panel instead of the metal grommets on other panels like the old Anker 14W panel from last year's review (which has been changed this year to sewn loops on the Anker 15W panel). Like with the Goal Zero panel, these sewn carabiner attachment points make the panel much easier to hang up, pin down, and then fold back for transport.

The velcro flap, however, that holds the panel closed when folded tends to fold over the third panel while propped in the sun. If you are easily irritated by minor design flaws, this panel may not bring you technological bliss.

instapark mercury 10m18u with battery - the instapark mercury 10 setup to charge a smartphone on the beach...
The Instapark Mercury 10 setup to charge a smartphone on the beach. As any beach-goer knows, sand gets absolutely everywhere. With the Mercury 10's generous pocket, we were confident about setting it out unattended in the sun--we knew our smartphone and USB cable were securely sealed in the pocket.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti

Weight


This panel was one of the lightest full-fledged folding solar panels we tested. It has three decent sized panels that deliver enough power to charge a tablet with relative ease, and it only weighs a little more than some of the hard-shelled chargers with a much smaller solar panel surface area. Many of the other panels that were about as powerful were almost double the weight. Pair this with a lightweight external battery for the ultimate dream team combo in backcountry solar charging.


Portability


The Mercury 10 was one of the most portable folding panels we reviewed thanks to its excellent weight-to-panel-size-ratio. This is a very light and compact panel for the solar surface area it provides.


Versatility


This panel does not come with many adapters nor can you add them later. There is no cigarette lighter adapter capability or way to charge a laptop or device that does not have a USB cable. This means there are certain devices, such as camera battery chargers, that are not easily charged from this panel. This is a panel optimized for charging smart phones and tablets.


Though this kit includes a proprietary battery, we do not recommend the battery. It is large, heavy, shaped awkwardly for transport (bulky), and performed poorly (by overheating and losing a charge much faster than expected).

instapark mercury 10m18u with battery - when the instapark mercury 10 is paired with an external battery...
When the InstaPark Mercury 10 is paired with an external battery, it's by far the best value in a panel and battery combo.
Credit: Chris McNamara

Best Application


This panel is ideal for groups with 2 to 4 people that all want to keep their smartphones and tablets charged, but it is also light enough for solo travelers on longer journeys, or for someone who has a “mobile office” with a tablet and smartphone that will be in heavy use in the field. Paired with a cheap external battery, you can charge device and battery simultaneously.

Value


Any way you look at it, the Mercury 10 is an amazing value. It is on the less expensive side of the traditional folding panels and boasts great price-per-watt and price-per-ounce ratios. This earns it our Best Buy Award.

Conclusion


If you mainly charge USB devices and want high performance first, with low weight a very close second, then this is the panel to get. Even if you are on a budget, this panel is hard to beat. The Instapark Mercury 10 is not new to our awards list. Previously a Best Buy winner, then an Editor's Choice winner, this panel continues to hold its own in the solar panel market. This year, it was edged out of the top slot by the Goal Zero Venture 30 Recharging Kit but still earns a Best Buy Award.

Lyra Pierotti