Goal Zero Sherpa 100 and Nomad 20 system

I just received a Goal Zero Sherpa 100/Nomad 20 battery backup and solar panel system for review and provide a brief comparison of its features against the Adventure 10+/Nomad 7 system which I own.
The Sherp100 has 10x the power of the adventure 10+ and enough juice to support power hungry users in the backcountry. I think it will be most appreciated by photographers and video shoots where worries about running out of battery can be decreased. However, the system comes at a cost, in literal $$ amounts and also a weight penalty. At 2.1 kg this system is pretty heavy and not the kind of thing backpackers and ultra-light campers will want to lug around. (Then again, they probably don't usually pack DSLRs with 1 kg lenses and 3 lb tripods either). Well suited to extended trippers and canoe campers who are willing to pack a bit extra weight for convenience and security.
Bottom line, if your electronic needs are light and you are just looking for a few AA battery recharges and/or USB charging (cell phone or sat. phone) then you can get away with the Adventure 10+ and Nomad-7 (Its 1/4 the cost and 1/4 the weight). If you are packing a go-pro camera beyond 1 week plus secondary camera, the Sherpa 100 might be the way to go. Forgoe the solar panel for shorter trips and bring it along for the really long trips.

[@kgdblade]

Update May 2017. Three years later and this battery is still going strong and working as great as ever. It is still my goto backup battery for trips. I take the battery alone on trips of 7 days and the battery plus Nomad 20 on trips longer than a week. There are a lot of competitors out there today but I think the Sherpa 100 still holds it own among the competition and is still a leading profile product on Goal Zero's website. Sometimes it is worth it to invest in the best and I feel that at the time I bought the Sherpa 100 I was doing exactly that. Time proved it to be true.

[@blue280485]

Great review of the Goal Zero Sherpa 100..

[@digdug529]

Good luck with your Sherpa 100.....my Sherpa 50 quit working after 8 months. The Nomad 7, Nomad 13 and guide 10 work great but the Sherpa died!

[@smirkingdevil]

Nice review. Glad you got your money's worth and shared the experience.

[@WanderingBeast]

looks like a great system, I need something for the adventure motorcycle trips, I may have to get ahold of them

[@handicamper101]

thanks for the vids. very informative. love the goal zero stuff ,wish it was cheaper. just uploaded a vid on the nomad 7, and the guardian charge controller.

[@gollygeewillickersbatman1824]

Very helpful info, thank you.

[@jgg204]

no it cannot handle a hair dryer. why do you need a hair dryer when camping?

[@Gyppor]

Good comparison review, thank you!

[@lexflix]

Great setup and size.

[@AUSSIEMADMATT]

Well done mate!

[@MGTEKNS]

Thanks for this. Much appreciated.

[@aetheonpro396]

how long do you think the sherpa 100 would power a 60 watt speaker?

[@Blacknwhite86]

Can you charge a MacBook or MacBook Air with it?

[@echelonaol]

ive got one.will it charge a laptop?maybe plug 500 watt inverter.prob wouldnt work lol

[@miguelsamonte96]

Major concern, when camping, can that provide power to a hair dryer?

[@user-og4wk8wr8o]

有同胞在用吗，这产品怎么样