Pro tip: My solar charger taught me a harsh lesson about shade
I set up a portable solar charger for a weekend hike (my first time using one), sure it would power my gear. But I placed it in partial shade, and it didn't work well at all. I learned to always position it in full sun and monitor the output. This mistake helped me see how finicky solar tech can be in real conditions.
Honestly, my solar charger works okay even in some shade, it just takes longer. People make too big a deal about perfect placement, like it's not that fragile.