The challenge is keeping the Solio charged so you can charge the iPad. I had a similar challenge trying to keep an iPhone 3GS charged. Eventually, a combo of a Solio (an older model) and PowerDuo battery packs worked well.

I brought the Solio charged. Then, charged with the solio. Then as PowerDuo battery. Then the Solio (when it was charged again)

Unfortunatly, the PowerDuo batteries don't work with the iPad.

I hope this help. I look forward to hearing how your Solio works for you.

Since my idea of camping out is a weekend at a five-star resort, I can fully understand the desire to bring an Internet appliance along on a nature trip. But if I have to charge my iPad with anything other than store-bought electricity, it means that the world is ending.

Well the initial tests aren't going so well. Despite the published capacity of the Solio, it quits charging after two hours adding only 20% to the iPad battery.

Originally Posted by NumbLock

Well the initial tests aren't going so well. Despite the published capacity of the Solio, it quits charging after two hours adding only 20% to the iPad battery.

is it due to defect? It actually gets a good review with no comments on your issue.

Solio Charges Your iPod With the Sun | Reviews | The Mac Observer

Originally Posted by CaptKirk

Originally Posted by NumbLock

Well the initial tests aren't going so well. Despite the published capacity of the Solio, it quits charging after two hours adding only 20% to the iPad battery.

is it due to defect? It actually gets a good review with no comments on your issue.

Solio Charges Your iPod With the Sun | Reviews | The Mac Observer

I can only confirm that I've ran the test two times. A fully loaded Solio Mag adds only 20% to the iPad battery before empty. The math doesn't make sense to me because the Solio's battery is actually bigger than the iPad.

I guess my Mag could be defective, but it does work on phones.

Originally Posted by figmo10

Since my idea of camping out is a weekend at a five-star resort...

Sounds like my wife. Her idea of "roughing it" is a black & white TV with no cable!

Originally Posted by NumbLock

The math doesn't make sense to me because the Solio's battery is actually bigger than the iPad.

With all due respect...
Bigger how? Physically bigger? That means nothing. There are two pieces of the puzzle when it comes to electricity, voltage and current. The charger supplied with the iPad is rated at 10 watts. At 5 volts out, this equates to 2 amps. (Actually according to the charger, the output is 5.1 volts and 2.1 amps - but close enough for government work). OTOH, the output of the Solio is 5 volts at 800mA (1000ma = 1 amp). The equates to only 4.8 watts - not nearly enough to fully charge the iPad, but adequate to charge an iPod or iPhone. This is why they recommend you not charge an iPad from your computer's USB port because the specification for USB 2.0 has a maximum power draw of 2.25 watts - far below what the iPad requires.

Clear as mud, eh?

Originally Posted by 1991-C4

Originally Posted by figmo10

Since my idea of camping out is a weekend at a five-star resort...

Sounds like my wife. Her idea of "roughing it" is a black & white TV with no cable!

Originally Posted by NumbLock

The math doesn't make sense to me because the Solio's battery is actually bigger than the iPad.

With all due respect...
Bigger how? Physically bigger? That means nothing. There are two pieces of the puzzle when it comes to electricity, voltage and current. The charger supplied with the iPad is rated at 10 watts. At 5 volts out, this equates to 2 amps. (Actually according to the charger, the output is 5.1 volts and 2.1 amps - but close enough for government work). OTOH, the output of the Solio is 5 volts at 800mA (1000ma = 1 amp). The equates to only 4.8 watts - not nearly enough to fully charge the iPad, but adequate to charge an iPod or iPhone. This is why they recommend you not charge an iPad from your computer's USB port because the specification for USB 2.0 has a maximum power draw of 2.25 watts - far below what the iPad requires.

Clear as mud, eh?

There may be something wrong with my math, but that's not it. Watts means how fast the battery should load. I'm thinking about the capacity of the Solio's battery which is 1800 mAh - bigger than the iPad. In fact it does charge (when in sleep mode, just like a low-power USB port), but only for two hours.

Originally Posted by NumbLock

There may be something wrong with my math, but that's not it. Watts means how fast the battery should load. I'm thinking about the capacity of the Solio's battery which is 1800 mAh - bigger than the iPad. In fact it does charge (when in sleep mode, just like a low-power USB port), but only for two hours.

I am not trying to be argumentative... honest!

The issue is not with the capacity of the Solio's battery, but the output range of the unit. The specs for the Classic unit (which may be slightly less than the Magnesium unit) state that the output range is only 800mA. Apparently after 2 hours, the battery in the Solio is depleted. What you need is a device with an output that matches the iPad's requirements which may or may not have anything to do with the capacity of the battery.

EDIT: Something like this is probably closer to being able to do what you want it to do:

Voltaic Systems | Generator, Solar Laptop Charger


Upside:
1) Comes built into a carry case big enough for an iPad
2) Comes with a wide variety of adapters, including one for iDevices
3) Comes with an additional battery pack (looks similar to the Zagg Sparq)

Downsides:
1) It costs as much as an 16gb WiFi iPad
2) Everywhere I have checked shows they are not available or backordered at this time.

Interesting test NumbLock. Thank you.

This appliance could be useful on a small craft also.(boat)

But camping? There's so much to do when I go camping that I wouldn't have time to use the iPad other than as a flashlight...

Yeah even the zagg sparq witch is a pretty nice and powerful battery charger with a second USB port That can handle the iPad. Even that beast I wouldn't think could charger the iPad more than once charges the iPhone about 4 to 5 times it says. But yeah that solo isn't strong enough. The iPad does have two huge batteries in it... The wall charger needs a good hour or two to fill up no?