Just noticed this thread, similar to recent discussion on solar charging in another topic on phone apps. I'm a fan of solar power, but I'm not convinced it's the optimal solution for backpacking just yet. The exception is for people spending long periods in the backcountry, and/or people with large power demands for whatever reason.
As mentioned above, it's efficient to charge a Li-Ion battery pack with the solar panel during the day, and then use the battery pack to charge your devices over night. Well, why not just carry a large enough Li-Ion battery pack that can recharge your devices a few times? The "typical" backpacker should be able to find the right size pack for less than 1/2 pound that lasts as long as a "typical" food supply, depending on gadget use. At some point, you've got to reconsider your gadget dependency. I think there's an app for that, or a 12-step program anyway.
Here's a link to a company with a variety of Li-Ion packs for sale on Amazon for less $ than a solar charger, and certainly less weight.
[url=http://www.newtrent.com]Lithium Ion Battery Packs[/url]
