Customer reviews from goalzero.com
Goal Zero - Sherpa 100 PD Portable Charger for Most USB Devices - Silver
Average customer rating
3.3
(28 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 28 reviews
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
5
1 Star
6
45%of customers recommend this product.
(
9 out of
20)
Customer Reviews for Goal Zero - Sherpa 100 PD Portable Charger for Most USB Devices - Silver
Posted by: Fred1969
from Port Orchard, WA
Gender:Male
Verified Purchase:Yes
My wife was stopped in Bucharest to inspect the battery. Cleared and ready to fly. Also the battery was very useful on her travels many time without access to power.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting goalzero.com
Customer Rating
5
Convenient, powerful, awesome powerbank
on March 3, 2023
Posted by: bean16
from Henderson, KY
Gender:Male
I have loved the 1st gen Sherpas but love the 2nd gen even more. I love pulling the PD or AC out in a meeting and charging my computer or whatever I have with me at the time without having to fight over outlets or running my cables all over the room. I take it on trips and normally don't fret about boxes just the cables I need, hasn't failed me yet. I love the new display and being able to see all the information how long is left, etc. Even though it's a little bigger/chunkier than other powerbanks I like how it looks and how sturdy it is. Don't think I'd take it backpacking with me but you won't find my EDC backpack without a Sherpa
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting goalzero.com
Customer Rating
3
Mixed Emotions
on February 16, 2023
Posted by: VersaFish
from New Orleans, LA
Gender:Male
Been using the 100PD now for a few months to charge an Apple Watch Ultra via USB-A port and also charging my Iphone via USB-C port as well as using the wireless port on top from time to time. Issue one is you cannot leave the Apple Watch charging cable(mag charge) plugged into the unit once the watch is charged(I was just leaving it plugged in for convenience purposes) because it will drain the unit. Issue two is the wireless charging on top of unit. Maybe it is just me but it is very difficult to get the phone properly lined up to accept a charge. When it does it drains the heck out of the unit. On the positive side the display is nice to have to know what is happening within the unit. As for the In-Auto-Out switch, it is very moody. Best to keep on the Out position when charging items and In position when charging the unit. Several time I plug items it to charge and the display shows the unit not recognizing anything when on Auto. Finally, the USB power button right below the display. It seems you must hit this button in order to get the USB-A port to work. That drove me nuts for a while as the product description NEVER mentions this button anywhere! Not sure why it is necessary to have to powerup this port if I have the switch on the back of the unit to Out. Well I found out the On-Auto-Out switch is just for the USB-C port functions. Overall I think it is a good unit with very poor instructions, suggestions and guidance offered by the manufacturer. I will positively update this review as I move along with this product.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting goalzero.com
Customer Rating
5
Solid power bank in a sturdy package, but pricey
on December 2, 2022
Posted by: Michael Y
Gender:Male
The Sherpa saved me a few weekends ago while camping at ice-covered Yosemite. Temperatures had dipped to below freezing at night, and throughout the day and evening, my Samsung Galaxy S21+ phone kept complaining of moisture. The well-meaning feature tries to minimize phone damage from potential exposure to condensation while charging, but it sometimes gets it wrong like it did during that entire trip. A dead phone would have meant the end of taking pictures and videos of my son, friends, and the beautiful winter landscape.
I had an Anker power bank with me, but charging through USB was no longer an option with my phone. Sherpa's built-in, 15W wireless charging saved the day by getting the phone filled up quickly within the limited amount of time we spent around camp. Hardly any other 100Wh power bank I used charged this fast wirelessly.
Externally, the Sherpa 100PD is rugged and well-built for the outdoors where dependability is a requirement for me. It is worth noting that Goal Zero provides a 2-year warranty.
One of my favorite features is the color LCD showing, like its Yeti X power stations, the amount of energy going in and/or out and how much time is remaining to full or empty, respectively. Do note that wireless charging is a huge battery waster due to energy conversion -- use wired USB whenever possible for the best efficiency and to get the most charge out of the Sherpa.
How much energy a battery can store is measured in Wh (Watt-hours), and how much power is used or produced in W (Watts). The Sherpa 100PD has 94.7Wh (equivalent to 25,600mAh @ 3.7V). If a USB light bulb uses 5W per hour, it could be continuously used up to 18.9 hours (94.7Wh / 5W).
Sherpa's batteries are made with Li-ion NMC. They are more volatile (and potentially dangerous) than Li-ion LiFePO4 -- but that is not as much of a concern at the lower 100Wh capacity. NMC lose 20-25% capacity after every 500 charging cycle and could theoretically last 6-10 years with diminishing capacity over time. NMC batteries are smaller, lighter, and more expensive to manufacture than LiFePO4.
For air travel, airlines have different policies for what battery capacity you can bring on board. TSA and FAA both allow up to 100Wh and, with airline approval, up to 2 power banks of 100Wh max each. The Sherpa's 94.7Wh fits well within that guideline. United allows 300Wh, Southwest 160Wh, but check with the relevant authorities to be certain before you travel.
Sherpa 100PD can both be charged and be used to charge other devices via USB-C. There is an "In/Out/Auto" switch at the back that controls how the USB-C port should operate. By default, it is set to Auto, but sometimes, it can choose the wrong mode. For example, I wanted to have it charge my camping light, but it instead used the light's battery to charge itself. I had to flip the Sherpa's switch to "Out". You may have to do the same when trying to charge a laptop battery. If you wanted to have another battery charge the Sherpa, you would have to switch to "In" ("Auto" may also work).
It can be charged via USB-C at up to 60W with a wall charger, solar panel, or car plug. Goal Zero's own car plug can charge at 60W or 120W, depending on your car's capability, and is one of my favorite accessories to charge power stations and battery banks with. Hardly any other manufacturer offers that, and it makes me question why GZ does not promote that excellent product more.
It can output up to 100W to a compatible device with the right USB-C cable. Its USB-A ports can go up to a quick-charging 12W.
The Sherpa 100PD is a pricey power bank with features that many others, including popular Anker, do not provide. Whether it is worth the price tag depends on how you plan to use it. Its biggest selling points, in my opinion, are ruggedness for the outdoors with fast wireless charging capability and USB-C PD 100W output.
The more expensive Sherpa 100AC model has an extra USB-C PD 60W output port, a 100W AC inverter to power devices using an AC plug, and can be solar-charged with its 8mm port. It essentially is a mini power station akin to its Yeti X siblings, but at its current price tag, it makes it difficult to recommend for most users who do not require "power station" functionality in a small form factor.
Written by a customer while visiting goalzero.com