Going solar!
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so, the issue of electric gadgets has come up a bit in the blogs, and i thought i’d share one of my favorite finds – reware solar backpacks and bags:
http://www.rewarestore.com/index.html
these bags have a flexible solar panel that can be removed, and they charge anything that you could charge in your car using a cigarette adapter. the bags themselves are made from recycled plastic bottles. and i have found them to be spacious, well-designed, and really handy for keeping an ipod going.
the other most popular device i have found is the solio charger:
this one folds down into a little compact device – also using adaptors – and it can be suctioned to a window.
the bottom line is that by integrating solar energy and power into things you’d use anyhow, like a bag, you can be even more efficient. it’s a great way to stay off the grid when you’re traveling.
as a note, i am not a huge fan of the voltaic brand bags because they seem stiffer and less practical. but i understand they use a different kind of solar panel, which might be better in some climates:
Comments
A couple of members had solio chargers while I was on vorovoro and it’s something that i’m looking into for my next trip out there.
Way cool..here’s some sites based in the UK: http://www.thesolarcentre.co.uk
www.sunshinesolar.co.uk
http://www.selectsolar.co.uk/ (they have a half price sale!)
you going to wear one as chief Kaz?
absolutely. i loved having it there last time, and i don’t travel much without it now! more posts to come on other great solar products…
bril!
The “Juice Bag” looks to be a very innovative product but their may be a snag when used in tropical regions.
Flexible solar panels are a comparatively new development. They also work well in high (or low) latitudes unlike more traditional designs that work best with full sun.
Amorphous silicon, the only type so far that can be made in a flexible form, is adversely affected by UV radiation. Used in tropical latitudes panels made from this material may only have a short operational life before output drops to unusable levels.
I feel it would be best to keep the panel shielded from the sun, except when actually using it, to gain optimal operational life when in tropical regions.
right, JW. i think i remember you mentioning this to me when we were there in sept. i did find it got hot if i left it out all day, so i took to just putting it in front of the bure for a couple of hours in the morning, while things charged, and then putting it inside. i def think it’s not a long term solution, but for traveling with things like ipods and such, it seems to be a bit better design than the bags with the hard panels. i just love being able to explore options for these things!!
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