Beyond backpacks and trailers, PV modules are showing up in other interesting places–from pocket-sized solar chargers to bicycle rack bags—making charging on the go suited to almost any lifestyle. A few of these products caught our eye:
- Innovus Designs’ Eclipse Solar Gear Nomad Bicycle Trunk Bag ($100) and G24i’s Bicycle Panniers ($150)—Made to mount to a standard rear bicycle rack, the Nomad solar charger can top off your smartphone or spare batteries while you ride. G24i’s products mount just like typical panniers.
- Power Traveller’s Solargorilla ($220) and Solarmonkey ($50) and Solio’s Bolt ($70)—A tough, rubberized casing protects the PV modules inside the Solargorilla. Pop it open, plug in your portable electronic device, and place it in the sun to start charging. At 1.8 pounds, it won’t weigh you down. The tiny Solarmonkey will keep your mp3 player or cell phone charged on the fly, and it’s small enough to slip into your pocket. The Bolt is another little solar module that can charge your personal electronics. Inserting a pencil through the center hole gives it a stand and makes it into a sundial to help orient the unit for optimal solar charging.
- Simply Brilliant/SolLight makes a handheld solar charger (Solicharger-SP, $60), but its LightCap 300 ($30) solar-powered lantern/water bottle/waterproof container is strictly for light.
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Solar Gorilla |
Bolt |
Solicharger-SP |
LightCap |
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