From showers to shavers, don’t get caught out –go Solar

The other day, during a slightly hysterical phone call, my son who was in the middle of a Music Festival Field,” informed me he’d just swallowed a lump of glass.  The next moment his mobile phone battery ran out and I heard nothing more for three days.  Guess what we could do with: solar powered mobile phone charger?  I’ve been seriously considering going greener lately and have been running an eye over Government incentives that promote the installation of solar panels for your home.  However, on a more everyday note, back to “The Field” … My son’s “ordinary” charger had long since run out and was unsustainable unless an electric socket could be found. 

A product such as the Powermonkey eXplorer sounds ideal to me.  It comes in a great kit with a new solar-slave which means you can re-charge wherever you are in the world – field, beach, jungle or mountain.

  At £63 it sounds pricey, but worth it in the short run.  Other “Multi-chargers” claim to power every bit of kit you own – from I-pods to cameras, phones to shavers.  There’s the Voltaic Converter Solar Bag which comes in at £159 or the Free Loader – small, basic and easy to use at £30 and the Powerfilm Folding AA Battery Charger, designed to re-charge you’re AA batteries, costing £65.  Just like having solar panels for your home, they’ll always be with you, supplying your every need.  In the case of the gadgets though, they will take longer to charge up than more conventional means.

Other amazing travel accessories include the solar shower which is nothing more than a plastic bag you leave in the sun then squirt all over yourself.  Then there’s the sonic solar powered Mosquito Insect repellent compass – indispensible.