Solar Gadget Cruise

Every once in a while I like to take a carbon-free online cruise and check out what green gadgets I can find. I spent some time this weekend and found more solar gadgets than you can shake a stick at– some very useful and some utterly hilarious.  From the sublime to the semi-ridiculous, here are Solar Gadgets Galore:

On the useful side of the solar spectrum, there are solar lights. Solar lights now come in more shapes and sizes than Baskin Robbins has flavors.  There are solar tiki lights, garden lights, flood lights, and more.
Solar chargers are also very utilitarian– but also make you look tres chic.  At left is the Brunton 4.4 Watt foldable solar charger. This little baby (it’s 19 ounces so we’re not kidding about little) will keep your cell phone running, your GPS tracking, and your digital camera recording.  It’s not only an energy saver but also a safety device: take it with you hiking or keep it at home so you can always make that emergency cell phone call if run out of juice.  It costs about $100 and makes a great gift, too.
Also rating high on the style scale are solar backpacks and bags.  There are many cool styles available from Voltaic– including the Generator model shown at right. The Generator is the first solar bag to be able to charge a laptop.  But it will cost you, at almost $600.  They have other cheaper bags, too. Voltaic bags use fabrics made from recycled PET i.e. soda bottles, and the fabric is light weight, extremely durable, UV resistant and water resistant. Another company that makes a wide array of solar bags is Eclipse Solar Gear.
Here’s something really nifty: a solar tent!  Now you can camp in comfort with the luxury of interior lighting.  This Eureka! solar family tent boasts interior lighting, powered by cutting-edge solar LED technology.  During the day, the Eureka! solar-powered LED unit attaches to any loop on the fly to charge. An 8-hour charge provides 8 hours of light.  The tent is 11′ X 11′, or 121 sq feet on the floor.  I’ve also seen reports of a solar air-conditioned tent, but I can’t seem to find it for sale anywhere. If you know where to find this tent, please leave a comment!
Feeling a bit peckish?  How about cooking up a tasty stew in your solar oven? This solar oven from Global Sun can heat to over 350 degrees Fahrenheit. To use simply position the Sun Oven so it faces the sun. Unfold the reflectors and use the rear adjusting leg to angle the oven so the solar heat is maximized. You can cook bread, cakes, muffins, meats, fish, poultry, vegetables, casseroles, and pasta.  Bon appetite!
Tie one on, why don’ ‘cha.  Yes, check out this solar powered tie.  The tie was designed by researchers at Iowa State University, who have been working on inventing an effective use of photovoltaic textiles.  The really cool thing about this Solar Tie is that the pattern used for the solar shells sort of looks like a cool pattern that would be used on a tie anyway, so it’s really not too obtrusive into everyday life. The Solar Powered Necktie even contains a hidden pouch for stashing your cell phone away while the tie charges it up, using only the power of the sun.  The Solar Tie is a way to be green without looking like you’re trying too hard.
At the far end of the ridiculous comes the solar pith helmet.  Yes, when you are out bird watching in you can cool yourself with this air conditioned pith helmet.  (This is not an April Fools joke people.) Keep your cool with the help of a small powerful fan powered by a small solar panel atop the hat.  Available in white and tan colors.  And it’s only $60.  Relive your Out of Africa dreams!