Camping green: going outdoors with renewable energy
August 21, 2007
Posted by SeanS in : Fresh Look , trackback
Camping, backpacking, hiking – these are inherently eco-friendly activities, aren’t they? What could be more green than eschewing the technological trappings of our modern society for a romp with Mother Nature? Well, these days the typical camper is no Luddite, and the average backpack contains more electrical gadgets than the average briefcase. Flashlights, cell phones, ipods, GPS receivers, digital cameras, headlamps, walkie-talkies, gameboys – how do you enjoy all of your electric outdoor gizmos without adding to the piles of “disposable” batteries already clogging hazardous landfills?
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It turns out there are many options. Global Marketing Technologies’ Solar Lantern SL9000, for example, contains a 9W fluorescent light that provides 3 hours of bright light after 8 hours of charging with it’s fold-out 2.5W/8.75V solar panel. Leave it sitting on a sunny rock while you go on a day hike, and you’ll have enough light to play cards long after the sunset.
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And for all of your rechargeable gadgets you can check out Reware’s line of solar daypacks and tote bags. The 6.3W flexible solar panel integrated into most of their products can charge a cell phone or GPS receiver in 2-4 hours while you’re hiking.
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But what if it’s raining, you say? Or what if you’re stuck in a cave (?!?) Turns out solar power isn’t the only way to go. With products like the SideWinder Cell Phone Charger you can charge your electric gadgets with the turn of a crank. The Sidewinder can give your cell phone enough power for a six minute conversation (or 30 minutes on standby) with two minutes of hand cranking. With a built-in LED it doubles as an emergency flashlight and it weighs a scant 2.5 ounces.
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Of course, if you’re the type of person who likes to have their cake and eat it too – or who is just really into gadgets – you might want to check out the Sunstar International SunTap Ultra. This everything-in-one contraption serves as a flashlight, lantern, radio, and warning siren, and it can also be used to charge your cell phone, GPS, ipod, and other rechargeable devices. It does all this via a solar panel on top of the handle and a hand-crank dynamo. What more could a gadget geek want?
So whether your goal is to remove yourself from the grid entirely, or just to provide an emergency backcountry backup, these products fit the bill. Next time you go camping you can leave the “disposable” batteries at home and yet still enjoy all of your electronic gizmos.
Sean, gearhead at large
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Comments»
What happened to gadget-free camping days? I suppose if people must associate products to every activity they carry out, some products are clearly better than others. I’d vote for SunTap Ultra, all-in-one. Still.
I suppose that is the problem with the green movement , it’s fueled by consumption , nearly every website is trying to sell you something . Rather than promoting an ethos of reducing consumption we are being told its fine to buy and buy as long as it is ‘green’ .