BootsnAll Travel Community

Anyone use these?

I am considering getting one to charge my Creative zen media player, while cycling South America. (music motivates)

I was looking at this model: http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/details/be_solio.php

Or similar.

I know practically nothing about travelling with solar power. Anyone who uses it, or has products to recommend, or things to look out for -

Please chime in!

Sure. If you're willing to haul the weight, why not? Considering you're biking, the weight is not measured in ounces anyways.

A friend of mind had a solar cell phone charger. It worked just fine. Solar cell tech is pretty robust as long as you don't step on it or get its internals soaked. Standard precautions.ç

Going through this decision process myself, chose the SolarStyle clam-shell panel, and a Power Monkey storage device. Both are USB based, seems the best way to go. Bought an Nokia 6555 phone to match and paid $5 to have it unlocked.

As an electrician I noticed the SolarStyle was the best overall output I could find anywhere for the size, coming in at 360 milliamps. The Power Monkey system is hard to beat, but their similarly-sized solar panel only came in at 200 milliamps. Big difference BUT/AND the Power Monkey is waterproof. Both are chargeable on a USB port. Tough choice, but solar really takes a lot more time to charge than people think and I think the added capacity is very much worth the purchase. The Solar Style was only $29, a very good deal.

So I'm traveling with a Solar Style Charger and a Power Monkey Storage device (2200 mah). Says it will charge my phone 3-4 times on a charge, with the enhanced panel should re-charge in the sun in about 8 hours.

I have just received my PowerMonkey Explorer. Yay. (Do I get carbon credits for it?)

instead of a solar panel don't they make some wind up gadgets that can recharge batteries?

here, I found something that looks a bit more compact and durable than solar panels http://www.computergear.com/wireusbba.html

If you actually buy this and use it, please write a review, or if anyone else know about it tell me if it's good. I can see myself using this a lot.

Pick up the latest issue of Make zine and they have a nifty article on how to make your own solar panel electronic recharger thingy for almost half the price it costs to buy one.