By John Roach, contributor
Introduction
As the darkness of winter descends, a splash of sun can power up your mood ... and your gadgets too. That's the idea behind the Solar Ski Jacket from Zegna Sport ($1,350), shown here. As you hit the slopes, solar cells in the jacket's neoprene collar convert sunlight into energy to directly charge up gadgets such as iPods and cell phones or a rechargeable battery. An hour of direct sunlight will charge up a phone for about 35 minutes of talk time. The battery requires four to five hours for a full charge. The collar and battery are detachable for use even when you're inside by the fire or skiing on a warm and jacketless spring day.
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Gadget geek or not, most people in today's digital age carry around at least one battery-powered gizmo that runs out of juice far from its home. That's when the Solio Classic ($99.95) portable charger comes in handy. When fanned open, it soaks up energy from the sun. Adapter tips send the charge to everything from iPods and Game Boys to digital cameras and GPS devices. Eight to 10 hours of direct sunlight charge the gizmo's internal battery. When charging a cell phone directly from the sun, 60 minutes of sunlight provides approximately 25 minutes of talk time, according to the company.";
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For several years, solar-paneled lined bags have been a good option for gadget freaks to keep their handheld devices charged up as they run errands under the sun. But until now, no bag had panels powerful enough to juice up a laptop computer. The recently introduced Voltaic Generator ($599), shown here, claims to change the game. It houses solar cells efficient enough to fully charge a typical laptop with a day's worth of direct sunlight.";
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Though fashion had a heavy hand in the design of the SOLARJO Power Purse, shown here, the need for the carrier to also house a battery and USB outlet for charging up gadgets dictated its size and shape, noted designer Joe Hynek. \"The [purse] demonstrates a unique intersection between these two diverse disciplines,\" he said in an e-mail. \"There are sure to be more products that face this challenge in the future as more electronic equipment is integrated with wearables.\" The purse will retail between $300 and $400 when it goes on sale within a few months. ";
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Though iPhone owners are the envy of many a crowd, the gadgets do have a notorious flaw: A limited battery life, especially when they are used to simultaneously surf the Web, listen to tunes, and text with friends. Enter the Solar iPhone Charger from Solar Arcadia ($45.95). The case made from reclaimed sheepskin doubles as a solar charger that supplies juice directly to the smart phone, even under artificial light. The limited life of Apple's batteries \"is really one of the more important reasons people are buying this,\" said Deborah Robinson, the chief executive officer of Novothink, the research and development firm that created the case.";
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Campers keen to keep their water bottle in sight in the dark of night might want a LightCap200 ($24.95). It's a solar-powered light that replaces the cap on most standard 2\" wide-mouth bottles, such as a Nalgene and CamelBak. The LEDs turn the whole bottle into a glowing lantern. Fully charged, it will shine for six hours; a sensor automatically turns it off in daylight. Just remember to recharge the battery for the next night. \"It's about a 1:1 ratio, for 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, you can get 6-8 hours of light,\" Dave Robinson, general manager for Simply Brilliant LLC, which makes the gadget, said in an e-mail.";
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Teachers and parents eager to impart the basics of solar energy to their students and kids might consider delving into the world of robotics from OWI Incorporated. The company sells assembly kits for grade-school age novices to expert adults. Many of the robots, including the Flapping Sea Gull ($13.95) shown here, come with a mini solar panel to generate power from sun, eliminating the need for batteries. Other solar powered gizmos include a race car, a dancing grasshopper and a Viking ship.";
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For people who hate the heat and will do just about anything to stay cool, even make a fashion faux pas, there's the Solar Mini Clip Fan ($10). Clip it on to a baseball cap, as shown here, and let the sun spin the fan, blowing a breeze across your face. Friends may laugh and strangers point fingers, but you'll be refreshed. And who knows, maybe it’s the start of a new trend.";
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