Solar Powered Cellphone Chargers -- Saved by the Sun

For hikers and campers, over-the road-truckers, and emergency service personnel, a cellphone can be a lifesaver; for the rest of us, it may be no more than a convenience, but certainly a part of our everyday garb. And when we watch the battery strength head south, we hope we can get to a charging station before the phone starts to alarm. What's the solution?

How about this little gem -- the Soladec Hybrid Solar Power Charger ($90; was $120). This double-duty solar charger and on-the-go spare battery fits most smartphone and USB-capable portable devices -- iPhone 4 and 4S, Kindle Fire, MP3 players, and GPS systems, for example. The charger sports a 4000mA lithium polymer battery for extended service life, and a commercial-grade solar cell for reliability. The cover is a rugged, tempered low-iron glass for optimal solar gain, the charger has a very bright LED lamp for use as flashlight, and the whole thing comes with a carry case, USB cable, and a carrying/hanging lanyard. Nice.

Shop more handy solar cellphone chargers:
Opteka BP-SC4000 Solar Cellphone Charger ($25; was $100)
PowerTraveller eXplorer Portable Solar Charger ($90)
sCharger-5 Compact Solar Charger ($140; was $150)
Solair Universal Portable Solar Charger ($30; was $50)
GoSolar! Portable Folding Solar Charging Kit ($300; was $400)

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