Solio Solar Charger

Not much tops sitting in a wood fired sauna next to a lake in the deep woods…  Unless maybe you have some special beverages and a fully charged Ipod bringing the sounds of Al Green, Ray Charles, or a marathon of funk.  But what do you do when the charge runs out?  My first choice would be to go into the lake for a swim but I can also understand the allure of portable energy to keep the IPod and the party moving.  That is where the Solio comes in.

Solio makes portable solar chargers for the purpose of powering small gadgets.  The solio solar chargers have internal batteries that allow for charging now and transferring power later.  The chargers are relatively compact and come in three versions – Classic, Magnesium, and Hybrid. The batteries can be charged by the sun or via a wall socket.

The Classic and Magnesium are similar. Both are compact and open like a fan so that there is more surface area for charging. The Hybrid is a solar strip with a clip. One of the benefits of the Hybrid is that you can pull a charge from the sun, an outlet (using an adapter), and also a USB port. See the different models at www.solio.com

Why you won’t use it:

• You may find you are using the wall socket more than you would hope. One of the issues with the Solio is that you really need direct and extended sunlight to get a full charge.
• Solio chargers are water resistant but not waterproof. You may want to leave your Solio outside and unattended while waiting for it to charge but beware of an unexpected storm giving it a soaking
• Most windows absorb light that will delay the Solio charging process.
• While adaptors are available for most products, you need to make sure you have the right adapter to transfer power to your gadget. This is one more thing to lose and there will be an extra charge if your adaptor is not included in the standard package.

Why you will love it:

• If you own an I-Phone or similar product where switching batteries is not an option, Solio products allow you a portable lifeline.
• Even a little power from the sun will allow for some quick calls.
• The Solios have nice designs and are relatively sturdy. They also fold to store and expand to charge as a space saving feature.

Bottom Line:

There will be some people who will love the Solio but I see it sitting on a shelf, unused, after a year. I hate carrying extra items and I am not going to leave my standard wires and chargers behind just to go with the Solio.

The slow solar charging times and need to track charging adaptors do not outweigh the wow factor. The best place to keep your Solio might be the back of your car or a place where it will slowly get a charge from intermittent sunlight. It might give you a boost when you need it.

Mum’s Quick Take:

Why the heck do you need a solar charger for gadgets? We are too dependent on all our electronic tools and we carry them everywhere with us. We need to notice our surroundings not what is on the electric tube or whatever.