Brunton powers up at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market
Brunton may be best known for their outstanding navigation and optics gadgets, but they are also pushing power. Solar power. Yes, we like to bring our tech toys into the wilderness with us, heck, sometimes we need to bring them. Those toys need charging, and Brunton has the solutions. Whether it’s your GPS, smartphone or one of Brunton’s lighting solutions, the company is ready to dole out the juice.
The Ember (left) and the Bump provide a quick boost of power to
all your USB devices at Outdoor Retailer 2012 Summer Market. (Photo: Ryan Malavolta – UtahOutside.com)
Forget carrying extra batteries into the backcountry, solar is the way to go. Brunton offers numerous solar panels like the Explorer and Solaris series models. If you’re not into carrying these larger items, there are other solutions to your power dilemma. The Freedom and Restore (we reviewed last year’s model) are great answers for those in search of easily stowed solar chargers. If you need a small boost in a hurry, Brunton has unveiled the Bump and Ember models: chargers small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. You won’t get a full charge from these devices, but if you need power in a pinch they’ve got your back.
New headlamps and task lighting were just a portion of Brunton’s teched-out booth at OR. (Photo: Ryan Malavolta – UtahOutside.com)
Also getting some updates are Brunton’s lighting solutions. All of their headlamps are USB chargeable so you can integrate them with a solar power unit. The same goes for their task lights. My favorite in this line is the WOW; this light has three bendable, magnetic legs for easy positioning. Unscrew the light from the legs and voila- you’ve got a camera tripod. Now that’s multitasking.
Of course, Brunton is still offering a full array of top-notch navigation devices. Pocket GPSs, professional level navigation tools and classic compasses are all a part of their standard fare. If wildlife watching is your thing you’ll appreciate their hefty quiver of spotting scopes and binoculars. Brunton makes all the accessories you need to get to camp, see as much as you can while you’re there, and have enough battery power to snap off photos and jam a little after dinner music. The only question is how many of their gadgets can you carry before you’re not longer roughing it?
