Goal Zero, a local company based in Bluffdale, Utah, has been a leader in portable solar devices for years now. But at the 2012 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, they’ve proven that you no longer need a massive, foldable solar panel to recharge your gadgets as everything has become more compact and efficient – music to a backpacker’s ears!
Take, for instance, take the new Switch 8 recharger. This tiny device that’s about the size of a roll of quarters packs a solar punch. It can give your smartphone around 8 hours of juice when you’re in the backcountry far from the grid, or even sitting at home when the power goes out after a storm. The small size and light weight makes it super-packable for when you’re on the go.
It only takes four hours to fully charge the Switch 8 via USB connection or 6-12 hours from the sun when purchased in a kit that includes the Nomad 3.5 Solar Panel. Additional lighting and charging accessories will also be available for the Switch 8 in the coming months, including Micro & Mini USB, Apple, and Firefly flashlight.
Also new is the Sherpa 50, a more beefy charger that has been redesigned from a previous model to make it more portable and sustainable. It boasts a 50% smaller footprint, LCD display and 50 watt hour capacity. It can power up an iPad for up to 15 hours, a laptop for 1 to 3 hours, and a DVD player for more than 10 hours.
You can charge the Sherpa 50 from the wall in just 2-3 hours or from the sun with the Nomad 13 solar panel in 5-10 hours. Goal Zero also offers a bolt-on inverter that allows users to plug devices directly into the Sherpa 50 like they would a wall outlet with the device’s AC adapter.
The Sherpa 50 looks awesome for car camping trips where the kids want to watch movies in the tent, or you need to do some work on the computer after roasting marshmallows. For more, visit Goal Zero online.