Thread: Solar gadgets, from the serious to the silly

Save energy with the Solar Ski jacket by Zegna Sport This jacket has solar panels on the removable collar that 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.



The Solio Classic portable charger also comes in handy for gadget geeks. When fanned open, it soaks up energy from the sun. Adaptor tips send the charge to everything from iPods to dig¬ital cameras and GPS devices. Eight to 10 hours of direct sunlight charge the gizmo's internal battery.