Solar Technology Freeloader Review

We like:

That it is dirt cheap; that it charges surprisingly fast in British sun; the good selection of free adapters

We don't like:

The lack of a charge indicator; that it's fiddly to fold up; that the battery dies after two years

SmartPlanet judgement:

If you've put off buying a solar charger or solar bag because of the cost, your excuse just evaporated. At the price of a DVD box set, this gizmo is ridiculously affordable and will save you even more money in use by generating free, green electricity for your gadgets. The lack of a display to indicate the level of charge is a bummer, but we can forgive the Freeloader because it's effective and 'just works', even in British sun.

If you own a mobile phone or an iPod -- or more likely, both -- chances are you've been in a situation where a solar charger would've been welcome. So far, though, the price of solar power may have been putting you off. The Solio typically costs £60 and solar backpacks from the likes of Reware or Voltaic Systems typically cost £100+, while the Freeloader costs just £23 if you shop around online. Continue reading...

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