Hikers prefer lightweight gear – that is, frequent hikers do. There are websites that teach hikers how to lighten their packs. Other websites sell gear that is ultra light. So how can a hiker pack along solar power and still have light gear?

Solar power for hikers is available in a growing number of applications. Small. Compact. Lightweight. Solar power can be carried into the most remote areas with little effort.

Solar Power “Juice Bags”

Solar power “Juice Bags” are one way of carrying solar power without undue weight. At about 2.5 pounds – 1.1 kilograms – the “Juice Bag” comes in a variety of styles and colors. Every backpack gives hikers free, silent, cool, clean electricity. The “Juice Bag’s” flexible solar power panel consists of 52 solar cells, and represents the latest in flexible solar technology. It also lets you pack along other things in the same backpack. The hiker gets solar power for camera, cell phone, MP3 player, and more.

We review the solar power of “Juice Bags” on this website. To read that review, click here or on the dark blue “Juice Bags” tab at the top of this page. To visit the “Juice Bags” website directly, click here. You will be redirected immediately.

Solar Power “Power Pockets”

The same website that offers “Juice Bags” provides another, smaller solar power option for hikers – “Power Pockets”. A 7 ounce “Power Pocket” gives the hiker 6.5 watts of solar power. A full 12 watt “Power Pocket” provides solar power at only 13 ounces – 0.36 kilograms of weight. “Power Pockets” use the most current “Thin-Film” solar power technology. The small, foldable, easily-stowed pocket quickly and efficiently turns sunshine into electricity. Hikers can charge cell phones, games, PDA’s, and any other electronic device you could plug into your car’s cigarette lighter!

Solar Power Battery

Perhaps the lightest solar power solution for hikers is the solar power battery. This hand-held battery weighs than 4 ounces, and operates equipment when the sun goes down, or the sky is cloudy. Charge it at home or in your vehicle. Then get the boost you need from this small device. It measures just 4 inches by 2.5 inches by 1 inch. Fits in your hand. This also is available at the “Juice Bag” website above.

Solar Power Applications for Hikers

What can you power with these lightweight solar power applications? Most things that you can plug into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter. You simply plug in the adapter the device manufacturer includes for vehicular recharges. You can run the device from your solar power or recharge the device. Here’s a partial list of devices for which hikers need solar power.

* cell phone
* PDA
* digital camera
* digital camcorder
* MP3 player
* satellite phone
* GPS unit
* portable video game
* portable DVD player

Lightweight solar power for hikers and campers will soon be available in units strong enough to power laptop computers.

You may believe you have no need for solar power. You start out with everything fully charged. In an emergency, however, you will be glad you have solar power to recharge a dying cell phone or GPS unit.

Parts 1 and 2 of this article considered eight advantages of solar power that contribute to home life and eight advantages of solar power in portable applications.

The advantages and disadvantages of solar power may seem to be poles apart, but are they? Would the advantages and disadvantages of solar power, placed on a balance scale, be fairly equal or not?

This final segment of the article will look at disadvantages of solar power.

Disadvantages of Solar Power

Talk to a dozen people who are considering it, and you may hear a dozen different lists of advantages and disadvantages of solar power. Those lists may be based on economic factors, weather factors, or convenience. The list we present here includes five of the disadvantages you will want to consider.

1. Cost: Initial start-up cost of solar power is considerable. While a single solar panel that gives emergency back-up energy is reasonable, providing an entire photovoltaic cell array to power your home will cost thousands of dollars. This is an initial disadvantage, but when consideration is given to the years of maintenance-free solar power expected, the cost is rapidly defrayed. Government rebates, tax credits, and other incentives can cut initial costs. Sell excess energy to the power grid to further recoup initial solar power outlay.

2. Climate: Many are of the opinion that solar power is only realistic for those who live in the world’s sunniest, hottest climates. While it is true that these climates have a great advantage in solar power usage, climates with cloudier, cooler skies can also use solar power. Germany is proving this true. See our article: Solar Energy - What Countries Use It?

3. Cloudy Days: Are clouds a disadvantage of solar power? They can be. Solar power reaches a PV system as sunlight strikes the panels. Cloudy days are, therefore, not the best for generating electricity. Our article, Solar Panels - What Country Uses the Most? shows, however, that cloudy days need not be a disadvantage. Even when the sky is mostly cloudy, any sunlight breaking through will bounce off the bottoms of the clouds. This can actually give more solar power than a cloudless sky.

4. Storage: For some, the task of storing solar power is a disadvantage. To remain independent of the power grid, you need battery storage that will provide power during dark hours. Such batteries are readily available, however, and do not consume a huge amount of space. If you decide to remain tied into the grid, batteries are not needed. Your photovoltaic (PV) System will supply electricity to your home during the day. Any extra solar power electricity can be exported to the grid. At night, the grid meets remaining needs.

5. Space: PV solar power panels require space. Home systems can require the entire roof. Many find this unattractive, but they do not want to clutter their land with solar power panels. This disadvantage is being addressed with new products such as PV panels designed to blend into the roof. Modern PV panels supply more solar power with fewer panels, too, since efficiency has been increased.

Conclusion

Having looked at these advantages and disadvantages of solar power, we hope you will consider it only a beginning. Most things present disadvantages with advantages, but one will usually outweigh the other. We believe solar power is worth serious consideration.

The advantages and disadvantages of solar power stand in fair balance, think some. For every 3 advantages, 3 disadvantages of solar power can be found. While we grant that solar power is less than perfect, we believe that the advantages and disadvantages of solar power are quite off balance in the direction of advantages.

In part 1 of this article, we looked at eight advantages of solar power that contribute to home life. Consider in more depth the advantages and disadvantages of solar power in a house, and you may rush to invest in it.

In Part 2, we turn to the advantages of solar power in portable applications.

Advantages of Portable Solar Power

Suppose you consider yourself rugged and tough. You enjoy the outdoors, exploring the earth with little more than a backpack, a map, and a compass. You do have a need or two, though. You are not beyond knowing the advantages of Portable Solar power. Even if the portability is limited to vehicular portability, you need some of these portable items.

* Battery charger: A solar power battery charger is inexpensive and can be taken almost anywhere - land or sea. Recharge vehicle batteries and small batteries in appliances.

* Generator: A portable generator allows you to establish camp in remote areas and still have electrical power. Whether you are camping out to get away from the rat race or working in the field, the advantages of solar power show up in free, usable electrical power.

* Lightweight: New solar backpacks are lightweight, making it easier to take solar power hiking. Roll-up solar panels also are light and portable, as well as waterproof.

* Hot Water: A luxury when trekking or camping is to have hot water. Portable Solar power units provide hot water for showers and for hot beverages.

* Cell Phone: Take along a cell phone for emergency use without worrying about battery drain. Simply let a small, flexible solar panel recharge your cell phone.

* Camera: Solar power provides advantages for photographers, too. Free recharges for your cameras and other equipment ensure that no photos are missed.

* Laptop: A big advantage of solar energy for those who want to work in the field is its availability to power laptop computers.

* Marine: Boats equipped with Portable Solar power need not worry about losing emergency signaling power.

Portable Solar energy can work while you hike, if you use a lightweight solar backpack. You have the advantage of powering an mp3 player while you hike and listen to music. Or you might let the backpack recharge a camera or other item while you hike.

These are only a few of the advantages. In our next article, we will turn from advantages to disadvantages of solar power.