Joos Orange Solar Charger

For frequent travelers and adventure junkies alike, the Joos Orange Solar Charger ($149 direct) is a nice, ruggedly built solar charger that supports a variety of devices. It can even charge while fully submerged in water. But with rugged construction comes significant heft, which could be a problem for travelers who prefer to pack light. If you have plans to summit Mt. Rainier and absolutely need power on the go, the Joos Orange Solar Charger could be a good choice. But if you're looking for a truly portable charging option, the Joos will likely be too big and heavy, and its maximum output isn't strong enough for larger devices.

Design and Features
The Joos Orange measures 8.58 by 5.77 by 0.79 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.5 pounds. This thing is really solid, with a hard, unyielding plastic body and a solar cell covered in automotive-grade urethane. On the back are two adjustable legs that can prop the Joos Orange up for maximum light capture. It is clear the Joos Orange was meant to withstand pretty much anything you could throw at it, with everything screwed tightly shut and the only port sealed with a rubber stopper.

There are two LED-indicator lights on the front, which correspond to solar charging activity and battery life. The minimalist design is great for durability, but difficult to decipher without the manual. For example, you have to count the LED blips to determine how much charge is left or if it is generating solar energy. Beneath the rubber stopper is a micro USB connector, which lets you connect the charger to a computer or mobile device using the included port adapters. The adapters in our package included mini USB, micro USB, a full-sized female USB, LG phone, and Apple's dock connector.

In testing, I had some problems with getting a clean connection, which were solved with a little finagling where the adapter meets the included cable. Actually charging devices worked well enough, as the Joos Orange provided a steady charge to my iPhone 4 when in direct sunlight. However, the maximum battery charging voltage is only 4.2V?not enough to power an iPad 2 or other similarly power-hungry devices.

Conclusions
There is no doubt about the durability and build quality of the Joos Orange Solar Charger. If you want a green source of energy on the go, that can also keep up with your active lifestyle, the Joos Orange could be a nice addition to your equipment inventory. However, the Orange Solar Charger's heft and inability to power larger devices really hold it back. I'd rather carry extra batteries, if possible, than lug around the 24-ounce Joos Orange. But then again, I'm not much of an outdoorsman.

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