Anoop Verma
Fancy trekking through the wilderness of a place like Rishikesh, and where you can enjoy the exquisite setting of fast-flowing Ganga, surrounded by lush forests. The atmosphere is meditative and mind expanding. But you need to keep your personal digital technology working. Here are some options that you can consider for keeping your devices powered even though you might not have access to line power:
Powerbag
You are having a time of your life in the great outdoors, when your smartphone battery gives up on you because you were using the camera too much to capture the scenic beauty. That is where the Powerbag comes in. These are normal looking bags, with cables for all of your must have electronics sewn in. Some models of the bag have so many slots that they can charge up to four devices at the same time. Even laptops, tablets and e-readers can get charged with the Powerbag. The Powerbag’s battery can be charged easily in or out of the bag with the included AC adaptor. Available at: www.amazon.com Price: Rs. 5500 (approx.)
PowerTrekk
Even at the most remote places on the planet, where there is no power supply, you can stay connected. A tiny bit of water will produce enough energy to power almost any device. The PowerTrekk is a water-powered portable fuel cell charger that lets you power your cell phone and other devices by mixing just a tiny bit water with a special PowerPukk. Just a tablespoon of water can produce around 10 hours of phone battery life. The system will work with any type of water, including seawater and even puddle water, provided the mud content is not too high. The only bi-product of the power producing process is a little bit of water vapour, so you can rest assured that you are not polluting your environment. Available at: http://www.powertrekk.com/ Price: Rs. 15,000 (approx.)
PowerPot
This hardy and lightweight device is an innovative combination of a cooking vessel and power generator for small gadgets. It allows you to convert heat into electrical power for getting all your devices charged up. When you are camping in the great outdoors, all you need to do is add water to the pot and place it on a heat source appropriate for boiling water. The PowerPot will immediately start powering your devices. The device comes with equipped with a standard USB (5V) port, which is compatible with most modern devices. The cable has three feet of heavy-duty, flame-resistant wire. The solid-state voltage regulator provides up to 5W of power. The best thing is that the PowerPot can also be used as a regular saucepan. Available at: https://www.thepowerpot.com Price: Rs. 8500 (approx.)
Mushroom GreenZero Wall Travel Charger
This stylish looking charger is a creation of the folks at Bracketron. It is capable of automatically sensing when your device is fully charged and cuts off the power supply. This not only saves hefty power bills, it also preserves your battery for a longer period of time and improves the lifespan of your devices. Buy at: http://www.bracketron.com Price: Rs. 1500 (approx.)
Third Rail portable power
You don’t need to encumber your backpack with heavy charging devices for your iPhone. You can go in for the Third Rail, which is arguably the best mobile juice pack in the market. This light, small and portable system comes with a slim iPhone cover, Smart Battery and USB cable. All you need to do is connect the battery to the cover and voila. You can also use the battery to charge any other mobile device that has a USB slot. Buy at: http:/www.thirdrailmobility.com Price: Rs. 5000 (approx.)
Powermat
The Powermat is not meant to power your devices while you are away from line power. But it has been included in the list as it provides a simple, fast and efficient way of wirelessly charging a variety of popular electronic devices, including the iPhone, BlackBerry, Nintendo DS and iPod. So once you are back to your hotel room after a hard day of trekking, you can get lot of devices powered at one go. The system uses the technology of magnetic induction, which was invented by Michael Faraday during the 1830s. The Powermat broadcasts its power to the devices; minimal power is lost in transmission, as the devices are in direct contact. Available at: www.amazon.com Price: Rs. 5000 (approx.)
