Pure travel

You'll be charged up and ready to go -- your electronic gadgets, too -- with Voltaic's sturdy packs made from recycled plastic bottles (this one is its 3.5-pound daypack). Three solar panels embedded in the bag's large exterior pocket capture the sun's power and store it in a battery tucked into that same pocket. Connect your electronic device back there to charge, or to the pouch on the pack's strap, where you can listen to your iPod or answer your phone while it charges. About six hours of direct sunlight should be plenty to fully charge common handheld devices. Strategically placed lights let you know when it's charging or needs to be charged. It comes with AC and car chargers; plus loads of adaptors, including travel adaptors so you can use the pack in other countries. Note that none of the packs charges laptops -- yet. That will change this summer when the Generator, Voltaic's $599 soft-sided briefcase-style bag, debuts.

Available online at sites including voltaicsystems.com.

No need to toss out spent batteries. This handy, inexpensive little 5- by 3-inch hub powers your rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) AAs and AAAs as well as your USB-enabled devices (camera, mobile phone, iPod, etc.) via a wall plug or car outlet. Here's the kicker: If the batteries are all charged up, they serve as the power source to charge USB devices on the go. Comes with a starter set of two AA and two AAA pre-charged rechargeable batteries.

Available in Minnesota at select Target stores and online at sites including Amazon.com.

This compact pod fans into three solar cells. Its indicator light tells all you need to know, including when the unit's charging--itself or other devices-- and how much power is stored. This isn't about speed. Solio requires up to 10 hours of direct sunlight to fully charge, and, according to its directions, in the ballpark of 12 to 48 hours if it's cloudy or the unit is behind a window. Still, a complete charge fully juices your average phone at least once or runs your iPod for about 15 hours and just one good hour of sunshine delivers 15 minutes of phone time or about 40 minutes of tunes. Understand Solio's limitations to know when you'll appreciate it. Back-country camping, for example. I'd recommend fully charging it before you head out, (even if that means connecting it to your computer. A USB charging cable is among its many included adapters.)

Available in the Twin Cities at REI and online at sites including solio.com.

On one hand, it's a three LED flashlight that wedges comfortably in your palm. On the other, it's a durable AM/FM dial and weatherband radio that cranks up pretty well for a little bugger. The whole 7.5-ounce package runs on an internal Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable battery, easily charged by solar power or a little elbow grease applied directly to the built-in hand crank. (You could power via USB port, as well, though no USB cord is included.) Send in the enclosed card to get a free adapter tip for your cell phone and a couple minute's worth of cranking will power that, too, in a pinch. Super for picnics and camping.

Available online at sites including etoncorp.com.

Berit Thorkelson, who lives in St. Paul, tests travel products for this column and her travel goods website, trustypony.com.