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Solio Classic Solar Charger
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Solio Classic Solar Charger

Item # 764524

$99.95

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

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Plug into the sun with Solio®! This universal solar charger keeps virtually all hand-held electronics topped off with free solar power anywhere!

  • Sleek, compact design fans into a flowerlike shape, ready to collect the sun's energy; just place in the light and Solio begins to charge
  • User-replaceable lithium ion battery stores solar energy for up to one year, letting you charge up your portable electronic accessories
  • Can be mounted easily to a window via included suction-cup mount, or propped up to face the light with a slim object like a pencil or pen
  • Easy-to-operate device can be charged from either solar energy or with included USB charging cable
  • Once charged, simply plug in electronic device, press a button and charging begins; status-indicator LED on button shows power level of battery
  • Includes adapters for popular mobile phone brands, USB and mini USB
  • Approximate charge time for Solio from the sun is 6 to 8 hours and about six hours from the USB charging cable
  • About 60 minutes of sunlight can provide nearly 10 minutes of talk time or 4 hours of standby on most cell phones, although performance can vary
  • Rated output of 4 - 12 volts at 0 - 1 amp; solar panel output of 165mA at 6 volts; internal rechargeable Li-Ion battery outputs 1600mAh at 3.6 volts
  • Measures 4.7 x 2.5 x 1.3 in. when closed; operating temperature range is -4°F to 131°F
  • Production of Solio has been made ''carbon neutral'' through tree plantings in protected forests; Solio is made from recycled and recyclable materials

Package includes: Solio charger, USB charging cable, window suction-mount, cell phone adapter plugs (Sony®, Erickson®, LG®, Samsung®, Motorola®, Nokia®, mini-USB), universal cable, female standard USB adapter (powers iPod®) and instruction manual.

Imported.

Item 764524

Solio Classic Solar Charger Specs

Specification

Description

Weight5.8 ounces
Dimensions4.7 x 2.5 x 1.3 inches

Solio Classic Solar Charger Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Solio Classic Solar Charger
 
3.7

(based on 23 reviews)

77%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Compact (9)
  • Reliable (9)
  • Charges quickly (8)
  • Long lasting (8)
  • Lightweight (7)

Cons

  • Charges slowly (4)

Best Uses

  • Travel (14)
  • Portable electronics (11)
  • Backpacking (6)
  • Having around the house (4)
  • Car camping (3)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Quality oriented (12), Casual adventurer (5), Budget buyer (4)
  • Primary use:
  • Personal (13)
  • What Is Your Gear Style:
  • Minimalist (5), Comfort driven (3)

Reviewed by 23 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Mar

4

2008

(14 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Awesome little clean energy chager

By Puck7845

from Aptos, CA

About Me Quality Oriented

Pros

  • Charges Quickly
  • Compact
  • Convenient
  • Easy to use
  • Long Lasting
  • Powerful
  • Reliable Performance

Cons

  • No cover for top panel

Best Uses

  • Carge AA's on the go
  • Portable Electronics
  • Travel

Comments about Solio Classic Solar Charger:

Great way to charge just about anything on the go anywhere in the world. You can get a USB charger for AA and AAA batteries for very little, and I frequently use it to recharge batteries for my GPS and mp3 player, as well as everyone else's iPods, Zunes and the like. Just keep it in a bag with some clothes and the whole "no cover" drawback isn't really an issue anyway.

Be careful that when you use it to charge stuff you always unplug the iPod or whatever from the charging cable before you unplug the cable from the Solio. The plug that they use for charging (looks almost like a headphone plug) can short out for just a second when you are plugging it in or taking it out, just because of that headphone-like design. For headphones this is fine, but sometimes very sensitive devices could get messed up if shorted for that tiny bit of time.

  • Primary use:
  • Personal

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

(14 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

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Oct

2

2008

(12 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

 
3.0

Good while it worked...

By Kulahi

from Sacramento, CA

About Me Quality Oriented

Site Member

Pros

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Having Around The House
      • Portable Electronics
      • Travel

      Comments about Solio Classic Solar Charger:

      I purchased the Solio to charge IPODs, cell phone, bluetooth, & GPS units while camping, as well as on a regular basis as I work from home. The unit was able to charge the blue tooth & smaller IPOD shuffle from the sun, while requiring to draw from the battery with the IPOD video & GPS. Understanding the limitations of the unit allowed me to be appreciative of what the solio offered. For my needs, it worked as I would only need to charge an item every other day or so. Fast forward 4 months later... the Solio stopped receiving charge from the sun. Charging from a wall appeared to work, but not the sun. Being that there are other products on the market that serve as portable external battery packs, I decided that the "Solar" Solio should not serve this purpose. I took the product back [...]

      Service and delivery comments:

      If the Solio continued to work, I'd rate it 4 stars... as for REI's commitment to its "100% satisfaction guarantee," I give 5 stars & my continued patronage!

      • Gift:
      • No
      • Primary use:
      • Personal

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (12 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

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      Dec

      9

      2008

      (11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      Great for realistic expectations

      By Wandering Robert

      from Chicago, IL

      About Me Quality Oriented

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Compact Design
      • Reliable Performance
      • Versitile

      Cons

      • Over-hyped

      Best Uses

      • Having Around The House
      • Portable Electronics
      • Travel

      Comments about Solio Classic Solar Charger:

      I have been using this for about six months now mainly for my iTouch (can charge from empty with 25% left on charger) and occasional cell phone (can be used for cameras but not all so check before if that is your intent). It works great once you learn the dos and don'ts.

      It doesn't work well through windows - especially with any kind of coatings like windshields. It doesn't charge in the time claimed on the package unless perfectly placed in strong sunlight. And mine didn't come with the suction cup for window mounting.

      Performance will vary with sun strength - so in Chicago it takes 8-10 hrs, in Patagonia and New Zealand it would charge in 6-8hrs. In China (smog cover) it would take about 2 days. Now as daylight shortens with the winter the time needed for a charge takes longer. I have had some success charging through plane windows at cruising altitude if you get a window seat on the right side of the plane.

      Overall, I am really happy with this charger. The hardest thing to do while traveling is finding a way to keep the charger in direct light - so it may take longer than 6-8hrs to get that much light. But it does work well. Also, when charging larger batteries it will stop charging (battery reads full on the device) but after a little use the device battery will read 50% (the charger will also be at half charge). Set it up for another charge - at the end of the second charge the device will really be full and the charger will be close to empty (around 25%).

      • Gift:
      • No
      • Primary use:
      • Personal

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

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      Feb

      11

      2008

      (9 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Power on the go

      By Tourezrick

      from Orland Park, IL.

      About Me Quality Oriented

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Charges Quickly
      • Long Lasting
      • Powerful
      • Reliable Performance

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Portable Electronics
        • Travel

        Comments about Solio Classic Solar Charger:

        This little charger works best when placed in direct sunlight and oriented toward the sun. It will not work well, or at all, on the dash of your car/truck as windshields have a built-in solar screen. I use mine on my recumbent trike to charge GPS, mp4, cell phone batteries.

        • Primary use:
        • Personal

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (9 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

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        Sep

        12

        2007

        (8 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        Solio is great

        By cb

        from Atlanta, GA

        About Me Quality Oriented

        Pros

        • Charges Quickly
        • Long Lasting
        • Reliable Performance

        Cons

        • AMPS limited but expected

        Best Uses

        • Portable Electronics
        • Travel

        Comments about Solio Classic Solar Charger:

        great to have while away from electricity. Charge from AC outlet the first timefor a full charge. After the initial AC charge and subsequent power transfer; you are on your way for future use on solar power. It is best to fully transfer the full charge to the receiving unit prior to recharging the Solio from an AC outlet or via the solar charging function. Take advantage of the free tip offer.

        • Primary use:
        • Personal

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (8 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

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        Oct

        24

        2007

        (7 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        This product is GREAT!

        By Boulder Bike Man

        from Boulder, CO

        About Me Quality Oriented

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Charges Quickly
        • Long Lasting
        • Reliable Performance

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Bike Tours
          • Travel

          Comments about Solio Classic Solar Charger:

          I use this for my IPOD, Treo 700p and Garmin 60csx. It works great and charges fine attached to the top of my B.O.B. trailer during the day when cycle touring.

          • Primary use:
          • Personal

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (7 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

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          Sep

          12

          2007

          (6 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

           
          3.0

          It's OK

          By Mike78

          from Salt Lake City, UT

          About Me Quality Oriented

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Long Lasting

          Cons

          • Charges slowly

          Best Uses

          • Travel

          Comments about Solio Classic Solar Charger:

          I used the charger for traveling in Europe. It's very slow to charge through solar power. My best results with solar charging were when I stuck it to an airplane window. It works well if you plug it in and use it as a portable battery. The Solio did not always charge my devices to full capacity. Overall, I would say it is a decent product, but there is some room for improvement.

          • Primary use:
          • Personal

          Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

          (6 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

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          Oct

          28

          2007

          (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Small but powerful

          By DRA

          from Atlanta, GA

          About Me Quality Oriented

          Pros

          • Charges Quickly
          • Compact design
          • Reliable Performance

          Cons

          • Dies over time
          • Short Life

          Best Uses

          • Great on the go
          • Portable Electronics
          • Travel

          Comments about Solio Classic Solar Charger:

          I am an electrican and alway on the go. I purchased this unit in order to keep my cell phone charged. So far I love the unit and have no regrets about it. The only down side to this unit is it needs to be in the sun to keep a good charge.

          • Primary use:
          • Business

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

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          Sep

          28

          2007

          (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

           
          4.0

          A must have!

          By Ali Belle

          from Dolores, Colorado

          About Me Quality Oriented, Value Oriented

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Charges Quickly
          • Long Lasting
          • Powerful

          Cons

          • Mp3 wont recognize it

          Best Uses

          • Portable Electronics
          • Travel

          Comments about Solio Classic Solar Charger:

          I really like this product. One great feature is the suction cup. Just stick it on your window on the way to the mountains and it charges or it can be charged in any wall socket. One other PRO is all of the connectors that come with it, it even has one for my new cell phone, that I was told by another company wouldn't be available! However, my Mp3 player will not recognize it as a power source, I am working on this issue with the Mp3 company because it is not the charges fault.

          • Primary use:
          • Personal

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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          Dec

          31

          2008

          (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

           
          4.0

          Does what it's supposed to

          By MCR

          from Los Angeles, CA

          About Me Value Oriented

          Pros

          • Adaptable
          • Compact
          • Lightweight
          • Reliable Performance

          Cons

          • Charges slowly
          • Needs Attention

          Best Uses

          • Basecamp Charger
          • Emergency Equipment
          • Portable Electronics
          • Travel

          Comments about Solio Classic Solar Charger:

          The Solio Classic is very lightweight and compact, lending itself well for travel and camping. Its adaptors have allowed me to charge various items from my cell phone to my MP3 player. The downside is that it is slow to charge even in full sunlight and leaving it unattended to charge up will not speed things along. That said, it is a great solar panel for the price if you are setting up a base camp (with the time to check/move the Solio every couple of hours) or are stranded without power for a few days (think post-earthquake, post-hurricane, etc.).

          • Gift:
          • No
          • Primary use:
          • Personal

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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          Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

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