Powertraveller has released the ultimate travel charger for on-the-go professionals, outdoorsmen, and techies alike—the powermonkey-eXplorer. With three charging methods, international adapters, and tips for nearly every portable electronic device, you’ll never be somewhere without power.
Cableorganizer.com was kind enough to send me a review copy of Powertraveller’s ambitious device, and I’ve been delighted thus far. The heart of the system is the powermonkey-eXplorer, a 2200 mAh Li-ion rechargable battery. The powermonkey-eXplorer can be re-charged in one of three ways—through the included wall charger (the package contains interchangeable heads for the UK, AUS, USA, and EU), via USB, or its claim to fame, the “SolarSlave”, a 5 Vdc folding solar panel. It takes the world-wide mains (wall) charger and USB adapter 3.5 hours and 6 hours, respectively, to fully charge the battery, while 6 hours of sunlight will fill the powermonkey-eXplorer by 1/3, which purportedly is equivalent to one full mobile phone charge.
From there, you simply connect the powermonkey-eXplorer to one of the included tips, and connect that to your portable electronic device. The “universal tip pack” accommodates everything from iPods to cell phones to portable gaming systems. For the most part, I was pleased with the selection. I was mildly disappointed that nothing fit my running buddy, the iPod Shuffle. But I had no trouble charging my iPhone, Sony PSP, and colleagues’ cell phones and iPods. Alternatively, you can connect the SolarSlave, wall charger, or USB adapter directly to your electronic device.
With so many options, there’s scarcely a scenario where you wouldn’t be able to recharge your device. In particular, the SolarSlave makes the powermonkey-eXplorer perfect for camping trips or plane rides. I’d highly recommend it for anyone toting portable electronics (which is to say, nearly everyone).
You can purchase the powermonkey-eXplorer from Cableorganizer.com for $149.21.
