Okay, I can't remember what TV show I saw this on as a Christmas gift idea but for those of you who think a PDA would be perfect to keep all that survival information on, or a Cell/Sat phone would be the perfect survival tool, but for the batteries. Introducing the Brunton Power Roll.
www.brunton.com/product.php?id=256

Three sizes. one is 12x57" and 17oz and will power a laptop and is $399.00, the next is 12x40" and 10.5 oz and will power a cell phone or video camera for $279, and the final is 12x22" and 6.5 oz and will charge a cell phone for $169.

Wouldn't that be great carry unlimited power for just over a pound or less. Roll it up around your sleeping pad and never notice its there. Its expensive but if I could afford one I'd buy it. Next year maybe.

Yeah, considering a battery for my computer is $130, $400 dollars for a steady power supply like that doesn't seem out of line. I've seen reviews and they seem pretty promising. The only other thing is you need a seperate adaptor for each device. So a laptop needs a ~$100 cigarette adaptor to connect to it. $500 for the biggest power roll and adaptor is a pricy addition to a computer kit, but not out of line.

You might want to shop around, the Brunton cost $28.50 per watt. If you shop around for flexible solar panels you can find it for less than $20. per watt. Don't know anything about this place but check it out.

http://store.altenergystore.com/Solar-El...CFQRDYwodtTThpg

Or try this -

Scott eVest Solar Panel
Tech Specs
I own one of his jackets with zip-off sleeves (non-solar!). Great Geek Carry Option!
Couple years ago I had a solar cell company build me a unit onto a thin aluminum sheet and seal with clear epoxy. Works great but doesn't fold. Mine won't run my PC but will charge battery. It will run my PDA and GPS - high cool factor in camp!
Cheers, <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Can't say I'm electrically inclined to do that with out a bit of instruction. Where would I find out how to do such a thing?

Hey Folks, Merry Christmas

Just an FYI. We used both the rollup and the fold up Bruntons in Iraq and Afghanistan for our electronics needs and there a few things you should know. ALSO: I have no interest or ties to any of the folowing companies or corporations! This are merely my humble personal observations.

The cells themselves are fragile, and are not well protected on the rollups.
The rollups are not good for stuffing, and if it's wrapped around your sleeping bag, then it's quite vulnerable to damage while humping unless you add more protection = more weight!
For use in a vehicle, when you just want to toss some panels out, they are great, but on foot, I cannot recommend them.
The Fold ups (especially the Solarus-26) provide quite a bit of power to size to weight ratio.
Folding into a pouch the size of a small "VAIO" laptop, it's pretty small, lightweight, and I can say from personal experience, they are efficient.
My 26 would completely recharge my laptop and a set of 8 NiMh AA Batteries for Weapon Sights and NODs in about 3.5 hours on a sunny day, about 6 on a cloudy day. You can even have a few panels slopped out of your pack in order to charge on the move in easy country.

Good gear, but you have to protect it. That's why I keep mine INSIDE my ruck, where it belongs, well, most of the time.

Also, carry a spare set of fuzes for the charger system if you are going to be near helicopters, the static discharge sometimes cooks them. It makes it a bit interesting carrying electric blasting caps with you. I suggest static resistant electronics bags for all of that stuff. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Cheers,
Mike