Here comes the sun – time to charge your iPad

Whether you’re going camping, travelling or are off to a festival this summer, charging your gadgets looks set to be a tad easier as solar chargers gain in popularity.

Latest to hit the hit street is the new FreeLoader Classic from Solar Technology International.

The charger has new super-powerful solar panels that can collect 25% more power and can provide enough juice to charge an iPad.

Eight hours of charging will give you up to 18 hours of power for your iPod or iPhone, 44 hours on a smartphone, two hours on an iPad and 2.5 hours on a mobile gaming device such as a PSP or DS.

Ready to use straight out of the box, the FreeLoader Classic has nine connector tips (including the new ‘standard’ micro USB and a standard USB cable.

Small and light, you should be able to slip the charger into a back pocket (unless your jeans are absolutely skintight!) and boasts a silver aluminium skin, which has been designed to be hard wearing.

If you’re at home, or there’s not enough sun, you can charge the Classic via USB in three hours.

An LCD data panel offers info on power input, connectivity and battery level, which allows you to make sure it’s always charged up.

Additional accessories are also available, including the Supercharger, which can power up the Classic really quickly. Buy separately or buy packaged with the Classic as the Globe Trotter package.

The Freeloader Classic is available now from www.solartechnology.co.uk and various retailers (such as Firebox) for £39.99.