Seattle Sports Solar Charging/Cranking Flashlight Review

Photo via: Seattle Sports

This month I was given the pleasure of putting two of Seattle Sports new solar/crank-powered flashlights/USB chargers to the test. Let's see how they stacked up to a few of their competitors...Photo via: Seattle SportsSol Jüs Solar ChargerThe first flashlight I tested was a flashlight/solar charger. It featured a USB outbound charger capable of charging most any USB-compatible device you can think of, such as mp3 players, cameras, cell phones, GPS, etc. The flashlight itself is capable of charging itself in 10-15 hours, offering approximately 35 hours of use once the full charge is achieved.

General Specifications:Outbound DC charge: 1.2 amps/5.6 volts Brightness: 25000 MCD (with 1 LED), 65000 MCD (with 3 LEDs) Battery: Nickel metal hydride (capacity: 3.6v 700mAh) 200 mA current output Full charge gives you 15 hours of flashlight use with 3 LEDs and 35 hours of use with 1 LED Note: Most (but not all) USB compatible devices accept solar charges.

I had a very positive experience with this unit. It was capable of sustaining the charge on my cell phone just by sitting it by the window on a daily basis. Now if you were in need of a quick charge, you better look elsewhere, such as a crank charger, as even with three solar panels, the charging process was a slow process. This is at no fault to the unit however, as solar charging technology is generally slow to go.

Photo via: Seattle SportsHydrostar™ S.U.B. FlashlightThe Hydrostar is a Submersible Utility Beam™ (S.U.B.) with the unique application of also serving as a crank charging system. The light portion of the S.U.B. has 4 separate settings, a SnakeEyes Laser (useful for indicating or signaling), a ½ watt LED, a strobe, and two outer LED's.

One minute of cranking provides: 1/2 watt LED: 60 minutesSide LEDs: 120 minutesStrobe: 150 minutes SnakeEyes Laser: 9 minutes

The USB hub located on this unit is perfect for charging many USB compatible devices, and unlike the solar charger unit above, a charge can be attained much quicker, albeit with a bit more effort. The exterior is very solid and is capable of dive depths of up to 10 meters (30 feet). I would definitely recommend this product for its durability, all-around utility, and impressive light output.

There are several other self-powered flashlight/chargers out there, so to help you get an idea of how these two stack up against a few other popular brands, I have provided a few comparisons.

Crank Flashlight/Charger Comparisons:Model: Seattle Sports Sol JüsSolar charging: YesCrank charging: NoProvides outbound charging: Yes, USBConnectors Included: YesWaterproof: NoAmount of light on full charge 15 hours with 3 LEDs; 35 with 1 LEDMSRP: $49.95

Model: Seattle Sports Hydrostar S.U.B.Solar charging: NoCrank charging: YesProvides outbound charging: Yes, USBConnectors Included: YesWaterproof: Yes, submersible to 10 metersAmount of light on full charge 1 minute cranking=1/2 watt LED: 60 minutes, Side LEDs: 120 minutes, Strobe: 150 minutes, SnakeEyes Laser: 9 minutesMSRP: $39.95

Model: Freeplay IndigoSolar charging: NoCrank charging: YesProvides outbound charging: NoConnectors Included: N/A (Unknown)Waterproof: NoAmount of light on full charge: 2.5 hoursMSRP: $42.00

Model: 6 Solar Style SC001Solar charging: YesCrank charging: NoProvides outbound charging: YesConnectors Included: YesWaterproof: NoAmount of light on full charge: (Unknown)MSRP: $13.49

Model: HybridSolar charging: YesCrank charging: NoProvides outbound charging: NoConnectors Included: N/A Waterproof: NoAmount of light on full charge: 16 hoursMSRP: $24.95

Model: ElectriliteJSolar charging: NoCrank charging: YesProvides outbound charging: Yes, Cell PhoneConnectors Included: YesWaterproof: NoAmount of light on full charge: 1 minute cranking= 30 minutes of light, 3 minutes cranking= 2-8 min cell phone talk timeMSRP: $19.95

Model: Solio ClassicSolar charging: YesCrank charging: NoProvides outbound charging: YesConnectors Included: YesWaterproof: NoAmount of light on full charge: 1 hour charge= 20 minutes talk time or 50 minutes of musicMSRP: $99.95

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