Gadget of the week: Waka Waka solar lamp

By Rik Sharma

Published: 20:47 EST, 14 November 2013 | Updated: 20:47 EST, 14 November 2013

Rating: 5 Star Rating

Price: £50


Shining bright: Waka Waka is a solar powered lamp that's great for festivals

Shining bright: Waka Waka is a solar powered lamp that's great for festivals

The Waka Waka lamp and phone charger is a useful camping tool and something that could be extremely useful in the developing world.

You can charge it up with a micro USB cable, but, of course, the best way to charge the Waka Waka is to leave it in the sun.

At the top of the small unit there are some bulb lights which indicate the speed it is charging at and how much charge there is left.

When it's full charged (around eight hours of sunlight), the Waka Waka light can give your phone its full juice back and also provide light for a couple of hours.

This will make it an invaluable object for campers and festival goers, who otherwise would have to find other ways of recharging their phones. Alternatively, from one full charge it offers 40 hours of lighting.

It's a small, rugged and versatile unit which can be propped up in various ways, it is also light and portable and features no detatchable parts.

The light is bright, although you can soften it, by pressing the central (and only) button on the device.

It's a good cause too - part of the company's 'mission' is to stop people in third world countries from using dangerous kerosene lighting.

Lights on: These green lights show how much charge the Waka Waka lamp has left

Lights on: These green lights show how much charge the Waka Waka lamp has left

'WakaWaka is an impact driven, social venture that fights to abolish energy poverty throughout the world,' reads a line from their business model.

After the Haiti earthquake, 10,000 of the lights were shipped to the stricken country to help out, on a 'buy one, give one' basis. The same offer is happening again to help people in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan.

So although now isn't a season for festivals or for camping (unless you live in sunnier climes than these), it is a good time to purchase the product if you will need a solar lamp.

 

Follow Rik on Twitter here: @riksharma_


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