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Backpacker Magazine – Online Exclusive

Freeplay FreeCharge 12V

by: Kristin Hostetter

Freeplay FreeCharge 12V (Courtesy Photo)
Freeplay FreeCharge 12V (Courtesy Photo)

Emergency Power
Freeplay FreeCharge 12V
Add your own muscle power to this portable cranker and you can power anything that plugs into a 12V cigarette lighter–cell phone, GPS, camera batteries and more. Three minutes of turning the handle generates about eleven minutes of talk time on most cell phones. If you want to charge dead batteries in your GPS, plan on burning some calories by the campfire. There is no internal battery, so the device doesn't charge unless you're turning the handle, making it best suited for emergency needs. An indicator light let's you kno w if you're cranking at the optimal turn rate. $40; 9 oz.; 5"x2"x2"; freeplayenergy.com.

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