BEACH GADGETS

Having power at the beach means you can spend more time enjoying the coast without worrying about your devices running out of battery. William Thomson explores the latest technologies that empower us to keep exploring for as long as we desire

POWER CAMPSTOVE

In the last 15 years I have gone through around 10 camping cookers, with each one getting progressively better. However, the Biolite CampStove 2 has now taken things to a whole other level. Why? Because in addition to letting you get on with boiling, cooking and grilling, it even generates its own electricity! An ingenious heat probe protruding from the orange power pack captures heat from the fire (small pieces of driftwood are ideal) and a thermoelectric generator then converts that heat into power. So while you’re making a cup of tea or cooking supper, you can also charge your devices. Genius! (£139.99, uk.bioliteenergy.com).

LIGHTWEIGHT SOLAR PANEL

From the makers of the CampStove comes this Biolite SolarPanel 5+ to rapid charge your devices on those sunny days. The secret to its efficiency is a clever ‘sight’ where you line up a shadow dot in the middle of the crosshairs to make sure the panel is at the perfect angle to the sun. To achieve this a folding stand allows you to tilt the panel up and down, or you can even use the holes in the corner to tie it to your backpack as you hike (£79.99, uk.bioliteenergy.com).

SAFE, SILENT WIND TURBINE

The UK’s climate means there is almost always some form of sea breeze, which is where the GIGA single turbine comes into its element. Making electricity from wind speeds as little as 2 knots, this elegant piece of engineering generates 30 watts at 13 m/s winds and is perfect for campers and beach huts. All you need to do is bolt it onto a post and clip into a battery; once it’s up and running, the turbine is quiet and safe, thanks to enclosed blades – ideal for families with inquisitive children! (£399, gigaturbines.co.uk).

VERSATILE POWER LIGHT

This multi-functional Biolite PowerLight should be in the bag of every adventurer. Use it as a 250 lumen torch, a lantern, or clip in the company’s SiteLight XL to create a glowing moon to set a fun atmosphere for your beach party. Within each setting you can adjust the brightness and choose a strobe setting if you need to attract attention urgently, or turn the BBQ into a disco. A 4400mAh battery means you can even plug in your USB devices and it gives them a full charge while you are on the go (£64.99, uk.bioliteenergy.com).