A friend just showed me the link to Nokero Light Bulbs (nokero.com), a rechargeable light/lantern that’s perfect for camping, but equally useful for disasters or off-the-grid locations in the rural Third World.
It resembles your regular household light bulb, but panels on the exterior of the unit recharge the internal battery. The website claims a two-year life on the batteries, with a four-hour charge when filled. I couldn’t determine the weight, but it appears to be made of plastic (with LED bulbs), and uses a single AA-sized NiMH battery…so it can’t be more than a couple ounces.
My one hitch is disposing of the battery after its life, but then again, for folks in the Third World it’s probably a step up from burning kerosene in lamps, so perhaps the trade-off is worth it.
They’re inexpensive, too, at $15 per bulb, so using one for camping (car or backpacking) seems reasonable. Check ’em out.
