You’re hiking through the woods and suddenly you’re lost in a maze of wildlife. Trees look the same. There’s no sound or sight of civilization.

Your cell phone, your only connection to the outside world, is blinking red. You look up and see sunlight shining through a crack in the dome of giant trees. You wish you had a solar powered battery charger right about…NOW.

Trees don’t have plug-in sockets. A solar powered battery charger is good for everyday use, and when you’re in an outdoor bind and need a charge, can be a safety tool as well.

But how does it work? Rechargable batteries are made out of cadmium or hydrogen, alloy, and an electrolyte. The reaction between the electrolyte and the battery’s cell produces electrons that charge your gadget’s circuit. The battery loses charge when residue from the chemical reaction gathers on the battery’s cells and stops electron production. The solar cell’s electricity reverses deterioration by drawing protons to the battery’s cell and attracting them with electrons. This restores the cells and reconstructs the electrolyte.

Got it? Good. Now check out these dependable solar powered battery chargers for everyday or emergency use.

The Flexible Solar Battery Charger SolLite-2AA is ideal for travelers because it fits almost anywhere. There are five models to choose from that weigh no more than a pound. All five can charge AA, C, or D batteries, are completely weatherproof, and store solar energy so that they can be used at night or when the solar panel is not exposed to sunlight. Not a bad deal for about 25 bucks.

21st Century Goods has you covered when it comes to larger batteries. The Sunsei SE-170 is a 2.6 watt charger for a car, small truck, van or SUV. It might be uncomfortable to stuff this 4.1-pound charger in your backpack, but keep it in your car and plug it to your cigarette lighter in just seconds to begin use. You can even suction the charger to your window.

21st Century also has solar chargers to power vehicles with higher battery needs. Their Sunsei SE-500 charges 12-volt batteries, more than enough to charge 7.5-volt batteries found in pick-up trucks, vans, RV’s and boats. It can also plug into your cigarette lighter, and uses a newly designed solar panel to give increased power and keep your belongings fully charged even when they are not in use.