Discounts for electronic goodies at Maplin

Image links below take you to individual retailers' websites:

You already know how useful these things are, keeping you entertained and informed while camping, travelling or just waiting for something or someone.

Now these devices have shrunk so much that they are ideal for cyclists and anyone else who wants audio but is concerned about carrying heavy, bulky items. Audio used to be an indulgence, now it's so portable that it's part of most people's lives when on the move, not just at home. Battery life is also much improved, plus there's the option of solar-powered rechargers, and even wind-up equipment.

Waterproof versions are also a worry-free alternative for anyone involved in outdoor activities. You might not intend your possessions to get soaked, but accidents do happen.

Radios and mini-radios

Some are more portable and pocketable than others, but can have one or a mixture of features including reception of FM, shortwave, digital (or DAB), Internet, capability for playback of MP3 format music from memory cards. There are waterproof options, and a variety of battery-charging methods such as solar or wind-up in addition to USB computer charging (eg Baylis Mini Eco Radio).

One point to check is weight, as this is not always quoted, particularly for wind-up radios (perhaps they are disproportionately heavy?).

These vary considerably in capacity, weight and intervals needed between recharging.

Those with flash memory are the lightest and most compact, while hard-drive players (eg Apple's iPod) have greater capacity so can store more music and podcasts. But their batteries will not last so long.

These personal audio gizmos are now able to multi-task, so it's now common to find those able to display videos. The ultimate is probabluy Apple's iPhone that combines phone, Internet browsing and music.

Wind-up version:

Baylis Eco Media Player Revolution - a wind-up MP3/4 player - 1 minute wind up for 45 mins play, and can be charged conventionally via a USB

Apart from conventional mains power, rechargeable power packs and disposable batteries, it's possible to run many devices via the USB port of a computer. It's also possible to recharge batteries and power packs from the mains, computers or alternative energy sources (mechanical or solar).

For example:

• Freeloader portable solar charger for portable devices.
• Freeloader portable AA and AAA battery charger (only weighs 80g) - enables you to charge batteries from the Freeloader solar charger or via USB computer port.
• Power monkey - an almost universal power pack that will run many portable devices so you don't need to carry separate chargers for each gadget.
• Pull-string power pack - a battery pack that will run MP3s, mobile phones and other portable devices - can be charged up via a USB to a computer, or by a pull-string.
• Solar monkey - a solar-powered device to charge up a device, AA batteries, or a Power monkey.