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New iPhone/iPod Accessories at the Outdoor Retailer 2010 Summer Market

This week I am at the Summer Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, a twice-yearly event of the latest and greatest outdoor gear and equipment.

I spent the first day scouring the exhibition floor for the best new travel packs and spent the second day viewing some non-essential travel items that can make your travels a bit more fun.  Yesterday I cruised the iPhone/iPod accessories to find the best new products for travel.

Pelican i1015 Case for iPhone and iPod Touch

The Pelican i1015 crushproof, dust proof and water resistant case was specifically designed for the iPhone and iPod touch.  Not a great case for everyday use, but the Pelican i1015 is an excellent choice for keeping your iPhone safe during outdoor activities.

The case protects your iPhone from falls, water, dust, and squishes.  In a Pelican case you can seriously throw your iPhone against the wall or jump on it and it and it doesn’t feel a thing.   You can find the Pelican i1015 Case at Amazon or REI.

LOKSAK Waterproof and Sand-proof Bags

LOKSAK bags are the only waterproof, sand-proof, and humidity-proof re-sealable bags on the market.  These bags are super light and ultra durable and were tested and approved by the US Navy.  These bags can keep all your electronics safe in whatever crazy conditions you find yourself in.

I wish I had had one of these for my camera during a sandstorm in the Grand Canyon – sand got under my lens and the darn thing wouldn’t work. Unlike Pelican cases, LOKSAK bags can be fully submerged.  You can use the bags to store anything you want kept dry like cash, passport, iPod, clothes, food, batteries, and more.  You can find LOKSAK bags at Amazon and REI.

Eton Soulra Solar Powered Sound System

Solar Powered products were all over the market this summer, but I particularly took to the Eton Soulra Solar Powered Sound System for iPod and iPhone.  The classy looking Soula system would be great for car camping, backyard BBQs, and even at the beach since it features a splash-proof body, but is a bit too heavy for backpacking or air travel.

Named after the Egyptian Sun God, Ra, the Soulra is the first solar-powered speaker system for the iPod and iPhone.  The Soulra grabs the sun’s ray with its attached solar panel and processes “Ra’s” energy within it’s “Soul” to play and charge your iPod or iPhone.  A battery indicator lets you know how much battery life you have left so you can either recharge out in the sun or plug it in as well.   The Soulra is available on Amazon.

Power Traveler Powermonkey Explorer

The Power Traveler Powermonkey Explore was one of the coolest things I saw at the show.  It is a solar powered charger for mobile phones, iPods, and PDAs.  The Powermonkey charges your device anywhere you have sunlight plus it can also charge from a USB port or outlet.

The Powermonkey’s solar panel is ultra compact and it can be attached to your backpack so you can charge while you’re on the go.  The Powermonkey also comes with a wide variety of adapters so you can use the main charger is over 150 countries.  The Power Traveler Powermonkey Explorer is available at Eastern Mountain Sports.