Another CES, another opportunity for the tech industry to throw a trebuchet of molten lead at the last vestiges of my dignity. This year, EcoFlow presents this charming solar hat that does more for the planet and your phone than your personal brand. Granted, if you’re wearing an outdoor-appropriate cut, it probably won’t look too out of place, but aesthetics come second to function.
As the name suggests, the EcoFlow Power Hat has small solar panels built into the brim that, when you’re on the go, will help charge your portable devices. The edge is segmented and each section has a small array of monocrystalline silicon cells with a nominal efficiency of 24%.
Under the brim there is a small plastic box with an LED light telling you that the hat is generating a charge. Remove the attached rubber tabs and you’ll find a USB-A and USB-C port, allowing you to charge one or two devices at a time.
EcoFlow says it will produce a maximum of 5V/2.4A, so you can expect it to keep your phone or tablet charged rather than producing anything too life-saving. Naturally, there’s no battery on board, so you’ll need to keep a long wire handy to run from your hoodie to the pocket near which you keep your devices.
The company says it’s sturdy enough, with each panel on a discrete segment that you can fold down to a near pocket-sized size. It is IP65 rated against water and dust ingress, but avoid submerging it in water or putting it in a washing machine.
The EcoFlow Power Hat is currently on sale for $129, more or less the cost of your dignity.
