Solar energy has been with us since time immemorial and probably will continue to stay for years. It is seen today as the great ball of fire that makes our everyday lives more miserable by giving us sweltering heat making us sweat more than a bacon of a frying pan. These solar gadgets harness the same power that trouble us to convert into something more delightful (but still weird).

1. Safari Style Solar and Battery Powered Hat

This hat promises cool feeling for your head and face even under the sun. It is made of natural linen straw with Toyo base materials and coated with non-toxic and waterproof material to make it strong and durable. The silicon solar cells are expected to last a lifetime with proper care of course. It is recommended for camping, gardening, boating etc. In case that it gets cloudy or when indoors, the battery back-up powered by 2xAA batteries kick in to keep the mini fan running. Great idea? Sure but, not really if you want to use this as a fashion statement.

2. Photovoltaic Thin Film Cells into Wearables

That line must sound all sci-fi but is all just means like putting solar cells into clothing. Absurd? Not really. Weird? Way weird.

The technology uses “Digital Textile Printing” where the designer incorporate unusual components into a design by printing fabric that matches the pattern of the component. It is like printing a bunch of plaid pattens on your jacket that are actually solar cells. Proponents of the idea think that by using this, we wouldn’t need to be close to an AC outlet to charge our phones, iPods or bluetooth device. If this type of garment gets mass produces, then imagine having a full corporate black suit complete from the coat, to tie and even to the pants is designed with photovoltaic cells ready to charge a BlackBerry.

3. Photosynthesis Solar Tree

Plants were the source of harnessing solar energy to convert it into something else. Plants convert the sun’s rays into food in the form of plant sugar. Then the brainchild of the concept Vivien Muller might have the idea of “why not copy nature’s design?” and make it fashionable and hip to fit to any modern home. The whole set is supposed to work like Lego pieces that connect with one another. Detachable branches connect to the main trunk, then the twigs into the branches and so on until it connects to the “leaf” which contains the solar panels that collect energy – just like a real tree.

4. Girasol Coffee Maker

This coffee maker invented by Christian Patton through a research funding by the Universidad de Quintana Roo in southern Mexico uses solar power (if it is not yet obvious). It works by preparing all the things needed in the container, let it bask under the sun for a while and you’re ready to enjoy a cup of coffee. Small enough to bring anywhere, it is recommended for camping use where a nice cup of coffee isn’t really that much available.

So there you have it, the top solar gadgets that are indeed useful but definitely weird. If you plan to get any of these things, sorry to tell you but only the Safari Style Solar Powered Hat is available through Amazon.