In 2013, One Earth Designs debuted a rather clever cooker that could be used to grill, fry and boil water using only the power of the sun. The team has now introduced a follow-up with a big focus on portability, with a much lighter and more compact version that can be packed into its own special carry bag.
Appearing much like a satellite dish, the original SolSource cooker could be pointed at the sun, where its carefully designed geometry would capture enough heat to produce the equivalent of 1,000 W of cooking power. The team says that so long as you can see shadows, then you have enough light to get cooking, and the same is true of the new version called the SolSource Sport.
The more mobile SolSource cooker can be set up in five minutes and is said to reach cooking temperatures in seconds, right up to a maximum of 392° F (200° C). It is smaller than the original when assembled, measuring 31.5 inches wide and 31.5 inches high (80 cm). But the biggest difference, at least on paper, is the huge reduction in weight.
The SolSource Sport tips the scales at just 10 lb (4.5 kg), compared to the hefty 40 lb (18 kg) of the original, making it entirely possible to throw it in the trunk and take it to the beach, park or a friend's place for some emission-free grilling.
Currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, the SolSource Sport has raised US$83,000 in funds at the time of writing, flying past its original goal of $20,000. Early bird pledges of $149 are still available, while $229 will land you the specially-made carry case as well. Provided the rest of the campaign runs as planned, the company plans to start shipping in August 2017.
You can check out the pitch video below.
Source: SolSource
