The rainy season is about to end in the Kanto region where I live. I want to set up a beach chair next to the pool (just kidding) in my garden and relax with a beer. While searching for something suitable, I came across the Solar Powered Lounge Chair .

The beach chairs feature waterproof cushions and sunshades, and are equipped with solar panels for charging your smartphone. Cooling mist is sprayed from mist nozzles, and music can be played through a Bluetooth speaker. It's the perfect way to live a dream poolside life. But the price of $4,000 (approximately 405,000 yen) is mind-blowing. I wonder if the rain-loving boy and rain woman who wrote the article could afford it. Well, let's try to offer the same, or even better, specs and comfort at a lower price.


My first choice is the outdoor-style solar charger "Apollo 3" from OTAS. It's equipped with a whopping eight solar panels, delivering a high-power output of 19V. And when combined with the included cigarette lighter adapter and a separately sold USB car charger, it can charge not only smartphones but even tablets with a maximum current of 2A. While this might seem like excessive performance for relaxing by the pool, as an IT writer I'm hesitant to go overboard and demand high specs. The fact that it's a product from the Scandinavian outdoor brand "lifemate" also appeals to boys. The price of the device itself is 24,980 yen including tax.


Next, or rather, the most important thing, the beach chair. When I searched for "bonbon bed," as we call it at home, I got very few hits. After some research, I found out that it's generally called a "sun bed." I pulled myself together and searched on Rakuten, and found this one. It only cost 2,180 yen including tax. It doesn't have a waterproof cushion, but it's soft and comfortable from the start. You don't have to worry about it getting wet. Even though it doesn't have wheels, it's light and easy to move.


If you're concerned about the sun's rays making about five right turns on your skin, consider adding a sunshade (1,290 yen including tax).


Next is the mist spray function. I'll use a sprayer for this. I'm afraid to reuse the gardening one, so I want a new one. Still, this can be purchased for 2,036 yen including tax.


All that's left is a Bluetooth speaker, but don't worry. Your smartphone is enough. What's more, my smartphone is waterproof, so I can use it safely by the pool.

Now I have everything I need. The price, even with the sunshade, is 30,486 yen. If I give up on the sunshade, I'll have change from 30,000 yen. What's more, the specs are overwhelmingly high. I wouldn't call this a good shopper, but what else would I call it?

Now that everything is ready, come summer! All that's left is to figure out how to prepare the garden and pool.