Powerbag: A Backpack That Takes Charge

The last time you took a backpack with you, what did you carry? Likely, much more than just books and some snacks- you probably included a bunch of gadgets. And you certainly grabbed your phone, which is probably a smartphone, which means if you're anything like us, you're currently looking at the battery meter and sighing. Towards the afternoon on a decent day of use, our iPhones are worn out, the charge all but exhausted.

The Powerbag Backpack can't help fix your other problems, but it can tackle that one. At first, a few of the writers were poking fun at the poor guy, mocking him for offering little more than a normal backup power pack in bag form. But a few things quickly changed their tune, and we're now convinced that there are many people out there who need one of these. If you travel a fair bit, you probably have looked into backup power sources, little USB batteries and the like. Most of them are good enough, and some of them offer more options (international accessories for example). If you already have one, and a backpack that you're fond of, you can probably skip this one. Everyone else, pay attention!

Teenagers and students, we're looking at you- and parents of said individuals as well. We didn't find this model right for all audiences- it wasn't quite classy enough for business or stylish enough for some of the females on staff. And it didn't offer quite the level of water protection, stability, and weight distribution that our serious outdoors crowd seeks. But for regular, daily use, the Powerbag was excellent. And it's made by fūl (we had to copy and paste the name to get that character), who have perhaps an odd name but are definitely solid manufacturers. We loved the previously-reviewed Roadie Duffel, which continues to hold up well even after several transcontinental and international trips.

A battery backup system needs to offer three major things: a good amount of power at a low weight, fast and simple ways to recharge it, and a straightforward method of knowing when you need to do so. Many batteries miss that last part, leaving you wondering how much charge is left. Mysteries are great- just not the kind that make you miss that important call to mom or the office. The clever integrated system offered here has a few advantages, namely a nice little indicator on the bag that shows you the status of the battery, and an external power button that controls the whole thing. We loved that you can recharge via AC- some systems require you to use USB. And the 3000 mAh battery can charge most smartphones completely, twice over. Cables and adapters for USB, mini-USB, Micro-USB, and Apple's custom type are included, and there's enough oomph to handle your e-reader and many tablets as well.

Frankly, the backpack itself was also surprising. Offering a decent amount of padding, a waist cross-strap, a few cute pockets, and even a back panel that was cushioned and was slightly ventilated, the Powerbag distinguished itself in the field. It wasn't the most comfortable, nor the most attractive bag, but the zippers were great and the top handle handy. All in all, it held up to some beatings, and even includes some reflective parts useful for those out and about at night. A dedicated laptop compartment seemed secure, and offered plenty of space for any laptop we tried. But you cannot charge your laptop off of the battery.

The first thing we imagined from the name was solar power, which seemed like it might be a good fit for the bag. We've seen some quality flexible solar panels now, and would love to see a bag of this size and quality include them (perhaps optionally). Powerbag also makes other models- messengers, even some wheeled briefcases- in the event that this backpack doesn't feel like the right option for you. Red and blue colors are also available, ours was black. At $130, it's about what you'd pay for a good bag and backup battery, but the extra features and integration make it well worth the price. Practical, easy to use, durable- the Powerbag kept us charged up when we needed.