Recharge with a Solar Backpack
One of the most creative new uses for solar panel technology, a number of backpacks and bags have come on the market that not only look great, but will actually recharge cellular phones, MP3 players and other small electronic devices. The bags are outfitted with durable collection panels and batteries to store surplus energy, and are a perfect fit for long hikes or island vacations on less developed islands.
Designed by Voltiac, this tough solar backpack has three large front-facing collection panels that can provide up to 4 watts of power, and uses an advanced Li Ion battery for storage. The bag includes 11 standard adaptors that will fit almost any portable electronic device, from phones and music players to cameras and two-way radios. The high power generation of this model means that just one hour in direct sunlight can result in and hour and a half of talk time on a cell phone, or more than three hours of music on the average MP3 player.
http://www.voltaicsystems.com/
For the fashion conscious traveler, this high-quality leather bag from Noon Solar is crafted from hemp and organically dyed Bavarian leather, and features a large flexible solar panel that can be worn on the inside or out, depending on your power needs. The bag includes a wall-charging adaptor, a lithium ion battery for energy storage and a number of cables for charging MP3 players, cell phones and PDAs. At just over US $400, the bag is a stylish way to incorporate renewable energy into any vacation.
