Top 7 Solar-Powered Bags for Back-to-School!

Students headed back to school this fall will find themselves toting around an ever-expanding array of gadgets - but it can be a real challenge to keep a cellphone, digital camera, and laptop charged while on the go! Fortunately, there's currently a brilliant crop of solar-powered bags available that can keep your gadgets supplied with a steady source of renewable energy as long as the sun is shining. Photovoltaic bags make a lot of sense - as much as we love pocket-sized solar gadgets, their downfall lies in their small size - they have a limited surface area for charging, and they won't be soaking up any sun while they're sitting in your pocket. Also, leaving your gadgets out in the scorching sun is never a good idea - which is why these sturdy solar bags excel at providing a sturdy and versatile charging solution. Read on for 7 of our favorite solar powered bags for back-to-school.


Sakku Traveler Solar Messenger
Sakku's eco-chic solar messenger bags are crafted from sturdy sheets of recycled sailcloth that are sourced from all around Switzerland. A big 5W photovoltaic panel charges up a built-in battery pack that can provide 2-3 cellphone charges after 8 hours of sunshine. The Traveler's roomy interior holds enough space for a laptop, several books, and a water bottle, and since each sail is different, you're guaranteed a unique, tough-as-nails bag that is sure to stand out.


Voltaic Generator Solar Laptop Bag
Laptops suck up a ton of energy, so this Voltaic Generator bag isn't stingy with the photovoltaics -- its powerful 15W solar panel makes it the first solar bag powerful enough to charge a laptop! Perfect for students looking to go off the grid with their studies, the Generator's 20% efficient cells can produce enough energy to fully charge a laptop in about 5 hours. Even better, the bag's burly 600D water-resistant shell is made from 100% recycled PET soda bottles.

Solar Powered Bag by Rogan for Elle
Eco fashionistas looking to turn heads this fall should definitely check out this stunning set of solar purses and satchels designed by Diane von Furstenberg, Tommy Hilfiger, Rogan, and other hot designers working in collaboration with Elle magazine and the Portable Light Project. Each super stylish bag features an ultra-bright LED light and an integrated USB connection that can charge your cellphone whenever the sun is shining.


Eclipse Solar Backpack
This sturdy solar pack fits a lot of functionality into tried-and-true backpack form. Each Eclipse bag is made in the USA and boasts a 4W thin-film solar panel that is perfect for charging mp3 plays, cellphones, and other small gadgets. Pouches, pen holders, and pockets galore keep the roomy 1,8500 cubic-inch interior organized, and a padded latop compartment can hold computers up to 15".

Timbuk2 FLAP Bag
Timbuk2 and the Portable Light Project recently wowed us as the unveiled their innovative FLAP pack, a messenger bag that transforms into a portable, solar-powered light source. Timbuk2 has built a strong following for their tough-as-nails cycling bags, and the addition of a photovoltaic panel and a detachable LED light adds some fantastic functionality - whether you're charging gadgets on the go or cycling safely at night.

Voltaic Solar Backpack
Voltaic's streamlined solar backpack has earned high marks through the years as one of our all-time favorite bags! The stylish solar bookbag boasts a trio of photovoltaic cells for a total of 4W of energy-generating potential. Perfect for carrying books around campus or for hitting the road on a sunny summer weekend, this roomy 1,850 cubic-inch backpack is constructed from 100% recycled PET soda bottles.

DIY Solar Bag
Perhaps the greenest option of all isn't to buy a new solar bookbag this fall, but to make your own! With a little bit of DIY ingenuity you can update your favorite bag into a solar satchel that perfectly suits your needs. This great solar bag tutorial walks you through the steps of installing a solar panel and creating a USB charging cable.

What gadget would you like to see solar powered?

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Inhabitat is an online magazine devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and design towards a smarter and more sustainable future. Written by a young tech-savvy team designers and design journalists, Inhabitat delivers fresh content daily, showcasing emerging work from the cutting-edge of the global design community.