November 29, 2008 9:47 AM PST
Voltaic Backpack
Editors' rating: 4
The good: The Voltaic Backpack's water-resistant shell is made of recycled soda bottles; mesh lets air circulate; waist strap; roomy; sleeve for 17-inch laptop; battery; includes 11 adapters, DC car charger, AC travel charger, and lithium-ion battery.
The bad: Voltaic uses stiff solar panels; as with other solar chargers, charging depends on the position in the sunlight and available light; easy-to-lose components.
The bottom line:The Voltaic Backpack's thoughtful design and solar-charging features shine for keeping cell phones, handhelds, MP3 players, and digital cameras charged away from electrical outlets.
Read CNET's full review
Price: $250
Photo by CBS Interactive
