The Sunday edition of the Globe featured a short section about a very cool product ideal for those on the go; it’s so cool, many people probably know about it already. A company named Voltaic Systems has a line of bags, including backpacks and messenger varieties, that can hold enough solar-generated wattage to actually recharge most handheld electrical items, ranging from MP3 players to laptops. In fact, the manufacturer claims new versions of the solar panels on these babies are “powerful enough to fully charge a typical laptop from a day of direct sunlight.” Call me amazed!

Of course, such a functional accessory comes at an understandable expense. The bags vary in cost from a four-watt Voltaic Converter priced at $199 to a heavy-duty 17-watt Voltaic Generator style priced at $599. The second, high-end version is the one capable of charging a laptop (no surprises there).

All of the Voltaic bags are available in multiple colors for both the durable recycled PET fabric and the waterproof solar panels, which makes them even more versatile and worth the cost. Check out the user-friendly and detailed Voltaic Systems website to learn more about the choices and stores available.

If money is an issue and luck is on your side, you might also be able to purchase the bags from places like Amazon.com, which sometimes offers very minimal discounts or incentives from resellers.

Post from: The Boston Traveler