sakku's Solar Buddy bag proves these things can be sexy

Yeah, Noon Solar's collection of sun-lovin' bags are pretty stylish, but outside of that, we haven't seen a single one we'd be caught dead (or alive) with... until now. sakku has introduced the Solar Buddy for those who just need something tossed over their shoulder, and while the solar panel is unmistakable, the bag still manages to go easy on the eyes. Reportedly, the knapsacks are constructed from recycled material, and while the "direct" model charges portable gadgetry directly (big shock, right?), the "akku" model actually includes a battery pack that can be juiced for use in darkened alleyways and the like. A tad steep at €175 ($271) / €245 ($380) in order of mention, but it's probably a design premium we'd be willing to pay.

[Via Gizmodiva]

[OneLove Posted Aug 1st 2008 5:41PM]

makes me want to wear sandals

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 1st 2008 5:46PM]

Really? Were you like waiting for a post to drop? At least attach a "First" to a real comment about the article.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 1st 2008 8:07PM]

I sooo want that

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 1st 2008 6:06PM]

im too sexy for that bag~too sexy for the strap~so sexy

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 1st 2008 6:10PM]

This is a great leap forward for average-consumer-level tech. Once this stuff reaches the sub-$100 mark, it will really take off.

[Lowest Ranked Posted Aug 1st 2008 6:13PM]

Looks like Mr. Firster can't even spell first. Wtf is frist?

[Mushrooshi Posted Aug 1st 2008 6:16PM]

This kid is cool! He got first! Lets high rank him!

[Chester Farnsworth Posted Aug 1st 2008 6:36PM]

Wow, such fashion sense. You call yourselves nerds? I don't care if it is hot pink with a velociraptor jesus on the side, I would kill for a bag that could charge my laptop while I am backpacking through mexico.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 2nd 2008 10:30AM]

Actually, I would kill for a hot-pink bag with raptor jesus on the side, but that's just me.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 2:11AM]

We're working on that ;-)

[idealEric Posted Aug 1st 2008 6:50PM]

Wait, what the hell does it do? Charge stuff?

[thirdopticaltool Posted Aug 1st 2008 7:16PM]

i STRONGLY disagree with the premise.

[calvinc Posted Aug 1st 2008 7:55PM]

i wouldnt call these sexy. more like wearable in public

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 1st 2008 8:05PM]

they're NOT sexy... when i saw those first, I thought they were pet cages...

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 1st 2008 8:08PM]

I like that!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 2nd 2008 12:52AM]

Can't they make solar paneled bags more discreet? Like cover the panels with some type of black tint? They're way to overanxious looking.

[Kitt Posted Aug 2nd 2008 2:49AM]

I actually really like these. I just wish they weren't so darn expensive. I mean, I'm willing to pay a premium for recycled material, and what not - but I think more than 100 for a sidepack is just TOO much of a premium. Good idea, and I love how stylish and cozy looking their design is - they just need to improve their pricing =P

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 2:25AM]

We're working on that issue :-)

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 2nd 2008 12:56PM]

Well, I've been out of touch. Seems that "sexy" now means something between a carry-on for annoying pets and eye strain.

[Grusic Posted Aug 2nd 2008 10:54AM]

The price of these bags is actually cheaper than that of most designer messenger bags. Most high-end designer messenger bags (i.e. Prada, Gucci, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, etc.) sell for > $600, and that's for plain old nylon or canvas. Also, they don't offer the solar charging option that the Sakku's do.

However, one could easily rig up an inexpensive canvas messenger bag with a flexible thin film solar battery charger and output plug of one's choice for less than $100 (US). I have an inexpensive canvas messenger bag here that I might just rig up for fun.

http://www.siliconsolar.com/flexible-solar-battery-charger-sollite2d-p-16202.html

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 2nd 2008 2:53PM]

what's wrong with the gizmodiva-Link?

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 3rd 2008 12:07AM]

for that price and for that level of ugly, I would rather buy my own sewing machine, peruse the local electronics store and get cracking.

[Grusic Posted Aug 3rd 2008 7:45PM]

Yes. :)

$10 - $15 for a decent looking canvas messenger bag from Target, $25 - $30 for a thin film solar cell battery charger and some rechargeable batteries, and then another $5 for cable and a USB plug, one could easily put together a bag that would rival these Sakku's for ~$50.