A while back I noted the new Voltaic solar backpack I purchased. Well, after eight months of using and testing this pack, I have concluded that it does not work for me.
I really tried hard to like this pack. The solar panel itself is well-done, and the panel did a very good job of keeping my MP3 player and cell phone charged while I was on the go. It also promotes effective use of technology, which is always a good thing. I also appreciated the wiring of the adapters throughout the pack (down the shoulder strap, for example).
However, there are a few shortcomings that make this system not usable:
- the rechargeable battery is not firmly attached to the pack, and it falls off.
- the backpack zippers on the sides often open by themselves, which is a security risk in that things in those compartments can get lost if the zippers open spontaneously.
- the backpack zippers easily jam when opening and closing; moreover, when zipped, the teeth can easily open with just a little pressure (like when you actually carry something in the bag), causing almost total backpack failure
- the zipper closures are weak and can easily break (like when trying to unjam the zipper, as noted above).
- the shoulder straps can bite into your shoulder.
So, Voltaic had a good idea, but they implemented it on a weak/cheap backpack, that defeats the whole system.
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