Ralph Lauren introduces solar-powered backpack

By on Apr 10, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Accessories April 10, 2011

We’ll be honest, we didn’t quite expect Ralph Lauren to be the company to introduce a useful solar-powered backpack to power our gadgets while on the move. The Ralph Lauren RLX backpack offers a pretty large solar panel built in to the back of the backpack, one that the company says can charge a phone in around two hours. The backpack itself is water-resistant, with a decent amount of pockets and storage space, and generates a 3.45 watt current which is enough for most any mobile device or handset. It’s available in two colors, black and orange, is made in Italy, and will run you a steep $795.

[Via Uncrate]

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  • Anonymous

    Innovative!

  • http://www.facebook.com/TxdoHawk Mike Dehls

    I wonder how much of this price is the MII / Designer markup…

  • Buell

    Awesome for the motorcycle commute.

  • Tomm

    It takes my EVO 2hrs to fully charge from the wall at 1A, thats impressive if true…

  • Lechero

    $795, Hefty,Hefty, Hefty.

  • EnvironMental

    Some stupid concerns…….

    What does that thing weigh? Is it even feasible to carry that around?

    Solar cells I have worked with are not the most sturdy. How are they making it so they don’t snap in half or fracture?

    I would wager that over the life of the backpack/fashion accessory you never even break even with the energy it cost to produce, and so it is a net loss to the environment relative to have just charged it from the wall.

    • Dale

      Hi EnvironMental !
      Those are great concerns !

      Allow me to add some questions of my own for the BGR crowd,,,

      What about the solar collectors getting dirty in addition to breakage /

      What about shorter fall and winter days with a low sun angle ( from Sept. to March ) ?

      And snow and rain ? Those are great (sarc) for solar collectors that aren’t designed for outdoor use !

      What if the backpack is in a car,indoors, or anyplace without direct sunlight ?

      I have better things to spend $795.00 on…

      • Killa357

        The cells will be encased as would any other half decent setup to prevent damage. Less sun means lower wattage, though you could still draw some power. Cells can draw some amounts of power from indoor lights. As for snow and rain… if it is properly sealed then I wouldn’t worry about water, though low temperatures could be damaging. Make one (or shop around). The $795 price tag is a terrible rip off. I find it shameful that BGR would post garbage like this.

      • Mike

        if there are indoor lights, there are probably electrical outlets, yes?

    • Bob

      I doubt that it’s a rigid construction. Solar panels now come as flexible material.

    • Mike

      I totally agree with you. How much do we really need our electronic gadgets that we spend nearly $800 to just carry them and charge them. We lose, the environment loses…just another very, very expensive toy we don’t really need. Like there is no wall outlet that you cannot get to in a few hours? No car charger? And, if we do run out of juice, so what? They’ll call back and you can get the text later.. Wow..

  • ABCDE

    Old idea. I saw it at least years ago in a GAIA catalog. Also, this is ten times overpriced! And did I say it was ugly, too?

  • Anonymous

    Why’d they put the panel on the back?

    Try getting that thing on a flight. TSA strip search written all over it.

    Well, let’s hope the idea survives the implementation.

    • Lechero

      only if your middle eastern or from oklahoma

  • Sonya

    I’ll take 2, and a polo to match.

  • Killa357

    A total rip off… Solar cells are cheap. Make one. Don’t fall for this type of scam.

  • Anonymous

    If you have an Android phone you don’t need this. As you, my fellow Goofans (aka Apple Haters), know Android is so advanced and powerful that it charges itself. I was hanging out with Walt and TimmyBoy the other day and we all got upwards of 2 months on our Thunderbolts and EVO’s. Then Android kicked in and starting recharging the phone. The power of openness and freedom. NO system that’s not totally open, like Google almost is, can achieve this level of amazingness.

    • Anonymous

      Asshole

      • Anonymous

        You obviously have nothing to contribute, so move on… Probably an apple fanboy, right?

      • Anonymous

        Faaaaaa Q

      • Anonymous

        Fag!

  • Dshfjhf

    Wow, does this really deserve to be posted?

  • Adam

    other backpacks are already available.

    I’d rather buy separate panel and charger fro $30 on ebay.

  • Mike

    so silly..

  • http://www.sk1wbw.wordpress.com Wayne Williams

    If you wear this, you probably deserve to get beaten up and have your lunch money stolen. Just out of cause. #justsayin

  • dec1975

    I’d still rather have one from Eclipse Solar Gear- much cheaper, and durable. My five-year-old Eclipse bag is still running without issues.

  • drew dogg

    Bear grylls should try one on his show.

  • http://twitter.com/belogical2 Be Logical

    Or…. I could buy 50 spare batteries and put them in my $30 backpack. Same price :)

  • Anonymous

    Hideous! Warning: For private use only. And what about laptop charge time?

  • http://twitter.com/SirGadget Mikkel Petersen

    I think it’s totally fair that people would like to buy this kind of product, it is smart solution.

    But what I don’t get is why on earth a company like Ralph Lauren, who’s all about style, would put their on a bag so ugly?…

    Surely they could’ve come up with a prettier design?

    That bag looks nothing different from all the other boring solar backpacks already on the market, for a fraction of the price.

    Hell, if it actually was stylish, I might even buy it, and I usually only commute in car:-)

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