Backpack Generates 40 Watts Just By Walking

Defense Tech's Bryant Jordan was at the Disneyland of military gadgetry—the Modern Day Marine event at Quantico—and came across this power-generating backpack, which has stepped from prototype to reality. It can generate 40 watts just by walking. More »

Guitar Backpack Is Perfect for Failed Guitarists Like Me

Do you remember when you started to play guitar in your parent's garage, then got into that rock band in college, got signed by a big record company, and sold twenty million records? Yes, me neither. [Likecool]

Burton iPod AMP Pack: Snowmodo Review

The Gadget: This Lumberjack Red backpack from Burton features a wireless Audex control system for your iPod while providing space for a laptop and whatever random gear you can cram in it. More »

BUILT Laptop Bag: Water-Resistant, But Not Bulletproof

When it comes to laptop bags and cases, there are traditional-style ones, modern ones and downright unusual ones... we can't decide which to put the new BUILT Laptop Backpack into. It's almost a traditional rucksack, made out of fancy water- and stain-resistant neoprene, but it's shaped to hug your back like a half a bulletproof vest. An image helped by the fact that it's available in Police black or Army green. It does look kinda comfy, and it's got three pockets: for 12-inch to 17-inch laptops, accessories, and whatever fits in the shoulder one. Available now, in two sizes, for $80. [BUILT via Be Sportier]

Cycle Bag: Twinkie Storage Unit For Big-Assed Cyclists

In a nutshell, the Cycle Bag is a removable bike saddle that can be utilized as a backpack. While I think that this concept design from Iohanna Pani has potential in terms of all around convenience and deterring theft, I can't help but wonder about the size. On a motorcycle, maybe—but a bicycle? You simply don't come across many cyclists with asses wide enough to engulf a meter stick. [Yanko Design]

Airo Massaging Backpack Soothes Sore Muscles, Doubles as a Turtle Costume

Last year we came across the Rotoflexion massaging backpack, but alas it was only a concept device. However, someone out there was enterprising enough to turn the idea into reality with the Airo—a backpack that can apply massage, vibration, and relaxing heat to sore shoulder and back muscles. Unfortunately, it appears that they failed to make the device into a functional backpack, which seems like a missed opportunity to me. After all, if I am going to walk around looking like a freakin' turtle, I should at least be able to store my books in the thing. [Discovery via BookofJoe via DVICE]

Backpack House: Plummet To Your Death in Style

I suppose it goes without saying, but the "Backpack House" concept is probably the most ill conceived design idea ever. Basically, the idea is that the square footage of an apartment can be increased by hanging a 2-ton add on from the roof or the facade of a building. That means that users would have to crawl through their windows to enter a room that hangs precariously over the street below. Fortunately, the idea was intended as a work of art—not an actual means of increasing living space. Let's just hope it stays that way. [Convertible City via Freshome] More »

QuickShell Backpack Makes Your Extreme Adventures Extremely Efficient

If you enjoy rock climbing, snowboarding, or base jumping, you need a backpack that fits in with your hardcore lifestyle. Designer Teo Song Wei believes that his QuickShell backpack concept could be the answer. Instead of packing and repacking your gear, the QuickShell allows users to simply snap on the appropriate module. More »

SonicPak Brings The Funk To Your Backside

Targus' SonicPak is a backpack with front panel speakers so you can annoy impress everyone you walk by with your cool choice in music. It has a 15.4" padded laptop compartment and a secure pocket for an MP3 player, which hooks up via headphone cable to the front panel. The panel then amplifies your tunes at an "impressive volume" according to Targus. More impressive would be if you could make it to the end of the block blasting Barbara Streisand on this thing without getting beat up. It costs $100 and will go on sale in March. Full release and an additional pic after the jump. More »

Belkin Backpack and Ceylon Messenger

Belkin is getting into the bag game with two of their newest products. The Beklin Backpack ($59) and Ceylon Messenger ($49....and not to be confused with the sometimes cute Cylon robots), both accommodate laptops up to 15.4" and feature water-resistant nylon shells along with soft inner linings that will keep you precious safe. Hit the jump for a pic of the backpack, and expect to see these on store shelves this month. More »

Crazy Rugged SwitchBack UMPCs Hit the Market

Roper Mobile announced that it was buying Black Diamond Advanced Technology, creator of the SwitchBack super-rugged UMPC. The machine debuted last fall, wooing fans with its hot-swappable batteries, all-weather reflective screen and full waterproofing to three meters underwater. But until now no one could actually buy one. Though not many knew it, SwitchBack was also the brains used in Intel's Satanic Chopper. Today the computers are finally for sale. We talked to creator Todd Einck about his uniquely kick-ass UMPC: More »

AlarmWear Clothing: 125dB Personal Alarm System

When the wearer of an AlarmWear jacket, vest or backpack feels threatened, one tug on the carefully placed ring will set off a 125dB alarm. Naturally, the intent is to deter any thieves, potential rapists and the like —but let's not forget that these products are also available in kids' sizes. School bullying would surely be down a few notches, but the frequency of school lockdowns would be way up. Prices range from $40 to $60. [AlarmWear via TRFJ]

Magic Backpack Straps Generate Power

Forget about setting up that windmill on top of your backpack to juice up all those gadgets; now you can just use the weight of the backpack itself to generate power with these energy-harvesting backpack straps. Sure, someone thought of an energy-generating backpack before, but these straps are the tricky part here, using a special piezoelectric material called polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), generating electrical charges when stress is applied. Sounds like some serious magic. More »

Flo Backpack Makes you Very Teenage Mutant Ninja Terrapin

A bag for all seasons, this Flo backpack is modular and can change with your moods—which, if they're anything like mine, rage from Breeze of Sweet Pea to Tsunami of Bitchqueen Stompiness. You can adapt the Flo to any size—from a pack worthy of a long hiking weekend to an afternoon trip to the city. Here's how it works: More »

Star Wars Darth Vader Back Buddy

Strap on the Darth Vader Back Buddy, and you'll have the most feared fallen Jedi mofo toting around your stuff. $20, and guaranteed to be 100% wheeze-free. [Entertainment Earth via Neatorama]

Xip3 Hybrid Jacket/Backpack/Pillow/Lover

Despite being really cool, we don't see a whole lot of practical use for this Xip3 Jacket/Backpack/Pillow device. Sure, you can turn your jacket into a backpack in 43 easy steps (seriously, watch the video, it's ridiculous), and then into a pillow in another 10. But the problem comes from the fact that you can only have one out of three at once. More »

G-Tech Bluetooth Backpack: Noble Idea, Not So Noble Execution

G-Tech has launched a Bluetooth enable backpack capable of streaming your tunes via headphone or an integrated speaker and able to accept calls via a Bluetooth enabled cellphone. The bag also has SmartFabric controls integrated into the strap for controlling the iPod and answering/hanging up the phone. Unfortunately the effort to set up the device and make it work seemed to outnumber the functionality of the device during my short demo. More »

Nike Adds Amp+, C.O.R.E. to iPod Accessory Line

Nike is adding a couple goodies to their small line of iPod accessories (re: Nike + Apple). The Amp+ is a wireless remote control bracelet for the iPod. This Bluetooth remote includes a small LED display that can show song information or run time information (including communication with the Nike+iPod in your shoe). The Amp+ will go for $80. More »

Tumi's Solar-powered Backpack Charges Your Gadgets on the Go

We've shown some love for Tumi backpacks in the past, so it's no surprise we'd fall head over heels for their new limited edition backpack which charges your gadgets via its built-in solar panel. Designed by famed Brit sculptor Anish Kapoor, the bag has a removable solar panel, padded laptop sleeve, and a water-repellent exterior. It'll set you back $695 bucks, but the full proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders. Click on for some foxy backpack pics. – Louis Ramirez More »

Yoda Backpack

Stay on target! Star Wars nerds can add one more scene of the original trilogy to their re-enactment list. Inside this Yoda backpack you can place your lightsaber, your MacBook, and a cellphone to call mom to pick you up when you're all done. If they'd only make a slave Leia full-sized plushie. – Jason Chen More »

T-Tech Pulse Forsyth Computer Backpack

We popped into Tumi's Soho store on Prince the other day as part of our ongoing quest to find a new computer backpack and a very nice salesman named Andre showed us this, the new T-Tech Pulse Forsyth. Made of a high-performance hybrid nylon, the Forsyth is less bulky in person than this photo lets on, was very well-padded (we need a padded back and shoulder straps) and was surprisingly light to boot. More »

iPod Mono-Strap Backpack

Here's a backpack with iPod controls right where you need them. The iPod Mono-Strap Backpack from Think Geek safely protects your iPod inside while the five-button ElekTex Smart Fabric control panel on the strap lets you play/pause, go to the next/previous tracks, or adjust the volume right there at your fingertips. There's also a headphone jack conveniently located in the strap. More »

Slappa Velocity Pro Laptop Backpack

The Slappa Velocity Pro Laptop Backpack is built to protect all your electronics from the worst elements with its thick exoskeleton made out of rainproof Scuba-prene. It has a compartment big enough for a 17-inch laptop, four main compartments and plenty of sub-compartments, too. More »