We live in a really busy world that is packed to the brim with technology. Twenty years ago, the most advanced thing we knew was using our fingers to flip through the newspaper. Now, every 6-year-old kid has pockets lined with iPods, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming equipment galore. We adults love tech too. There is no denying that.
We are not here to debate the merits of technology, but what we want to talk about is how these blasted devices keep running out of battery and dying. Well, if you like having your devices with you and fully charged, you can bring a solar phone charger with you wherever you go or you may consider getting a solar backpack. Let’s get right into it and compare two awesome solar backpacks, the Birksun Solar Backpack and the Voltaic System Solar Backpack. This is the Birksun vs. Voltaic Systems solar backpack review, so let’s get to it. Don’t forget to checkout these five spectacular solar powered backpacks review here after you finish this review.
Birksun vs Voltaic Solar Backpack Comparison
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Birksun Solar Backpack (Mythos Black)
The first of two backpacks with solar panels we want to talk about is the Birksun Solar Backpack, one of the best options out there as far as we are concerned. First off, the Birksun Solar Backpack features a 3,000 mAh Li-Ion battery with a power output of 2.4 amps. It has the ability to charge your phone or device by up to 1% every 2 minutes. This means that it can fully charge a phone in about 2 hours. Laptops and larger devices will take a little longer because they are larger.
What is pretty cool is that the solar panel recharges the battery, so if you are outdoors hiking, camping, or whatever else, the battery will automatically charge, thus charging your device. It really does not get any easier than that. Even better is that the battery in this solar panel backpack can also be recharged with a conventional AC power outlet. It is a good way to ensure that your devices are always charged when you need them to be.
Features
- Waterproof solar panel and scratch-resistant with durable exterior shell.
- Built-in 3000mAh rechargable lithium-ion battery that outputs power at 2.4 Amps
- Premium fabric and stitching providing perfect artistry and durability
- TSA approved for domestic and international flights
- Battery can be recharged by the solar panel or by plugging into the wall
Kit Includes
- Birksun Solar Backpack (Mythos Black)
- Waterproof Solar Panel
- 3000mAh Li-Ion Battery
- Sturdy and stand up on it own
- Two Year Warranty
- Separate lined pocket for laptop
- Light weight with easy access to pockets
- No side pocket for water bottle
- No pocket for writing utensils
In terms of durability, the Birksun Solar Backpack is right up there with the best of them. The solar panel is waterproof and weather resistant, so it won’t break down and fall to pieces just from a little bad weather; this is important considering that these backpacks are meant to be used outside. Besides that, the Birksun Solar Backpack is designed to be rugged in general. It is made with very high-quality materials that are extremely resistant to wear and tear, plus the seams are well made too.
Besides that, the material used in the construction of this backpack is waterproof. After all, there is no point in having a backpack for electronics if it lets water in. You can rest assured that the Birksun Solar Backpack will keep your electronics safe from the elements. This particular solar backpack comes with a sleeve for your phone and one for your laptop, to make sure that they always stay in place and are also well protected. Besides that, another cool feature is that the Birksun Solar Backpack is designed with TSA regulations in mind, or in other words, it is airplane friendly.
Voltaic Systems Converter Rapid Solar Backpack Charger
The Voltaic Systems Solar Backpack is another great choice to go with in terms of solar backpacks, albeit a little different from the model by Birksun. First and foremost, the Voltaic Systems Solar Backpack comes with a 4,000 mAh portable and removable battery pack. This battery pack holds enough juice to charge any smartphone 1.5 times, which is fairly impressive. The battery pack can be charged with the solar panel or with an AC wall outlet, which is quite convenient as far as we are concerned. Therefore, even in the dead of night, you will still have a way to charge your phone and other devices.
At the same time, the Voltaic Systems Solar Backpack of course come with a solar panel. Roughly 3 hours in the sun will allow your phone to go from 0 to 100%, which is not bad at all. The high efficiency cells definitely get the job done, especially considering that they still work in the shade.
Features
- Charge most phones under direct sunlight in about 3 hours
- Built-in 4,000mAh rechargable lithium-ion battery that outputs power at 1 Amp
- UV and water resistance solar panel last 2-3X longer than other folding solar chargers
- 20Liters of storage with separate internal sleeve for up to 15" laptop or tablet
- Designed with recycled PET (water bottles) fabric
Kit Includes
- Voltaic Converter Solar Backpack
- Waterproof and UV-resistant Solar Panel (5Watts at 6 Volts)
- 4,000mAh 15 Watt Hours, Li-Polymer Battery
- MicroUSB Cable - connects battery to devices that charge from MicroUSB
- Backpack distribute the weight in an excellent way
- Water and UV resistance
- Made of recycled water bottles
- High quality stitching
- Side pocket opens in the wrong way
- Outside compartment doesn't have the elasticity to hold water bottle
Yes, it might take a little longer for your phone or other device to charge in the shade, but it will still work nonetheless. You can leave the solar panel in the backpack and charge your phone on the go, you can remove the panel and perform stationary charging, or you can charge the included battery too. What is actually really cool here is that you can charge your device and the battery in the Voltaic Systems Solar Backpack at the same time as long as it is fairly good weather.
Furthermore, this backpack, especially the solar panel, is designed to be very durable and long lasting. It features special coatings that make it resistant to water damage, UV damage, and other forms of physical damage too. The same can really be said for the Voltaic Systems Solar Backpack itself. It is built using fairly high quality fabrics and stitching in order to ensure that it lasts as long as humanly possible.
Finally, the Voltaic Systems Solar Backpack features around 20 liters of space to carry all of your gear, plus it comes with a laptop sleeve to hold laptops up to 15 inches. It can hold laptops up to 18 inches, but you will be pushing it in terms of available space.
The Verdict
Now it is time for you to decide which of these backpacks is better for you. It does really depend on what you want and what you need, because as far as we can tell, both options are great and they both get the job done. Now, there is a difference between the two in terms of charging. The Birksun will only take around 2 hours to charge your phone, whereas the Voltaic Systems model will take around 3 hours.
On the other hand, the Voltaic Systems solar bag has a better battery and backup system to provide you with charging power even when the light is gone. It’s a fair tradeoff, one that you need to take into consideration. In terms of durability, the Voltaic Systems Solar Backpack has a more durable solar panel, plus the panel is more versatile. However, when it comes to overall durability of the bag itself, we think that the Birksun Solar Backpack is the better option. Like we said, it really depends on what you want the solar backpack for. Don’t forget to checkout other five spectacular solar powered backpacks review from this page.
