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PowerBag Business Class Pack
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1034 Comments

Review: Powerbag Business Class Pack - We have 3 to give away!

By Adam Zeis on 16 Feb 2012 03:02 pm
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"The Powerbag Business Class Pack is an awesome backpack with built-in battery power. You can keep up to four devices charging on the go which is a tech geek's dream!"

In Short:
"Awesome bag that will keep you charged."
Should I Buy?
"I love it, but it's not right for everyone." 		BUY NOW

Right after the hectic days of Christmas die down and the New Year comes, tech bloggers, journalists, press and any other interested geeks start gathering their toys and packing a bag to head off to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). I have a stash of travel gear tucked away, so when I start packing for any conference it's never too much of a chore. My cables are tucked away in my Skooba Cable Stable, all my devices (phones, tablets, iPod) are in one drawer for easy access and my "conference bag" is pre-stocked with my Moleskine, some pens, business cards, power cords and my retractable USB cables so I never have to worry about forgetting them. Now typically I just toss my gear in my bag and I'm ready to roll -- but this year I had a slight change of plans before heading off to Sin City.

Not two days before leaving for CES I had a visit from UPS who dropped off a larger than normal box for me. Upon opening I saw a backpack inside. I immediately checked my Amazon history (I order a lot of stuff and sometimes forget what's coming) and noticed nothing unusual. As I pulled the contents, a quick note let me know that I was now the proud owner of a Powerbag and was welcome to stop by the booth at CES to pick up my battery. Intrigued and excited (and somewhat disappointed that I had no battery) I hopped over to mypowerbag.com to check out the details on my new toy bag. Keep reading for my expierence and real life use of the Powerbag Business Class Pack.

The Review

The Powerbag Business Class Pack looks pretty much like your standard backpack. Black all around, a few straps here and some pockets there. Once you pop a zipper open however, you'll notice that it's far from your average backpack. The specs/features on the Powerbag Business Class Pack are pretty sweet off the bat: a removable 6000mAh battery (which I would have to pick up), one-touch battery level indicator and power button, water-resistant AC adapter charging port and "checkpoint friendly" design. The bag itself measures 12"x8"x18" which is a pretty good size for carting around your goods. You can fit up to a 15" laptop in the dedicated compartment and there are various pockets throughout for fitting in tablets, phones, notebooks or whatever you need. 

PowerBag Business Class Pack

Inside you'll find a battery/power pack nestled in the bottom of the bag. It sits away in its own little space, so it's easy to ignore once you have your battery in. The battery itself gets charged via the included AC adapter. Plug it in to the nicely covered port on the bottom of the bag, and the front LEDs illuminate to let you know you've got some juice. I'm not totally sure on the actual time to fully charge the battery, but if you're like me you'll leave it plugged in overnight before you need it. 

PowerBag Business Class Pack

 

PowerBag Business Class Pack

Now the fun part. In the front pocket of the PowerBag you'll find what I like to call "tech central". Here is where all of your devices will sit and you'll have access to the cables from your bag's battery. There is a standard iPhone 30-pin cable, microUSB cable and miniUSB cable. You also have the option to plug in an additional USB cable straight to the battery box, giving you the ability to charge up to four devices at once. Awesome sauce. 

PowerBag Business Class Pack

Simply plug in your device(s), hit the power button on the bag and you're up and running. The front LED will tell you how much power you have so you never have to worry. Tech central has two lined pockets that nicely fit pretty much any small portable electronic device that you will be carting around.

The next pocket in the bag is what the power supply calls home and it also sports a zippered mesh pocket as well as a lined pocket for your tablet(s) or books/magazines. Here is where I ran an additional microUSB cable just because I wanted to. I don't have a use for it at the moment, but I like knowing it's there in case I need it. 

Next in line is a very cool pouch/pocket that the folks at PowerBag call a sunglass pocket, but I call a super awesome schwag pocket. Here is where I keep all my retractable USB cables, thumb drives and other little stuff I need quick access to.

The main compartment of the bag is your typical laptop bag fare - pen holders, a small pocket for business cards and two larger pockets for notebooks or other items. This compartment also houses the power cables for my Mac and any other items I don't have a better place for.

PowerBag Business Class Pack

Last but not least is the lay-flat laptop compartment. Lined for your protection, it fits up to a 15" laptop. The fun part of this compartment is that it lays totally flat from the rest of the bag so you don't have to remove your computer for airport security. Like a dummy I still take mine out, but if you're not as weird as I am you'll be fine just laying the entire bag on the belt. 

I never had an issue with killing the battery in my Powerbag, but depending on your needs you may want to opt for the larger 9000mAh battery. I used the bag to charge my spare batteries during the days on the show floor at CES and juice up my iPhone a time or two. If you have more devices you'll obviously kill the battery faster, but if you're selective about what you charge when, you should be able to manage with the 6000mAh battery.

The bag itself looks sweet too. Its plain black design matches nearly every other bag I've ever owned, and the padded shoulder straps never gave me an issue. There is also a nifty water bottle pocket on the side that came in more handy than I would have expected (yes, just for water). 

PowerBag Business Class Pack

Would I recommend a Powerbag? Of course. I think it's a great combo for any tech geek. You have cables and a battery nicely tucked away and ready when you need them. There are pockets galore for stashing all your devices while they charge. The bag itself is great - it's roomy enough for everyday gear, doesn't scream "I'm a Powerbag" and it's totally comfy to wear.  The lay-flat design is a great feature, but in most cases you can probably get by without it. 

Should you run out and buy one? Well that's up to you. I personally would have no problem spending the money on one of these bags (the retail price of the Powerbag Business Class Pack is $179.99) but that's certainly a lot of money for a backpack. You can most definitely get by with a standard bag (my old Targus bag was $49.99) and an inexpensive external battery like this one from New Trent, and you're still saving yourself $80. While it won't be as pretty or easy to charge multiple devices as a PowerBag, it still gets the job done.

So overall I say yes to the PowerBag. If you're on the go constantly (or even semi-constantly) and need to keep more than once device charged, this bag is awesome. Just remember to charge it at night (I've worked it into my routine) and you'll never have to worry about dead devices on the go.

Business Class Pack
by Powerbag

The Good

If you're on the go constantly and need to keep more than one device charged, there is none better than Powerbag. Its built in battery will let you charge nearly any device while you're out and about.

The Bad

The Powerbag is a laptop bag and external battery in a nice package. In most cases you can achieve the same while spending less if you just get creative.

Conclusion

I personally love my Powerbag, but it's not right for everyone. If you have the means and will put it to good use, then I say go for it. If you're more of a "weekender" or will only use it occasionally, I think you can definitely get by without it. 

PowerBag
More information and Purchase
of the Powerbag Business Class Pack

Contest: We have 3 Powerbag Backpacks to give away. To enter to win, just leave a single comment on this post. Contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST. The bag comes in red and please note it's a different model than the one reviewed here.

Topics: Powerbag General Accessories Contests

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Adam Zeis Adam Zeis 3035 (articles) 2792 (forum posts)
1034 comments

parvezjj

WOHOO! gimme thaaat

SK122387

I wouldn't mind this as a late Valentine's Day gift... to myself :)

Deathcommand

Oh my. I want.

I love extra batteries. :D

sfor13thlegion

OMG....this is such a cool product. I would love a free one. Please pick me!!!

BaconMunch

This is utterly amazing, please let me have at it!

kpbutton

This would be great for my presentations and seminars.

brodster

I love backpacks. Please pick me-I never get picked!!!

Lizzdmc

Wow! This looks fantastic... would love it!

kaylasdad

The perfect accessory for my PlayBook! Come on let me be one of the lucky ones!

jkuyp

That would be great for travel.

RecioC

Is this one of the packs that @AshleyEqueda reviewed at CES 2012? I'll take one.

nelsonpml

WOW that is an awsome bag! I WANT one!!! Pick me :)

jhspears

Would love this bag to have when I'm teaching/lecturing throughout the week. Especially since I use my laptop and playbook often!

The_Moose

Honestly, this is one of the sickest bags I've seen! One word.... "AWESOMENESS!"

yogehi

Zomg! I've had my eye on this bag since forever!

mnecpal

This would be an excellent replacement for my current, low tech (no tech) backpack.

jonduran86

Oooohhh this looks so useful and purdy! Please give me one!!!

HrvPav

Would love to win one of these ... very interesting and looks quite useful ... in it to win it.

Jassal2008

I think this bag is awsome

Tbonist

This looks awesome, count me in!!

BB_Bmore

Omg this is soooo sweet!!!! I hope I win that would be amazing!!!!

ELavar

This bag would be great!

petike126

Awesome! Would love to win one!!! :)

ryanlrobinson

Epic. Definitely want one of these.

IqWaN

please crackberry i want 1. i would love something like that because my blackberry bold runs out of battery very fast, it hardly stays for 6 hours.

crackberry i love you
IqWaN

BB 9780 white os 6
pin:236154FD

BB Playbook 32gb os 2.0.7111

toan07

omg this will be so awesome for my tablet and bb. Please hook me up ith one id be so appreciative

gilligan793

Oh Adam you know just how to "plug me in" and get me "all charged up!" Totally in a Tech only non homo way!

glennster28

Lol... you should win one just for that comment...

El Platanero

Hahaha, dude seriously if I win I officially give up my win to this guy for his comment.

Kerri Neill

LMAO I can't believe you went there.

theninjew

Send one over my way please would love this bag when I'm on a business trip

blkman969

Thanks for the BAG!!!!

rockroadie

that is so cool, i want one.

you sir name

Wow! This would be awesome!

ldcmobile

W00t I'll take free anyday

bennavere

Hey! send it my way please.

ssaid93

wowowow oh my goodness i NEED one this is crucial for my very existence!!!

mantiz

Great review!
I was thinking of getting something like that for all my gear.
please let me win!

drum

nice would love one of these

randall2580

now this is something I would love to win and use!

jforce

Daaaaaaaannnnnnnngggggg! Very cool schwagpack!

LyBerry

I've been wanting a power bag since the first post about it from CES. It would be great if this was my first CrackBerry prize.

Jeovex

Waaaant! looks so cool!

Silverfern

i want one! hope i win!

cycomyk

i have a good feeling bout this one, thanks in advance CB!!! you rock

striker0

This would be amazing for camping! I want one!

kevdogg329

This would be perfect for the work I do. Along with the fact my laptop case is 11 years old, and in desperate need of replacement.

bbuckles

This would be amazing for my traveling! Nothing worst than running out of juice on any device while on the GO!! Thanks

Berrimad

I'm in , this bag is a must!

bbuckles

This would be amazing for my traveling! Nothing worst than running out of juice on any device while on the GO!! Thanks

Jorgenfruz

One of these bags would be a total life saver for me. I am constantly forgetting to charge my devices and finding myself stuck. Spend alot of time on foot walking from home to work and apointment to appointment with no charging options. Would definitely replace my current bag with this and charge on the go.

Tshanda

Me wants. Please give it to me!!!
i am a poor sales person and need it to feed my family and put my 10 kids through private schools.

MattHuntoon

yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss paahhhleasaeeeee!

don_poky

Might need that for BlackBerry World!

Jon Hanson

looks great....wouldnt mind having one of those

knicksfan

I would love to win this bag

Green_Laser

How could I not comment :-D
gotta love CB!

Oilfan_2009

It's any tech geeks dream!! Hook a brother up!

GGKoul

Great review as always and Thanks for the chance to win one!!

poorsha

Wow! I could put this to good use.

tim99va

I've wanted one of these since the CES blog post! Thanks CrackBerry!

kidkamel

That woul help out a lot, count me in

Zutto

Ill give this a shot.

k_evjen

Almost every comment has an exclamation point in it. This one does not.

pkcable

I want this so bad it's not even funny!

pcotton

Looks brilliant, goodbye my TNF bag!!!!

blindguy

I need this. Thanks for the contest.

the brother

Wow! What a great contest!! Please enter me. Thanks

Barefoot_Kevin

Cool, I'm in. This'd be great for "roughin it" on those long AT hikes

batrad

i'm Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng with excitment ;)

AVPTI

does it work with my 9700?

RoseBud68

Dam, This a cool back. Would like one please & Thank you.

buckwylder

ME PLEASE!!!!

may I? thanks, kind regards, you guys rock (crackberry) lolol

____________________________________________________________

in the time of your life, live so that in that good time, there should be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life that your life touches, seek goodness everywhere

FlightsimGuy

Now THIS is a great contest prize. I'd love to win one! This would work for the times that you just don't have immediate access to an outlet. Not only would it charge your berry, but your laptop and another phone too? Wow. Pick me please!

nogutsnoglory

Count me in for this, please.

oddboy

i'll take one (if/when they ship to Canada!)

bribert

Could actually come in handy! I'll take it.

ericrangel76

Can I have one please? I would love one.

firegrove

Can always use a new bag...

buster3535

That's a rather ugly looking bag. But I'll use it if I win it!

jonty12

i'd love one of those

Taz.

Nice review.

That would be a great compagnion to me. I leave th house at 8 and come back at around 5-6 PM and I always charge my 9900 when I find some pc around.

Having a bag like that would be awesome ! I hope I win !! Thanks CB !

the tree

this thing is awesome! I want one!

joelled

me me me me!! plllzzzz

rexxenex

BOOM! Super cool giveaway!!

a4tsi

Please pick me i need one of these!!!

MisterMom

That is one sweet bag, my wife will be jealous when I win this.

inocent3

That would be amazing!! I would love one!!! For work and play!

spencerdl

I like it. I should have thought it :). Wouldn't mind adding this to my bag collection

clphan

I expect to see the package deliver to me >: )

pumaman

Just bought a powerbag in the messenger bag style. Hasn't arrived yet, and it was surprisingly hard to find a way to send one to Canada (as the powerbag company itself doesn't ship here). I wouldn't mind a second one for the wife, or one with a bigger battery since I only got a 3000ma battery in mine :(

amosque57

this would really help me out at school i always forget to charge my bold and my ipod barely holds a charge long enough to last a full day so this would be awesome

Michellosier

nice bag...good utility!! want one too!!

yamiyn

Great review-would love to have this bag. Thanks for offering this giveaway!

thedark722

This is awesome!! perfect for business travel...in the process of going completely paperless with my PB + 9700 combo and my ipad for when I need that bigger screen. I'll take it...please!!!!!!!

cbdwolff7

Nice, that would be so handy! Power , Power, Power!! Oh Yeah!!! Please!!!

MorbidPuppies

That looks like a great backpack! If I don't win it, I'll for sure be buying it.

baltee

This would be amazing! With the 8 to 10 mobile devices I carry around everyday, for what I do... Simply Awesome!!!!! I definitely want one...

rigdog

Count me in this would help me when I go overs seas to work

Searzy

I wud LOVE 2 win dat!!

mister160

definitely would find use for this with all the devices i end up carrying around. pick me please :)

mikeeee

This is cool.

Count me in.

The LED reminds me of Tron ;p

always3rd

This is an awsome idea....id get so much use from something like this

willyho331

I would love to get a portable power station backpack

thurask

Here goes nothing...

drseusswwm

That is a great idea! Wish I thought of it!

blueyaris

Thats Why I love Crackberry Awesome information, and equally Awesome prizes. Would love to win whomever does ..........CONGRATULATIONS, and THANKYOU CRACKBERRY ARE THE BEST!

Hotdogtree

Me wants! Actually in love with this bag!

jamesjmunro

Really could use this. Full time work, full time kids, part-time student. I am always hunting for a plug juice up my playbook by evening class time.

sfmccallie

Wow. This would complete my techno-nerdy look perfectly. I'm in!!

Texasrvp

Call be Dora if you want. I want thack Backpack boots

btothemalm

That's a great bag! I would sure get a lot of use out of that at the Blackberry World 2012 Conference! Hope my post to this makes it in time to be entered to win!

spike12

This would be great for traveling abroad.

Kongchi

Truly Awesome Sauce.

poolrookie78

Wow this is an awesome product especially for someone like me who works out of a mobile office! :)

lawmom4

I want this SO MUCH!

djkbb

I tried setting up something similar for myself with an iGo battery pack, but it is nowhere near that slick and the cable connectors constantly look like they are going to break either the battery pack or the berry.

jborfeo

That would make my day!!!!

DCMMID

Please and Thank You ...

Nightfox111

Badly needed for my bold 9900 ;)

xjrichb

Sent one this way please

jvictor77

Awesome stuff - I need it for my Europe trip in May!!

dmxking512

HEL YES !!!!! I WOULD LOVE THIS , would make the commuite to the city sooo much easier ! PLEASEEEEEEEEE

Bulldawg

That looks awesome. Sign me up!

gooz89

That would be awesome for my playbook and 9300 that seems to never want to stay charged

dzorbas

That's pretty cool. I'd be more than happy to take one of your hands!

LoganSix

I like to travel and be powered up. I'll take it!

garymait

I travel frequently and mostly have power available but it would be nice on my next trip to be able to pretty much not worry about plug-in for a day or 2 as I need to travel light.

shaehnel

Sure could use this when I travel. Keep up the great work CrackBerry!

blackcaneaddict

Man i'd lve to win one of those. please please please pick me!

csu_playmakker

I'd like one of those please!! No time to charge my laptop between classes and lectures!

rdjmitchell

love the bag, been looking for a new bag for a while now. please please please can i have one.....Rob

13david77

My band is about to go out on the road for two weeks. This would be great to have for charging all the random devices we'll be bringing with us.

mpina0070

Oh man I have been wanting a Power Bag. It would go perfect for my Europe Trip next month. I was dying at CES. I had an extra portable battery charger but it didn't do much. Thankfully blackberry had their battery exchange. I carry multiple devices. One for personal and one for work, plus my playbook I realize that it's almost superficial to have to many device. Work related or not, but I really don't mind.

I think they are a little pricey to be honest, worth it if you use it properly.

wgtcarlos

Ever since I bought my ballistic case lots of friends are also getting one... They just loved that and since I'll love this bag as much I'm pretty sure they'll want one for themselves... So please please please send one to me!!!! For the good techno-health of many friends! LOL

lonestar1135

I

Would

Like

To

Win

Please

Thank You

vlicaros

This woulda been great for my trip to CES 2012 this year!

Beesh1

Oh god this is awesome!!!! I want it!!

hsumra

love it, want it, need it, fiend for it!!

feldmen01

I have a solar power backpack but this one would be nice too.

szparaj

NICE!!!! I would love one

eltiburon7

I am not a geek, but sign me up for this bag

adamnygaard1

That's pretty awesome. Wouldn't mind having one.

staffman28

Between college and work, this is a must have for me. I am all in and hope I win this time.

Liptonice

I would love to win this!

grzetim

Pretty cool...wouldn't buy it, but for free... :)

vbittersweet

I can feel the power coursing through my devices already!

SnoopTodd

Amazing!! This looks awesome!!

johnadeleon

I need this!!! I could charge my laptop, blackberry 9930, blackberry 9670, my playbook, my bluetooth and potentially get electrocuted if I walk outside in a storm! :-D

jaBBu

Great write up and I want one of these (please)....

frisco49ers

this looks awesome, i want it!!!!

daqie

Nice! Thanks for the opportunity to win.

des82210

Please let me get this one???

chrispipe

My brother has built something similar, except it has a solar panel so that the battery can always be charged (can also be charged via USB in a pinch). If anyone is interested, this is the bag. http://www.lvelife.com/products/

If you want a discount, PM me and we'll work out a deal for you crackberry people :)

Not to hijack this thread, but to offer alternative solutions for the same problem people face! Power on the go is awesome. I have this bag, and I love it. I can charge my phone a few times from empty to full without seeing the sun or recharging the battery. Works great!

Both bags seem awesome, honestly! Anyways, that's all. P-sout crackberry!

rappadappa77

Sign me up for one, perfect for my travels :)

Howard

TeaBoy

This Would come in Handy Since I Use My Blackberry 9700 as a GPS Map & Logging my Distance & Speed while ridding my BIKE. As you know the GPS would use up alot of battery life.
This Backpack can charge up to 4 times for smartphone very useful while i have it plugged in while riding.
Another useful design is the Water-resistant AC adapter charging port since riding a bike you never know if its going to ride or shine since weather is unpredictable.

Gypsy

Now that's one useful pack!

biffb

I would give one of there a good he and I promise to walk it and feed it everyday. Also, I would name it George.

sirpaul896

I don't comment on most of the freebie posts here because I don't own a BlackBerry, so have no use for most accessories. This is something that would greatly benefit me though - I'm away from power several times a week and usually have to alternate between using 2 devices in order to make sure I am always connected. This would be fantastic to have!

Tom-Z

I want to win... Thanks to the new tablet offer I'll soon have two PlayBooks in need of charging ^_^

mak5th

never won anything i hope this time i win ...
its really handy for me looks gr8 too
but aint sure will i ever own it or no.

mangy

Pick me, Pick me!!! :)

ChibiBlackSheep

I do a bunch of traveling with my playbook constantly tethered to my blackberry. This would make my life soooo much easier with less coffee shop breaks!

Mazzorz

I would personally love my Powerbag also, and will put it to good use !!!! Thanks CB

idiot001

Yes please and thank you! That bag looks AWESOME!

dweldom

Oh hello, beam me up scotty!

aloofkid

Sign me up Adam, I need this Bag for my PlayBook, Bold 9900 and 9850, my Hawei WiFi on the go, iPod Touch and my Laptop!

jetset22

this would be an awesome bag for me!

Duality169

I actually got one for my wife and she loves it, now of course I'm jealous and need one of my own.

berrybait

I'm bagged, so I might as well have one too. :)

303Aegiszx

Neat bag. There are tons of top notch brands releasing high quality travel bags recently. If only the price point was a bit lower though.

nitishagar

Need one will be best for a student like me on the go!

rkopsie

Perfect backpack for this UofA college student! ;) I'm still using the same Jansport backpack I've had since 7th grade, need to upgrade ;)

buddyyemen

I am in pleaseeeeeeeeee.

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