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I got an email from Andreas today letting me know that Sakku has been released and is now shipping to the US.
The Sakku is interesting because, unlike most other messenger/laptop bags on the market, it serves an excellent utilitarian purpose by charging your iPod, cellphone or digital camera while you’re out in the sun. The sakku akku features an integrated recharcheable battery for those foggy San Francisco days.
Besides that, Sakku also has a focus on general sustainability, first, relying on solar power, and second, using recycled sails from sail boats for the bag material.
From a design perspective, my biggest concern is size, as it appears much larger than the Timbuk2 bags I’ve had and now use. The FAQ is pretty comprehensive, though, and you can check out more photos in the Sakku Flickr group. Oh, and unfortunately, according to the FAQ, the solar cells don’t produce enough power to charge laptops. Bummer.
Though I probably won’t be ordering one just yet, if you’re interested, they have an online form for ordering. At 230€ for the akku and 180€ for the direct, it’s a bit out of my price range, but I can see how this technology could be extremely useful for hikers, bikers and other travelers who need power and can’t rely on their accommodations for juice.
Factory Joe 
Ah ha, you “have commercial interest in this product” 😉