Months ago I reviewed the powerbag, a backpack with a built in battery and ipod charger and I thought it was excellent, but recently I went on a long hike, and I thought I’d review it again after an eight hour hike up and down a mountain.
My hike involved eight hours of walking, climbing, and falling on my face on the way to the top and bottom. For the four hours down there were heavy winds and it poured down rain. The backpack held together well considering how soaked it got, but it did let some water in. It stopped much of the water and held together perfectly, but it certainly wasn’t waterproof. Overall it did its’ job.
Be sure to store your ipod in a case or plastic bag when hiking with the powerbag because it does stand the risk of getting quite wet. My only real gripe besides the water that got through was the weight. With the built in electronics, the powerbag is a little heavier than your average backpack which can be a burden.
One thing that impressed me was that even after 6 hours in the rain, the backpack dried off nicely and the electronics still worked. My ipod, and my friend’s ipod charged perfectly well. Everything went as planned except for some dampness.
Overall, the powerbag has proven itself to be a great bag for camping, but I would still recommend a case for your ipod, camera, etc. in case of inclement weather. And just FYI, when you hike be sure to wear hiking socks. They make a big difference.