[Source via PR]

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I’ve seen some other modular backpacks before, so this isn’t a completely novel idea. Even so, Mission Workshop seems to ahve executed the solution quite well. You start with either the 16L or 36L main pack and then you buy the extra add-ons and pouches that you need. When you actually hit the road, you can consider which pouches you’re going to attach and which you’re going to leave at home. There are pouches and pockets of all shapes and sizes, including sleeves specialized for holding laptops. The add-ons attach via steel hardware and everything is reasonably weatherproof.

While I’m personally not a fan of the fashion statement this bag makes, your preferences may vary. Where you will get hit is your wallet: The core bag starts at over $200 and then the extra pouches and such average about $60 each. Get this sleeve and that add-on and you’re easily into quite the expensive backpack. It does help that it’s made in the USA though.

[Source]

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On the outside, it may look like any other backpack with its assortment of pockets and straps, but inside it comes with a removable gadget dock. This allows you to dock up to three different USB gadgets and charge them simultaneously. The dock itself has a battery too, so you can use that for some extra top-up power on the go.

Continuing with the geek-friendly design, you get a dedicated laptop sleeve and a TSA checkpoint-friendly design. They could have taken it a few steps further by tossing in some solar panels, but it does look like you can pull out the power cord from the gadget dock while it is still in your bag. That way, you don’t have to remove your iPad and iPhone to charge them.

Since this is a Quirky project, these suggestions could still come into play. That’s because, at this point, the Trek Support backpack is little more than a concept in need of funding. Said funding comes by way of the $130 for pre-sales. Do you want one?

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The 3D creating backpack has 4 lasers and cameras which map the interior as the wearer walks

At UC Berkeley, the same team behind 3D views of major cities on Google Earth has created a mapping technology “that scans its surroundings and creates an instant 3D model”. The device takes the form of a backpack, where an array of lasers, cameras, and an Inertial Measurement Unit all combine to form a final product of a 3D, textured model. Lasers calculate geometry of the surroundings, while the cameras capture panoramic textures of the area behind the pack. Although Google Earth’s 3D images were created using GPS technology, the same cannot be said for the 3D Backpack. Since GPS and satellite imagery does not work indoors, the IMU combined with the geometry of lasers, localize the pack, allowing for the precise navigation of an indoor environment.

Professor Avideh Zakhor, who leads the team at Cal Berkeley says, “One day, you’ll have a little pack of sensors on your belt. And, as you walk inside buildings, you collect data about everything. Every location in the universe, both indoors and outdoors will eventually be mapped and we’ll have it all online. So, without ever going anywhere, you can see what everybody’s interior looks like.” Good or bad,  an indoor 3D model would trump having to read those confusing mall maps.

Innovative and cutting-edge, the team at Cal Berkeley is trailblazing into the 3D era.

Laser backpack creates instant 3D models [KGO-TV San Francisco]
Laser backpack creates instant 3D maps, Venkman reminds you to not cross the streams (video) [engadget]
Automated, 3D Modeling of Building Interiors [UC Berkeley]

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That’s perfectly suitable for the majority of notebook users, but what if you want to travel around town with your compact netbook? Something like the Asus Eee PC will just get completely swallowed up by those bags, swishing around in every which direction, effectively nullifying much of their utility. To better accommodate this segment, Mobile Edge has developed the Edge Ultraportable Backpack. It’s a more compact solution for more compact computers.

A Backpack for Smaller Computers

You want to keep things relatively compact while maintaining a reasonable level of utility. The Mobile Edge Ultra Portable Backpack was designed with netbooks in mind, but it easily swallows up the smaller notebooks on the market as well. In fact, it’ll take anything from 8.9-inch to 13-inches.

I’d imagine that it would be quite a snug fit for a 13.3-inch Apple MacBook, but any of those ultraportable 11-inch and 12-inch laptops shouldn’t have too much trouble. This is most definitely a niche product.

Dedicated Padded Compartment for Netbooks

Let’s start by looking at the dedicated compartment for the netbook. This takes on a similar configuration as what you may find with a larger laptop backpack.

There is a padded portion inside the main large compartment toward the rear of the backpack. In the picture above, you can see the 12.1-inch Dell Inspiron 640m with the larger six-cell battery. Because of the battery that does not fit flush with the back of the small laptop, this made for a snug fit in the compartment, but it did fit. A standard battery would allow this notebook to fit quite easily.

Unlike the V7 Premium Toploader that I reviewed earlier this month, the Edge Ultra Portable Backpack does not have a “checkpoint-friendly” configuration. You’ll still need to take your netbook or notebook out of the bag to get through airport security. There are other bags in the Mobile Edge lineup that feature this functionality, but nothing (yet) that caters specifically to netbooks.

Why is the Front Pocket So Small?

Continuing with the theme of keeping things compact (the Edge Ultraportable Backpack is only about 40cm tall in total), Mobile Edge has made the front pocket rather compact on this bag as well. I’m not entirely sure why it wouldn’t stretch across the entire width of the bag.

To either side of the front pocket, which comes with a couple of metal grommets for wire pass-throughs and that kind of thing, are a series of straps. I guess the idea is that you can use hooks and such to attach additional items to this bag, but I would have preferred more or larger pockets in the front instead.

The Other Compartment for Stuff

Aside from the main compartment where your netbook (and a few other things) would go, there is another large compartment that takes up the entire length of the bag. In here, you find a small pocket for smaller items, some pen holes, and the main compartment area. Not shown in the picture is a zippered pocket with grommet access to the outside (front). This is a great spot for an MP3 player or cell phone.

Conclusion

Overall, I’m quite pleased with the construction and material choice for the Mobile Edge Ultraportable Backpack. The use of the durable 600 Denier Ballistic Nylon accented with 1200 Denier Diamond Ripstop Nylon makes for a very tough exterior, so you wouldn’t have to worry too much about random rips and other kinds of damage.

There’s also a lot of padding in place to protect your Eee PC, Dell Mini, MSI Wind, or whatever other netbook you happen to be carrying. I would have liked a “ScanFast” solution, perhaps with the netbook off to one side and a second slot for the associated power supply. This would make for a great travel bag and it would maximize the utility given the size of the bag.

If you’re in the market for a backpack that is meant to accommodate a laptop, but you’re rocking something that is 13-inches or smaller, the Edge Ultra Portable Backpack is a perfectly viable option that offers good storage space, quality materials, and an aesthetically pleasing design. At $49.99, it’s quite the affordable backpack as well.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

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