Last year I was fortunate enough to spend some time with EnerPlex and acquire a portable solar panel and solar backpack from them for review. The products were fun, functional and did what they were supposed to do. The solar panel, dubbed the Kickr, performed well in direct sunlight. The original Packr solar panel backpack worked and was ultra light since it was constructed of tent like material. That, however, did give it a more recreational appeal to it. I also saw something else last year that they were working on called the Jumpr Slate, which was a battery bank, but with a heck of an interesting design element to it. At CES 2015 EnerPlex put their best foot forward with a whole new line up that included newly designed Packr bags, solar panels, portable generators, battery banks and a few other items of interest for iOS users.
Packr line: Solar Panel Backpacks
First up, the new Packr line of solar backpacks. This year there are two new variants of the Packr which include the Packr Commuter and the Packr Executive. Each offers the same CIGS solar cells located on the front of the bag facing out. They are 3.5 Watts Unregulated; 3.0 Watt, 5 Volt System Regulated with a 0.6 Apm output through the USB port located on the inside top of the first zipper pocket. The real difference between the two new lines is their physical size, looks and applicable appeal. The Packr Executive offers up product dimension of 305 x 200 x 450 mm and is a little more square looking. It loses the water bottle side pockets, but offers more internal pockets for organizing your business life on the go.
The Packr offers the more rounded top traditional looking bag design and keeps the water bottle pockets on either side of the pack. Unlike the previous Packr Base, the pockets are zipper based and not always open. Its physical dimensions are slightly different at 350 x 150 x 450 mm. That makes this pack a little taller, but narrower than the Packr Executive.
Price wise you are looking at $129.99 for the Packr Executive and $99.99 for the Packr Commuter. Even without the build-in solar panel the price tags are pretty spot on for a good quality bag now a days.
Generatr: Portable electric generatorsÂ
Like the label suggests, the Generatr is EnerPlex’s first push into the portable generator product line. They launched the Generatr S100 and Generatr Y1200. Both uses Lithium-Ion batteries and can be charged prior to leaving for your trip through a typical wall outlet or can be charged up using the newest solar panel, the Commander, while out in the field. The smaller Generatr S100 carries 98Whrs portable battery power and weighs in at 2 pounds while the Generatr Y1200 offers you 1200Whrs and weighs in at 40 pounds.
Unfortunately neither of the Generatr lines are available just yet. You can pre-order through GoEnerPlex.com with expected availability of April 2015, just in time for the summer camping season really. The smaller S100 is set for $349.99 while the big brother Y1200 is set at $1399.99.
To be perfectly honest, battery banks are a dime a dozen now a days. Nearly every tech manufacturer out there has a battery bank. Some great companies have sprung simply on battery banks. The constant thing I see are smart or universal charge ports and either large rectangles or block style squares. There are some that offer built-in cables so you don’t have to remember your own and some that come with a multitude of interchangeable tips. EnerPlex took bits and pieces of what the market offers and brings a few little twists to the mix that had me excited about battery banks again this year.
Jumpr Stack is one of the new lines and comes in your usual variety of mAh offers from 3,200 – 9,400. They brought along the dual cable system for charging both iOS and Android without needing your own cable, although there is a single USB out port on all of them. The interesting take here is that they are stackable using magnets and 3-pin pogo style docking to one another that allows for power pass through. This is pretty cool because it gives you ability to stack as many as you want together and be able to charge them all from one power outlet as well as be able to utilize half dead ones together for a full charge to one or more devices that are plugged in.
Jumpr Slate is another new battery addition to the EnerPlex line up that I saw last year, but was only recently made available. These extremely different in terms of design as they are only 0.26 inches thick and come in either a 10,000 mAh offering or a 5,100 mAh offering. The smaller variant offers an Android or iOS lightning cable built-in, but also offers up a single USB out. port. The larger 10’000 mAh variant steers clear of the built-in cables and simply offers dual USB out ports.
Besides being ultra slim and packing a good amount of power, EnerPlex also gave the edge of the Jumpr Slates a unique set of holes. The slots give you the ability to clip it inside a binder, planner or other travel accessory if you choose. You can also use the them to hang it if need be. The ultra thin design also makes it perfect for sliding one inside most tablet and laptop case/bags with out adding extra bulge or pressure points to your screens.
The Jumpr Stack series will set you back model will set you back anywhere between $27.99 for the Jumpr Stack Minis, to $99.99 for the Jumpr Stack 9,400 mAh. In the Jumpr Slate line you are looking at $59.99 on the 5,100 with micro USB cable built-in, $69.99 with the iOS lightning cable and $99.99 for the 10k dual port slate.
I have a number of the products listed above for review and will get full tests and write ups done over the next few weeks. The Packr backpack might be on hold until the sun decides to make a triumphant return around here though.
Be sure to check out the whole line up at goenerplex.com for now, however I am sure they are finding their way to Amazon and other retailers too.
