As someone who likes to carry around my phone, laptop, and other paraphernalia everywhere I go (so I’m not scrambling for electronics during the Zombie Apocalypse), I’m a sucker for a bag that can hold all those gadgets securely. But while the payload in my trusty bag has evolved significantly over the years, it seems like the bag itself has remained stuck in time.
As a result, I’ve been on the lookout for bags that show some notable innovation, more than just the standard satchel with a phone charger. A quick Google search led me to S.M.A.R.T Bag (patent pending. LOL). Though it looked badass – like it would fit right in at the McDojo down the street – it wasn’t quite what I was looking for. Then I was pointed towards Naipack…and it was everything my bag-hunting self was hoping to find.
Naipack by NAI Solutions is a “smart bag”, according to its website. It isn’t quite smart in the way the term is used in relation to cars or phones, but it is packed with some of the coolest (and most numerous) features we’ve come across in a bag yet. It was probably that very feature set that earned NAI one of the final 24 startup pitch spots at this year’s TNW Conference.
Most of the features offered in the Naipack are geared towards the needs of smartphone/laptop powerusers. The bag comes with 1TB of anti-shock internal storage, which many will be glad to have since it would mean not having to carry an external hard drive (or having to carry one less). There are between 5 and 7 USB ports which plug into the powerbank on board, and there is the option to add a solar charger for an eco-friendly power boost. On the business edition of the bag, an LCD display helps keep track of vital stats such as remaining battery and storage information.
The bag also has wired/bluetooth power speakers, it can act as a WiFi hotspot and comes with an app that works in conjunction with the GPS on the bag to keep track of its location. It’s essentially KITT from Knight Rider.
Unsurprisingly, the Naipack isn’t the first to stake claim as the world’s first smart-bag. Phorce successfully executed its Kickstarter way back in late 2012 to raise funds for its smart bag with charging ports and smartphone communication capabilities. The HiSmart bag by Lepow, a Chinese design firm, pairs itself with a smartphone through Bluetooth, allowing it to act as a remote to the phone. As far as features go, however, Naipack definitely has what it takes to compete, and perhaps become, the best in the business.
NAI is now accepting pre-orders for the Naipack, with shipping expected to start in December 2015. Pricing ranges from $149.00 to $339.00 depending on features and style of the bag.
