McQuade dreamed up Voltaic, which is based in New York City, while bumming around Spain. He was looking for a change after a stint as a consultant at McKinsey and later as an entrepreneur during the dot-com boom, and he needed a way to recharge his cell phone. He ultimately devised a bag designed around lightweight, durable solar panels and a small rechargeable battery Next up: bags with enough light-harvesting technology to charge a laptop.

PC Mag: Gadgets You Need if You're Lost October 2006

MacTribe: Techy Trendy September 2006
This backpack/laptop protection system from Voltaic has solar panels, which can be used to charge a cell phone, ipod, etc., after a long hike in the woods or urban jungle. It has an adorable shape and has an appealing geek-chic vibe. This is the sort of bag one expects to see on cute Japanese girls visiting from overseas. Kauai! It is well cushioned to protect your laptop, and is appealingly light. After lying in the sun, this bag charged my 30-gig Ipod in half an hour... Prepare yourself for questions about the solar panels

Less-Wired Wireless - The Green Guide - May 30, 2006
Being a multi-tasker myself, I rather like the idea of one's computer bag serving double duty as a
recharger. And each bag comes with a Li Ion battery pack which stores any surplus power generated, and can be charged with an AC travel charger or car charger, so it is available when you need it, not just when the sun is shining. The Voltaic messenger bag and backpacks sell for $239 at Voltaic System's online store. That may seem pricey, but remember, you are getting a nice work bag or backpack with the solar recharging system.

Vanity Fair - May 2006
Green Gifts: Looking Smart and Doing Your Part

CNET Reviews: Voltaic Backpack - CNET Editor's Review - April 26, 2006
From a design perspective, the Voltaic Backpack is more than suitable for day-to-day usage. The bag is constructed with high-grade ripstop 840D nylon and features plenty of padding in the angled shoulder straps. In addition, the whole of the back is lined with a nylon mesh material that breathes well in high temperatures. After wearing the bag for a few days, we loved the ergonomic shape of the backpack and had no complaints about the comfort of the straps. The three surprisingly low-key solar panels (offered in four subtle color options) are in the back of the bag. Our primary concern was that the paneling would be gaudy and out of place, but they blend well into the general styling of the bag...

TIME Asia Magazine: Clean Living: Brand New Bag - April 22, 2006
Voltaic's bags and backpacks feature solar panels to provide power, as well as a battery to store power for later use. Bags come with adapters for charging common types of cell phones and other devices...

CiN Weekly: A roundup of all things new, cool, and gadgety - March 22, 2006
"The motive behind the product is to demonstrate the value of solar energy," says inventor Shayne McQuade, Voltaic's founder. "When I came up with the idea, it was for hikers with no source of power. But even if you're in the city or traveling, it's often hard to find a place to plug in."

Home and Garden Television: Episode 305 of I Want That! - January, 2006

The Lazy Environmentalist: Eco Design to Improve Our Lives - December 20, 2005
Great products today are not only environmentally responsible but also designed to facilitate and
improve our lifestyles. Two outstanding examples of this innovative design philosophy are found
in the work of Voltaic Systems, maker of solar equipped backpacks, and MIO Culture, designer of
mass customerization home furnishings. Joining Josh to discuss cutting-edge eco design trends are
Shayne McQuade, Founder of Voltaic Systems.

Wall Street Journal: Some last-minute gift ideas for the travelers on your shopping list
December 12, 2005

Shiny Awards: 2005's Greenest Gadget is...The Voltaic Solar Bag - December 2, 2005
Last week, Hippy Shopper awarded Voltaic Systems' solar bag its 2005 Gadget of the Year. Amid the pointed little fingers and cocktails of the Shiny Telewest awards ceremony, the bag did what it always does - attract a lot of attention. So why did Shiny give the rucksack the gong above other greats?... Easy: it works superbly as a charger and a bag, doesn't require any lifestyle changes and - the cool bit - attracts loads of atttention wherever I go, attracting questions and awe from lorry drivers while I'm cycling and photovoltaic engineers at railway stations. It's a mobile educational tool as well as a smart bag.

Designtechnica: Chic Laptop Bags for Fall - November 7, 2005
You'll be unplugged, independent and basking in the afterglow with the Voltaic Solar Backpack.

Wired Magazine: Test - Power Mongers - November 2005
Day or night, the Voltaic keeps portables going and going... The combo kept our MP3 player singing all day on cloudy Tahoe slopes. Comfy molded straps and a wide cargo hold round out a near-perfect pack.

New York Magazine: How Would Shalom Harlow Spend $2419? - November 28, 2005
It's become more and more of a priority for me to tread as lightly as possible in the world. There are things you can do on a daily basis. I think a Voltaic solar-powered messenger bag that can charge your cell phone, PDA, or MP3 player ($239 at Flight001) would be a great gift.

Inc. Magazine: Even Skeptics Are Embracing Technology - November 9, 2005
Founded in 2003, Voltaic makes backpacks that store solar energy to recharge iPods, BlackBerries, digital cameras, and other portable devices. Voltaic's founder, Shayne McQuade, said third quarter sales of the $239 backpacks have already doubled sales achieved in the first half of 2005.

PC News Weekly: Top 50 Gadgets 2005 - October 3, 2005

Village Voice: It's Not Easy Being Green - September 16, 2005
...I've added environmentally conscious items to my daily routine... I ride my refurbished bike from RECYCLE-A-BICYCLE to work with a solar VOLTAIC POUCH [$229, voltaicsystems.com] on my back. The pack serves as a charger for my cell phone, iPod, and other small electronic devices.

Chicago Tribune: Stylish, new designs for precarious times September 8, 2005
[MoMA] Curator Antonelli began thinking about an exhibit on emergency equipment before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and shelved it after that tragedy. Slowly, the Concept moved from emergency and fear to safety. It switched from half-empty to half-full, she says.  Consider the solar backpack, a product that could have widespread use in a disaster area such as post-Katrina New Orleans. The backpack's three waterproof solar panels generate up to four watts of power.

Fast Company: Summer Gadget Guide July 2005
Q: How do I bike and charge at once?
A: A solar powered messenger bag. The new Voltaic Systems Messenger Bag.

New York Times  July 14, 2005
You need not be a fashionista to want more than a generic black laptop bag... its innovative use of solar energy makes it worth more than a window shopper's glance comes with 11 standard adapters including a U.S.B. socket, so you'll never have to worry that a gadget won't connect.

Popular Science: Be Your Own Hotspot - July 6, 2005
Turn your backpack into a portable, solar powered Wi-Fi hotspot, and share a high-speed connection anywhere.

VoiceAmerica Network: The Lazy Environmentalist - June 27, 2005
Interview with the founder of Voltaic Systems, Shayne McQuade, discussing his thoughts on sustainable product development and the inspiration for the Voltaic solar bags.

Playboy: Pack to the Future May 2005
The great outdoors is a fantastic place to find tranquility, but it's a lousy place to find a power outlet. With the Voltaic backpack you can carry your power source with you.

Triple Pundit: Voltaic Backpack Proves Demand for Solar Innovation - May 10, 2005
This success story is inspiring enough to merit a few words from the founder: ..."When you think about it there are very few examples of solar panels being used as a design element. The portability of solar power had also not been fully leveraged. Previous 'portable' solar chargers were designed to be carried and set up somewhere, not to work as they were moved around."

US News & World Report: Eternal sunshine for your cell - April 4, 2005
A battery pack already is standard in solar backpacks from Voltaic Systems... also comes with larger solar panels that can charge gadgets as much as 50 percent faster than the Eclipse models. And the built-in battery means the pack should be gathering power even if your phone isn't plugged in.

Organic Style: Green Gear Solar Backpack - April 2005
A solar-paneled backpack is like a PalmPilot until you finally get one, you don't realize how badly you needed it. Thanks to inventor and founder Shayne McQuade now you can use the simple energy of the sun to run all your complicated electronic gadgets... "It's perfect for skiing," says Michelle Weingeist, one of the first lucky owners of the pack. "The cold weather usually kills my walkie-talkie and iPod batteries, but now I can just hook them up while on the slopes." And, there's another, unexpected perk. Weingeist says, "This backpack may be for the single girl what the puppy is for the single guy. It's a dude magnet."

Continental: Pack Mentality February 2005
For power on the go, nothing beats the Voltaic backpack. The handsome pack is outfitted with three waterproof solar panels

Fortune: Why There's No Escaping the Blog - January 11, 2005
Start up the swarm! Within a few hours of Voltaic's hitting Treehugger, the popular CoolHunting blog mentioned McQuade's product, which got it seen by Joel Johnson, editor of Engadget competitor Gizmodo... In came a flurry of orders... "Overnight what was supposed to be laying a little groundwork became my launch"

The Guardian: Power Dressing - January 6, 2005
This is a lovely bag - large enough to fit a Powerbook in and with a pocket layout obviously designed by people who use such bags every day. Great padding and a ballistic nylon shell add to the heavy-duty feel. But it's the solar panels that make the bag stand out. They're arranged along the back, inside a panel that zips down along three edges to reveal a battery pack, a cigarette lighter-style terminal and some pockets for your devices and the set of converter plugs that comes with it. The wiring is integral to the bag, with one charge point mounted on a shoulder strap next to the mobile phone pouch. The cable run that allows this also gives you space to thread your headphone cable - very nicely thought-out.
The solar panels charge up the internal battery, which supplies the power. The bag also ships with a mains charger for the internal battery, so you can keep everything going on a dull and rainy day. The days I tried the bag out, it was sunny and bright and there was no problem getting my phone to charge. One advantage of such a bag is that you can leave it by a window or in a sunny patch while you work. Turning your luggage to face the sun may become the next 21st-century habit.

CNN: Packing Portable Power - December 17, 2004
From houses, cars, and even clothing, solar power is bringing new innovations to light. The latest bright idea is the solar backpack.

NY1 News - December 13, 2004
... while one side of you tries to block those rays, the other can be trying to absorb them...

Gizmodo - November 15, 2004
... If you're the type that carries a lot of different gear - or even just one piece of equipment that you always need charged - the Voltaic [backpack] is indispensable.

Cool Hunting - November 5, 2004
Remember the Voltaic backpack? I have been demoing one for a few days now and it's just as rad as it promised to be. They'll be shipping at the end of this month, so be sure to pre-order one now.

Fast Company: The Culture of Innovation - October 18, 2004
... Enter Voltaic Systems, a New York company that has put the backpack on steroids. The Voltaic Backpack features three solar panels that lets consumers recharge iPods and mobile phones while trekking through urban wastelands. It's a radical concept that one ups even people like Axio by Haro Design and Booq, who are the perceived innovation leaders....

Treehugger September 28, 2004