New bag promises to clean your gym gear

SINGAPORE — There has been buzz about the Paqsule (pronounced “pack-sul”), which its creators call “the smart, self-cleaning bag”.

The term “cleaning” needs clarification though. It is certainly not going to be remove the stains caused by your workout.

According to its listing on Kickstarter, “with one push of a button on the bag or your smartphone, you can activate the chemical-free PaqTech system to deodorise, sanitise and kill bacteria, keeping your bag and everything inside germ free and smelling fresh”.

PaqTech utilises technology that dry cleaners, medical establishments and professional sports teams have used for years to clean and sanitise clothes and equipment. The Paqsule guys just engineered that tech to fit inside this hold-all gym bag.

Basically, it blasts your clothes with UV-C light and activated oxygen to kill the bacteria that makes those unwanted whiffy, er, scents. So it should keep your kit smelling fresher

This is, of course, especially handy for those who like to gym in the morning then head straight to the office (and don’t want their colleagues to scrunch up their noses and inquire, “what is that smell?”).

To be sure, this idea isn’t new: It’s tried-and-tested science — travellers have been using UV light to purify drinking water for ages. And they’re all still alive.

There is also plenty of space — you can put your laptop, clothes, shoes, or what-have-you into the various pockets and compartments in the bag, and it is water-resistant.

It also comes with an USB-charged internal battery — you need to power up the bag to do its thing – that its makers say is good for up to 72 hours of cleaning when it is fully charged.

Plus you can tap some of those sweet electrons to charge your phone, should your workout videos have taken their toll on your phone.

The downside? It is going to be expensive, starting at US$229 (S$320). However, you’ll never have to carry your current stinkfest wherever you go.

A version of this story first appeared in STUFF Singapore