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7 Suitcases for the Smarter Traveler

Luggage, disrupted

By The Editors / May 8, 2015 9:00 am

It’s easier to get away from it all when it’s … actually easy to get away. These seven new travel packs use ingenious design and a little tech-savvy to get you (and your gear) where you’re going in a hurry. Carry on, gentlemen.

Your Carry-On

On the surface, the Suitsupply Race Case is a tanned Italian calf leather suitcase on wheels. Pull up the extended leather-grip handles and flip down the back panel, however, and suddenly you’re speeding through terminals on a three-wheel scooter. One caveat: the bag’s dimensions (20.4 x 14.6 x 10.2 inches) come a hair over some airlines’ arbitrary carry-on limits.

Your Suit Bag

A winner of the iF 2015 Design Award, the stand-up Vocier C38 carry-on addresses design flaws that annoy the more dapper frequent flyer. Inside, a magnetic hanger system secures up to two suits at an optimal angle for space and wrinkle-free storage. An integrated handle bag — which doubles as a valet stand — is good for passport/ticket storage. And thanks to some unique slot storage, you have access to your laptop and Dopp kit without opening the bag’s larger compartment.

Your Adventure Gear

The Wrascal isn’t just one bag … it’s six (watch the video). By zipping and unzipping panels, you can easily change the size and shape of the lightweight carrier into a slim messenger bag, gym duffel, backpack, compression roll, weekender or even a firewood/keg tote — did we mention it’s damn rugged?

And four other travel options:

Your power backpack: The AMPL charges your smartphone, laptop and tablet through internal rapid-charge batteries and a USB port in each pocket. Also comes with a dedicated app that’ll warn you if you leave the bag behind.
Your mix ‘n’ match luggage: You pick the leather, wood trims and metal accents on the Wilkens W1 (see top photo), an old-school suitcase with hundreds of custom configurations.
Your never-lost bag: Available now for pre-order, the Trunkster bags feature worldwide GPS tracking, built-in digital scales, USB charging ports and a sliding roll-top door instead of zippers.
Your bags within bags: Eagle Creek’s customizable Pack-It Specter Cubes organize and compress your travel items into smaller, colorful compartments, shielding them in water- and stain-proof silnylon.