The old-school suitcase is getting an upgrade. Though innovation has been slow to hit the luggage industry, which accounts for $3.3 billion in revenue in the U.S., according to the Travel Goods Association, more companies have introduced high-tech luggage equipped with location tracking, phone chargers, and other savvy features that cater to connected travelers. Bluesmart and Samsonite were the first with smart bags, and now Tumi has partnered with AT&T (T) and LugTrack to develop its Global Locator, coming later this year.
Here are three new wired suitcases designed to make life on the road easier.
1. Raden
Onetime private equity lawyer Josh Udashkin spent more than two years working on a luggage line that combines technology with sleek industrial design. Former product engineers and consultants from Tumi and Beats by Dre helped bring Raden’s two pieces to fruition.
Features: The suitcases, available in both carry-on and check-in sizes, are equipped with a built-in charger, GPS technology, and a scale that helps travelers weigh their bag to avoid overage fees. Raden’s app also provides helpful information relevant to their trip, such as the best routes to reach the airport, TSA wait times, and the weather at their destination.
Price: Raden bags are scratch-proof and available in seven colors. The 22-inch carry-on case is $295; the 28-inch check-in case is $395. The two cases are sold together for $595.
2. Away
Two former executives from Warby Parker have teamed up to bring the eyewear company’s fashion sensibility to a new venture in high-tech yet affordable luggage and travel gear.
Features: The debut piece is a chic hard-case carry-on with a built-in battery located under an adjustable handle that can charge devices via a USB cable. Prior to travel, the bag itself needs to charge for four hours to hold enough power to fully juice up your iPhone five times over. The case is made from a thin, lightweight polycarbonate material that won’t scuff or crack. There’s also an integrated TSA-approved lock, a removable laundry bag, and a compression pad that lets you pack more. Coming this summer: two sizes of check-in bags.
Price: The carry-on is available in four colors: blue, green, sand, and black; $225.
For more on how to travel efficiently, check out this Coins2Day video:
3. Rimowa
Hassle-free check-in is the focus of the new collection of hard-case bags from the 118-year-old German luggage brand.
Features: A digital display screen near the handle replaces an airline’s standard bar code paper label, which can tear off easily and is typically one of the main reasons for lost luggage. Currently only Lufthansa fliers can use the feature, though more than a dozen airlines are expected to be on board by mid-2017. Fliers can check their bag using Lufthansa’s app, then drop it off when they get to the airport. The screen is made of glass that’s 10 times as strong as those on standard smartphones and is designed not to crack.
Price: The bags are sold in Europe and are expected to be available in the U.S. By early summer. They come in various colors and sizes, all check-in. Prices start at $670.
A version of this article appears in the May 1, 2016 issue of Coins2Day with the headline “Smart Luggage.”
