Tech Advances in Stylish Travel Gear

Luggage is one of the key fashionable accessories when beginning to pack for a vacation. There have been a number of brands that have unveiled stylish, tech-centered pieces to attract the demands of today’s gadget-prone traveler. For example, the G-RO is a luxury carry-on suitcase with features like a state-of-the-art GPS Tile Slim Bluetooth luggage tracker; portable electronic charging station supporting up to 4 devices; and 2 built-in USB outlets with internal bag wiring.

“We knew we had to add more winning features to make G-RO the best possible bag for commuters, meaning more durable, economic and functional,” said Netta Shalgi, Designer and Co-Founder. “Instead of weighing every bag down with features someone might not need, we developed an optional electronic module. It includes a Proximity detector, location tracker, international power outlet for your laptop and a battery strong enough to charge your smart phone up to 4x.”

There are many brands on the market featuring smart, fashion-forward luggage that include similar tech features. Genius Pack’s 21” Hardside Spinner Carry On features a 100 percent crush-proof design while being extremely lightweight (and if you crush or squeeze it, it will bounce back to its original shape). The bag is designed so you don’t forget anything, featuring built-in labels and compartments. The Adiamo IQ smart luggage has a removable battery, mobile WiFi hotspot and a built-in scale to eliminate baggage fees, while the Delsey Pluggage has an overload indicator built in to avoid overweight surprises at the airport.

Sporty types of travelers may choose to carry trendy backpacks that come with bells and whistles, or space saving attributes.

Take Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack.

“The Everyday Backpack features fast access to all internal parts of the bag via dual weatherproof zippers and no-look, one-handed, patented MagLatch top hatch closure,” said Peak Design Marketing Director Adam Saraceno. “Internal, endlessly configurable FlexFold dividers protect and organize tech and daily carry, and internally padded accessory pockets keep your small things in check. Long haul travelers will appreciate the bag’s integrated luggage strap for easy secure roller-top carry, concealed external passport and travel document pocket and externally accessed 15” padded laptop sleeve.”

STM Goods’ Haven backpack offers high-level tech protection. It’s designed for a 15” laptop, and features SlingTech protection, external access, and is suspended off the floor of the bag for extra protection. STM’s proprietary Cable Ready routing system utilizes purpose-built pockets, ports between sections, and an internal cable management system that stores your devices and allows you to readily access and charge your devices while on the go.

Inside the tech centered luggage world is also a demand for space saving products.

“The market for travel bags is crowded with many options for consumers to pack their clothes, but at GreatUsefulStuff.com, we recognized a lack of organizing bags available for portable technology,” said Jeff Block, Founder of GreatUsefulStuff.com. “These days, virtually everyone travels with at least 2-5 tech gadgets and each gadget has a charging cord, in addition to earbuds and other accessories. I have found from personal experience, it is essential to keep tech gadgets organized while traveling or else you are bound to leave things behind.”

Block’s inspiration for the TechAway Travel Roll was forgetting his phone charger in multiple hotel rooms, so he designed his organizer with mesh windows so you can see which cords are in there and which ones you need to get. His Travel Media Pouch was designed to be a slim profile organizer to hold all the small tech gadgets like iPods, Kindles, small Pads and their charging cords, that you might want to use on a flight in one place, so you can just grab one bag out of your carry-on to have access to all your inflight entertaining necessities.

Saving time while unpacking is also a huge value for frequent travelers. “The large Stow-N-Go Portable Luggage System has three 17.7 inch-wide by 11.8 inch-deep shelves that are large enough to hold shirts, pants, dresses, undergarments and more when neatly folded,” said Brendan Bauer, Co-Founder of Grand Fusion Housewares, which produces the Stow-N-Go Portable Luggage System.

When hanging in a closet, the Stow-N-Go is 25.2 inches high. But it compresses down to fit easily inside any standard 20-inch or larger carry-on suitcase. There’s a patented zippered compartment at the bottom that’s perfect for dirty clothes. There are two straps that easily clip in place and then cinch down to size keeping the shelves secured during travel and your clothing wrinkle free. The straps allow you to compress your luggage, saving up to 30 percent of the available space in your suitcase.

“Pack-It organizers compresses your clothes inside your bag, so that you can easily pack in a carry-on and bring even more with you,” said Jessica Dodson, Brand Marketing Manager and Packing Expert of Eagle Creek’s space-saving organizers. “It keeps everything organized by use or type of clothes, so that you know exactly where everything is. It’s a life-saver on the road because it means quick access to whatever you’re looking for, and quick unpacking and repacking into your hotel drawers.”

Fitting like a jig-saw puzzle inside your bag, Pack-It allows you to bring different types and sizes of organizers to pack for whatever your clothing and accessory needs are.

Another brand, Rule #5, offers line of Packing Cubes, which fits undergarments, sleepwear, and clothing into neat compartments inside the luggage. Each pouch has plenty of room to hold clothing and is labeled for easy access in your suitcase. Pouches Velcro together to hang securely on a hanger and the Front Mesh panels allow people to see what’s inside.