Steps are the nemesis of the wheeled suitcase. There's a certain satisfaction in gliding a case over a smooth airport floor, but, faced with a flight of stairs, a heavily-packed case cam quickly become something of an encumbrance. Not so the TraxPack, which drops onto its side to slide up staircases with relative ease.
As with other recently-released suitcases, such as the Floatti, the Trunkster and the Bluesmart, the TraxPack has a variety of useful features built in, such as location tracking, a charger for mobile devices and an integrated scale. It is its focus on negotiating steps, though, that sets it apart.
Built into one side of the bag's aluminum polycarbonate body are two tank-like tracks. When faced with a set of stairs, the user can tip the TraxPack onto its side and pull it up, with the tracks allowing the bag to roll freely.
Coupled with this feature is a tilting handle. Not only does this make it possible to pull the bag up stairs on its tracks, but it provides improved maneuverability in other situations. TraxPack Luggage explains users are able to leverage the force of their body weight to move the suitcase around more easily than is the case with fixed handles.
As mentioned above, the TraxPack has location-tracking, powered by GSM and GPRS technology, and a built-in scale that allows users to check the weight of their luggage against airline requirements. There's also an optional proximity sensor add-on that can alert users when the bag is on its way to baggage claim or if someone has moved it away from the traveler.
Elsewhere, the removable power pack for charging mobile devices can be upgraded to a potential 20,000 mAh, which could provide around eight full smartphone charges, according to TraxPack Luggage. It has two USB ports so that two devices can be charged at once and a built-in LED flash light. The Traxpack also caters for mobile devices by way of a stand that can be used when waiting for flights.
The TraxPack has been designed specifically as a carry-on, with dimensions of 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 35 x 22 cm) and tipping the scales at 8 lb (3.6 kg). Locks approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provide security, while allowing access to the authorities if required.
A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign is underway for the TraxPack. At the time of writing, pledges start from US$198. Assuming all goes to plan with the campaign and roll-out, shipping is expected from March next year.
The video below is the Kickstarter pitch for the TraxPack.
Sources: Traxpack Luggage, Kickstarter