Fall and winter travel can make packing and navigating airports more challenging. Bulky jackets take up valuable suitcase space, crowded terminals make finding charging outlets difficult, and longer trips often mean carrying more than expected. Even a short getaway can become frustrating when your luggage is difficult to manage.
Smart luggage offers solutions to some of these problems through features such as removable charging batteries, location tracking, electronic locks, and built-in weighing scales. Some models even include motors that allow travelers to ride their suitcases. However, additional technology can increase weight, reduce storage capacity, or introduce airline restrictions.
For fall and winter travel, these four suitcases offer different approaches to making trips easier, whether you’re navigating a busy airport or organizing several days of cold-weather clothing.
1. July Carry On: Charging and Optional Location Tracking
A delayed flight becomes more frustrating when your phone battery is running low. Boarding passes, hotel reservations, and travel updates are often stored on your phone, making access to charging particularly important during long travel days.
The July Carry On includes a removable battery with USB-C charging connectivity. July says the battery can charge compatible phones and laptops, providing another way to keep electronics powered when airport outlets aren’t available.
Price: $325
Where to Buy: July
The suitcase features a German polycarbonate shell, reinforced bumpers, a telescopic handle with multiple height settings, and 360-degree spinner wheels. Inside, compression straps help organize clothing, while an included laundry bag separates worn items from clean outfits.
July also offers CaseSafe tracking, which integrates a tracker into the suitcase’s TSA-accepted lock. The system works with Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub networks, allowing travelers to locate compatible luggage through their smartphones. Tracking depends on the selected configuration and nearby devices participating in the relevant network.
The standard July Carry On is listed at $295 on July’s US website. CaseSafe tracking is available on selected configurations. Check the selected model’s price and whether it includes a power bank before ordering.
For frequent flyers who want charging, organized packing, and optional tracking without motorized components, the July Carry On offers a practical combination of features.
2. Airwheel SE3S: Rideable Luggage for Long Airport Transfers
Large airports can involve considerable walking, particularly when connecting flights depart from distant terminals. Pulling a suitcase while carrying a backpack or winter coat can become tiring during a long travel day.
The Airwheel SE3S Electric Suitcase combines luggage storage with a motorized ride-on design. Travelers can sit on the suitcase and use its electric drive system in locations where riding is permitted.
Price: € 899.00 (About $1,007)
Where to Buy: Airwheel
Airwheel specifies a 250W motor, a maximum speed of 13 km/h, and a removable 73.26Wh lithium battery. The manufacturer also lists a maximum supported load of 110 kg.
The suitcase switches between motorized operation and conventional pull-along use. Its handle incorporates acceleration, braking, and reversing controls, while an external USB port allows compatible electronics to be charged.
The biggest compromise is weight. Airwheel lists the SE3S at approximately 9.4 kg when empty, considerably heavier than a conventional carry-on. Its 20-liter storage capacity also limits how much clothing can fit inside, particularly when packing for colder weather.
Airline and airport restrictions are another concern. Although the battery is removable and falls below the commonly applicable 100Wh threshold, that doesn’t guarantee acceptance by every airline. Before buying, confirm both whether your airline accepts the suitcase and whether your departure, connecting, and arrival airports permit riding it inside their terminals.
The SE3S is worth considering for travelers interested in motorized mobility who can confirm that their airline and airport permit it. Those prioritizing storage capacity or lighter luggage may find a conventional suitcase more practical.
3. Heys SmartLuggage 21-Inch Carry-On: Built-In Scale and Bluetooth Lock
Packing for colder weather often means bringing heavier clothing, additional footwear, and accessories. Even when everything fits inside a carry-on, staying within an airline’s baggage weight allowance can be difficult.
The Heys SmartLuggage 21-Inch Carry-On includes an integrated weighing scale built into its handle. Travelers can check the suitcase’s weight before leaving home, reducing the chance of discovering an overweight bag at the airport.
Price: $449
Where to Buy: Heys
The suitcase connects to the Heys Smart Luggage app for compatible iOS and Android devices. Through Bluetooth, users can remotely lock or unlock the suitcase and receive proximity alerts when they move away from it.
Those alerts can be useful in crowded terminals, but Bluetooth proximity alerts aren’t GPS tracking. They depend on the connection between the suitcase and a compatible smartphone and cannot provide continuous location updates over long distances.
Unlike many smart suitcases, the Heys model operates its electronic features using two AAA batteries rather than a rechargeable lithium-ion power bank.
The suitcase measures 21 × 15 × 9 inches, weighs approximately 6.2 pounds, and provides 42 liters of packing capacity. It also features a polycarbonate shell, spinner wheels, and a lined interior with a zippered divider.
Heys lists the model at a sale price of $449.99 on its US website, although promotional pricing may change. The company specifies a 10-year warranty for the luggage and a separate one-year warranty for electronic components.
For travelers concerned about baggage weight and security, the integrated scale and Bluetooth lock provide useful features without requiring a rechargeable power bank.
4. Solgaard Carry-On Closet Original: Organized Packing for Winter Clothing
Winter clothing creates a different packing problem. Sweaters, thermal layers, scarves, and heavier trousers take up considerable space, making it difficult to keep everything organized when traveling between several destinations.
The Solgaard Carry-On Closet Original focuses on packing organization rather than electronic automation. Its main feature is a removable shelving system that keeps clothing separated inside the suitcase.
The organizer includes five shelves and a compression strap. You can pack the shelving system before departure. At your destination, the shelving system can be lifted from the suitcase and suspended from its handle, providing access to clothing without unpacking everything into hotel drawers.
Price: From $295
Where to Buy: Solgaard
This arrangement is useful for trips involving multiple hotel stays. Sweaters, base layers, socks, and other essentials can occupy separate compartments, making individual items easier to find.
Solgaard also includes a USB charging port, although a power bank isn’t supplied. Travelers must provide a compatible portable battery to use the charging feature.
Other features include a polycarbonate shell, 360-degree spinner wheels, a combination lock, and a telescopic handle. The interior uses Solgaard’s Shore-Tex lining, which the company says is made from recycled plastic.
The medium version measures approximately 20.8 × 13.4 × 9 inches, while the larger version measures 22.4 × 14.6 × 9.6 inches. The removable organizer adds weight and occupies some internal space, making conventional packing cubes a more flexible option for unusually bulky clothing.
Pricing starts around $295, depending on configuration. Some versions may be unavailable, so buyers should confirm stock before ordering.
The Carry-On Closet Original suits travelers who frequently change hotels and prefer organized clothing storage over electronic tracking or motorized features.
What to Know Before Flying With Smart Luggage
Electronic luggage features can be convenient, but airline compatibility should be checked before purchasing. A suitcase advertised as carry-on compatible isn’t necessarily accepted by every carrier, especially on smaller aircraft or international routes.
Under FAA rules, smart luggage containing a lithium-ion battery rated above 2.7Wh must travel as carry-on baggage with the battery installed, or have the battery removed before the bag is checked. Removed batteries must travel in the cabin under spare-battery rules. Smaller batteries used in features such as luggage trackers may qualify for an exception. Check your airline’s requirements before flying, particularly with motorized luggage or on international routes.
Travelers should also consider practical construction. Wheels may encounter wet pavement, slush, and uneven sidewalks, while heavier clothing can quickly consume available packing space. A hard shell provides some protection against everyday bumps and incidental moisture but shouldn’t be considered waterproof unless the manufacturer confirms that capability.
Which Smart Luggage Should You Buy for Fall and Winter Travel?
The July Carry On suits frequent flyers who want charging convenience and optional location tracking, while the Airwheel SE3S is aimed at travelers interested in motorized transportation who can accommodate its weight and storage limitations.
The Heys SmartLuggage 21-Inch Carry-On offers integrated weighing and Bluetooth locking for travelers concerned about baggage weight and security. Meanwhile, the Solgaard Carry-On Closet Original prioritizes clothing organization, making it useful for trips involving several destinations.
Smart luggage is worth considering when its features address problems you regularly encounter. Charging ports, tracking systems, and electronic locks can be useful, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of adequate storage, manageable weight, or airline compatibility.
