Feb 16, 2018 10:00 AM

Review: Travel Smart With This Carry-On

If your heart is set on a smart suitcase, you'll want to get Away.

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Stop us if this airport scenario sounds familiar: desperately wandering through terminals, searching for any spare outlet, just to be able charge your phone so you can get to the boarding pass you’ve oh-so-presciently stored on it.

That’s exactly the kind of jam battery-toting smart suitcases can help get you out of. But recently, major airlines began banning them from being checked, citing fire concerns from the lithium-ion battery. If your smart suitcase doesn’t have a removable battery, and the overhead compartments are full, you might be stuck.

If you’re still set on owning a smart suitcase, the Away is a great option. Not only is it stylish—not surprising, considering that the company was founded by Warby Parker alums—but it’s put together well. And despite its TSA-friendly size, it easily holds a week’s worth of clothes and toiletries.

The hard polycarbonate shell is easy to keep clean and scuff-free, the telescoping handle has three different height levels with two locking heights, and the four 360-degree spinner wheels roll beautifully. At seven pounds, it may not be as light as some other pieces of luggage, but it’s still pretty handy.

01
Stop us if this airport scenario sounds familiar: desperately wandering through terminals, searching for any spare outlet, just to be able charge your phone so you can get to the boarding pass you’ve oh-so-presciently stored on it.
02
That’s exactly the kind of jam battery-toting smart suitcases can help get you out of. But recently, major airlines began banning them from being checked, citing fire concerns from the lithium-ion battery. If your smart suitcase doesn’t have a removable battery, and the overhead compartments are full, you might be stuck.

03
If you’re still set on owning a smart suitcase, the Away is a great option. Not only is it stylish—not surprising, considering that the company was founded by Warby Parker alums—but it’s put together well. And despite its TSA-friendly size, it easily holds a week’s worth of clothes and toiletries.
04
The hard polycarbonate shell is easy to keep clean and scuff-free, the telescoping handle has three different height levels with two locking heights, and the four 360-degree spinner wheels roll beautifully. At seven pounds, it may not be as light as some other pieces of luggage, but it’s still pretty handy.

05
And about that battery: It has two USB outputs and one micro USB input. It reached full power in just a little over two hours. Away claims that the battery can restore full battery life to an iPhone five times over before it has to be recharged. (And yes, it’s removable.)
06
The bag’s simple interior is divided into left and right webbed zip compartments, with a webbed panel for shoes, and a convenient nylon dirty laundry bag. And, to counter any worries about the bag, Away offers a 100-day trial and a lifetime guarantee on all parts.

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Despite all of this, let’s be real: no one really *needs* a smart suitcase. You can carry several battery banks in your laptop bag, and just throw a Tile in your regular suitcase if you want to track it. But if you’re in the market for a stylish, durable, and reasonably-priced new carry-on—smart or not—it’s hard to find a better option than the Away.
08
**WIRED** Simple and stylish. Light. Durable. Great price (and I don't get to say that often). Included charging block charges battery quickly. 100-day free trial and lifetime guarantee. **TIRED** Handle feels wobbly. Zipper design doesn't inspire much confidence.

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Adrienne So was a senior commerce editor for WIRED, where she reviewed health and fitness gear. She graduated from the University of Virginia with bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish and runs, rock climbs, and sings karaoke in her free time. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, two ... Read More

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