A short while back, we saw a pretty huge reinvention of the luggage with FUGU, a carry-on suitcase that can expand into a maximum-size check-in bag. While very different, the Trunkster is an equally big reinvention, getting rid of the ubiquitous zippers and using a sliding door for access.
Yes, a sliding door. Rather than a single piece of material, an entire wall of the bag consists of the sliding door, which is made up of multiple panels that pile into the bottom of the bag at the single push of a button, giving you complete access to the main luggage compartment. And that door happens to be durable and waterproof, too, so it should be able to withstand the perils of travel just like any regular luggage.
Aside from the unique sliding door, Trunkster packs some useful tech under the hood. For instance, it’s got a removable battery and USB charger, which you can fill up with enough juice to charge a smartphone around nine times over. There’s a digital scale, too, so you can check to see if your bag will still clear the weight limit even after you throw in a bunch of stuff from the gift shop, as well as a GPS to give you a better chance of finding your bag, in case it gets lost somewhere along the trip. Other features include a wide side-to-side handle, compression panels, a hidden compartment for travel essentials, omni-directional casters, and a TSA-approved combination lock. It comes in two sizes: one for carry-on and another for check-in.
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running to fund Trunkster. Pledges to reserve a unit starts at $295.