What is smart luggage?

Smart luggage is any travel bag that has technological features that go beyond storage. That could include removable batteries, built-in scales, or even motors that move the suitcase on its own.

What types of smart luggage can I check?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned lithium-ion batteries from being checked into the cargo hold of an aircraft. That's because they've been known to catch fire on occasion if they are damaged. You can, however, bring them onboard in a carry-on, as fires can be suppressed more easily in the cabin. As for other smart luggage features, there are no FAA rules, but individual airlines might have their own restrictions. Always confirm your airline's policies before heading to the airport. And even if an airline approves smart luggage, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents can override that decision at the airport — so, it might be prudent to reach out to the TSA ahead of your flight, too. You can also consult a full list of what you can and can't bring onboard a plane at TSA.gov .

What smart luggage cannot be checked?

Smart luggage with lithium-ion batteries cannot be checked, per a mandate by the FAA. The battery can, however, be removed and carried with the passenger into the aircraft cabin. Check with both the TSA and your airline to see if other types of smart luggage are permitted in the cargo hold.

The 10 Best Smart Luggage Pieces of 2023

The Best Smart Luggage Pieces — Travel & Leisure / Alli Waataja

When we say "smart luggage," your mind immediately jumps to suitcases with portable batteries, right? While those used to be the smartest pieces of luggage in the game, the industry has grown, and travel bags are more advanced than ever.

These days, luggage can be adorned with all manner of tech-related gizmos and gadgets, from built-in scales that weigh your suitcase for you to motors and sensors that allow your suitcase to autonomously follow you wherever you go.

We've researched the best smart luggage out there, analyzing different smart features and their efficacy and practicality, to help open your eyes to the wide, wide world of tech-savvy suitcases.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Heys SmartLuggage 26-inch Hardside Airline Approved Spinner Luggage at Macy's

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Best Biometric Lock:

Kabuto Nomad Smart Expandable 2-Wheel Carry-On at Amazon

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Best With Built-in Tracker:

Samsara Carry-on at Samsaraluggage.com

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Best With Built-in Scale:

Enkloze X1 Self-Weighing Suitcase at Amazon

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Best Carry-on With Ejectable Battery Included:

Away Bigger Carry-On at Awaytravel.com

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Best Carry-on With Battery Pocket:

Travelpro Hardside Spinner at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Weego Smart Carry-on Luggage at Walmart

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Best With Solar Charging:

Voltaic Systems Array Rapid Solar Backpack Charger at Amazon

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Best Scooter:

Modobag Luggage at Amazon

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Best Robot:

Forward X Ovis Auto-follow Suitcase at Amazon

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Macy's

View On Macy's

Why We Love It: You can check it without removing the batteries.

What to Consider: Those AAA batteries can't be used to charge your phone.

This smart suitcase has not one, not two, but three major smart features, which are all controlled by an app available for both Apple and Android devices. First, there's an integrated scale so that you can weigh your bag anywhere you go. Second, the lock securing the zipper is controlled by Bluetooth, so you can remotely lock and unlock your bag. And third, there's a proximity alarm that notifies you when you've left your bag behind. Best of all, these smart features are powered by AAA batteries (included with your purchase), not lithium-ion ones, which means that you can check this bag without taking out the batteries.

As for standard suitcase features, this bag has 360-degree spinner wheels, a durable polycarbonate shell, and ample compartments, including a zippered mesh one, for all your belongings. While we're fans of the carry-on size, we appreciate the two checked sizes (26-inch and 30-inch) to take full advantage of those remote features.

Price at time of publish: $660 for 26-inch

Smart Features: Smart handle with integrated scale, Bluetooth smart remote TSA lock, proximity alarm | Dimensions: 26 x 18 x 10.5 inches | Weight: 8 pounds (26-inch)

Kabuto Nomad Smart Expandable 2-Wheel Carry-On

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Mykabuto.com

Why We Love It: It has a biometric lock, a charging pocket, and great organization.

What to Consider: This specific model has two wheels rather than four.

Without taking smart features into consideration, the Kabuto Nomad is an impressive bag on its own. We're particularly keen on its light weight, waterproofing, and separate shoe compartment, plus detachable laptop sleeve. But the most impressive feature (besides the smart features) is its massive expander, which unzips to provide 50 percent more space — just remember that you'll have to check it once expanded.

Onto the good stuff. The coolest smart feature of this bag is that it has a TSA-approved biometric lock to secure the zipper. That is, you can use your fingerprint rather than a combination to work the lock. It also comes with a removable external battery with 20,000 mAh, which is enough to charge an iPhone at least four times, or a laptop once or twice.

Price at time of publish: $765

Smart Features: Fingerprint biometric sensor | Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 9 inches | Weight: 7.5 pounds

Samsara

View On Samsaraluggage.com

Why We Love It: The tracker is compatible with Apple's Find My network.

What to Consider: It's a little heavy for a carry-on.

AirTag, who? If you want a suitcase with a built-in tracker that can help you locate your bag if it gets lost en route, Samsara has you covered. It works the same way that an AirTag does — there's a Bluetooth tracker built into the suitcase that taps into Apple's Find My network, allowing you to see your suitcase's location in real time. The only downside is this tracker isn't compatible with Android devices.

As for the suitcase itself, we're impressed with its futuristic design, aviation-grade aluminum case, and five-year warranty for that case. (Other parts of the suitcase such as the wheels and telescopic handle have a one-year warranty).

Price at time of publish: $355

Smart Features: Tag smart device | Dimensions: 9.3 x 13.7 x 21.4 inches | Weight: 9 pounds

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Enkloze.com

Why We Love It: You'll never need to wonder whether or not your suitcase is under the 50-pound limit.

What to Consider: There's no carry-on size.

If you want to skip the panic at the bag drop when you discover that your bag is just over the 50-pound limit, look into buying a suitcase with a built-in scale. This one has a scale powered by a small watch battery that will last years — and is approved to be checked into the hold of a plane, though it is removable if necessary. The bag comes in two checked sizes, 25 inches and 28 inches, and features a sleek design with a black polycarbonate shell and rose-gold trim. We're also impressed by how lightweight it is, coming in at 9.7 pounds for the smaller suitcase, which is comparable to some carry-on bags.

Price at time of publish: $199 for 25-inch

Smart Features: Self-weighing functionality | Dimensions: 27.5 x 18.5 x 11.4 inches | Weight: 9.7 pounds (25-inch)

4.7

Away

View On Awaytravel.com

Why We Love It: The bag has a lifetime warranty.

What to Consider: You have to pay extra for the battery.

Away popularized the battery trend in suitcases when it debuted in 2015, and it remains a common smart feature in suitcases today. Away continues to offer some suitcases, including the Bigger Carry-on, with its proprietary ejectable battery, but there's one thing you should note: it's no longer free with the suitcase and costs $20 to add. It is, however, designed specifically to be compatible with Away products, unlike other suitcases that simply have a pocket for you to insert your own battery. Other benefits to the Away suitcase include a 100-day trial period and a limited lifetime warranty. (The battery has a two-year limited warranty.)

Price at time of publish: $315 with battery

Smart Features: Removable battery | Dimensions: 22.7 x 14.7 x 9.6 inches | Weight: 8 pounds

4.8

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Travelpro.com

Why We Love It: It comes with USB-A and USB-C ports.

What to Consider: The removable battery is not included, nor does Travelpro sell them.

If you have your own removable battery that you'd like to use with your suitcase, Travelpro has a pocket that can hold most standard-size batteries. Connect your battery to the suitcase, and you'll power up the USB-A and USB-C ports on the exterior of the bag, to which you can attach your charging cables. Smart features aside, we love this suitcase for its high quality, from effortless gliding to a comfortable grip. Plus, there's a separate water-resistant pocket inside the suitcase where you can pack dirty or wet clothes after a trip — or your toiletries in case there's a spill.

Price at time of publish: $370

Smart Features: MagnaTrac self-aligning magnetic spinner wheels | Dimensions: 23 x 14.5 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 8.1 pounds

Walmart

View On Walmart

Why We Love It: It has a biometric lock and a pocket for a removable battery.

What to Consider: The lock has to be recharged regularly.

Not all smart bags cost a fortune. This is a relatively simple smart suitcase that comes in at a very healthy price point. Its best smart feature is a biometric lock — you can use your fingerprint instead of a combination to unlock it. You're also able to register up to 40 fingerprints with the lock, so anyone in your family can unlock it, too. Do note that this lock needs to be charged, either via USB or the built-in solar panels (but that solar charger is, in itself, another pretty cool smart feature!). In case of emergencies, there's also a manual key to unlock the suitcase. The bag's other smart feature is a pocket for a removable battery, which you could actually use to charge the biometric lock.

Price at time of publish: $115

Smart Features: Fingerprint locking technology | Dimensions: 13.7 x 8.8 x 19 inches | Weight: Not listed

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Voltaicsystems.com

Why We Love It: This is the eco-friendly way to go.

What to Consider: This is a backpack, not a rolling suitcase.

If you're heading off the grid and are worried that your portable power bank will run out of juice, consider buying a bag with a solar array to charge it up. As long as you have access to sunlight, you can use solar power to charge an included 24,000 mAh power bank, which itself can be used to power all devices from phones to camera batteries to laptops. While this is a backpack and not a rolling suitcase, it is FAA-compliant — you just need to remove the battery before checking the backpack. It has 25 liters of space for all your gear and includes a laptop sleeve for up to a 15-inch device.

Price at time of publish: $249

Smart Features: Solar panel battery charger | Dimensions: 19 x 11 x 7 inches | Weight: 5.4 pounds

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Modobag.com

Why We Love It: This makes getting around an airport a breeze.

What to Consider: You might get funny looks while riding this suitcase. Plus, it's really expensive.

Hate walking around the airport? Get a free ride via your suitcase with this motorized contraption designed to be both a scooter and travel bag. Yes, you'll probably get some weird looks as you zip through an airport while sitting on your luggage, but we have to admit — a motorized suitcase is certainly a unique smart bag. There are quite a few stipulations to this device. First, it has a rider weight capacity of 260 pounds. Second, it weighs 19 pounds, which might be too heavy for some airlines with weight limits for carry-on bags. And third, it needs to be charged via an outlet, which takes two hours for a full charge. But with that charge, you'll be able to travel up to six miles, depending on your weight.

Price at time of publish: $1,495

Smart Features: Motorized rideable luggage | Dimensions: 22 x 9 x 14 inches | Weight: 19 pounds

Amazon

View On Amazon

Why We Love It: It frees up your hands for holding coffee, your passport, or your phone.

What to Consider: It can get confused in crowded spaces.

Nobody likes having to carry too many things as they're running through an airport. This hands-free suitcase can alleviate that problem. It's designed to follow you around autonomously at speeds of up to 4.5 miles per hour — and take pictures and videos along the way with its camera, which it also uses for navigation. All you have to do is wear a tracking bracelet. Just keep in mind that the bag can get a little confused in very crowded spaces, so you might need to pick up the handle and manually escort your suitcase through the boarding area.

Price at time of publish: $799

Smart Features: Self-driving, auto-follow technology | Dimensions: 21.6 x 15 x 8.7 inches | Weight: 13 pounds

Tips for Buying Smart Luggage

Prioritize smart features you’d actually use

While smart features might sound great on paper, you might not actually use many of them in practice. At that point, it's not worth paying for those extra features! It's also worth considering that some tech features do add weight to bags, which means you may have less overall weight in the bag for your items (given airline limits).

Check with your airline before traveling

Always confirm with your airline whether or not your smart features are permitted onboard, both in the cabin and in the cargo hold. Lithium-ion batteries, for example, are forbidden from being checked, though you can bring them in your carry-on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is smart luggage?

Smart luggage is any travel bag that has technological features that go beyond storage. That could include removable batteries, built-in scales, or even motors that move the suitcase on its own.
What types of smart luggage can I check?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned lithium-ion batteries from being checked into the cargo hold of an aircraft. That's because they've been known to catch fire on occasion if they are damaged. You can, however, bring them onboard in a carry-on, as fires can be suppressed more easily in the cabin.

As for other smart luggage features, there are no FAA rules, but individual airlines might have their own restrictions. Always confirm your airline's policies before heading to the airport. And even if an airline approves smart luggage, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents can override that decision at the airport — so, it might be prudent to reach out to the TSA ahead of your flight, too. You can also consult a full list of what you can and can't bring onboard a plane at TSA.gov.
What smart luggage cannot be checked?

Smart luggage with lithium-ion batteries cannot be checked, per a mandate by the FAA. The battery can, however, be removed and carried with the passenger into the aircraft cabin. Check with both the TSA and your airline to see if other types of smart luggage are permitted in the cargo hold.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance travel writer with nearly a decade of experience. For this article, she evaluated smart luggage based on her own experience as a travel writer, evaluating both the technical details of each piece and reading dozens of customer reviews.

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