Inflatable Luggage Could Resolve the Carry-On vs. Checked Bag Dilemma

Durable, lightweight and expandable, the Fugu inflatable suitcase may solve travelers’ packing conundrums.

Carry on or check? This is the luggage dilemma that confronts every traveler. Thankfully, the team at Fugu Luggage has designed an inflatable suitcase — capable of expanding from a carry-on to full-sized bag in less than a minute — that could put an end to passengers’ packing woes.

When compact, the case — which takes its name from the Japanese word for puffer fish — complies with FAA regulations for carry-ons and measures 13.5 inches in width, 21.5 inches in length and 9 inches in depth, giving it a total volume of 40 liters. The side panels can be expanded via an electric pump that’s built into the case, another external pump or by breathing into an external tube. When the case is expanded, its height increases to 27 inches, giving it a volume of 120 liters.

When empty, the case weighs in at 8.8 pounds, which, its creators say, is comparable to other luggage of a similar size. While the inflatable walls of the case are made of durable PVC, the shell is composed of a lightweight plastic. Designed to be water and impact resistant, the Fugu Luggage team claims that their invention can even withstand the weight of a car.

Equipped with 360-degree rotating wheels and available in a variety of colors, the luggage also features removable interior shelves and a detachable laptop case. Finally, to help travelers save space, the case’s built-in pump can be used to deflate vacuum bags for easy packing.

The Fugu team — headed by CEO and Director of Industrial Design Isaac Atlas — hopes to put their design into production via crowd-funding site Kickstarter. With more than 1,000 backers and $333,560 in funding at time of reporting, the team has already exceeded their $50,000 goal with 7 days to go.