Several top airlines are banning smart luggage that does not have removable batteries, starting January 15. Here are a few bags and gadgets that won’t get you in trouble with the TSA, along with more accessories and apps to make business travel easier in 2018.
Prices are accurate at the time of press.
The Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port is one smart luggage option with a removable battery (although the battery pack is sold separately). With a battery in the bag, the user can charge a device via the USB port. The Underseater also follows its name and fits under the seat in front of you, potentially avoiding storage bin fees.
Price: $109.99
Makers of the Samsara bag consolidated all electronic features into one spot that can be removed if needed. The battery can charge a phone up to 10 times, and there is an interior LED light if you need to find something in the dark. For those working on a laptop on the go, the top of the bag is flat, providing an ergonomically-designed workstation.
Price: Pre-order for $435 (Scheduled to ship this month)
Portable hotspots can help business travelers stay connected while on the go. One option, the Roaming Man, provides unlimited data and 4G Wi-Fi internationally through a rentable device. Up to five devices can access the internet through the Roaming Man, which can provide 8-12 consecutive hours of power on one charge.
Users can have a Roaming Man delivered to their home before a trip, or can have it delivered to New York’s JFK Airport to pick up at check-in. The company provides a prepaid shipping label to return the device.
Price: $9.99/day
Staying fit while traveling can be difficult. Aaptiv, a subscription-based app for iOS and Android, provides unlimited access to audio fitness courses that users can complete while away from their home gym. The app currently has more than 2,500 course options with 30 new courses added each week.
Price: $14.99/month or $99.99/year
Part of Energizer’s recent line of solar-powered products, the PowerKeep Pro backpack relies on the sun to help charge your devices. A solar panel on the front of the backpack works with a removable powerbank to keep things charged.
Price: $186.06
It can be hard to navigate a new city, and even harder to find things to do. The free Sidewalk app, available for iOS and Android, gives walking tours of new neighborhoods across the world. Business travelers can use it to get acquainted to a new city and find less touristy restaurants and attractions after business hours.
Price: Free
Through the app Invitly, business travelers can send invites to other professionals in the area to meet for meals or a drink. The free app, available for iOS and Android, can help turn business travel–a sometimes lonely time–into a potential networking opportunity.
Price: Free
With the rise of streaming services and death of iPods, the Mighty device helps travelers listen to their Spotify library without taking up phone memory or requiring the phone to be off airplane mode. Similar to the iPod shuffle, the device comes in multiple colors and can clip to clothes to work on the go.
Price: $85.99
International travelers can use Local SIM, an app available for iOS, to figure out where to get a local SIM card in a new location to avoid roaming charges. The app currently works in 33 countries and has more than 60 providers.
Price: Free
The Create-A-Space provides a barrier between you and your seatmate on a flight. By attaching the device to an armrest, there may be fewer armrest battles and less unwanted contact with those beside you. With those distractions decreased, business travelers may be able to work and rest more comfortably.
Price: $39.99
All of Away’s carry-on bags have a removable battery, so travelers have multiple TSA-approved options to choose from. One spokesperson recommended the Carry-On for business travel–the smaller size fits on all planes, including regional jets.
Price: $225
Using a wrap-around garment bag, like those by SkyRoll, professionals can roll business clothes like suits and dresses instead of folding them. Clothes are more likely to be wrinkle-free, saving embarrassment and ironing time. The company has three luggage options that are all carry-on size.
Price: $149.99
Using a built-in shelving system, the Solgaard Lifepack Carry-On Closet keeps a carry-on organized and reduces the need to unpack during the trip. There’s also a section to keep dirty clothes to make end-of-trip laundry easier.
Price: $299
The Paravel Stowaway suitcase isn’t smart in a tech sense, but is smart in a storage sense. The suitcase collapses fully flat to save space in a hotel room or in storage when you aren’t traveling. It can also be kept inside a larger bag to be used at the end of a trip.
Price: $325
The MyAir mask, available in 20 fabrics, blocks 99.997% of viruses and bacteria a traveler may face while in flight. It can also help combat jet lag by reducing moisture loss by 88%.
Price: $19.99
Olivia Krauth is a multiplatform reporter at TechRepublic.
