We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Why trust us?
These suitcases can charge your phone.
One of the most nerve-wracking travel moments is when you're about to board your flight and realize your phone is about to die (especially if you have a mobile boarding pass). You can be left to fight over the minimal outlets at an airport gate... or opt for smart luggage that will keep your phone 100% charged for your entire trip.
Smart luggage offers the ability to integrate a portable battery right into your suitcase — no more fighting for an outlet! Some suitcases come with a battery while others only have USB ports and you have to provide your own. But even with that capability, you still want to make sure you're investing in great luggage that will keep your belongings safe.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab is comprised of travel pros who put all types of luggage to the test, including hardside and softside carry-ons, large checked bags, duffels, backpacks and more. Our pros use specialized lab equipment to test top luggage brands by measuring each bag's size and weight, reviewing how much each can hold with a standard load and evaluating the durability through tests like abrasion resistance, scratch resistance, water resistance and drop testing. Consumer testers roll loaded luggage through an obstacle course to give feedback on things like comfort, ease of use and how smooth it feels to wheel around. GH pros also road test smart luggage to see how they'll actually perform in real life. No matter where you're planning to travel to next, head into vacation or business travel in style with smart luggage that'll keep your phones fully charged and ready to go.
Shop the best smart luggage products to make traveling as easy as possible:
Known as the brand to revolutionize smart luggage, Away designed its carry-on to have a portable charger that easily pops in and out to allow for charging on the go. The bigger carry-on aced the GH Textiles Lab evaluations for being lightweight and durable, thanks to its 100% polycarbonate exterior. Available in eight shades with a 100-day trial, you can return this trendy suitcase even after it's used if it doesn't live up to your expectations.
• Listed size: 22.7" x 14.7" x 9.6" • Listed weight: 8.4 lbs
While it's more affordable than most smart luggage brands, Open Story did not compromise on performance. This chic carry-on had one of the highest scores in our latest luggage tests, showing no sign of damage even after multiple drops. Holding our entire packing load, consumer testers found the loaded case easy to maneuver as they swerved it around cones, rolled it over a variety of surfaces and lifted it onto a table. They also gave it high appearance scores for its "cute, modern" look. It has a USB port on the side with an inner pocket to hold your own portable charger (not included).
• Listed size: 21.5" x 14" x 9.75" • Listed weight: 7.9 lbs
Holding more items than just our standard carry-on load, this pick from Arlo Skye has a massive interior with a front zipper pocket for easily accessing items like travel documents or headphones. The included portable charger pops in and out of the carry-on for easy traveling. Our pros love all of the organizational pockets and features like a laptop pocket and a laundry bag to keep your dirty clothes separate. The various zippers were easy to open and close, and the suitcase didn't show any signs of wear in our drop tests. Testers gave it high scores for maneuverability with some saying it was their favorite, but others found the telescopic handle uncomfortable.
• Listed size: 23” x 15” x 10.3” • Listed weight: 8.1 lbs
Travelpro softside luggage continues to impress GH textiles pros for being abrasion-resistant, holding everything (and more) in our packing tests and featuring excellent organizational compartments. Amazon reviewers agree, giving this pick over 2,000 rave reviews. In evaluations, the sturdy zippers held up to constant opening and closing and proved to be water-resistant. Most softside luggage doesn't have smart capabilities, but this style has an external USB port and a designated zippered pocket for a power bank (not included). Ideal for business travel, this pick includes a drop-in, fold-out suiter to hang clothes and prevent wrinkles.
• Listed size: 19" x 15" x 7.75" • Listed weight: 7.7 lbs
With more and more airlines having additional fees for even a carry-on suitcase, save money with an underseat suitcase that can fit enough clothes for a weekend away. Samsonite's polyester exterior fabric proved to be abrasion resistant in Lab evaluations. With a backstrap, this pick can also fit conveniently on top of a carry-on to easily maneuver through busy airports. This is one of the few underseat suitcases that features a USB port on the side for your own battery pack (not included).
• Listed size: 17.5" x 14.0" x 8.25" • Listed weight: 5.9 lbs
Whether traveling by air or land, a hands-free travel backpack is an invaluable travel necessity. This one has a convenient side USB port for on-the-go charging (battery not included). With excellent organizational features, there are easy-access front zipper pockets, hidden anti-theft compartments for valuables and even a padded laptop sleeve that can hold up to a 15.6-inch laptop. It's made with water-resistant materials, so it can withstand any adventure. At just $30, it's also an Amazon bestseller with over 46,000 reviews!
• Listed size: 18" x 12" x 7.8" • Listed weight: 1.56 lbs
Avoid losing your wallet, passport or other valuables to pickpocketers with an anti-theft bag. This backpack from Kopack is one big compartment with a hidden zipper near the backstraps, so you're secure while wearing it. Fitting up to a 15-inch laptop, the inside has convenient pockets to hold books, pens, a camera and a portable charger that connects to the USB port (powerbank not included). With over 4,000 Amazon reviewers, many especially love the hidden pockets on the padded shoulder straps.
• Listed size: 11.8" x 5.5" x 17.7" • Listed weight: 1.94 lbs
Smart luggage refers to suitcases with tech capabilities — typically USB ports to connect portable chargers for easy access. Some styles include their own portable chargers, while others require you to provide your own. Either way, you'll never have a dead phone while traveling. Make sure to bring a charging cable as no smart luggage picks include them. In addition to chargers, there are some newer suitcases with self-weighing options and tracking capabilities, but they have a much higher price tag and we've found they don't meet our standards for top performance. If those features are important to you, try a hand scale or a luggage tracker.
Our textile pros spend months reviewing luggage using standardized test methods and state-of-the-art lab equipment, then set up an obstacle course for users to try them out. In our latest evaluation, our pros tested 25 styles, leading to over 3,000 data points to analyze before making our selections. Here's how we rate the luggage in our evaluations:
✔️Technology capabilities: Our pros try out each smart luggage's tech features and rate them for ease of use and accessibility.
✔️Size and weight: Each piece of luggage is weighed when empty because we've found the online specs aren't always accurate. We then put the luggage in a 22" x 14"x 9" area to see if it complies with average airline carry-on restrictions.
✔️Packing capabilities: Our analysts pack each piece of luggage using a standard load with real travel items like clothing, shoes, toiletries and more. In this process, we rate the ease of opening and closing the zippers, ease of accessing the compartments and how much of our load actually fits inside. We also make note of the important specifications, like the wheels, telescopic handle and any extra features. When the bag is fully packed, we practice rolling it over different surfaces and lifting it on and off countertops to get a feel of the handles.
✔️Drop durability: Each carry-on is filled with a standard weight and loaded onto our drop tester, which releases the luggage from a three-foot height. The test is repeated in various directions, with damages and imperfections noted and scored throughout.
✔️Abrasion resistance: Swatches of fabric are cut from softside luggage and loaded into our abrasion machine which rubs the fabric over an abrasive material 15,000 times before being graded for signs of wear.
✔️Scratch resistance: A wire is dragged over hardside luggage material, then analysts visually assess scuffs and marks left behind.
✔️Water resistance: Water is poured over the zipper. The amount of water that seeps through is measured by weighing blotting paper before and after it catches the liquid.
✔️Consumer tests: Each carry-on case is filled with weight to mimic a real load, and a standard course is set up to cover a variety of surfaces and obstacles like going through twists and turns, lifting over curbs, transitioning to different flooring and more. Consumer testers then wheel the luggage through the course and rate the luggage on factors like ease of using the handles, comfort when pulling, sturdiness, wheel performance and maneuverability.
First and foremost, smart luggage needs to be high quality and durable, because no tech features will be helpful if your suitcase doesn't last. Additionally, look for features that match your preferences.
✔️Portable charger: Some smart luggage includes a portable charger while others do not and just have a USB port. If you already have a portable charger you like, you can usually save a few bucks by choosing a style without one included. Our picks with portable chargers feature high-quality chargers that are great to use with the suitcase and without.
✔️Softside vs. hardside: In GH testing, we have had top performers in both hardside and softside luggage. Based on feedback from testers, it comes down to personal preference. When shopping for hardside luggage, look for durable materials like 100% polycarbonate. Our pros recommend softside luggage made out of nylon or polyester if you want a more affordable option.
✔️Wheels: For rolling luggage, our testers prefer four 360° wheels for easy maneuverability. Two-wheel luggage only lets you push it forward and back, while four wheels give you the flexibility to push in all directions.
✔️Handles: When shopping, look at all the handles on the suitcase. Check how easy it is to lift the telescopic handle to different heights. Some styles put padding on the handles, which can make it much more comfortable to use after a long day of traveling. Look for styles with top and side handles to make it easy to put in an overhead bin.
✔️Weight: Avoid bulky styles and stick with lightweight carry-ons that weigh less than 8 to 10 pounds when empty.
Here, Senior Textiles Product Analyst Emma Seymour uses the abrasion machine to test the durability of the fabrics used to construct softside luggage.
Yes, smart luggage is allowed on airplanes, but there are limitations that depend on the airline. Airlines do not want lithium-powered portable chargers in the cargo hold, so they ask that all portable chargers are removed from the suitcase before boarding and carried in hand. Even if you plan on carrying on your bag, you must remove that battery before boarding in case your suitcase gets checked at the gate. Because of this rule, smart luggage with a built-in charger or battery that is not removable may not be allowed on the plane. If you are using your own personal portable charger, check that it meets FAA and TSA regulations. Always check the specific luggage rules and size limitations from the airline before flying to ensure a smooth airport experience.
Emma Seymour is a senior textiles product analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab. She’s been at Good Housekeeping for over three years, overseeing Lab and consumer tests for walking shoes, luggage, tampons, pillows, sheets, period underwear and more. She also has worked on multiple travel features on backpacks, travel dresses and packing cubes. With a degree in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University, she has extensive research experience, particularly focused on athletic wear. As a lifetime sewer with previous product development experience, she has a strong fashion background with expertise in proper fit and construction.