As airlines are increasingly reducing free baggage allowance, Pooja Bhula finds out about luggage innovations that promise to soon make travelling light easier, and more fun!
Did you ever imagine you’ll carry a bag made of fabric used for bullet-proof vests? Luggage companies are experimenting with that and a lot more so you can travel light, without compromising on all that you want to pack!
New Fabrics
“There’s a lot that we’re trying. Curv (a polypropylene material) has already reduced the baggage weight (and has more potential to do so) without compromising durability. We should see more of this being manufactured in India and China, given the amount of petroleum we produce,” says Anushree Tainwala, Executive Director, Marketing, Samsonite South Asia Pvt. Ltd.
Technology Next
PressPro technology, also expected to gain popularity, manufactures polypropylene shells under high temperature and pressure in a manner that the bag shell is a lot thinner, flexible, lighter and can absorb more force than most hard shells. Another concept that will become commonplace in the coming years is moulded components technology, innovated in Korea and Japan. It allows parts like wheels to be attached to bags without screws and ball bearings, thereby making bags lighter. “In fact, using this for the bag structure instead of the usual rivets can result in reduction of weight by almost 30 per cent,” adds Anushree.
Smart Lugging?
With cash cards, train tickets and even cities going smart, why should luggage be left behind? Several start-ups around the world are working on futuristic features such as location-tracking devices, mobile-charging ports (something that Lumos is already doing for cyclists, by way of solar panels built onto the face of bags), weight indicators, Wi-Fi hotspots, interior lighting, fingerprint IDs or locks that you can open with your phone and much more, some of which may soon be available. This year, US-based Bluesmart has planned to come out with a bag that has a built-in 3G SIM card, bluetooth and GPS. Going the smart luggage way are major brands like Delsey and Samsonite; the latter has tied up with Samsung for the same. Samsonite is working on self-propelled bags that will automatically trail its owner at a distance of six inches and can check-in on its own at the airport!
Smarter Travellers
- According to Jatinder Paul Singh, Senior VP and Head, Sales and Distribution Leisure Travel (Outbound), Thomas Cook (India), Indians have a remarkable way of adapting to challenges. Low-cost carriers have seen an increase in load, despite lower baggage allowances—as passengers are reducing their checked-in baggage and using their hand baggage to the maximum.
- So how can we get future ready? To pack light, he recommends keeping heavy clothes and footwear to a minimum, by taking just one pair of jeans/sneakers and multiple shirts or tees. Women can carry scarves or stoles, as they are light and can give your outfit the much required elan for a night out/event. You can also consider carrying fabrics made of old and new, light wrinkle-free fabrics available in the market.
- If you don’t like complimentary toiletries given by hotels, pack mini versions for yourself.
- When travelling to a cold destination, you could replace heavy winter wear with thermals or layer up with smart inners.
- For a short business trip a ‘strolley’ is perfect. Compact and convenient with a laptop attachment, it fits into the overhead bin.
- Carry multi-purpose chords; phone chargers of companies like Micromax can be detached, such that the chord can be used for USB functions.
Trends to Come:
>> Indians will increasingly opt for backpacks rather than carrier bags. Though foldable and inflatable bags have been around, they too may regain popularity.
>> There’s a rise in popularity of hard luggage due to bad baggage handling at airports and it’s bound to continue as new hardcover materials are lighter than the soft ones.
>> As travellers are becoming aesthetically conscious about their luggage, colours and prints are beginning to rule. This is set to translate into what we’ll soon find in the market. For instance, Samsonite is tying up with artists and designers around the world for their printed bags. An upcoming project will be a range of designs by Indian artists that will be sold across the globe.
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 "The future of travel")
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