Here's What the Travel Tech Bag that Raised $2 Million Looks Like

Between the ride-on Modobag and the stair-climbing TraxPack, carry-on luggage is getting a whole lot smarter these days — much of it thanks to the power of crowdfunding. But few bags seem to have piqued the traveling public's interest as much as the Barracuda, a sleek, collapsible carry-on that managed to raise more than $2 million in funding between Kickstarter and Indiegogo last year — and will begin shipping next month.

Billing itself as "the world's first collapsible luggage," the Barracuda has a whole lot more to offer than just space-saving capabilities. The state-of-the-art smart bag, which is standard carry-on size and comes in six different colors, has left no traveler woe to chance. First, there's its compact size: when not in use, you can collapse the bag and shove it out of sight, or even use its included storage bag and hanger to hang it up in your closet.

When en route, the Barracuda bag aims to solve just about any travel challenge you might throw its way. Among its most impressive attributes: an ergonomic, 360-degree swivel handle that lets you find the most comfortable position and lock it into place; when you're waiting at the gate, the bag's built-in tray is a perfect resting spot for that stale bagel and mediocre cup of coffee you just grabbed, or your laptop or tablet — if there's little juice left on said electronic device, simply plug it into the bag's nifty USB charger.

Safety, too, is all part of the package, with zippers that fit into a TSA-approved lock, plus a GPS device that you can tuck in with your unmentionables to track the bag's location should the Barracuda decide to head to Aruba while you're off to Alaska.

"We are very excited about bringing Barracuda to market after the overwhelming response to our crowdfunding campaign," says the company's founder, Boban Jose. "We know there is a huge demand for technological yet stylish products that provide a great level of convenience for travelers and we are confident Barracuda will revolutionize the luggage industry."

The Barracuda is available for pre-order now — pricing starts at $299 — with shipping expected next month. For an even more in-depth look at what this amazing bag can do, check out the video below.

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All images (and video) courtesy of Barracuda.