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.
All images (and video) courtesy of Barracuda.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.