Suitcases haven’t changed that much since 1945, when inventor John M. Hendrick applied to patent the wheeled version for moving luggage “without the necessity of bodily lifting.” (Amen, John.) That is, until Away rolled onto the scene. “They were the first to do a power-adapter, direct-to-consumer model, and innovate with a laptop charger,” juror Roopal Patel says. The Bigger Carry-On debuted last October at the maximum proportions airlines will allow overhead, with a German-made Bayer Makrolon polycarbonate shell that’s beloved for its durability, 360-degree spinner wheels, a high-capacity battery for USB charging, and a patent-pending compression system—all at a comparatively featherweight 7.3 pounds. awaytravel.com
Away, Bigger Carry-On
Category: Luggage (Disruptor)