Gear Spotlight: ShelfPack Luggage Bag
Posted on January 5, 2016 by
If you are tired of continuously packing and repacking your clothes while travelling, you might be interested in the Shelfpack. Shelfpack is a piece of luggage that has four collapsible shelves that extend up into a vertical position, allowing you to organize and have access to your clothes within seconds after unzipping the bag. No more having to transfer your stuff from suitcase to dresser or closet and back again at every hotel stop. It also eliminates having to dig through your luggage every time you need to find something.
This clearly isn't for the minimalist traveller. The added convenience may come at a cost in both weight and reduced useable space. The Shelfpack, which is currently available only in one size option, claims a total capacity of 6,734 cubic inches and weighs 14.5lbs. A comparable Samonsite bag with 6,600 cubic inches of space, for example, has a claimed weight of 10lbs. And the shelves will take away some usable space. If favorably estimating that each shelf is 1 inch deep, that's still going to take away 1,872 cubic inches. Don't get me wrong, the idea of the bag is pretty cool, but these are valid considerations.
The outside of the bag does provide three zippered pockets for additional storage. I'm not sure if that is calculated into the claimed capacity.
To accomodate the shelves neatly in the case, the retractable trolley handle is mounted on the outside. Perhaps a later model will somehow allow one of the supports to perform double-duty as the trolley handle, and reduce some weight (some free design advice from me to Shelfpack).
The case also has standard rolling wheels and a hard front rest to support when upright, as well as a handle on the side for easy fetching from baggage claim.
Shelfpack emerged from a successful Kickstarter campaign, and initial deliveries are scheduled for mid-January 2016 to the U.S., Canada, and Europe. It will run $350, and looks like only be available on the Shelfpack website as of now.
>>Visit the Shelfpack website for more info
This clearly isn't for the minimalist traveller. The added convenience may come at a cost in both weight and reduced useable space. The Shelfpack, which is currently available only in one size option, claims a total capacity of 6,734 cubic inches and weighs 14.5lbs. A comparable Samonsite bag with 6,600 cubic inches of space, for example, has a claimed weight of 10lbs. And the shelves will take away some usable space. If favorably estimating that each shelf is 1 inch deep, that's still going to take away 1,872 cubic inches. Don't get me wrong, the idea of the bag is pretty cool, but these are valid considerations.
The outside of the bag does provide three zippered pockets for additional storage. I'm not sure if that is calculated into the claimed capacity.
To accomodate the shelves neatly in the case, the retractable trolley handle is mounted on the outside. Perhaps a later model will somehow allow one of the supports to perform double-duty as the trolley handle, and reduce some weight (some free design advice from me to Shelfpack).
The case also has standard rolling wheels and a hard front rest to support when upright, as well as a handle on the side for easy fetching from baggage claim.
Shelfpack emerged from a successful Kickstarter campaign, and initial deliveries are scheduled for mid-January 2016 to the U.S., Canada, and Europe. It will run $350, and looks like only be available on the Shelfpack website as of now.
>>Visit the Shelfpack website for more info
