Inflatable Suitcases are a Real Thing
The suitcase that pops up crushed its Kickstarter goal.
— -- It's like a suitcase on steroids.
Fugu luggage, named for the Japanese puffer fish that inflates itself, can blow up from a carry on to a check-in bag, plus serve as a closet and table.
Also on steroids? It's Kickstarter campaign that set an initial goal of $50,000 and already had more than $300,000 with 10 days left to go.
Fugu, a campaign video says, solves the "eternal dilemma" of travelers: Carry-on or full-size suitcase? Issac Atlas, Fugu's inventor, said the idea for the suitcase came from his wife who always wanted to bring a large suitcase despite Atlas telling her "carry-on was enough."
It works like this: The suitcase expands vertically from the side walls through a built-in electric pump. The walls are built from the same material used to build surf boards. "You can literally throw it against a wall," Atlas says in the video. Luckily, the walls are shock-absorbent. When inflated, the suitcase has shelves and a place to hang clothing.It also comes with an attached, removable lap top case.
The suitcase, when available, will be priced at $300 or less.