Carry-On Closet Review: Luggage You Don’t Have to Unpack

Jamie Ditaranto is a traveler in a love triangle with writing and photography. Follow the drama on Twitter @jamieditaranto and Instagram @jamieditaranto.

Ditaranto joined SmarterTravel in 2015. She loves ecotourism, cities with history, and discovering local hangouts. Though she likes all the continents equally, she holds a special place in her heart for rainy little islands.

Her work has also appeared online at USA Today, Huffington Post, Business Insider, and other publications. You can check out her photography on her website.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "My instant camera comes in handy for giving instant gifts to new friends."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Befriending penguins in Antarctica."

Travel Motto: "You have to get the hard places out of the way first."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "On short flights, the window. For long flights, the aisle."

Email Jamie at editor@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Jamie Ditaranto

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Just because you have plenty of time to pack your suitcase thoughtfully before a trip doesn’t mean it’s going to stay that way. The moment you realize that you’ve packed the exact item you need at the bottom of the suitcase is the moment all your thoughtful pre-trip organization is thrown out the window. The good news is suitcases are becoming a lot smarter and are making it even easier to keep everything together. If you’re a fan of packing cubes or pack gear, you’re going to love the Lifepack Carry-on Closet.

Life Pack Carry-On Closet Review:

This hard-sided carry-on luggage includes a patented shelving system that makes packing as simple as putting your clothes away at home. The shelving system has plenty of extra pockets and is removable, so you can either hang it on the handle as shown in the video above or in your hotel closet. This suitcase is ideal for business travelers on short trips who don’t have time to unpack and repack their suitcase every time they’re on the move again and especially don’t have time to spend looking for a specific item under a pile of folded clothes.

It’s worth noting that this suitcase works best when you don’t fill it all the way up with clothes, so you’ll want to leave plenty of room for the shelves to compress down into the suitcase. This is a buckled (non-zippered) luggage that comes with a TSA-approved combination lock for added security.

Price and Where to Buy It: $169 on Amazon

How the Carry-On Closet Rates:

Usefulness: 7/10 The shelving system takes a little practice to get used to, but once you’ve got it down, it keeps everything right where you left it.
Value: 7/10 The only luggage of its kind, the carry-on closet is a little bit more upscale, but worth the price if it fits your travel style.
Portability: 10/10 With dimensions accepted by all the major airlines, it will always fit in the overhead bin and is light and easy to move around.
Cool Factor: 10/10 When you’re on a short trip, you have to make the most of every minute and not having to waste time packing is very cool.

Final Verdict: If you travel a lot for only a day or two at a time, the carry-on closet is a great way to keep your stuff organized so you don’t have to waste time packing and organizing your clothes between hotel rooms. However, if you intend on bringing more than a couple of outfits, you’ll need to bring some back-up luggage.

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Editor’s Note: Reviews are based on usefulness, portability, durability, value, and “cool factor.” Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. If you have any questions or comments concerning our reviews or would like to suggest a product for review, please email us at editor@smartertravel.com.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.