Ends
Backup Suitcase
A cabin suitcase containing a smaller, identical suitcase, in case the first is lost.
by Priya Raman
€66,600
pledged of €35,000 goal
- Backers
- 540
- Funded
- 190%
- From
- €99
Backed by Jonas W., Femi O. and 538 others
Recently backed
- Jonas W. · Hamburg ·
- Femi O. · Lagos ·
- Ines T. · Lisbon ·
- Agnes R. · Graz ·
- Callum D. · Glasgow ·
Story
Most travellers carry one suitcase and one point of failure. The Backup Suitcase carries two: an outer case for the airline to lose, and an inner case that continues the journey if it does.
The premise
In 2019 the Inventor's suitcase did not arrive in Osaka. Everything in it was, by definition, in the one place she had checked it. The conclusion was not to pack lighter. It was to pack twice: a 55 × 40 × 20 cm polycarbonate carry-on holding a second, complete 48 × 34 × 16 cm case with the same wheels, handle and lock as the first.
Nesting
The inner case is a scaled replica of the outer one, not a soft pouch or a liner. It has its own four spinner casters, its own telescoping handle and its own TSA-approved lock, all sized to clear the outer shell's interior with 6 mm to spare on each side. The pair weighs 4.1 kg empty; the inner case alone accounts for 1.8 kg of that. If the outer case is lost, checked by a second airline, or confiscated at a gate, the traveller removes the inner case and keeps moving.
The case that did not ship
A third, innermost tier was prototyped at 41 × 28 × 12 cm, small enough to nest inside the second. It held a full seven-day wardrobe, by the Inventor's count, but not a toothbrush of any known length. It was retired without a name.
Colour and stretch goals
Both shells ship in charcoal or ivory. At €40,000 a third shell colour, signal orange, was unlocked for both the outer and inner case; it is available now on the Backup Suitcase Reward. At €50,000 a zip divider was added inside the inner case, sized for one pair of shoes, sole down.
| Outer case | 55 × 40 × 20 cm, polycarbonate |
|---|---|
| Inner case | 48 × 34 × 16 cm, polycarbonate |
| Weight, empty pair | 4.1 kg |
| Inner case weight | 1.8 kg |
| Wheels | 4 spinner casters, both shells |
| Lock | TSA-approved, both shells |
| Handle | Telescoping aluminium, both shells |
| Shell colour | Charcoal or ivory (signal orange at stretch goal) |
Stretch goals
- €40,000A third shell colour: signal orange(unlocked)
- €50,000A zip divider inside the inner case, for shoes(unlocked)
Rewards
The Backup Suitcase
€129
One outer case and its nested, identical replica.
- Ships to Domestic, Europe, Rest of world
- Est. delivery Jan 2027
- 390 claimed
Spare inner case
€99
A second inner case, for travellers who already own the outer shell.
- Ships to Domestic, Europe, Rest of world
- Est. delivery Jan 2027
- 130 claimed
Founder's pair
€149
Leather corner guards and an engraved nameplate, on both shells.
- 20 of 40 left
- Ships to Domestic, Europe, Rest of world
- Est. delivery Feb 2027
- 20 claimed
Add-ons
Add a Reward to your Cart first: Add-ons come with one.
- Matching TSA lock, spare€12
Just support it
No Reward, only the satisfaction. With a Reward in your Cart, this adds to that Pledge as bonus support.
Updates
Shoe divider unlocked
Passing €50,000 unlocked the zip divider. It ships sewn into every inner case, sole down, from the first production run. No colour or size choice is needed; it fits the one case it was measured for.
Signal orange unlocked
Passing €40,000 unlocked a third shell colour. Signal orange is now available on the Backup Suitcase Reward, for both the outer and inner case. An existing Pledge can switch colour until the Campaign ends.
The next stretch goal is a zip divider inside the inner case, sized for one pair of shoes.
Funded in four days
We reached €35,000 on day four. Thank you. Tooling for both shells is already cut from the same mould family, scaled down for the inner case, so production of the pair starts together.
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- Goal
- €15,000
- From
- €19
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Comments
Does the inner case fit under an airline seat on its own?
Yes. At 48 × 34 × 16 cm it clears every carrier's under-seat limit we tested against.
Backed for the pair. I have lost exactly one suitcase in twelve years and it was, of course, the one with my conference badge.
Is the inner case's lock keyed the same as the outer one?
No. Each shell has its own combination, set independently. One lock failing does not affect the other.
Signal orange unlocked. Switching my pledge from charcoal.
Backing the spare inner case for my existing hard-shell. Hoping it fits.
The spare inner case is sized for our own outer shell. We have not tested it against other luggage and can't promise a fit.
A zip divider for shoes is the correct second stretch goal.
Founder's pair is selling slower than I expected for an engraved suitcase. Backed one anyway.
What happens to the outer case once it is lost? Do you want it back?
No. If it is gone, it is gone. The inner case is not a loaner; it is the rest of the trip.