How excited do you get when you think about your luggage? Admit it, probably not very much. I don’t know anyone who enjoys the process of packing, choosing what to bring, trying to fit it all in a suitcase…
But, that being said, a good suitcase can make a big difference. A good suitcase will help you with useful compartments that make it easier to pack. A good suitcase will have high-quality wheels that roll easily and don’t break. A good suitcase looks nice.
At the moment my collection of suitcases is getting a little bit out of hand. You know those women who always complain that they have nothing to wear even though they have a million outfits to choose from? I’m like that with bags. First it was my camera bag collection and now the same is happening with my luggage. You’d think you don’t need that many suitcases or camera bags. And I want to agree with you. The problem is that I’m always looking for that perfect bag/suitcase to travel with.
Smart Luggage: Combining Travel & Technology
Being somewhat of a gadget lover I get very excited when it comes to the topic of smart luggage. Combining travel and technology: yes please.
So, of course, I want my suitcases to be smart as well. And when it comes to smart luggage there are currently two brands that everyone is talking about: Away and Horizn Studios. Would it surprise you if I say I have both? I won’t go into detail here how I got there, but I’m explaining it all in the video.
So let’s forget for a moment that I may have a bit of a luggage addiction. And let’s use my experience with both Away and Horizn Studios (the carry-on as well as the check-in model) to do a comparison. Horizn Studios versus Away. If you’re looking for a new smart suitcase, which one is best for you?
Smart Carry-on Suitcase: Away vs Horizn Studios
Price
When you compare the Model M by Horizn Studios with The Carry-on by Away, the Away suitcase is cheaper. If you’re not interested in a front pocket, then the Model H by Horizn Studios is the cheapest option.
Horizn Studios Model M: €299 (Model H: €239)
Away The Carry-on: €245
Dimensions & Weight
The dimensions of the two suitcases are almost the same. Horizn Studios is a bit wider, Away a bit deeper. Without looking at the front pocket, you should be able to fit more in the Away suitcase.
Horizn Studios Model M:
- Dimensions (height x width x depth): 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm
- Volume: 33 l
- Weight: 3,4 kg
Away The Carry-on:
- Dimensions (height x width x depth): 55,1 cm x 34,8 cm x 22,9 cm
- Volume: 39,8 l
- Weight: 3,4 kg
Design & Material
On the inside, both suitcases are very similar. They both have two compartments with a compression pad on one side (where you pack your clothes) so you can pack even more, and a laundry bag.
On the outside, both have a polycarbonate shell that bends under pressure so it won’t break. And they both come with four high-quality 360° Hinomoto (Japanese) spinner wheels.
The biggest difference in terms of design is that the Horizn Studios suitcase has a waterproof front pocket where you can store (among other things) your (15″) laptop.
Smartness
They both have a removable smart charger with two USB ports that allows you to charge your phone and other devices up to 5 or 6 times (10,000 mAh).
Accessories and Extras
You can customize your Away suitcase by adding a monogram (or any 3 letters) for an additional €50. Or add them to your luggage tag (€10). It’s also possible to combine this luggage tag with a Tile Slim bluetooth tracker so you know where your suitcase is.
To make your Horizn Studios suitcase even smarter you can add the Horizn GPS (€99) to track your luggage location with an app.
And the winner is…
As you can see there are more similarities than differences between the two suitcases. For me, the winner is Horizn Studios, because of the front pocket. Also, because I have an older model of the Away carry-on, I can’t easily remove the battery. But the latest Away suitcase has an ejectable battery as well.
Smart Check-in Luggage: Away vs Horizn Studios
Price
Since my two check-in suitcases are not the same size, it wouldn’t be fair to compare them in terms of price. Horizn Studios only has one size check-in model, Away has two (The Medium and The Large).
When you compare the two medium size check-in suitcases, then Away is cheaper.
Horizn Studios Model H: €349
Away The Medium: €295
Away The Large: €325
Dimensions & Weight
Just like the carry-on model, you should be able to fit more in the Away suitcase. However, if you care more about weight then go with Horizn Studios.
Horizn Studios Model H:
- Dimensions (height x width x depth): 64 cm x 46 cm x 24 cm
- Volume: 65 l
- Weight: 3,9 kg
Away The Medium:
- Dimensions (height x width x depth): 66 cm x 47 cm x 28 cm
- Volume: 68,8 l
- Weight: 4,4 kg
Away The Large:
- Dimensions (height x width x depth): 73,6 cm x 52 cm x 31,7 cm
- Volume: 99,2 l
- Weight: 5,1 kg
Design & Material
In terms of design, it’s basically the same as the carry-on version. The only exception is that the Horizn Studios check-in suitcase doesn’t have a front pocket. It does look the same as the Model H carry-on.
Smartness
When it comes to smartness, there’s a clear difference between Away and Horizn Studios. Away doesn’t have an integrated (removable) battery in its check-in models, whereas Horizn Studios does. You will need to remove this charger when you check in your suitcase at the airport.
Accessories & Extras
You can customize your Away suitcase by adding a monogram (or any 3 letters) for an additional €50. Or add them to your luggage tag (€10). It’s also possible to combine this luggage tag with a Tile Slim bluetooth tracker so you know where your suitcase is.
To make your Horizn Studios suitcase even smarter you can add the Horizn GPS (€99) to track your luggage location with an app.
And the winner is…
If you’re looking for a smart check-in model, then there’s a clear winner and that’s the Horizn Studios suitcase. Without an integrated battery, Away still offers a great, high-quality suitcase but it’s not so smart in terms of technology. However, because of its beautiful and clever design (including the option to customize it with your initials), if you don’t care as much about the battery then Away is the winner in terms of price.
