Suitcases so smart they wheel themselves

They charge your phone and you can even ride them through the airport. Time for . . .

WITH technological advances creeping into every sphere of life, it is not surprising to hear that the simple suitcase has become the latest item to be sprinkled by the pixie dust of high-spec functionality.

The in-flight carry- on bag which once merely transported your holiday wardrobe is now capable of so much more.

If you’re going to spend hours waiting for delayed flights to take off, you may as well do it with the latest high-tech luggage by your side . . .

SILENT SPINNER

Carl Friedrik Carry-on Pro (£425, carlfriedrik.com) SIZE/WEIGHT/CAPACITY: 55 x 38 x 25 cm (expandable to 27 cm),

4.3 kg, 43-litre

THIs is super-sleek, light and manoeuvrable — with 360degree silent wheels — and has a robust polycarbonate case.

It feels sturdy and upmarket, in graphite grey with a choice of three Italian leather trim colours. There are two UsB ports under the handle which connect to a removable battery pack (£29 extra) that can be tucked inside the case. The doublesided suitcase has an impressively large capacity. The only glitch (apart from the price) is the squeezesided combination locks which are tricky to use if you’ve had holiday acrylic nails put on.

HEAVY DUTY

Modobag (around £1,265 plus £160 import tax, shop. modobag.com) SIZE/WEIGHT/CAPACITY: 55.8 x 35.5 x 22.8 cm, 9 kg, 29.5-litre

A sOLId black rectangular case with motorcycle- style pedals that flip out and a twistaction handle that slides up, so you can sit on the case with your knees by your chin and let battery power propel you through the airport at up to 7mph. Impressively strong (it can carry a rider up to 18 st).

But if you’re not motoring along, this case is pretty heavy to cart around. A separate extendable handle allows you to pull it, rather than sit on it, but the narrow wheels and weight make it unstable. Fun for tech lovers as it has numerous UsB charging points, but the weight and limited capacity make it unrealistic for a holiday carry-on.

SCOOT AROUND

Micro luggage scooter (£299.95, micro-scooters. co.uk) SIZE/WEIGHT/CAPACITY:

62 x 38 x 29cm, 6.1 kg, 33-litre sTOW your shorts and sun dresses in this lozenge- shaped number, and you can carry this as an ordinary case (although it is twice as heavy as the newest super-light carry on cases).

You can also extend the telescopic handle and pull the case along behind you; or, for maximum speed, flip down the kickboard and single wheel tucked into the back of the case, and scoot.

designed for adults up to 16 st, it’s a fun way to get to the departure gate, but only if you have great balance and Lewis Hamilton’s cornering skills.

STYLE & SUBSTANCE

Horizn H5 Cabin Luggage (£330, horizn-studios.co.uk) SIZE/WEIGHT/CAPACITY: 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 3.1 kg, 35-litre

A cHIc case with silently gliding ‘spinner’ wheels, this is the winner for those looking for style and substance. The removable power bank underneath the strong telescopic handle has two UsB ports so you can charge your phone and tablet simultaneously (and snap out the compact battery if you need to put your case in the hold) The extremely light ‘aerospace-grade polycarbonate shell’ feels robust and comes in eight colours.

EASY RIDER

Airwheel SE3 mini (£489, Amazon) SIZE/WEIGHT/CAPACITY: 57.5 x 38.5 x 25 cm, 8.2 kg, 26-litre

A sHInY metallic case with two pull-out handles — one to pull the case behind you, and a shorter motorcycle-style handle on the other top corner which extends so you can sit on the case, tuck your feet onto narrow ledges and use the removable and chargeable battery to propel you forwards or back.

Two UsB ports will top up your phone and laptop. The case has a max loading of 15 st, reaching a top speed of 5 mph. But it feels more mobility scooter than aspirational go-cart.

IMPRESSIVE INSIDE

Away Carry On (£245, awaytravel.com)

SIZE/WEIGHT/CAPACITY: 55.1 x 34.8 x 22.9 cm, 3.2 kg, 39.8-litre THIs chic- looking polycarbonate hard shell case comes at a good price, with TsA combination locks and a small, ejectable rechargeable battery pack (£20 extra) which slips under the pullout handle, providing two UsB ports and one UsB mini so you can charge multiple items. The case is lightweight, though the 360-degree wheels and extendable handle seem slightly more fragile than other cases. But it has an impressive double-sided interior with compression system on one side and zipped mesh divider on the other.