Suitcases with a Built-In Shelving System – The Travel Context Matters

I had seen ads on the internet for suitcases that contain a shelving system for quite some time.  The concept really resonated with me.  To be able to quickly pop your filled shelves in and out of your suitcase without having to repack every time seemed like a great idea.  So, when we were in the market for a new suitcase, I included this as an option to consider. 

We started off by going out to various stores in the area to see this type of suitcase in person and up close. To our disappointment, we could not find a store in our area that carried anything like it, and the longer I searched the more convinced I became that a suitcase with a build-in shelf system was the only option suitable for us.  It soon became apparent that if we were going this route, we would have to purchase them online and hope that they possessed the quality and functionality that was promised.

At the time the only suitcase with a built-in shelving system that met our needs was the Solgaard Check-In Closet. It advertised that its capacity would be suitable for 7 to 10 plus day trips.  The descriptions, features and reviews were enough to convince us to order it despite the “steepish” $400 Canadian price tag. 

The Solgaard Check-In Closet

I was pleased that the suitcase arrived quite promptly, and the quality and workmanship of the product was consistent with the on-line descriptions.  The suitcase shell felt sturdy, the shelves seemed substantial enough and seemed easy to remove and hang up in a closet to be used. 

We have now used our Solgaard suitcases on four trips (two domestic and two international) and the bottom line is that I am really glad that we made this purchase.  The shelving system is a huge time saver. For trips that you’re constantly on the go, not staying at the same location more than a day or two, the shelving system is a huge advantage.  After a long day of touring, to get to your hotel, and be totally unpacked in less than a minute is great.  The same thing goes for those early morning traveling days.  Given that most of your possessions are always housed within these shelves it reduces the chance that you will accidentally leave items behind.  For on the move vacations, a suitcase with a shelving system is a major advantage.

I have encountered a few challenges with this suitcase as well.  The shelves do take up some space in your suitcase, so it does reduce the number of items that will fit in. Though between the inner straps and the durable outer shell, you can significantly compress the volume of packed items. For long trips, there is a necessity to pack it to capacity, and this may require you to sit on the case and contort your body over it until it properly closes. But it’s constructed in a way to safely do this. The trunk shaped case means that your shelf fits primarily on one side of the case and have room for non-shelf items like shoes, bulky coats, and toiletries on the other side.  Because of the uneven weighting in the case, I occasionally experience control issues when wheeling the case through the airport. This can be an annoyance.

An additional advantage of the shape and look of the Solgaard is that it is somewhat unique and is easily spotted on airport baggage carousels.

Taking the pros and cons into consideration, we use our Solgaard suitcases on all of our trips but I will only use the shelving system for on-the-go vacations.  For stay put vacations, such as cruises or resorts, where you unpack and pack at either end of your vacation, we will remove the shelves and use packing cubes instead to increase the capacity of items that will fit in the suitcase.

Be sure to tell us about your suitcase experience. Do you have experience with built-in shelf suitcase systems?  Do you have a different preferred suitcase model? Please let us know in the comment section below