I hate packing a suitcase. As a perennial overpacker, the problem is twofold: it takes me forever, and once I get to my destination, I have an awful time organising and repacking. So when I read about the Solgaard Check-In Closet, a lightweight suitcase with a polycarbonate shell and interior shelving system, I decided it was worth trying out – especially since I was about to embark on a three-week trip to Bangkok, Bali and Melbourne.
Like many travellers these days, I try to carry on. But because of the duration and varied packing needs for this trip, I decided to order the large Check-In Closet Original in an olive colour dubbed Granada Green. Though I still filled this suitcase to the brim, I appreciated how it doubled as an easy-to-access standalone closet that saved me time and effort when it was time to pack up again.
Most popular suitcase brands are happy to tout the superficial. From Beis to Away to Monos, the emphasis tends to be on glossy aesthetics: seasonal colour palettes, shiny aluminium or even monogramming. Solgaard’s focus is on what’s inside. Yes, it still offers a good-looking hard, polycarbonate shell; a TSA lock; and dual-wheel spinners for a smoother ride through the airport, but what differentiates it from most of the competition is its built-in, removable five-shelf system.
The shelving – essentially a hanging accordion with compression straps – shifted my packing strategy considerably. Instead of thinking about how much I could shove into the suitcase, this compartmentalised interior forced me to be more mindful about my choices. Once I loaded the shelves, I laid the whole thing flat, cinched the compression straps, and fit it back into the right half of the suitcase. The rub? If you smash any of the shelves more than 70% full, it simply will not fit. Touché, Solgaard.
The left side is open for larger items, such as shoes, jackets and my admittedly huge bag of toiletries and haircare products, and it neatly zips up when you’re done. Of course, this allowed my overpacking instincts to run wild.
The one thing I was wary about was the spring-loaded latch exterior closure, which Solgaard uses instead of a zipper. It’s easy to use, yet I worried that it might get damaged in transit, leaving me with a case that won’t open or won’t close. Solgaard does offer a generous lifetime warranty, but that wouldn’t help if I were in the middle of a trip.
