A decade later, Away is launching the Series 3—its third generation. The battery is gone, but the features that attracted and retained a loyal following remain, with a heavy focus on invisible tech. When the first Carry On was conceived, charging solutions weren’t as ubiquitous as they are today, Amidi says, which created a unique travel pain point for Away to tackle.
It may have seemed gimmicky, but a quickly accessible USB port to charge a phone made sense. The ejectable design was forward-thinking, given evolving regulations around traveling with batteries. While the battery hasn’t been available in Away luggage since 2023, Amidi says tech isn’t entirely gone; the company is looking at how technology can play the right role in luggage design.
Instead, with the Series 3, Away has become more of a traditional luggage maker than a disruptor. On the surface, every piece from the Series 3 Classic and Flex (expandable) series will look familiar to Away fans, and that’s intentional. Instead of a new design, Amidi says the company strengthened its carry-on by putting it through rigorous testing.
In fact, the Series 3 launch was delayed because it didn’t fully meet expectations. For the WhisperGlide 360 spinning wheel design, Away added an extra ball bearing and improved the threading to make them glide smoothly and quietly. Away also brought its StopLock Brakes system, first introduced in its top-opening TopSide luggage, to the Series 3.
As the name suggests, flipping a switch quickly locks the wheels, effective even on slight inclines. When I asked why quiet wheels would even matter in, say, a busy airport, Amidi refers to a time when she needed to quietly sneak out of the house for a trip without waking her family. She says these are the kinds of new travel pain points Away is looking to solve with tech.
Then there's the Infinite Height Trolley handle, which offers five times more stopping points than before—a more personalized experience for travelers of varying heights. Hooks in the trolley handle might seem like a simple design touch, but they’re handy for holding a jacket, purse, or bag of airport fast food (up to 40 pounds). Other improvements include redesigned interior covers that open outward to give better access, more pockets for small items, a pouch for a Bluetooth tracker, and accessories to help keep the luggage looking clean.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
