Kickstarter Highlight :: FREITAG ZIPPELIN

Crowdfunding is fast becoming the world’s go-to platform for new releases. But do you ever find it hard to cut through the noise and pin down the ones worth your hard-earned? Well, that’s where this sponsored series comes in. We’re vetting carry Kickstarters for you, digging up the facts, and shedding light on the ones we think are worth a closer look.

This week’s selection: FREITAG and their ZIPPELIN inflatable travel bag.

Wheeled convenience with minimal weight

When we heard FREITAG were diving into luggage, our first thought was: what about the weight?, but it seems they had the same thing on their mind… and dreamed up a solution as awesome as it is playful…

If you’re not familiar with Swiss carry brand FREITAG, they were the originators of repurposing truck tarp, and their whole shtick is giving old materials a new lease of life, whilst giving each user a unique one-off product that’s burly as hell. They’re an amazing outfit, and have worked hard to build a brand that does good – and has fun doing it.

But one offering has remained elusive: the large rolling travel bag. Until now. While they are incredibly durable and weatherproof, truck tarps are also pretty weighty. Add in wheels and a frame and you get a travel bag that’s just too heavy to be practical for regular use. So FREITAG got their thinking caps on and came up with a clever solution that’s wonderfully Swiss in its understated functionality. Use an inflatable inner bicycle tube in place of a frame, thereby cutting down the weight significantly while also providing the flexibility to roll the bag up compactly when not in use (a+ for storage!). And so the ZIPPELIN inflatable travel bag was born.

Easily identifiable, easily usable

Each ZIPPELIN will be hand-cut in Switzerland from recycled truck tarps. And due to the nature of the tarps each bag is unique and easily identifiable on the baggage carousel, standing out from the herd of all black spinners like a colorful beacon of personality.

And when you want to use the bag, simply inflate the inner bicycle tube with a standard bicycle pump to create a rigid frame.

The bag comes with removable wheels which can be easily reattached without tools, and the inner tube can be replaced or repaired if needed. For snag-free travel simply remove the wheels at check-in and store them in a designated pocket. When you collect the bag at your destination you can quickly reattach the wheels for convenient maneuverability. The bag includes grab handles as well as the option to carry it over your shoulder when navigating steps.

The ZIPPELIN weighs approximately 3.6 kg (8 lbs.) and offers a roomy 85L of storage space. Handy features include multiple access points to the main compartment, as well as useful quick-access pockets for travel essentials like a passport or phone.

Get pumped for smoother travel

If you want a wheeled travel bag that’s highly durable yet lightweight, water repellent, unique, large when you need it and compact when you don’t, the inflatable ZIPPELIN is definitely one to check out. FREITAG are currently running a Kickstarter campaign for the bag, which has already well surpassed its funding goal. But there’s still plenty of time to book this bag as your travel buddy, with the campaign ending on October 12 2017.

And psst, they’ve just added a bunch of new rewards, so take a look and bag a bargain!

*Photo credits: Linda Suter, Oliver Nanzig, and Gian Paul Lozza.

Note: this is a sponsored series, but only the best candidates are given this feature placement.

Above are the facts, but there’s always a little risk when backing a crowdfunder, so keep that in mind before you decide to back/purchase.