You’re standing in a cramped hotel room in London. Or maybe Tokyo. You’ve just arrived after a twelve-hour flight, your legs feel like lead, and all you want is a clean pair of socks. But instead of relaxing, you’re wrestling with a suitcase that looks like a fabric bomb went off inside it. We’ve all been there. The "floordrobe" is a universal travel curse. This is exactly the pain point the Solgaard Check In Closet tries to solve with a built-in shelving system that literally hangs from the handle.
It’s a bold promise.
Solgaard claims you can stay organized without ever technically "unpacking." But does it actually work in the wild, or is it just a gimmicky over-engineered box? Honestly, after seeing these all over Instagram and at airport baggage carousels from JFK to Changi, I realized most people are using them wrong. Or, at the very least, they have unrealistic expectations about how much physics will allow you to cram into a polycarbonate shell.
The Engineering Behind the Shelf
Most suitcases are just empty buckets. You throw stuff in, zip it up, and hope for the best. The Solgaard Check In Closet is different because it’s built around a proprietary six-shelf shelving unit. Think of it like a portable dresser. You pack your shirts, pants, and underwear into the tiers, compress it down, and then clip it into the suitcase.
When you get to your destination, you pull the handle up, lift the shelving unit, and hook it onto the telescoping handle. Boom. Your clothes are organized and vertical.
The shell itself is made from a "Hustle" polycarbonate. It’s tough. It’s also sustainable, which is a big part of Solgaard’s brand identity. They use "Ocean Bound Plastic" for the interior linings. According to Solgaard’s own impact reports, each bag removes a specific amount of plastic from coastal communities before it hits the ocean. It’s a nice touch if you’re trying to be a more conscious consumer, though let's be real—you're buying it because you're tired of losing your charging cable in a sea of dirty laundry.
The Two Sizes: Medium vs. Large
Solgaard offers two main flavors of this beast. The "Medium" is roughly 60 liters, while the "Large" jumps up to about 90 liters.
Size matters here. Why? Because the shelving unit takes up physical volume. If you buy the Medium, you might find yourself struggling to fit bulky items like winter coats or hiking boots alongside the closet. The Large is a cavern, but keep an eye on those airline weight limits. A fully packed 90-liter Solgaard Check In Closet can easily tip the scales past the standard 50lb (23kg) limit if you aren't careful.
One thing people forget: you can actually remove the closet. If you're going on a trip where you just need a standard suitcase, you can unclip the shelving and use it like a regular hardshell.
The Reality of "One-Step" Unpacking
Let’s talk about the friction.
Usually, when you get to a hotel, the ritual is: find the luggage rack, unzip the bag, dig for pajamas, give up, and leave the bag open on the floor for three days. With the Solgaard Check In Closet, the ritual changes. You open the suitcase, extend the handle, and hang the shelves.
It takes about ten seconds.
There is a genuine psychological win here. Seeing your clothes neatly stacked instead of in a heap makes the hotel room feel like a home. It’s great for "itinerary travel"—trips where you’re moving to a new hotel every two nights. You don't have to worry about leaving a stray sock in a hotel drawer because your stuff never enters the drawer.
However, there is a learning curve.
If you overstuff the shelves, the closet becomes a bloated accordion. It won't compress properly, and you'll find yourself sitting on the suitcase to get the zippers to close. It encourages a "minimalist-adjacent" packing style. You have to be intentional. If you’re a "just-in-case" packer who brings six pairs of shoes for a weekend trip, this bag might actually frustrate you.
Durability and Those 360-Degree Wheels
I’ve seen some luggage wheels that sound like a freight train on cobblestones. Solgaard uses what they call "silent-glide" wheels. They are remarkably quiet on smooth airport floors. On the streets of Lisbon? Not so much, but nothing survives Lisbon’s hills gracefully.
The latch system is also worth mentioning. Unlike many suitcases that rely solely on zippers, the Check In Closet uses a frame with two TSA-approved latches.
- Pros of latches: They are much harder to break into than zippers (which can be bypassed with a simple ballpoint pen). They also feel more premium.
- Cons of latches: If you overpack, you can't "force" a latch like you can a zipper. It either closes or it doesn't.
This rigid structure is a double-edged sword. It protects your belongings—I’ve seen these things take a beating from airline baggage handlers and come out with nothing but a few scuffs—but it doesn't "give" if you bought too many souvenirs.
Comparing Solgaard to the Competition
How does it stack up against Away or Rimowa?
Away is the "it" bag. It’s sleek, it’s reliable, and it has a great warranty. But at the end of the day, an Away bag is just a very nice box. It doesn't help you organize. If you’re an organizational nerd, the Solgaard Check In Closet wins hands down.
Rimowa is a status symbol. It’s aluminum, it’s expensive, and it’s beautiful. But you could buy three Solgaard bags for the price of one Rimowa Check-In.
There’s also the "closet" copycats. You can buy hanging travel shelves on Amazon for $30 and put them in any bag. I’ve tried this. The problem is they never fit the dimensions of the suitcase perfectly. They slouch. They slide around. The Solgaard system is integrated, which means the shelves are sized exactly to the interior width of the bag. That stability is what you're paying for.
What about the weight?
The Medium Check-In weighs about 10.5 lbs (4.7 kg) empty. The Large is closer to 12 lbs (5.4 kg).
This is not "ultra-light" luggage. If you are flying on a budget carrier in Europe or Asia where they strictly enforce a 15kg or 20kg limit, the weight of the bag itself eats up a significant portion of your allowance. It’s something to keep in mind for international hops. For domestic US travel, it’s rarely an issue.
Real World Nuances: The "Hidden" Frustrations
It’s not all sunshine and organized socks. There are a few things the marketing materials don't tell you.
First, the "kickstand" effect. When the closet is fully extended and hanging from the handle, the suitcase needs to be balanced. If you have very heavy items in the top shelves and nothing in the bottom of the suitcase shell, it can feel a bit tippy. Most people solve this by keeping their shoes or a heavy toiletry bag in the base of the suitcase to act as an anchor.
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Second, the handle height. If you’re very short, the shelves hang a bit low. If you’re very tall, you’ll love it.
Third, the compression. The closet has straps to pull the layers together. Use them. If you don't compress the closet before putting it into the shell, you’ll struggle with the latches. It’s a habit you have to build.
Is It the Right Choice for You?
Honestly, this bag is a specific tool for a specific person.
If you are a business traveler who spends four nights a week in Marriott hotels, the Solgaard Check In Closet will change your life. You’ll save 15 minutes of packing and unpacking every single day. That adds up.
If you are a backpacker or someone who carries their gear over long distances on foot, the weight and the rigid frame might be a dealbreaker.
Wait for a sale. Solgaard frequently runs "bundles" or holiday discounts. Paying the full $395 to $445 MSRP is fine if you need it tomorrow, but if you have a trip three months away, you can usually snag a better deal or get a free accessory (like their solar-powered backpack) thrown in.
Technical Specs for the Nerds
| Feature | Medium Closet | Large Closet |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 24.4 inches | 28 inches |
| Capacity | 60 Liters | 91 Liters |
| Material | Polycarbonate Shell | Polycarbonate Shell |
| Lock Type | Dual TSA Latches | Dual TSA Latches |
| Sustainability | Upcycled Ocean Plastic | Upcycled Ocean Plastic |
Actionable Steps for New Owners
If you just bought one or are hovering over the "buy" button, here is how to actually get the most out of it:
- Heavy items at the bottom: Put your shoes, hair dryers, or heavy tech kits in the actual suitcase shell, not the hanging shelves. This lowers the center of gravity and keeps the bag stable when the closet is "deployed."
- Roll, don't fold: Even with shelves, rolling your clothes still saves more space and prevents the weird "crease" you get when a stack of folded shirts gets compressed.
- Use the "Dirty Laundry" strategy: Use the bottom-most shelf exclusively for dirty clothes. As the trip progresses, the clean clothes move down, and the dirty stuff stays isolated.
- Check your handle: Before you hang the closet, ensure the telescoping handle is fully locked into its highest position. If it’s midway, the weight of the clothes can cause it to collapse.
- Microfiber cleaning: The matte finish on the Solgaard shells looks great but picks up scuffs from airport conveyor belts. A quick wipe with a damp microfiber cloth or a "magic eraser" usually takes the black marks right off.
The Solgaard Check In Closet isn't just a suitcase; it's a mobile storage system. It won't make you a better traveler, but it will definitely make you a more organized one. Just don't expect it to defy the laws of physics—if you try to pack your entire winter wardrobe into the Medium, you're going to have a bad time. Pack smart, use the compression straps, and enjoy the fact that you’ll never have to use a sketchy hotel dresser again.