Who is tired of unpacking the suitcase at the hotel when you travel? I am guessing most people. Well, if the dreadful unpacking ritual irks you, then you need to check out this new kind of suitcase called the Drobe Cabin Wardrobe Trunk. It literally is a wardrobe that you can bring on your trip, and then some. It is not new-new. Drobe has been in the works for several years and only officially became available last year (2025).
Drawing inspiration from traditional trunks that had drawers within, Drobe goes beyond storage. It unfolds into a functional wardrobe system that lets you access clothing items as if you were at home. A mechanism in the suitcase handle lets open certain compartments or all, and it can be extended using a patent-pending rail system so you can move it along. It can remain stowed away when you reach your hotel, but it can also be extended completely, getting out of the way as you use the top compartment as a makeup station, for example.
The handle also houses a custom TSA lock. Each end of the handle can be extended to hang a couple of apparel pieces or handbags. It has a soft carrying handle at the side to allow it to be carried like a regular bag. At a glance, Drobe looks suspiciously like a dim sum trolley or one of those multipurpose trolleys from IKEA.
It is crafted from a combination of materials. It has an HDPE shell with Rimowa-like ribs, aluminum frames, a handle wrapped in leather, and soft plastic spinner wheels. When closed, it measures a compact 55 cm tall, 40 cm wide, and 23 cm deep. All told, it offers 34 L of volume from its three “boxes.” While the product may look kind of intimidating, it is quite light, tipping the scales at just 4 kilograms.
Anyhoo, the size falls within most airline carry-on specifications, but somehow it does look like it is too large for a carry-on. The safest bet is to check with the respective airline. One thing is for sure: you want this to be a carry-on. You do not want to risk this 990-euro (~1,153 USD) suitcase being tossed around by baggage handlers, human or machine.
Yes, it is pricey, but you probably get what you pay for. Plus, it does come with a lifetime guarantee. Parts of this unique suitcase can be replaced when worn or damaged, so there is no need to throw it away just because a couple of parts are damaged.
Drobe is available in a choice of colors, but you can also customize the top/base, and middle with colors of your choice from a small palette. You can customize the color of the wheels, too, but I believe that is as far as it goes for customization.
Drobe Cabin Wardrobe Trunk is not being mass-retailed. Instead, it is available through a pre-order system. At the time of this post, March and April deliveries are sold out. The next delivery for the current pre-order is in May.
Images: Drobe.
