Traveling with skis usually involves at least one awkward stretch through an airport, parking garage or hotel lobby while dragging a long, heavy bag behind you. A new Kickstarter project is trying to fix that problem by essentially giving a wheeled ski bag another set of wheels.
TRACIN launched KICK, a foldable mobility system for wheeled ski and snowboard bags on Sept. 29. The device straps onto the front portion of an existing wheeled bag, creating a four-wheel setup that allows the bag to roll alongside or behind the user instead of forcing them to lift and support one end while dragging it.
The company describes KICK as a “mobility copilot” and pitches the idea more simply: walk your ski bag like a puppy.
KICK adds front wheels to an existing ski bag
Most wheeled ski bags already have wheels at one end, but that design still requires the traveler to lift the opposite end and carry part of the bag’s weight. KICK is designed to support that front end with a foldable aluminum frame and 360-degree caster-style wheels, turning the bag into something closer to a four-wheel suitcase.
The system attaches to the bag with straps and folds against the bag when it is not being used. According to TRACIN’s published specifications, the frame is made from 6063 aluminum alloy and weighs 4.6 pounds. The company says it is compatible with most standard wheeled ski and snowboard bags, though the existing bag still needs to have its own rear wheels.
KICK also allows the pull angle to be adjusted for users of different heights. The goal is not to reinvent the ski bag itself, but to make an existing roller bag significantly easier to move through the parts of a ski trip where carrying equipment tends to become a nuisance.
It is built to handle a heavy ski bag
TRACIN says KICK can support up to about 143 pounds when the frame is positioned at its highest angle, while the company recommends keeping the load below roughly 77 pounds at the lowest angle setting.
Those figures are well above the weight of most packed ski bags, although airline baggage limits are likely to become the practical constraint first. The device itself adds 4.6 pounds to the total setup, which is worth considering for travelers already trying to stay below checked-baggage weight limits.
According to the project’s Kickstarter FAQ, KICK contains no batteries, electronics or restricted materials and is designed to remain attached to the bag while checked for a flight. TRACIN says the frame folds flat enough that the bag and device can travel together as a single checked item, though travelers would still need to follow their airline’s individual size and weight restrictions.
The real target is the airport, not the mountain
KICK is not meant to help anyone get skis from the parking lot to the chairlift. It is aimed at the less glamorous side of ski travel, including airport terminals, rental-car facilities, hotels, parking garages and resort transfers.
That is where the idea starts to make sense. A ski bag loaded with skis or a snowboard, boots, outerwear and other equipment can become extremely cumbersome even when it already has wheels. Long airport walks and connecting terminals still require the traveler to support one end of the bag, and that gets tiring quickly.
By supporting the front end with a second set of wheels, KICK is designed to shift more of that load onto the ground. Its omni-directional wheels also allow the bag to move more like modern four-wheel luggage, rather than being dragged in a straight line from behind.
First deliveries are planned for December
TRACIN says production is already underway and currently expects the first Kickstarter units to ship in December 2026. The company is also offering a one-year warranty covering manufacturing defects, with replacement parts or a replacement unit available depending on the issue.
As with any crowdfunded product, those timelines and final production details can still change before backers receive the finished version. Kickstarter projects carry more uncertainty than established retail products, particularly when manufacturing and fulfillment are still underway.
Still, the problem KICK is trying to solve is easy to understand. Ski travel has become increasingly specialized, with purpose-built roller bags, boot luggage and airline-friendly packing systems, but someone still has to move all of that gear through the airport. TRACIN’s approach is straightforward: instead of asking the traveler to carry part of the load, give the ski bag two more wheels and let it roll.
