Trunki Children’s Ride-On Suitcase
Trunki are a very popular brand for kid's luggage and this pink one is especially popular with the girls.
It is made so as it can be used as hand luggage, and what makes it also useful is that kids can sit on this and get towed along
It is made from a hard shell plastic similar to that found on adult suitcases
It can hold a weight of up to 50 KG seating weight and comes with a 5 year guarantee
It has a tow strap that can also be used as a shoulder strap when you’re in a rush.
Check Amazon UK - Average UK Price £45
Trunki Children’s Ride-On Suitcase
Trunki are a very popular brand for kid's luggage and this blue one is especially popular with the boys.
It is made so as it can be used as hand luggage, and what makes it also useful is that kids can sit on this and get towed along
It is made from a hard shell plastic similar to that found on adult suitcases
It can hold a weight of up to 50 KG seating weight and comes with a 5 year guarantee
It has a tow strap that can also be used as a shoulder strap when you’re in a rush
It holds up to 18 litres.
Check Amazon UK - Average UK Price £40
Samsonite Dream Rider Disney Children's Luggage
This is also a popular choice with many parents and includes a few of the popular Disney characters such as Spiderman, Mickey/Minnie Mouse, Frozen etc
This case weighs 1.9 kg and suitable for about 2 day's clothes etc.
This one is aimed at kids aged between 3-8 years old
The good news is like most children's luggage there are good solid wheels to move this around and you will see any number of these at UK airports
It is suitable for taking onboard which is always a good thing.
Check Amazon UK - Average UK Price £74
American Tourister Disney Legends - Spinner S
This model also includes many of the famous Disney characters including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and the Little Mermaid and is made by the very popular American Tourister brand
This one is available in small medium and large sizes and the one shown here is the 36 litre small one
It comes with a combination lock and many older children prefer this polka dot look
It has 4 wheels and an extending handle and an eye catching finish.
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £135
Kono Functional Laptop Rucksack (Music Boy)
This one seems to sell pretty well online and has the luminous music boy which teenagers apparently think is really cool
It can be worn as a backpack for school when detached or used as cabin baggage when you attach the frame with wheels and a telescopic handle
It is made of tough polyester and the main compartment can hold a 15.6" laptop and there are 2 side mesh pockets, and a front and back zipped pocket for their other bits and pieces.
It is well made and gets consistently good reviews from UK buyers.
Check Amazon UK. - Average UK Price £30
Samsonite Disney Ultimate 2.0 Children's Luggage
It's pink and it's Minnie Mouse and designed for 3-8 year olds
Kids seem to like the combination of pink and then polka dots
It weighs 1.7 kg and has 4 wheels and a telescopic handle and one of the lighter pieces of kid's luggage
To us it looks expensive but on the other hand it gets excellent and very high buyer reviews.
Check Amazon UK - Average UK Price £105
Where Can You Buy Children's Luggage?
The luggage we have shown above is available at Amazon UK. However we wanted to show you other options which we have included below:
Argos - They have about 10 options that include Trunki, it, and Flyte ranging in price from £25-50
John Lewis - They keep backpacks mainly and have a few cases from Sunnylife, Stokke and Skip Hop ranging in price from £20-200
Matalan - Not a big range but usually have a couple of options with average prices of £25
There are of course the brand websites and auction sites such as eBay
Our Children's Luggage Buying Tips
The first question to consider is do you really need to buy your kids a separate piece of luggage? The chances are VERY high that you will end up either carrying it or wheeling it around. That is especially true with younger 3-6 year old kids.
Most kids do like to feel part of the holiday and having their own luggage for their own bits and pieces makes them feel part of the whole travelling process. One clear benefits is that it does keep all their many bits and pieces in the one place and also frees up room in your own luggage.
Check with your Airline
It is always worth checking with your own airline as to what luggage restrictions you may have. Some allow kids their own weight allowance and some do not. Most kids luggage is small enough to be allowed into the cabin, but a few pieces are too big so always worth paying careful attention to the size and weight restrictions.
Be Careful with your Choices
There are quite a few kid's bags on the UK market right now and although it is good to have choice, it can also get confusing. The ones we have shown on our list above are all good quality. Beware of really cheap bags that will quite literally fall apart at the seams.
Good for your kids
We have already mentioned that getting your kids involved in the packing process will help with the whole excitement of the holiday experience. It also is a really good opportunity to give them a sense of independence and responsibility. When you are helping them back, you can also explain to them that they can't take the entire content of their rooms.
When they know they have limited space in a case they will pick those items that really matter and still leave room for snacks and smaller bits and pieces.
Our Children's Luggage Buying Guide
when it comes to buying the actual piece of luggage these are the important things to consider:
Practicality vs Fancy Style
It is very easy to get distracted with a glitter or polka dot design. Paying for certain brands is a choice but be aware you will almost always pay a lot more. Sometimes that is unavoidable if for example your child has a particular fancy for a Disney character.
Size
You can buy kid's luggage in various sizes. If you want to take the luggage on board then check first what size is allowed with the airline you are flying with. Most kid's luggage is suitable for taking into the cabin but some are not. Ryanair for example have very strict rules for cabin luggage.
We have included below a cabin luggage size guide.
Hard Shell vs Soft Shell
Some people like hard shell as they are stronger and more robust that a soft sided case. They are also much better as they are waterproof which is worth consideration. The downside is that they are usually more expensive, will not hold as much as a soft side case, and will suffer from scratches and dents.
Case vs Backpack
We believe that for older kids 8+, a backpack with pockets is probably a much better idea. Some of these come with a frame that has a stand with wheels and a telescopic handle. It very much depends on the weight though. Backpacks are good as they have two shoulder straps that help spread the weight. If they are going to be heavy then the stand with wheels is a better option.
One thing to be careful about though is the weight given strict weight guidelines by airlines.
Popular UK Airline Cabin Baggage Size Restrictions
Ryanair
40 x 25 x 20 cm
Easyjet
45 x 36 x 20 cm
Jet2
56 x 45 x 25 cm
Loganair
40 x 35 x 18 cm
Wizz Air
40 x 30 x 20 cm
British Airways
56 x 45 x 25 cm
Thompson Travel
40 x 25 x 20 cm
Aer Lingus
55 x 40 x 24 cm
Thomas Cook
55 x 40 x 20 cm
Hopefully this has helped you have a good overview of what kid's luggage is popular on the UK market, and having a few buying tips to help make your final decision.
