The Best Big-Kid Luggage, According to Well-Traveled Parents
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My husband and I are avid travelers and have taken frequent trips with our kids across the country and abroad since they were born (they are now 8 and 10). It’s always been important to me to make this travel go as smoothly as possible: figuring out the best methods ofpacking, navigating train stations and airports, and making my kids active participants in packing and carrying their own stuff. In the process, we’ve tried a lot of different kinds of luggage — some meant explicitly for kids, some not — and have found great bags for all kinds of trips, which I’ve included below.
The gear you need and how you carry it shifts as your kids evolve frombabiesto big kids. These recommendations are geared primarily toward kids 5 and older who can largely walk on their own and carry their ownbackpackor roll their own suitcase, and who have mostly outgrown strollers (we’ve written previously aboutluggage picks for younger kids, too). The best option is often whatever helps a kid navigate the most independently; has lots of places to tuck water bottles, cords, and small toys; and helps the parent avoid juggling too many things at once.
In addition to my own family’s favorites, I spoke to over a dozen well-traveled parents who’ve taken hundreds of trips between them, with kids ranging from babies to teens, about the luggage they’ve found works best. Interior packing strategies are as important as the luggage you choose; these parents repeatedly emphasized utilizingpacking cubesand small pouches, being smart about dividing suitcases across multiple kids, bringing only carry-ons when possible, and picking packs that help older kids who may be sitting away from you be independent during travel. Here is the gear they recommend.
Carry-ons
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Capacity:49 L |Warranty:Included coverageoffers lifetime repairs (free for the first five years or a replacement in that time if repair is insufficient); $35 for Pro extended coverage
This relatively roomycarry-onholds a week’s worth of clothes but still easily fits in an overhead bin, making it a great option for longer trips. Erin Grau, who formerly worked at Away and who travels frequently with her husband and two daughters — her 11-year-old has been to 20 countries, her 9-year-old to 18 — attests to their durability. “The bags are so well designed and solid, and we’ve been using the same two bigger carry-ons for eight years now.” Avneet Bhatia of Brooklyn, who has a 10-year-old and regularly travels out of the country, also recommends this model. “They’re spacious enough that we only ever need our individual Away bags for carry-on,” she says. “I roll all the clothing to save space and we’ve added fun stickers to brighten the outside up.” The Bigger Carry-on comes in a couple other variations, so you can choose according to you and/or your kid’s preferences.
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Capacity:26L |Warranty:Included coverageoffers lifetime repairs (free for the first five years or a replacement in that time if repair is insufficient); $35 for Pro extended coverage
The kids’ version of Away’s carry-on is 26L (compared to 49L for the one above) and comes in pastel colors with contrasting zipper colors, making it easy to spot your child’s suitcase. My own 10-year-old likes this style for a shorter trip because it’s not a “boring adult color, rolls really smoothly, and has a mesh divider, so you can see what clothes are on what side.” They’re lightweight (at 6.4 pounds) but still have enough space to hold four to five days’ worth of kid-size clothes.
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Capacity:29L |Warranty:1 year
“These are extremely well made, comparable to a high-end adult piece of luggage, and they include thoughtful details and designs that encourage kid joy,” says writer and editor Lexi Mainland. “The best parts: a strap for a stuffy or a water bottle, a generous mesh zippy pouch for stinky socks, and a lot of little pockets in the front for storing supplies and trinkets.” This style has a deep, single cavity that’s easy to pack and is “big enough for arealtrip, but really for any kid for most trips,” she says. These bags come in a wide array of colors and patterns, so they’re easy to spot and to keep track of.
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Capacity:46L |Warranty:Limited lifetime; register within 120 days of purchase for additional coverage
“Thissoft spinnerhas good compartments, isn’t heavy, and can really take a beating,” says Los Angeles–based writer and filmmaker Priyanka Mattoo. “We’ve tried all kinds of fancier ones, and this is the keeper for us. They roll smoothly and upright, are easy enough for a kid to push, and they’re light, expandable, and have enough compartments that when we inevitably pick stuff up on vacation, it all squeezes in somehow. They also have a lifetime warranty without the price tag of other lines.” In addition to the 21-inch carry-on, there are also 25- and 29-inch models.
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Capacity:28L |Warranty:2-year limited
My 8-year-old loves this petite Calpak roller that’s so small it can often fit under the seat on most planes. It’s great for a long weekend’s worth of outfits and has a zipped interior with divider pockets that help keep his belongings compressed. He also loves that this rollerboard doubles as a useful seat, helpful when waiting in a long security line.
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Capacity:36L |Warranty:None
“We opted for Muji based on durability and price,” says Grace Moore, who has a toddler and lives in Brooklyn. “I’m also a fan of its overall simplicity: the classic colors and no frills like charging batteries that take up space and add weight. I’ve found we’re consistently able to fit a few days’ worth of clothes and light gear for all three of us, and it can still easily fit in an overhead compartment.”
Checked bags
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Dimensions:24”H x 18”L x 12”W |Warranty:Limited 10-year global warranty
“The big kids” — ages 9 and 6 — “always use our Samsonite hard-shell case,” says Katie Needs, a Toronto-based mom of three (her youngest is 3 months), who travels to the Netherlands to visit her husband’s family annually. She opts to check bags but still keeps luggage to a minimum by having her kids split this suitcase. “One side per kid. I like that one side has the zipper enclosure, and the other has the strap thing that can smoosh stuff down. It’s also really easy to roll around and sturdy enough for a kid to sit on top of it and be pushed if they are ‘too tired to walk,’” says Needs.
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Capacity:70L |Warranty:Patagoniaguaranteesall its products; damage due to wear can be repaired for a fee
Parent of three and co-founder ofLewisLiz Libre recommends the rolling 70L version of the Black Hole duffel, which holds a ton and compresses flat once you’ve arrived at your destination. “Who has room at home for multiple, hard-cased suitcases?” This 70L size has a hard bottom and wheels, and if you stand the bag upright on its side to pull it, you’ll find that your gear compresses down even farther and lets you fit a generous amount (like a pair of adult shoes or lots of snacks) into the top exterior pouch. “It’s big enough for family travel and, even though it’s a soft suitcase, is sturdy enough to prop up and stand on its side,” says Libre.
Duffels
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Capacity:40L |Warranty:Patagoniaguaranteesall its products; damage due to wear can be repaired for a fee
“Getting through the airport with kids isn’t a joy, and I want them light on their feet,” says Libre, who recommends this smaller version of the Black Hole duffel as a carry-on that doubles as a backpack. “Hands free is key! And the places we tend to stay don’t have a ton of room, so a hard suitcase would take up way more room.”
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Capacity:27L |Warranty:1 year
“These duffels are perfect for our weekend trips to NYC,” says Renee Manorat, who lives in Boston and travels internationally multiple times a year with her 4- and 6-year-old. “They’re high-quality, durable, easy to slip over my carry-on luggage (it has that extra strap), and comes with a shoe bag and extra pouch.” They also double as a great sleepover bag for a kid or tween and come in an array of fun colors and patterns.
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Capacity:Not listed |Warranty:1 year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship
“For car trips and sleepovers, my son uses this carry-on bag and a couple of packing cubes,” says Emily Sugihara, founder of Baggu. “Having a full-size weekend bag for a kid is actually super useful, because he’s always bringing toys and a stuffed animal, so he needs the space. The handles are a length that he can manage himself on his shoulder, and I like this solution because he’ll get many, many years out of this bag,” she says. I can attest that this bag also works for an adult and find it’s ideal for carrying enough stuff for a long weekend away. The bag is spacious and extremely lightweight and has easy-access outer pockets that are handy for small items like chargers, glasses, or a book. It also has a travel sleeve in the back, which is handy for stacking it on top of a rolling suitcase.
Kids’ backpacks for travel
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Capacity:23.6L |Warranty:1 year
“We find it helpful to give our kids responsibility for their bags on the plane. The girls have been using the same State Kane backpacks that hold up surprisingly well and have great pockets for everything,” says Grau. Her girls stash a Kindle, reading light, iPad charger, water bottle, and snacks in their own packs so they can be more independent on the plane. My kids use these packs for both school and travel; the style with the travel sleeve is very handy, allowing them to easily pop their backpacks onto the handles of their carry-ons.
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Capacity:20L |Warranty:Lifetime guarantee and repair program
I love this travel-pack option for my kids because it’s small enough for my 8- and 10-year-old to carry on a trip or a hike but, at 20L, is substantial enough for an overnight. There are two bigger internal compartments that you can fully unzip to lie flat, then a top pocket accessible from the outside that’s useful for snacks, sunscreen, or lip balm. (The “Del Dia” model of this bag is made using deadstock fabric, so you get a surprise colorway.)
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Capacity:18L |Warranty:Patagoniaguaranteesall its products; damage due to wear can be repaired for a fee
“This bag is designed to take a beating! My 6-year-old son can drag it on the ground (this happens more often than I’d like), and it doesn’t tear or fall apart,” says Ashley Chaifetz. She travels often with her partner and kid from their home in Atlanta to New York and Texas. “There’s a computer pocket inside — a great place to put paper or magazines without getting crumpled. It’s roomy enough to hold all of his travel belongings, but it’s not so big it gets too heavy. There are two outside pockets, which makes finding and filling your water bottle very easy. He’s also always got room for souvenirs and other super-treasures,” she says.
Accessories
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“I feel like a kid’s travel setup is only as good as the accessories you bring. We put every single item in packing cubes from Away, which I like because they are lightweight and washable, and the mesh top allows you to see what’s in them,” says Mainland. “We have three sets of packing cubes (Eagle Creek, Baggu, and Cotopaxi, probably ten all together), and we use them for everything — clothes, food, electronics, and so forth. We split them between the backpacks/bags we carry on (one per person) and the packed clothes,” says Chaifetz. Parents I spoke to agreed that there wasn’t any notable quality difference between brands, but depending on how many you need, it’s helpful to have the same color or pattern-based set for each person, so you know whose stuff is in which pouches.
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Topo Designs Accessory Bags
For even smaller items, we use these slim and sturdy pouches, which help keep little objects from sinking to the bottom of a carry-on. My son likes to keep a set of dice, playing cards, and pens in his, and my daughter uses hers as a combination wallet and ChapStick holder. They’re made of a sturdy-feeling nylon and are water resistant, which helps when the water-bottle top inevitably comes loose. These are also a favorite everyday item inside a tote bag.
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“My No. 1 piece of travel gear for kids is a headphone splitter,” says Mainland. “We have this one in each of our kids’ backpacks for trips because inevitably, they want to watch the same movie together, listen to the same song together, or play the same video game, and the simple solution that a splitter provides is priceless in the peace it provides to parents.”
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“For kids’ toiletries, chargers and headphones, sunscreen, art supplies, medicines, or whatever small items that need corralling, I love these bags because they’re leakproof, easy to clean on the road, and can do double and triple duty for whatever you suddenly need to contain while traveling. I have been known to use one to collect kids’ travel trash — banana peels, granola-bar wrappers, spent tissues — when moving from Place A to Place B. I’ve also stuck the entire outfit of a carsick kid in one and sealed it like a sarcophagus until it could be properly dealt with,” says Mainland.
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