Best Luggage For Kids 2023
If you do a lot of traveling with your family, then making sure everyone has their own luggage is a must. When choosing luggage for a child, however, there are a lot of special considerations to keep in mind—and these can vary a bit depending on age. Still, by being aware of some of the top luggage brands for kids, as well as some other guidelines for choosing the right luggage for your little one, you and your entire family will be able to travel a little easier.
Best Luggage For Kids
- CHESTER
- Popatu
- Lassig USA
- Trendy Kid
- Skip Hop
Reviews of Best Luggage For Kids
While not every luggage brand offers specific luggage designed just for kids, there are quite a few brands that offer top baggage choices with the younger audience in mind. From toddler age to tweens, check out our top picks for the best kids’ luggage brands as you begin your search.
1. CHESTER
CHESTER specializes in stylish, innovative luggage for the modern traveler. If you’re looking for kids’ luggage that’s sleek and stylish rather than “cutsey,” CHESTER has some great choices. From basic carry-ons to medium- and large-sized checked baggage, you have plenty of options to choose from. The best part? This luggage can grow with your child well into his or her teen and adult years.
2. Popatu
For toddlers and younger kids, Popatu has some cute and practical luggage to choose from. Check out their popular plush rolling backpacks, which feature adorable owls, dogs, cats, and other stuffed animals and include a handle for easy maneuvering as well. The stuffed animals themselves are detachable for easy cleaning, and the small size makes these a perfect carry-on option.
3. Lassig USA
For the slightly older crowd, Lassig USA offers some great kids’ luggage with fun prints and durable materials. They’re known for their kids’ trolley bags, which come in a variety of patterns and colors. They also feature multiple compartments, a name badge, telescoping handles, and easy-glide wheels. Some of the designs even have a “glow-in-the-dark” pattern!
4. Trendy Kid
Trendy Kid specializes in children’s luggage and offers dozens of options; they’re best known for their “Travel Buddies,” which are 17″ rolling backpacks that come with a matching backpack. They come in fun designs, like Tinko Tiger and Etta Elephant, which kids are sure to love. These are a great option for those looking to buy a luggage set for their kids.
5. Skip Hop
Skip Hop is a brand well known for its baby/children gear, and they’ve recently gotten into the kids’ luggage game as well. Their rolling zoo bags are ideal for carry-ons, and come in fun animal designs such as butterflies, ladybugs, giraffes, monkeys, and more. They also have matching lunch boxes and other accessories sold separately.
Advantages of Luggage For Kids
Still not sure about buying your child his or her own luggage? There are some possible pros and cons to consider. For starters, providing your child with his or her own luggage can really make your life easier while traveling, especially if you have a slightly older child who is capable of carrying his or her own baggage. This saves you the hassle of having to cram your child’s belongings into your own luggage.
Many children also enjoy having baggage that they can call their own or when flying with a dog. When you buy your child his or her own luggage, you can also delegate the task of packing their own belongings (if they’re old enough). This can save you time and stress as you prepare for an upcoming trip. You can help to teach your child personal responsibility by providing his or her own luggage; if you have a younger child, you might consider including a list of items for your child to pack so you can be sure no essentials are missed.
With luggage designed specifically for children, your child will also have an easier time carrying and maneuvering baggage through the airport and other crowded spaces. Children’s luggage tends to be smaller, with shorter telescoping handles and other features designed with your child’s comfort in mind.
Disadvantages of Luggage For Kids
Of course, buying your child his or her own luggage can be costly. It’s not uncommon for kids’ luggage sets to cost just as much as an adult luggage set. If you don’t do a ton of traveling with your family, it can be difficult to justify these costs. Furthermore, providing your child with his or her own luggage (rather than packing your child’s belongings with your own baggage) may also mean incurring more checked baggage fees and also having to worry about keeping track of more pieces of luggage on your travels.
Still, many parents would agree that providing your child with his or her own luggage is more beneficial than packing their belongings in your own baggage or having them use just any extra suitcase you may have lying around. Kids’ luggage is designed specifically with your child’s smaller stature in-mind and provides them with a space to store all their belongings and souvenirs with each trip. And if you buy quality luggage, you can easily expect it to last for many years to come—which can help take some of the sting out of the initial purchase.
Choosing Luggage For Your Child: Top Considerations
If you’re sold on the idea of buying luggage for your child, you may be wondering where to start. Our list of top five luggage brands can be an excellent starting point, but there are some additional tips and considerations worth keeping in mind as you shop as well.
Is it an Appropriate Size?
One of the most important factors to consider when shopping for children’s luggage is its size and functionality. If your child is old enough to carry his or her own luggage, you’ll want to make sure that the baggage is designed with your child’s comfort in mind. For backpacks, be on the lookout for padded shoulder straps, which will make lugging baggage through the airport easier. You may also want to look for such features as telescoping handles and easy-glide wheels, which will be so much easier for your child than carrying a suitcase through an airport or other space.
Size also matters when choosing children’s luggage. While it makes sense that kids’ luggage may be smaller than luggage designed for adults, it’s still important to make sure that the bag will be large enough to store everything your child will need for the trip. Some kids’ luggage is so small that it really can’t be used for more than a carry-on. Before you buy that adorable kids’ suitcase based on its cute design alone, think about how practical it’s actually going to be when packing for a long trip.
Of course, you’ll also need to take airport size restrictions into consideration when shopping for kids’ luggage. Make sure it doesn’t exceed maximum size allowances; otherwise, you might be stuck paying additional fees.
When shopping for kids’ luggage online, it can be difficult to gauge how easy it will be for your child to carry and maneuver the luggage. If you shop for baggage in-person, be sure to have your child there with you so you can have him or her test it out before buying. If you’re buying online, look for a money-back guarantee for added confidence and peace of mind with your purchase.
Does it Have Lots of Compartments?
Choosing kids’ luggage or luggage for college students with plenty of compartments and other storage features is also a must; not only do kids love stowing their items away in zippered pockets and other small compartments, but these allow for added organization while packing as well. Specifically, be on the lookout for water-proof compartments, which are great for storing wet swimsuits and towels. You might also want to look for carry-on luggage with a storage pocket for snacks and a water bottle. A front zipper compartment is also ideal for keeping essentials within easy reach, especially for a carry-on bag.
Is it Made of Quality Materials?
One of the biggest mistakes parents tend to make when shopping for kids’ luggage is overlooking the quality and durability of the materials in favor of a cute or fun design. The last thing you want is to end up needing to replace your kids’ luggage after just a few uses because it’s made of cheap materials—or to have some of your child’s belongings damaged during travel due to poor quality materials. When shopping for kids’ checked baggage, look for hard-sided materials that will be easy to clean and extremely durable.
For kids’ carry-on luggage, canvas material tends to be a great option because it’s lightweight while still being durable. Canvas can also be easily spot-cleaned with a mild detergent and warm water.
When shipping for kids’ luggage, you might want to look for a luggage company that offers a money-back guarantee. This can be especially helpful if you’re shopping for luggage online. This way, if you receive the luggage and aren’t happy with the quality of materials or any other aspect of the design, you can send it back for a full refund with no questions asked.
Is it Too Trendy?
Another thing to keep in mind when shopping for kids’ luggage is that buying baggage that’s too trendy can come back to haunt you down the road. Kids’ tastes tend to change rapidly, so it may be better to stick to a more timeless bag design. This means staying away from luggage with specific characters (such as cartoon characters) that your child may not care for a year or two down the road. This will save you from ending up with luggage that your child doesn’t want to use in a couple of years, which could also save you the cost of having to replace it. Sticking with solid colors or classic yet fun patterns will help ensure that your kids’ luggage lasts for many years to come.
Does it Include Any Accessories?
Some kids’ luggage comes in sets, which can save you money and ensure that your kids’ baggage all matches. This can make it a lot easier to identify whose luggage is whose, especially if you have multiple children. When shopping for a luggage set, you can generally expect sets to include a checked bag (usually with wheels and a telescoping handle) as well as a carry-on bag, such as a backpack. Additional accessories to look for include snack packs and water bottles.
Will it Be Easy to Clean?
Let’s be real. Children can be messy. When you’re shopping for their luggage, then, make your life easier down-the-road by choosing luggage that’s made of easy-to-clean materials so you can avoid stains and grime. Hard-sided suitcases will cost a bit more up-front than soft-sided ones, but will offer greater durability and are much easier to clean. Simply wipe them down with a disinfecting cloth. For stubborn scuffs and stains, you can also use a magic eraser on most hard-sided suitcases.
Kids’ carry-on bags are usually made of softer materials, such as canvas. Some bags may be able to be put in the washing machine, but this is not always the case. The good news it that you can typically spot-treat stains on canvas and other soft-sided bags pretty easily using a stain pen.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there’s a lot to keep in mind when shopping for kids’ luggage. By sticking with a reputable brand, however, you can be sure that you’re getting a quality product that will stand up to your family’s travel. Furthermore, by providing your child with his or her own luggage, you can help teach a sense of responsibility while taking some of the burden off your own shoulders (literally).
With a little bit of research and planning, you can find the perfect luggage set for your child. From there, you can better enjoy your travels knowing that your child has a dedicated space to store his or her own belongings, souvenirs, and more!
