The Best Kids’ Luggage: Lightweight Suitcases & Backpacks Young Travelers Will Love

One way to cut down on complaints from kids carrying their own suitcase? Make it as light as possible. That’s why we’re huge fans of Aussie brand July’s Carry-On Light, which at just 3.9 pounds, is the lightest double-wheel suitcase in the world. Plus, it comes in kid-friendly colors like bright green cucumber and a super fun neon mandarin, all of which can be monogrammed to keep everyone’s bags with their proper owner. And inside, the 32-liter capacity suitcase has two zippered compartments to ensure that everything stays organized.

Travel writer and author Christine Chitnis swears by Away’s larger-sized carry-on when traveling with her three kids, ages 5–12. “It’s a great size for kids, and so smooth, lightweight, and easy for them to roll around themselves,” she says. On a recent cruise to Greenland with Hurtigruten Expeditions, Chitnis’ 12 year-old son Vijay was able to fit all of his cold-weather active clothing inside it, and for trips that require less bulky items, her kids can “easily get away with two weeks’ worth of clothes, plus a few books, toys, and shoes in the bag,” she says.

The Trunki might not fit as much as some of our other favorite hard-sided suitcases, but it lands a place on this list for its major selling point: kids can actually ride it. Frequent traveler Paige Baker tested it out on a recent trip to Jackson Hole and loved that it was easy to roll even when her toddler was sitting on it. And while the interior space isn’t huge, “it fits a week's worth of toddler clothes or just all of the fun necessities to keep them entertained,” she says. And, with a variety of styles to choose, from a unicorn to a bumblebee, there’s probably one to match your kid’s personal style. For a similar model for older kids, look into the Micro Scooter Luggage Junior, a favorite of contributor Nila Do Simon that can fit a weekend’s worth of clothes and allows kids to scoot from place to place.

Writer Jamie Smith swears by this peppy children's suitcase for her eight-year-old son, Adam. So far, he’s used it for a nine-state road trip and international trips to Mexico and the Dominican Republic; Smith loves that it can easily hold 10 days’ worth of clothing. It also wins points for its durability: “My son is rough on everything,” she says. “He’s banged this suitcase up and down steps and has written on it for every trip. It still looks brand new!” Plus, with its bright neon color, it’s nearly impossible to lose track of it.

No, your child doesn’t need a Rimowa suitcase, but for the chicest young travelers out there, it’s hard to find something cooler than this one. Rimowa’s Essential Lite line is ideal for kids because, like the name implies, the pieces are incredibly lightweight. The smallest model, Cabin U, clocks in at just 4.4 pounds, but can easily accommodate over a week’s worth of clothes and accessories for any well-traveled tot. And with a lifetime guarantee, your kids can be as rough with it as they want: It’ll keep on ticking.

One of the best parts about kids’ luggage is how many more fun colors and prints there are to choose from, and no one embodies this more than State. My seven-year-old daughter Aveline adores State’s Logan kids suitcase, which comes in styles ranging from rainbow tie-dye to camo. On a recent trip to Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island, she was easily able to roll it herself the whole walk from the ferry to the hotel, and it also fit the generous amount of stuffed animals she insisted on bringing with her. As her mom, I appreciate the separate mesh pocket specifically for dirty clothes.

L.L.Bean and rugged are essentially synonymous, so it’s no surprise that its duffel is a favorite among parent travel writers. But, regular duffels can get quite cumbersome, which is why the brand’s rolling version is our favorite out of the entire collection. It’s also been recently redesigned with a studier base, so it now stands on its own without tipping over. Other notable features include a water-resistant coating, cinch straps, and padded grab handles. Finally, with over half a dozen colors available, you can get a different hue for every member of the family.

A wheeled carry-on that actually fits under your seat? It’s no longer a myth, thanks to Delsey’s square-designed Chatelet Air Underseater. Baker also tested this model with her child and loved its understated color (that won’t show toddler messes very easily). While its smaller size means you’re not lugging this one for a multi-week trip, Baker says it can handily fit enough for a weekend stay. It was also “very ergonomically friendly in that it wasn't too large, long, or bulky when pulling by the handle,” she says.

Don't overlook the advantages of smaller bags when traveling with kids. Writer Andrea Hoag loves these colorful numbers by Patagonia, which her kids have used for seven years and counting. “These packs have grown with my kids from their pre-teen years to college,” Hoag says. “For being small, they carry an impressive amount of stuff, like a small Moleskine sketchbook, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer.” And, no surprise considering Patagonia’s reputation for durability, they’ve held up well over the years. “My kids are hard on their stuff and these packs survived years of teenagers tossing them under airline seats, using them as makeshift pillows during marathon road trips, and once, even being used as an improvised bungee cord, cinched tight to shore up a backpack whose zipper broke during the last leg of a transatlantic flight,” she adds.

Writer Alyssa Shelasky is an evangelist for this colorful rolling bag for her two kids, estimating she’s brought it on 20 trips so far, from staycations at The William Vale to The Shore Club Turks & Caicos for a yearly Caribbean trip. Some of her favorite features: how lightweight and easy to wipe down it is, and its budget-friendly price tag. And she’s never worried about scuffs: “Like all things from reliable Lands’ End, it holds up beautifully,” she says. Plus, its design encourages kids to get more involved in the packing process: “There are lots of zips and pockets which kids love (a great mom hack is to have them pack themselves while you focus on your own closet),” she says.

Perhaps the most ubiquitous travel backpack, judging by both an informal poll of travel writers and, well, just looking around at the airport, is this durable version from Pottery Barn. The Mackenzie comes in a staggering number of prints, from lavender flowers to monster trucks to glow-in-the-dark dino bones, and is also available in five different sizes, which means there’s a model for every aged kid. When my daughter was younger, she loved toting around the mini size as her carry-on—it was just big enough for a few picture books and snacks, but what more do you need as a two-year-old? Parents will also sing the praises of the many straps and gear loops, which help to organize things like sweaters or markers.

Traveler contributor Jordi Lippe-McGraw is also the creator of this new bag line, which launches this September with a range of products that are perfect for parents and kids (hence, the ‘Pak’). The Companion, the line’s smaller-sized backpack, is the ideal size for kids, but can also be attached to the larger Origin Pak when little travelers need a break from carrying their gear. We also love the luxury touches, like the premium nylon exterior and leather detailing at the high touch points.

Contributor Juliana Shalcross' tween daughter uses this backpack for double-duty: It’s not only her school bag, but her favorite travel carry-on as well. “It’s a great backpack for tweens and teens as it’s a simple style with plenty of little compartments to stash tech accessories, make-up, and gadgets,” she says. It’s also very durable: The fabric is a recycled polyester that’s also waterproof. And while there are larger backpacks on the market, Shallcross’ daughter makes use of the exterior bungee cords to stash things like a sweatshirt, rather than jamming it inside.

On a recent trip to Eden Roc Cap Cana, my daughter insisted on bringing this backpack with her, citing its bright color that would match the sun on the Caribbean island. I can’t blame her—one of Stoney Clover’s hallmarks is its wide range of rainbow hues, all in a sturdy nylon fabric. But if you’re familiar with the brand, you’ll know its other draw is how customizable its products are, thanks to a dizzying array of patches that can be sewn to the front. Pro tip: There are a ton of destination patches, which can be fun to collect on your child’s travels.

Another strong entry in the customizable camp is Becco, which makes duffles, backpacks, belt bags, and more that can all be personalized with patches. The key difference here is that Becco’s bags are fashioned out of a patent-pending hook and loop material (like a velcro), which means patches can be swapped out for every trip (or every day, if your kid so chooses). Currently, my daughter has a tropical theme going for her backpack to get ready for our trip to Four Seasons Resort Nevis, but she also loves spelling out her name with letter patches. Apart from its interactivity, I also love the bag’s padded straps and back, which makes lugging it, even when heavy, quite comfortable.