5 best suitcases for kids and teens for $100 or less

by Amy Chen on

It’s hard to say whether these suitcases are meant for the kids or the parents. Adorable enough to entertain kids and stylish enough to appeal preteens, and teens, these five affordable carry-ons may be just the thing to encourage children to roll their own gear through the airport.

Isabella Fiore
Italian designer Isabella Fiore launched a hard-shell suitcase this fall that proves that suitcases don’t have to come in boring black. The floral pattern is sophisticated enough for preteens, teens, and adults alike. Bonus: The 20-inch polycarbonate wheelie bag weighs a mere 6.5 pounds — and with a stylish bag like this, your precocious child may even start looking forward to packing.
Cost: $100 for a 20-inch suitcase; available in white, pink, and blue floral prints
Where to Buy: Dillard’s stores

Beatrix New York
With whimsical designs such as a robot, an owl, a monkey, a ladybug, and a dinosaur, I only wish that these 16-inch wheelie bags also came in grown-up sizes. Bonus: The handle is perfectly sized for kids, but the height cleverly extends a bit longer for adults who may need to take over wheeling the bag through the airport.
Cost: $94
Where to Buy: www.dantebeatrix.com

Ecozoo Rolling Series by Ecogear
Ecogear’s Rolling Monkey is the latest animal to join the Ecozoo menagerie, which already includes a panda, puppy, pig, and frog. Padded shoulder straps transform the rolling bag into an easy-to-carry backpack.
Cost: $50
Where to Buy: www.ecogear-products.com

Trunki
I recently spotted a pair of the tiger-shaped Trunki suitcases at San Francisco International Airport. The pint-size wheelie suitcases can be filled with toys, games, and other distractions — and best of all, kids can hitch a free ride by sitting on the hard-case suitcases. And when your flight is delayed, the suitcase is certainly a cleaner place to sit than the airport floor.
Cost: $39.99
Where to Buy: www.melissaanddoug.com

Hello Kitty by FAB NY
The beloved Sanrio character is still going strong after 35 years. And even if your little one eventually outgrows her Hello Kitty obsession or decides that pink isn’t for her, the 16-inch wheelie bag is one of the most affordable suitcases of the bunch.
Cost: $39.99
Where to Buy: www.toysrus.com

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Wheeled Bags: Interesting Question, From a Luggage Perspective

by Iva Skoch on

During the crunch of holiday travel, do yourself a favor and read Seth Stevenson’s great op-ed piece from the NY Times/IHT a few days ago: Hell on Wheels.

It’s a very a propos message. A traveling companion, on my recent travels to Central America asked if bringing a wheeled bag was in order. I said absolutely not (and you’ll know why if you’ve read my recent posts from Costa Rica and Panama).

Mr. Stevenson points out, in a very entertaining piece (written from aboard a ship in the Pacific), that the advent of wheeled bags have enabled and encouraged us to pack much more than we can carry and much more than we need. He points out that they are frequently useless for real traveling, outside of “the taxi-airport-taxi-hotel-shuttle-bus-convention center” trip.

So, avoid the massive steamer trunks (a la Joe vs. the Volcano), minimalize, and experience life…outside the suitcase.