When traveling with children, luggage management requires forethought. We want them to be able to handle their own suitcases, without being overloaded. Backpacks, sit-on luggage, fun shapes and colors -after awhile it all gets burdensome to lug around. For our big family trip to England, where there would be lots of transfers between airports, train stations, subways, and buses, we needed a better luggage solution. And what a solution we found! It’s a scooter suitcase!
We purchased a scooter suitcase for our second grader. Instead of reluctantly dragging a suitcase through airports and train stations, she soared down hallways and whizzed through subways. It was the best investment of the trip. The suitcase transfer became a source of joy. Instead of lagging behind, she got to lead the way. She was ahead and she was loving it!
When I first saw a scooter suitcase, a toy scooter with a suitcase attached to the front, at Ross, I knew it was a good idea. The trouble was that the suitcase on the front of the scooter was very small. It had Bluey on the front and was designed for a small child. A suitcase of carry-on size was what I was looking for. On Amazon.com I found a hard-sided shell style one. The dimensions are 13.4″x 25.9″x 25.5, which is normal carry-on size for most airlines. It came in a spiffy metallic pink – rose gold color. She is collecting stickers from all these places she visits to decorate it.
I don’t love that it hinges open from the bottom, but it makes sense for the design. Inside cross straps and zippered compartments keep clothes secure and organized. It states that it its maximum loading weight is 165 pounds, but there would never be any reason to fill it that full! The scooter portion is slip-proof. It balances easily with two front wheels and one rear wheel, all made of high-quality plastic. The scooter portion folds up and locks into place easily. And the suitcase still has small wheels for rolling when the scooter is folded up.
It is a pricey piece of luggage ($150). And I am a bit of a cheapskate. However, some things are just worth it, and this is one of them. For the amount of suitcase dragging we were forced to do on this trip, it was the ideal luggage piece. In fact we were all a little jealous of the fun my daughter was having. Every kid we passed craned their neck to get a look at this scooter-suitcase hybrid. Quite of a few parents took a second look, too. I have a feeling this idea will catch on.
Cobblestone streets in York were not scooter friendly, but that was a very small portion of our trip. And even York had plenty of sidewalks. I would say that if my kid is not old enough to pop the scooter portion up and down themselves, for escalators, trains, and plane boarding, it would have been more of a hassle for me. I would guess that under five it might be as much of a pain as a help. They have to be able to steer through a crowd without running anyone over!
The scooter suitcase is a wonderful invention. It made our big England trip a pleasant experience. I hope the idea catches on and there is eventually a lower price point for families.
