trunki review

I wasn't sure I wanted to spend almost $100 on carry-on luggage for 2 boys, but it turned out so very, very worth it.

Since the boys are getting bigger now, we decided to simplify our trip to and from Texas by losing the stroller. We took it to Texas with us this time, with the intention of leaving it, though we didn't know with what it would be replaced (because, hello, our boys are still very young) until we saw one of these in Amsterdam. And my mind was made up.

Each Trunki was $40, plus we got saddlebags for them, which were $12-15.

orange for Ben, red for Nate

They hold plenty. We packed each with 1 spare outfit, 1 sweatshirt, snacks to last 30 hours, a stack of sticker sheets/paper/activity books, a water bottle (empty to go through security), and several favorite toys. They were not full. If we didn't all pack in 1 suitcase when we go on family trips, the boys could easily use them as suitcases for a few nights away.

Some of the reviews complained about the latches. We didn't have problems with the latches at all. They stayed closed and have little locks on them to reinforce the latch (though it's not a security kind of lock - the key is attached to the shoulder strap).

The saddlebag doesn't hold much. We packed just those things that I thought the boys would want in the seatback pocket (where they fit very well) - fruit snacks for takeoff, TMNT grab bag activity packs for landing and/or turbulence because there's nothing worse than "Fasten Seatbelts" light and your kids have nothing to do. The saddlebags fit on top of the trunkis, with a buckle strap that wraps all the way around.

I thought the boys might have a hard time keeping their feet up while riding on the trunki because they don't have footrests. But they didn't seem to mind. You're only walking through the airport for a few minutes at a time, after all. We spend more time standing in line anyway - and that's really when the boys need to be contained! We stand in line to check our bags, go through security 4 times, board 3 flights, do baggage claim twice, go through immigration, and go through customs.

waiting to check our luggage in Houston

Rodgers clipped Ben to his belt loop for a while

We pulled the boys behind us, they rode and pushed with their feet, we used the leash as a shoulder strap and let the boys walk, and they took turns pulling each other around. When we were pulling them, we were able to walk much faster than I expected - I was able to go my normal "airport pace." The only hard part was navigating the crowds without running someone over with the trunki, also not crashing the kid into a sign or something and turning without tipping him over. It didn't take too long to get the hang of steering, though.

Nate pushing with his feet

Nate pulling Ben before we boarded our first flight

By nature of being a multicultural family with adorable (and usually loud) boys, we attract attention everywhere we go, but this trip we got some extra attention. Everyone thought the trunkis were super awesome, and I think a few of the grown ups were jealous that they don't come in an adult size - especially standing in all of those lines.

Ben riding around Mombasa baggage claim in the middle of the night - we made it at last!

I very much recommend a trunki if you fly with your kids, ages 3 and up. (Ben's not quite 3 yet, but close enough.)