Trying to decide whether to take suitcases or backpacks for your next family trip can be one of the most difficult decisions in the lead up to your trip especially if it is the first time you have travelled as a family. However, even if you have travelled many times before, it can still be difficult to work out what is best for next time. The best choice can change depending on where you are going and how old your kids are.

Here are our thoughts!

Suitcases

I was never much of a fan of suitcases. I loved travelling with a backpack as it felt like I had more freedom than when I tried lugging around a suitcase. It was easy to just put a backpack on and go do whatever and not have to worry about stairs or getting on a bus or anything. In some countries it was essential. I could not imagine chicken bussing it around Central America with a suitcase.

Then I had kids.

The amount of stuff that a baby seems to entail is quite frankly ridiculous. I went from a 20 litre backpack to two suitcases the first time we went away with both children (when they were 11 months and 2 years old), and it was definitely the right choice. Between 5 tins of formula, bottles, a travel crib, nappies, an inflatable mattress for S, etc, etc, there was just no choice (check out our packing list here).

Our bags for 7 weeks in Asia on our first, family of 4 trip

The other thing that can make suitcases a great choice with young ones is that we would often have our youngest attached to us in a carrier. We did not know logistically how a big pack on the back, a carry on backpack and a baby in a carrier could work. How would we carry them all around?

I also find a suitcase allows for easier access to our things. I pack our clothes into a corner for each person which makes it easier to access what we need.

Of course, they do have their downsides. A suitcase needs one of your hands meaning you have one less to control children. As our kids get a little older and we no longer need to carry them, hands are more useful to us than having space on our chest or back to carry them.

Suitcases are nowhere near as mobile as a backpack. Getting them on and off transport is annoying. If the kids run off, chasing them with a suitcase can be problematic. In some places, like Sri Lanka, it is just not practical to take a suitcase on public buses.

Pros

• Easy to access
• Easy to pack
• Easier to fit awkward size items like a travel crib.
• Can generally hold more items
• Do not need to carry so can use a baby carrier easily

Cons

• Less mobile than a backpack
• Can be problematic when on uneven ground or stairs
• Takes a hand to pull the suitcase
• Not practical on many forms of local transportation

Best when

• Kids are young and you need a lot of equipment or want to use a baby carrier.
• You are going on a trip where you will primarily take taxis or have your own car.

You can read my guide to the best luggage here.

Backpacks

I am a big fan of backpacks. They are just so easy. You put them on your back and then you are ready to go without any worries about walking up stairs, uneven roads or getting on a bus.

The best part about a backpack can be the freedom it gives you when travelling. You have more choices in regards to public transportation. When we were travelling with two suitcases, a stroller and two little ones, it was very rare that we felt we could get public transportation. Getting on a crowded bus with all of that is just too hard so it impacted where we could travel. Of course, travelling with babies and toddlers meant we did not want to catch crowded buses so it was not that much of an issue at that point.

They can also be used to do activities like trekking. They give you more flexibility.

On the Inca Trail – I’d love to see you do that with a suitcase!

The downsides are that they can be heavy. It can be a lot to carry around especially if you need to factor in some hand luggage as well or if your kids decide to stop carrying their own bags or refuse to walk. However, at times when you would have had to carry around a suitcase anyway, for example, up stairs, weight distribution in a backpack makes it far easier to do so.

Although many backpacks can come with lots of compartments and cool U zips, I do not find them anywhere near as easy to access as a suitcase. Their shape can make them harder to carry around baby equipment such as formula and travel cribs.

Pros

• Great mobility
• More flexibility in how you travel
• Good weight distribution when carrying it
• Both hands are free for potential kid wrangling

Cons

• Generally smaller than suitcases
• Difficult to fit awkward size items like travel cribs
• Not as easy to access contents
• Difficult to carry backpacks as well as a baby carrier

Best when

• Your kids are out of the baby/toddler stage
• You want options of what transportation you can take
• You are going trekking.

You can read my guide to the best travel backpacks here. You are sure to find something perfect for your family.

Best Travel Bags for Kids?

Working out the best travel option for kids can be tough, and it is going to vary depending on their age.

Miami airport

When our kids were toddlers, a small backpack worked best. They would pack it themselves with their favourite toys and they took pride in carrying it around. It worked very well. We especially loved these little animal backpacks (like the frog backpack pictured above). Small is definitely best at this age so that they can’t pack much meaning it gets too heavy for them to carry.

Now that they are preschoolers, Trunkis are working very very well for us (read the full review here). These ride on suitcases are easy for the kids to pull around, and it gives them something to play with and somewhere to sit when we are waiting in lines.

A handy way to get around an airport in the middle of the night

The big plus for us is that we are able to pull the kids along on them which is great when distances are big (please note that this is not the intended functionality of the suitcase. I can’t guarantee that it is completely safe, but it is working well for us).

The other plus is that the suitcases are 19 litres which means they hold a fair bit. We are able to pack the kids clothes plus some toys and nappies in there. Trunkis are one of the reasons that we are able to switch to carry on only as it means that we can better optimise the space that the kids are allowed to take onboard while still having a case that they can transport themselves.

An example of what a Trunki can hold – it is not full in this photo

You can buy Trunkis on Amazon.

Carry On only?

We are big fans of travelling carry on only and I think this is the best option to take if you can handle taking less luggage with you. Whether you take a carry on backpack or a small suitcase is up to you, but carry on bags do give you even more freedom and flexibility.

It can also save you money if you fly budget airlines. Baggage charges can start to really add up if you fly often. It also saves times at airports and bus/train stations and makes it very easy to just walk to wherever you are staying.

If you want to read more about why I love travelling carry on only and to see my packing list – check out this article. This was before I had children but we are excited to be going carry on only from here on with our kids. Look out of our packing list for that coming soon!

What is your favourite packing item and why?

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