Best luggage for kids: LittleLife Wheelie Suitcase review
The girls and I had a few great foreign trips in 2018 including a European cruise and week in the Italian Lakes. I’ve been keen that, at the age of five and three, the kids start packing and carrying some of their own belongings, especially as Mr Tin Box couldn’t join us for these two trips. My hands were already well and truly full! So what’s the best luggage for kids to unburden travelling parents?
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UPDATE: Sadly the fun LittleLife bags have been discontinued, but if you are looking for something similar Trunki and it make fun and practical luggage for kids.
We were sent a pair of LittleLife wheelie suitcases to review. Read on to find out what we thought of these cute kids duffle bags on wheels.
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LittleLife wheelie bag review: the packing challenge
In order to put our Ladybird and Dinosaur design LittleLife wheelie suitcases through their paces prior to going on holiday I thought I’d challenge the Tin Box girls to pack them for a five night trip. I chose five nights as that’s the average time we’re usually away from home.
I supervised Baby while Tot filled her own bag with five jumpers, three pairs of trousers, a swim suit, one pair of shoes, one t-shirt and two pairs of knickers – the ideal holiday wardrobe, ahem! She also popped in a story book and her favourite, well-loved cuddly toy.
Here’s the slightly more trip appropriate packing list for Baby’s suitcase:
- Five pairs of knickers and socks
- Three vests
- Two pairs of PJs
- One skirt
- One pair of trousers
- A pair of shorts
- Five t-shirts
- One jumper
- A swim suit
- Sandals
- Trainers
- Two books
- A toy
If you’re interested in packing lists take a look at my self-catering holiday packing list or my essentials for travelling with a baby and toddler.
So how did the LittleLife Wheelie Suitcase stand up to our five night challenge?
We managed to get everything we needed for each of the girls into the 20 litre bag and had space for an extra couple of nights with some tight rolling and clever packing.
I’d definitely use these suitcases for a summer holiday. If we needed wellington boots, extra jumpers and spare waterproofs then the girls would have to borrow some luggage space from me.
Kids cabin luggage suitcases
I had intended to put Tot’s wheelie suitcase into the aeroplane’s hold during our flight to Italy in the summer. But some unplanned repacking meant we brought it into the cabin instead.
This was no problem on our flight with Flybe, which restricts cabin bags to 55 x 35 x 20cm. The suitcase fitted perfectly under the seat in front of ours.
To be honest the bag is deeper than 20cm, but because we had other luggage going into the hold I don’t think the check in staff were too worried either on the UK or Italian sides. Other airlines may not be so accommodating!
How does the LittleLife wheelie suitcase compare to other luggage for kids?
We also have Trunkis and the girls love them too. However, as someone interested in how useful the luggage is rather than just its entertainment value, I much prefer the LittleLife wheelie bags. You can pack them and re-open the bags without everything falling out, which means you can use them more for longer breaks.
It’s not just a novelty – however useful that is when you are trying to keep kids amused at the airport. The prices are similar if you buy them through the official brand websites. But it is possible to pick up Trunkis for cheaper. My vote for the best kids luggage still goes to LittleLife.
Product features
Here’s some more product facts for you:
- Each bag comes with a two-stage telescopic handle
- There’s a handy name label inside the handle zipper
- It has an internal accessory pocket
- The main compartment holds 20 litres
- Weight: 1.4kg (3lbs.1oz)
- Dimensions (packed): 35 x 25 x 45cm
- Suitable for ages 3+ years
- Retail price: £49.99 (but keep an eye out for deals)
Our verdict on the LittleLife Wheelie Suitcase
The girls think these animal-themed suitcases are great fun and were keen to give them a road test. They had no trouble dashing around with the bags fully loaded with their well chosen (and not so well chosen) holiday essentials.
I rate the LittleLife Wheelie Suitcases because they are practical with an element of fun and we can pack them like proper luggage with clothes and a few items to keep the kids entertained while we’re on holiday. I might actually win back some of my suitcase space!
In terms of the bags’ price (RRP £49.99), the LittleLife Wheelie Suitcase is a bit more expensive than other luggage for kids on the market but I would argue it is more practical and comparable with good quality adult hand luggage.
Do you have special luggage for your kids?
These look great, I have only ever really seen the trunkis for kids but will be looking into these a bit more once we start travelling again once the baby arrives. Good to see how practical they are and the designs are really nice too.
Wow, they’re so cute! Kids love to have their case when going on holiday. These are excellent!
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Definitely the ladybird x x x
The ladybird x
The ladybird 🙂 xx
I think the ladybird one would be the favourite
My nephew would love the Dinosaur one.
My love the dinosaur.
The ladybug
Aww… they’re so cute! Kids just love to have their own personal case when going on holiday. These are perfect!
Great review – love the ladybird case!
Oh for sure they would love the dinosaur, it looks fab !!
The Ladybird would be great for our little Grace.
Dinosaur
My little girl would love the ladybird suitcase and my little boy would love the spiderman one he’s seen
Milly would love the ladybird. both look awesome!
My daughters already been eyeing up your ladybug one
Love them both! Dinosaur is fun
So sweet, my little girl would adore a ladybird LittleLife suitcase xx
I think my grandchildren would prefer the dinosaur!
my daughter would like the ladybird one x
they are both fabulous but i think i would choose the dinosaur one for my grandson
My son would love the gruffalo one. He loves the books and it looks fab!
My nephew would love the dinosaur one
The Ladybird please!
ladybird for our lil ladybug
The Ladybird
The dinosaur one is what I would pick
I would love the Ladybird design for my granddaughter.
my son Harry would love the Dinosaur design
My niece would so adore the Ladybird one as so cute.
The ladybird I think
My daughter would choose Labybird. I am surprised at how much they fit in.
The Ladybird for my great niece would be great
I think my daughter would pick the Ladybird one
they look brilliant, kids everywhere will love them
The dinosaur would be my son’s choice.
It’s hard because I have a girl who would love the ladybug and my baby Charlie would love the dinosaur
I think that my little granddaughter would love the Ladybird design best.
I think we prefer the ladybird
How lovely. I would choose the ladybird model.
love the dinosaur one
My little girl would like the dinosaur one. They are so cute. Thanks for the chance
The ladybugs for my niece fingers crossed
We like the Ladybird.
The Dinosaur
dinosaur one xx
The ladybird is nice
My 2 year old Lexie would love the Ladybird one as she is obsessed with Gaston the Ladybird from Ben and Holly
The dinosaur one, I’m sure grandson could fill this easily
She would choose the ladybird I think. Thanks for a lovely giveaway.
i love the ladybird one!
The ladybird one.
My son would love the ladybird design
The ladybug one
So cute would chose the Ladybird case
My youngest would choose the dinosaur, she loves them!
My little grandson would love the dinosaur one.
I think my son would love the ladybird
The ladybird is lovely
I think my girl would like the ladybird one x
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The ladybug one is so cute!
My Grandson would love the Spider Man one
The Ladybird, she would love it
The dinosaur design
the ladybird design x
I think the dinosaur would be the LittleLife Wheelie Suitcase of choice here! Though the bee is rather good 🙂
My little boy would probably love the ladybird design
My son would love the dinosaur one
My youngest son is dinosaur mad so couldn’t pick anything but
My son would love the dinosaur design x
The dinosaur one is so cute
The dinosaur design
I think my son would probably choose the dinasour, although the Gruffalo would also be very popular
My Granddaughter would love the Ladybird
mine would love the dinosaur
My son would love the dinosaur one
the ladybird is awesome
Thanks for the review – they look like top bags! I’ve been looking for decent luggage for our little ones.
My nephew would love the dinosaur
My granddaughter would love the ladybird one
My daughter would love the Ladybird design. We travel a lot because of my husband’ job and are forever on trains and planes this looks absolutely ideal. Many many thanks for this great review and giveaway.
My daughter would love the ladybird design x
We have Trunkies but rarely use them to actually pack for holidays. They sometimes take their toys to the grandparents in them an use them to play holidays at home. I don’t find the particularly practical
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love the ladybird
The Spiderman one looks awesome – my nephew would love it
I think my daughter would love the ladybird!
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The ladybird
The Ladybird!
My son would love the dinosaur one
We love the ladybird
Definately the lady bird we love them although we dont see as many these days in the garden
We love the Ladybird x
We loved the ladybird one so would choose it. Cannot believe how much you packed into it – amazing!
the ladybird
Ladybird
The ladybird one!
I think they would pick the ladybird as red is the favourite colour!
The Ladybird, would love to win for my niece, going on her first holiday abroad
Probably the Dinosaur, thank you.
The ladybird
I think the dinosaur would really suit my nephew.
My grandson would love the Dinosaur suitcase, he really into all the big beasties at the moment.
My daughter would love the ladybird one
My son would love the dinosaur one
Either would be great it saves me trying to lug 5 kids suitcases and gives them a sense of pride that they can be grown up enough to carry their own. My 3 little ones would love to pack everyone’s swimming stuff into it for our holiday.
My daughter would adore the ladybird
I think my son would love the dinosaur one
The Dinosaur design for my lovely nephew, great features thanks for the chance
my daughter would choose the ladybird
My grandson would love the Spiderman Suitcase, he would love to pack his own little case and pull it along
Aww they are lovely, I would choose the beautiful lady bird design for my daughter Heidi
I think she would choose the ladybird
The dinosaur
the dinosaur!
I think my boy would like the dinosaur. Can’t believe how much fits in them.
My daughter would pick the ladybird but my son would love the dinosaur!
She would like the ladybird.
My granddaughter would like the ladybird suitcase
My daughter would love the ladybird design
The ladybird.
the dinosaur
The Dinosaur would go down very well
I like the Ladybird design.
I cannot believe the amount of stuff you managed to pack! Incredible!
We love the ladybird.
My daughter would love the ladybird
Love how much Tot fitted in – I have definitely seen worse packing lists than that for a holiday 😀
Probably the ladybird (aka bishy barnabee in Norfolk)
They are both so cute but my daughter would probably choose the dinosaur!
They look thrilled with them
This would be great for my little girl to take on holiday