Choosing the right baggage can make packing, organizing, and traveling far easier. Complaints go down, confidence goes up, and soon you and the fam will be coasting through the airport with the speed and confidence of George Clooney in Up in the Air.
But what are the best travel bags for families? What are the pros and cons of suitcases, backpacks, and duffle bags? When’s the right time to switch your kid from a backpack to a suitcase? And what fancy luggage features aren’t worth paying for?
Let’s dive in.
What to Look for in Family Travel Bags
Since buying bags for your family can be a big investment, you’ll want to get it right the first time so you can focus on packing — not on finding the receipt.
Here are some things to look for:
- Size and storage capacity: Ideally, you’ll want each of your family’s bags to fit within standard carry-on size (22” x 14” x 9”). That way, the squad isn’t stuck waiting at the luggage carousel, and you can get a 20-minute head start on your trip.
- Durability and material: Hardshell and softshell luggage both have their own pros and cons that we’ll discuss below. There’s no wrong choice as long as you buy quality.
- Quality and warranty period: High-quality luggage may cost twice as much, but it’ll last five times longer. Consider brands like Samsonite, Briggs & Riley, and Travelpro that have lengthy (or lifetime) warranties.
- Ease of transport: When choosing a bag for your child, consider that there’s a high likelihood you’ll be the one who ends up carrying it. That’s why a backpack + roller bag can be a great combo, but two of the same can be less ideal.
RELATED: Packing Light for Family Travel: Smart Tips & Tricks
Things that don’t really matter
Like any other industry, the travel industry will frequently try to get you to pay more for things you don’t really need. Things like:
- RFID blockers: Sometimes bags will come with RFID-blocking technology that prevents criminals from copying your credit card information from a short distance. The only “problem” is that there are zero documented cases of this actually happening.
- Luggage locks: Don’t pay extra for luggage locks or luggage with built-in locks since there’s little evidence that they deter crime, and hackers have successfully cloned TSA master keys anyway. You can keep your zippers from springing open with a simple zip tie or carabiner.
- Matching and/or brightly colored luggage: Bright, matching bags may be easier for families to spot, but they force your kids into a color choice they may soon outgrow (or resent). Get a set of matching luggage straps for $9 instead.
- Whether or not it’s marketed for kids. Kids don’t necessarily need kid-branded luggage. A small, hardshell suitcase can last them years, and they can always put Frozen stickers on the outside if they’d like!
Which Bag Type Is Best for Family Travel?
Now let’s look at your three main bag options for each family member. Should you all be traveling with suitcases, backpacks, duffel bags, or a combination of all three?
To find the perfect mix for your family, let’s look at the pros and cons of each.
Suitcase pros and cons
- Pros: Come in soft- and hardshell varieties, can come with four wheels, children can grow into them and use them throughout their preteen years
- Cons: Expensive, troublesome on uneven terrain, can be difficult to carry your children’s suitcases for them
- Best for: Long-haul trips, checked luggage, preteens who’ve outgrown rolling backpacks
The classic rolling suitcase remains an excellent, all-around choice for parents and kids alike.
Some parents have begun graduating their children from rolling backpacks to suitcases as early as age 9 since the latter gives them more space, more responsibility, and can bear more weight than a backpack.
Switching from backpacks to suitcases also gives you the option to move everyone onto hardshell luggage, which is spill-proof, easier to clean, and makes it far less likely that someone in your family will bring home bed bugs.
That said, suitcases are generally more expensive than backpacks, especially in hardshell form. Plus, if your child gets tired of pulling their suitcase, it can be hard for you to pull it for them, especially if you have a bag or two of your own.
All things considered, suitcases are excellent for families with older children who can pull their own weight (quite literally) and are ready for something more adult and future-proof than a rolling backpack.
Recommended suitcase brands for family travel
- Samsonite: Durable and lightweight.
- Away Luggage: Sleek design with built-in chargers
- Travelpro: Known for reliability and space efficiency
Backpack pros and cons
- Pros: Inexpensive, tons of options, can be rolled or carried, keeps hands free, easy for parents to carry when a child gets tired
- Cons: Small, no hardshell option, no four-wheeled option, kids may quickly outgrow juvenile graphics or designs (e.g., Frozen and Minecraft bags)
- Best for: Children who aren’t ready for suitcases yet (roughly age 9 and younger), parents who want both hands free while traveling, foreign places with rough roads and terrain
There’s a reason why an 18” rolling backpack like the J World Sunrise has become the go-to choice for a kid’s first carry-on.
This handy 2-in-1 solution takes a storage format children are already familiar with (the classic backpack) and adds wheels and a telescoping handle to make quarter-mile treks through the airport much easier.
Adult backpacks like the Osprey Porter 46L are a highly underrated travel option for parents, too, since they allow you to keep both hands free while traveling with young children.
Plus, with no wheels or plastic components, a rugged travel backpack can be extremely durable and last you a lifetime (yours, not just the bag’s).
The downsides to backpacks are obvious — they have limited storage capacity, they wear you out quicker, and they don’t come with four wheels and/or hard shells like suitcases can.
But for families with small children, equipping everyone with a backpack can be hugely efficient.
Rolling backpacks give kiddos something light, colorful, and easily accessible to tug around, and adult backpacks like the Osprey Porter 46L can help parents keep both hands free for handling passports, holding hands, and other essential traveling parent duties!
Recommended backpack brands for family travel
- J World: Durable and colorful rolling backpacks for kids
- Osprey: Extremely tough and practical adult backpacks with a lifetime warranty
- Travelpro: Well-made backpacks for parents (or kids to grow into)
Duffel bag pros and cons
- Pros: Significantly cheaper than a suitcase, can transport enormous amounts of family cargo, comes in a variety of sizes and styles
- Cons: Less durable and impact-resistant than a suitcase, clunky and difficult to carry in all forms
- Best for: Carrying bulk family gear like winter clothing and sporting equipment
Before choosing between a suitcase or a backpack, consider that there’s a third, oft-neglected option that can make family travel vastly easier (and lighter): the duffel bag.
Duffel bags like the Wrangler Wesley are essentially giant rolling backpacks that can transport huge amounts of family gear that nobody wants to put in their luggage or carry-on.
Winter clothing, heavy jackets, formalwear, sporting equipment, and host gifts are all great for stuffing in a duffel bag and checking to your final destination so that everyone in your posse can travel a bit lighter (and happier).
In that way, duffel bags aren’t really a replacement for a suitcase or a backpack but rather a supplement. If you find your family struggling to pack six winter jackets, snow pants, and Christmas gifts into their own luggage, a duffel bag may be the answer.
Recommended duffel bag brands for family travel
- Patagonia: Expensive but large and durable with a lifetime warranty
- Amazon Basics: Simple, affordable, and comes with wheels
- MIER: Top-rated budget option with backpack straps for easier carrying
How To Protect Your Travel Bags and Valuables
Now that you’ve picked out the right combination of suitcases, backpacks, and duffle bags for your big family trip, how can you keep all your stuff safe and secure?
- Use GPS trackers. Tiles and AirTags are cheap, lend huge peace of mind, and can help the airline find your lost luggage much more quickly.
- Stay alert in high-risk areas. Crowded streets, subway stations, and tourist hotspots are all magnets for petty criminals. You can make your family less of a target by keeping phones and tablets away, securing valuables in zippered pockets, and wearing bags across your chest instead of your back or shoulder.
- Avoid bringing valuables altogether. Any jewelry, electronics, or beloved stuffed animals that can be left at home should be left at home. This minimizes the risk that something valuable will be lost or stolen.
- Invest in a good travel insurance policy. Every traveling family should strongly consider an affordable travel insurance policy since it can protect you against theft, loss, and even cancellation due to sickness.
Common Mistakes Families Make When Choosing Travel Bags
Now that you know what to do when equipping the fam with travel gear, what sort of things should you avoid doing?
- Buying oversized bags: While having one or two ginormous bags may seem practical on paper, keep in mind that most airlines charge equally huge fees to transport them. Delta, for example, charges $100 for checked bags over 50 pounds and $200 for bags over 63” each way. Best to buy multiple small bags and distribute the weight evenly.
- Ignoring carry-on restrictions: Some airlines have become extremely strict about what constitutes a personal item (18” x 14” x 8”) versus a carry-on (22” x 18” x 10”), and underestimating your family’s bag sizes can result in unnecessary fees and delays.
- Buying matching family luggage: There’s nothing inherently wrong with buying matching luggage for the family, especially if you find a high-quality set on sale. But if you’re only buying it for the purpose of making it easier to spot, consider a $9 set of bright-colored luggage straps instead.
- Going with the cheapest option: High-quality luggage can be expensive, but it can also last you years — even decades — without having to be replaced. Cheap luggage, by contrast, can fall apart or show serious signs of wear far sooner.
FAQs About Travel Bags for Families
Should kids have their own carry-on bags?
Yes. Giving kids their own carry-on bags teaches them responsibility, gives them confidence, and can also “weigh them down” while you’re in transit, discouraging them from running off at full speed.
How do I keep my luggage organized while traveling with kids?
Packing cubes are a traveling parent’s best friend. You can dedicate one cube per child per day, and pack the outfits and accessories they’ll need for that specific day of the trip (e.g., one outfit + one swimsuit for beach day).
This cuts down on the hassle of having to rearrange outfits each morning, and once your child has their daily outfit on, you can just toss the rest of the packing cube’s contents in a day bag and go!
Are backpack suitcases better for family trips?
Backpack suitcases like the Osprey Porter 46L are an underrated option for parents traveling with kids because they allow you to keep both hands free while navigating airports, train stations, etc.
Many also come with detachable day bags that you can give your child to use as their carry-on, and if they get tired of carrying it, you can simply reattach it to the main bag.
What’s the most durable luggage for families?
Any piece of luggage that comes with a lengthy or lifetime warranty will generally be extremely durable and last far longer than cheaper, no-brand knockoffs. Briggs & Riley, Samsonite, The North Face, Eagle Creek, and Osprey all offer long, 3-10 year warranties with their products.
Bottom Line: Why Does the Right Baggage Matter?
Finding the right mix of travel bags for your family can make both packing and traveling a much smoother experience for all involved.
When everyone feels comfortable and confident with their bag, it sets the stage for a safer, more efficient, and far more enjoyable family adventure.
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