Top 5 Best Luggage for Family Travel | 2017 Reviews
Whether you’re headed for a winter holiday at a ski lodge, a camping trip, a quick trip to the kid’s grandparents’ house for their anniversary, or your sister’s wedding halfway across the country, travelling with the family is both a fun and challenging experience. Especially if you’re a working parent, finding quality time with your kids can be tasking at times. Travelling with family is fun, because planning the trip and actually being able to do what’s on your travel check list is an achievement in itself and challenging, because travelling with your entire family is difficult to prepare for.
We’ve lost count of how many times we left a diaper bag or feeding bottle at home and we don’t care much for letting that happen again. One of the most important things you need to have when travelling is, of course: luggage. You need to have enough space to store all the bare necessities and then some.
When picking out luggage for family trips, you’re better off buying a set. Sets offer more space, of course, but each piece serves specific purposes depending on what you need. You’re always looking for functionality but it also wouldn’t hurt that they look classy or loud and funky, whichever you prefer. It’s always nice to have the best of both worlds, as they say.
Here at Parents Need HQ, we’ve asked our fellow moms and dads to pick out the best luggage for family travel and we’ve narrowed it down to 5 excellent choices.
Quick Comparison Table
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Rockland Luggage 2 Piece Set |
U.S Traveler Rio Lightweight Luggage Suitcase |
Merax Luggage Set Lightweight Travel Suitcase |
Merax Luggage Set Softshell Deluxe Suitcase |
American Tourister Luggage Fieldbrook II |
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$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
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19 x 13 x 8 in |
21 x 13.5 x 8.5 in |
19 x 13 x 9 in |
21 x 14 x 10 in |
21 x 14 x 7 in |
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6 pounds |
6.6 pounds |
6.2 pounds |
5.9 pounds |
5.87 pounds |
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Full lining, Skate wheels |
Inline skate wheels, Expandable capacity +25% |
2-year warranty, Made of durable PC/ABS |
Retractable push-button handle, Multiple zipped pockets |
Reinforced corners, 100% Polyester |
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Rockland Luggage 2 Piece Set
The top spot goes to Rockland’s 2-piece set. This duo is the one of the perfect luggage sets that you can have for weekend trips or short vacations. To start with, it has a classic design that comes in a wide variety of colors and prints. You and your kids can pick whatever tickles your fancy. Regardless if you want the classic black look or the funky, pink and white polka-dot design, Rockland’s got your back. This luggage set is also buyers’ choice. It’s a very popular luggage set and for very good reasons.
It’s also the best lightweight luggage set and has in-line skate wheels that make carrying it such a breeze. That means you don’t need to worry about lifting the upright bag as it rolls on the ground just fine. Another thing that we love about it is that the tote bag can be used independently as a gym bag. We could fit in our gym clothes, sneakers, towels, and water bottles inside and it’s not as bulky as a regular sports bag.
The fabric used is 600 denier, guaranteed to keep your bags sturdy. It also doesn’t hurt that the upright bag is expandable up to 10 inches deep, perfect for additional travel essentials. The insides also have pockets for better organization of your stuff inside.
It’s affordable and it’s simple yet it gets the job done just as well as the other luggage sets on this list. It’s not as flashy or luxurious and will fit anyone’s taste, which is not something we can say for other luggage designs that tend to be limiting and – at times – boring. It sure packs more stuff than we originally thought it would and you’d be surprised.
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Details of Rockland Luggage 2 Piece Set |
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Dimensions |
Upright: 19 x 13 x 8 inches; Tote: 12 x 11 x 5.5 inches |
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Weight |
Upright: 6 pounds; Tote: 1 pound |
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Notable Features |
Full lining, Skate wheels |
U.S Traveler Rio Lightweight Luggage Suitcase
Coming in at second place is the US Traveler Rio luggage set. This is another 2-piece set that also comes in a variety of colors, although the choices are much more limited than the Rockland luggage sets. It has a simple yet sophisticated design that includes a push-button mechanism and a self-locking handle. Just like the Rockland luggage set, it has in-line skate wheels and added corner protector. Corner protectors are important, especially if you travel a lot because travelling will eventually take a toll on your luggage corners.
It already has a pretty huge capacity but you can still expand it up to 25% additional space. It’s great for week-long trips, that’s for sure. The upright luggage is good as a carry-on and the smaller bag can slide right under a plane seat. It’s very convenient to bring along on flights.
You might want to skip this if you’re headed to a place where you need to wear layers of clothes. Sure, it’s got a pretty decent capacity, but packing more than 3 sweaters might be a bit much. Also, note that the fabric tends to chip off after a while. You’ll need to take extra care or maybe not use it during longer trips to farther destinations. As long as you’re just packing the essentials and are not too nitpicky about whether or not you can bring matching shoes for each dress or 20 pairs of socks, then you’re good to go.
Considering its features, it’s a pretty great luggage set for some lightweight packing. For bigger families and longer trips, though, you might want to reconsider getting a bigger set.
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Details of U.S Traveler Rio Lightweight Luggage Suitcase |
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Dimensions |
Upright: 21 x 13.5 x 8.5 inches; Tote: 10 x 14 x 6 inches |
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Weight |
Upright: 6.6 pounds; Tote: 1.3 pounds |
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Notable Features |
Inline skate wheels, Expandable capacity +25% |
Merax Luggage Set Lightweight Travel Suitcase
At number three, we have our first of two Merax entries on this list. This one has got a more modern feel to it, and it even has multi-directional wheels that’s a trend in luggage these days. It’s made of PC/ABS material and it’s the most durable luggage set you’ll find. Rough handling won’t easily destroy this bunch, that’s for sure and it absorbs impact well enough. It comes in five colors: black, navy, pink, wine red, and yellow-green. They stand out among the more basic colors of luggage, especially that last color. Despite being a durable set, it’s definitely lightweight but doesn’t compromise capacity.
Another thing that we love about it is that it already includes a TSA-grade lock and you get to have a two-year-warranty for it. The bags included in the set are three uprights: a 20-inch, a 24-inch, and a 28-inch one. Most of the time, you’ll do just fine with the 28-inch bag if you’re not really travelling for long with your family.
We also love the grip on the handles of the bags. It’s very comfortable to the touch. The insides are also lined with multiple pockets for better organization. You can also use the 20-inch bag as a carry on, provided you don’t over-pack, of course. The sizes are in line with TSA regulated sizes for luggage, after all. The belt inside the bag will safely secure your belongings in place. With a luggage set like this, it’s definitely worth paying the extra bucks and knowing how important travelling with your family is, you probably want the best your money can offer.
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Details of Merax Luggage Set Lightweight Travel Suitcase |
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Dimensions |
Upright 1: 19 x 13 x 9 inches; Upright 2: 23 x 16 x 9 inches; Upright 3: 27 x 19 x 11 inches |
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Weight |
Upright 1: 6.2 pounds; Upright 2: 7.1 pounds; Upright 3: 9.0 pounds |
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Notable Features |
2-year warranty, Made of durable PC/ABS |
Merax Luggage Set Softshell Deluxe Suitcase
Speaking of bigger sets, we have another entry from Merax. This 5-piece luggage set at number four. It’s the absolute best luggage set for big families that enjoy going on weeklong trips. The material used for the bags is 100% polyester. It has three upright bags with varying sizes: 21-inch, 25-inch, and 29-inch. It also has an 18-inch travel bag and a 15-inch flight bag.
You only get four choices for the color: black, blue, gray, and red. The design is pretty simple and sleek, with front pockets for documents or some reading materials – all of which are zippered. The handles are retractable and uses a push-button mechanism. The wheels on the upright bags are inline skates which roll smoothly on the ground. If there’s one thing we hate about travelling with upright bags, it’s when the wheels give up on you without even getting to your destination yet. The bags also have two handles, one on top and another on the side. This makes it easier to carry if you’re walking on a heavily graveled path.
Travelling with kids requires a lot of preparation, particularly when travelling with an infant. You need formula, nappies, their favorite toys, and many more that can take a lot of space in your luggage. Luckily, the 5-piece set more than does the trick.
It’s spacious and expandable to add up to 25% of its total capacity. We can put in all our clothes, children’s toys, and other things that we need for the trip. If you’re not using it, you don’t have to worry much about storage as the bags fit inside each other. Don’t worry about durability, too, because Merax has your back. We all know that airport staff can sometimes be too rough on your luggage but it’s going to take a lot more than that to ruin a perfectly good set of luggage like this one.
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Details of Merax Luggage Set Softshell Deluxe Suitcase |
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Dimensions |
Upright 1: 21 x 14 x 10 inches; Upright 2: 25 x 16 x 11 inches; Upright 3: 29 x 18 x 12 inches; Travel Bag: 18 x 11 x 10 inches; Flight Bag: 15 x 11 x 5 inches |
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Weight |
Upright 1: 5.9 pounds; Upright 2: 7.0 pounds; Upright 3: 8.6 pounds; Travel Bag: 1.6 pounds; Flight Bag: 1.1 pounds |
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Notable Features |
Retractable push-button handle, Multiple zipped pockets |
American Tourister Luggage Fieldbrook II
At fifth place is this gorgeous set from American Tourister, the Fieldbrook II. This three-piece set has two upright bags that are 21-inch and 25-inch in height, respectively. It also has a boarding bag that you can slide right under your airplane seat. It comes in three colors: black, purple, and red. It’s very lightweight but not as much as the higher-ups on this list. The outside is 100% polyester with the inside lined with fabric. Corners are also reinforced as an added defense line for when you’re the type who takes a lot of trips in many different places. This is our favorite luggage set for road trips across the states.
We love the multiple pockets inside and outside the bags. It makes organizing our stuff much easier. The tote bag has what’s called a smart sleeve so you can just slide that on top of one of the upright bags in place, which is pretty neat. This set is nothing flashy, mind you.
You’ll see a lot of newer models with their swivel wheels but the Fieldbrook line more than makes up for it with durability. Some parents here at ParentsNeed HQ have attested that out of all the affordable sets they’ve purchased, this is among the most durable luggage ever, with some even lasting them for more than five years. Let’s face it, with a price like this, five years is a long time when talking about luggage sets.
Do not be fooled by how affordable this luggage set is. While it has its shortcomings, we still believe that the Fieldbrook line deserves its spot among the best luggage sets.
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Details of American Tourister Luggage Fieldbrook II |
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Dimensions |
Upright 1: 21 x 14 x 7 inches; Upright 2: 24.5 x 16 x 8 inches; Boarding Bag: 15 x 10 x 8 inches |
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Weight |
15.87 pounds |
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Notable Features |
Reinforced corners, 100% Polyester |
Family trips are great! You can bond with everyone in your family, which is always a good thing. However, planning and packing for one can definitely be challenging and can sometimes even deter your motivation to travel. Hopefully, with the right gear, the task becomes much easier and will encourage you to spend more time with your family outside of your home to enjoy each other’s company and explore other places at the same time. So have your travel gears ready, and prepare to have a fun-filled experience with your family.
The post Top 5 Best Luggage for Family Travel | 2017 Reviews appeared first on ParentsNeed.
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