Design and Features
The trunki is a small plastic suitcase on wheels. It features a carrying handle, shoulder strap, 4 recessed plastic wheels, a lock on either side, internal ‘bits’ pocket, internal ‘teddy’ strap and two secret pockets that are so successfully secret that I can’t seem to work them out.
trunkis comes in three standard designs, Trixi (pink & purple), Terrance, (blue & green) and Towgo (green & blue) and also a variety of limited edition designs including Harley the ladybug. If you’re waiting for the Gruffalo I’m sorry to tell you the bad news that he won’t be available in Australia.
Performance and Drawbacks
trunkis are well designed for their purpose. Weighing in at just under 2kg they are a lightweight case for kids suitable from 2 to 6 years. They are big enough to carry all the kid related necessities but not too big for a child to carry or pull along themselves.
They fit comfortably in an overhead plane locker and are easy to access because you can wheel them in and out.
Generally kids love their own suitcase and the trunki is a big winner when it comes to kids suitcase heaven. I was naive enough to think that a toddler couldn’t undo the side closures; it was a snap for our little tester who immediately stuffed his prized soft chicken and Iggle Piggle toy inside.
The trunki doubles up as a ride-on which you can also pull along when your child gets tired. It has a saddle molded into the top and two horns for grip. When the time comes all you need to do is unhook the carry handle, plonk your child onto the trunki and pull them along.
Even though lightweight, the trunki is made of standard suitcase materials so is durable and strong and will comfortably carry your child. However, your trunki is not made to be checked in luggage; don’t be tempted, it may never be the same.
Conclusion
trunki isn’t for everyone, some parents just don’t want the hassle of having to lug another piece of luggage around. However if you have a tiny traveller, trunki could be the answer to keeping your child entertained, carrying their treasure and, when needed, carrying them.
In the UK you can get a trunki saddle that converts to a messenger bag and a new internal toy bag accessory is just about to be released. Keep an eye out for these products at your local baby store or online.
About tunki
The trunki is a British designed product and famous for being knocked back as a dud design by the UK entrepreneurial show Dragons Den. Since then it’s been going from strength to strength.
