1. Trunki
When I was about 10 years old and absolutely sick and tired of having to perch on top of Dad’s suitcase while stuck in an endless queue, I often wondered how much money could be made if someone invented kid’s luggage that could be ridden. I always planned eventually that when I grew up, I’d start a company making just that product, but sadly the passage of time tends to allow other minds to have the same brain-wave. UK Based firm Trunki has hit the jackpot with their amazing rideable kids suitcase, which comes with a carrying handle so parents can do the towing, as well as a variety of (fairly) unisex colours to suit your entire set of pre-pubescent sprogs.
2. North Face Big Shot Backpack
While it admittedly would look more at home on the back of an Indiana Jones enthusiast traipsing through the mountains of Peru, this Backpack actually has practical applications in the field of everyday airport-hopping, the reason being is that is has two waterproof pockets with zippers to keep your valuables intact from that leaky bottle of water that you put in the main compartment yet couldn’t be bothered to screw up the cap tight enough.
It also comes in a variety of colours, and the main compartment boasts “elastic compression”. Whatever that means.
3. Samsonite Laptop Pillow
Ok, so the name sounds weird. And it’s around €100. But you know it’s a worthy purchase when it features what Samsonite”perforated memory foam” – it molds to the shape of your laptop almost like an organic molecular mass of sci-fi goo would. It’s important to remember that Samsonite is famed for their legendarily tough baggage, and although this sounds like a product plug, I’ll be purchasing one in a few days, just to prove I’m not some corporate shill – add to the fact that it’s both stylish, and as one review put it, could easily survive a drop down a flight of stairs – not that you’d want to treat this baby so roughly.
4. Cardboard Box with tape
Bear with me on this one. The choice for extreme budget travellers world-wide, particularly the ones that are emigrating to find a better life elsewhere, in the manner of young Vito Corleone in the Godfather II. The basic formula seems to be to take a cardboard box that once stored pot noodles/potato crisps/cooking oil, bung your luggage in, and wrap the whole thing with miles and miles of parcel tape. You’re almost guaranteed not to have anything stolen from you, as a) any tampering with your box with be very easy to spot, as well as taking hours, and b) possibly unscrupulous baggage handlers won’t assume anyone with such cheap baggage has anything worth stealing. Little do they know what might lurk within.
Enjoy your travels!
Photo of Trunki by Ben Sutherland
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