A family vacation -- or any need to schlep toys out of your home -- is a great opportunity to gift your kids with their own suitcases. The 2-year-old who can proudly carry juice in a fannypack will surely assume more responsibility for his possessions as he gets older.  Long the hottest product in the adult luggage market, the "upright" case on wheels invented by Travel Pro seemed a natural for kids, but the $150++ tariff, drove us to look for alternatives:

Luckily, Groovy Girls, a doll and accessories line designed by Manhattan Toys to celebrate diversity among girls, has come up with a funky and fashionable upright for young girls called the Groovy Girls Pilot Case.  The magenta and purple leopard print case has outer pockets (including a mesh beverage holder), a retractable handle, two wheels, and a clip on “Chicks Rock” Groovy Girls doll for added flair.  Remember, the wheels enable kids to carry much more weight than their parents or size would otherwise allow.  This item sells at Target Stores and Toys R Us; it retails for $30. 

A fun kids-only luggage line created by Samsonite and sold by www.luggage.com is the perfect carry-on to introduce to young ones.  The “Sammies Dinkys” series ($70) features penguins, tigers, ladybugs, and turtles as a 17.7” x 14.2” x 7.9” suitcase.  Equipped with wheels for easy transport, a reflective 3M Scotchlite logo for safety, and made with durable polyester to withstand anything it encounters on the trip, kids will delight in the cute characters while adults will love the practicality of these carry-ons.

If you're looking for a more extensive luggage set, Personal Creations (888/527-1404) offers a personalized set of rolling suitcase, two duffels, and a toiletry bag ($79.80). The matching set comes in a pink or blue motif, while each piece is either embroidered with the child's name or carries an identifying luggage tag. This is a great gift for the frequent little traveler (to Europe, or to Grandma's house)!

Awesome Car Shaped Suitcase!
Good for: All ages who can fit all their belongings into 22" x 12" x 9".

According to kid reviewer Jesse Spielman, The Kids Car Suitcase is a really nifty piece of luggage no kid should be without. There are two things that make it so great: its design, and its cool features. The bag has a hard plastic external shell that is really tough, and strong little wheels.  It has a telescoping handle of three lengths so adults as well as children can carry it comfortably.  Also, the case has two different locking mechanisms (two combination locks, and one key) so it's ultra-secure.  Lastly, the case looks like a car, which is really awesome. It's certainly easy to identify, and it comes in three great colors: red, yellow, and blue. The only possible problems we could find with this well-made case are its relatively small size, its price ($50) and the fact that it triggers additional security screenings by the bomb detection crew at airports, perhaps due to its unusual profile. All in all, for those that pack light, and can fit all their belongings into 22'' x 12'' x 9'', this suitcase is a must.

Amongst other styles, top marks go to the practical and well-designed line of Tough Traveler products (800/GO-TOUGH). They offer a kid's Flight Bag (waterproof, unbeatable Cordura fabric carry-on at $52), Mini-Van convertible backpack/suitcase (developed for 6-10 year olds at $86.25), and the Caravan, a larger size convertible that will last through the teen years ($174). These are for serious travel. The upside: terrific durable products designed for kids' torsos, to accommodate clothes and possessions. The downside: if they pack a lot of heavy toys or books, your kids won't be able to carry them. And if your kids refuse to carry it, either model is more cumbersome than loading kids' stuff into an adult-size bag with yours. We vote these the best products for older, more responsible children.

Once you've got your kids' luggage set, it's time to think about helping them organize. The professional travelers at Magellan's (800/962-4943) offer a catalogue filled with secure passport pouches, moneybelts and waistpacks suited for older children. One of the handiest items is a set of three Mesh Pockets which hold markers, maps, Bandaids, paperback books, diaries, postage stamps, card games, foreign coins, toy cars, and lots of other stuff your children must bring along. (Retail: $11.85) 

Jesse also found these fun products, good for ages 3-15 or anyone who wants to decorate or personalize their bags.  Easy Spot ID Wraps are simple strips of nylon with Velcro straps that allow you to attach them to baggage of any kind.  They are sold in a variety of neon colors that make them easy to spot from far away.  Inside the strips is a little tag for personal information in case your bags get lost.  Since they come in packs of three (which cost about $15), family members can have matching luggage.  In fact, the children who "tested" these straps had fun making arm and ankle bracelets out of them too.

Walkin Bag (Swany Luggage; 800/237-9269)

As much as we try to pack lightly and hit the road "free as birds," in fact, luggage is a crucial part of our family vacation experience. We want it to be lightweight and easy to pack; durable on the conveyor belts; and self-reliant during transit so we aren’t dragging the kids’ bags along with ours. Since we often don’t find enough drawers in our hotel room or even stay long enough to unpack, we love hard suitcases which become well-organized drawers upon arrival. Our minimum criteria: wheels, long handle, top-quality zippers, lots of pockets. Then we met the Walkin’ Bag. This perky black, quilted, weekend-size bag not only has the best designed wheels we’ve ever used (said to support up to 700 lbs in weight), it has a telescoping handle; several zippered outer and inner pockets (including a padded one for your laptop); and a collection of zipper and tie envelopes to store undergarments, shoes, wet bathing suits and other essentials. Most unusually, this upright bag on wheels is oriented 90 degrees away from other uprights – the handle rises from the long side of bag, meaning it "walks" alongside rather than behind you, adding support and eliminating shoulder strain. The handle is designed to withstand 300 lbs. of force from the pullers and leaners in the family, it adjusts to different heights then locks in place and, in one line of bags – the Stick Chair Cart designe for anyone who tires while traveling – creates a firm seat back when you fold out the shelf seat from the bag’s frame. Keep your eyes open ‘cause this efficient carry-all is coming out in a detachable backpack model soon.

From our tester female exec on business to Mexico (4 flights, minivan): "I love this bag, because I jammed so much in that I could hardly lift it, yet it rolled like an angel through the terminal. It reminded me a little of walking my dog. One tip: don’t leave it alone; the wheels are so well aligned that on the slightest grade it can take off with – or without – you!"

From our tester male exec on 9 flights, 8 airlines around US: "It was involuntarily taken from me only on one very crowded Southwest flight; on all others, it fit perfectly in the overhead or was gate-checked and returned on the tarmac. The rolling wheels were super, and there were a few 2000-foot walks through terminals where it was like taking a very, very small bag with little effort; a big plus. The size of the bag was adequate to take five days’ worth of clothing plus toiletries and shoes.

From our tester female writer on driving trip around Arizona (2 flights, 4 minivans): It was roomy enough for me to pack everything I needed for a six-day trip, and maneuverability was excellent. The wheels were far superior to the ones I'm used to on other bags and walking it around the airport and in and out of hotel lobbies was a snap. The other writers in the group were intrigued, and commented on what a great idea this was. Why didn't someone think of it sooner?