Full Review

10 May 2006 - Picture the scene. You are at the airport with your little ones, the flight has just been delayed and you've got another couple of hours to wait before you can even think about boarding. Nightmare.

In steps Trunki, the kid's suitcase that doubles as a ride-along trolley.

Based on the simple idea that kids like to ride things, the makers of Trunki haven taken a hard cased suitcase (think Samsonite) put wheels, a saddle, some grab ears, stabilisers to stop it toppling over, and a tail on it and made children believe it has a personality. Over protective dads will also be pleased to hear the edge of the case has a rubber edging so little fingers can't be trapped.

The results are that any under 6-year-old will love it and feel it's their new best friend.

Available in bright blue or pink and no more expensive than a regular suitcase the Trunki is hand luggage approved (it's actually 42 x 20 x 27cm, 16.5" x 8" x 10.5" and offers 18 litres worth of capacity) and means you can keep you child's stuff nearby in case you need to get a change of clothes or more toys out to entertain.

In tests the kids we tried it with - a 5 and 3-year-old loved it and they weren't even going to the airport. The design allows it to be sat on, ridden and pulled along, or adults can carry it with a shoulder strap once your little one gets a bit tired.

The only catch is that the makers recommend you don't exceed 50KG of load (that's a lot of toys) and that you don't check Trunki at the check in desk, no doubt for fear of braking the wheels and sticky outty bits.

VERDICT
The Trunki is an impressive piece of kit because it is so simple. It's bright, colourful, entertaining and useful. Better still its only £25 and for that reason alone should be for anyone with young kids who travel.

We love it. In fact the only disappointment we've got, is that they don't make adult versions.

A must have.