When a trusted brand launches products for kids, those of us at the Good Housekeeping Institute who have little ones get excited. So we were happy to get early samples of the new child-size carry-on suitcase, backpack, lunchbox and packing cubes from the Away luggage brand, offerings from its new Kids Collection. While we have not been able to test these products over time, we have looked at them in our Labs and at home with children.
What is Away luggage?
Away is a brand dedicated to travel gear. Originally it gained traction for its carry-on suitcase with a built-in phone charger, but that product has since been phased out that people carry portable chargers and many airplane seats feature chargers. Today, Away is known for an impressive span of items, from a gloriously large check-in suitcase for major trips, called The Trunk, to useful accessories like a pet carrier and a clear toiletry bag.
The Kids Collection launched May 6, and in our estimation, it’s best for kids in kindergarten and elementary school who are ready to roll their own suitcase and carry their own backpack, but who are still too small for adult-sized travel gear.
Our impression of Away’s The Kids Carry-On
Who it’s best for: Parents with a child somewhere between about ages 4 and 7. If you plan to do at least two roundtrip airplane trips a year for the next three years, pack their clothes in this carry-on and have them do the rolling. The $225 suitcase would average out to about $19 per flight, less than the cost of checking luggage. If you fly even more often, you’ll come out further ahead.
We’ve previously tested and reviewed Away Carry-On Luggage for adults, and our Lab experts are fans of how it is both lightweight and tough. “The kids’ suitcase is adorable — it’s made with the same durable polycarbonate material as the hardside carry-on for adults,” says Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Associate Director Emma Seymour. “It features fun color-blocking in bright shades. I like that it has the same overall aesthetic as the adult version.”
The adult carry-on measures 22.7″ x 15.4″ x 9.6″ with a 47.9-liter capacity and weighs 7.9 pounds. The scaled-down kids’ version is 17.2″ x 12.8″ x 8.9″ with a 26-liter capacity and weighs 6.4 pounds, plus it even comes with a laundry bag. It works as a small carry-on but may be a smidge too large to qualify as a personal item on some airlines, especially as it can’t be squashed down to fit under a seat.
“The handle only goes to two heights — I wish it included more heights to suit a wider range of children,” Seymour says. “I imagine a smaller child might have trouble using this.”
The Kids Carry-On comes in five shades.
Testing the Away Kids Backpack
Away Kids Backpack
Who it’s best for: Any child from ages 2 to age 10 could use this as a personal item for a plane, train or car ride. It’s probably too small for school, unless it’s for a preschooler.
At $75, the Away Kids Backpack is at the high end of the spectrum, but within the same general price point as many of our existing favorite kids’ backpacks. It’s made of nylon and comes in blue, pink or a “marshmallow” color.
“I love the ergonomic design of the straps,” says our Good Housekeeping Institute Executive Director Lexie Sachs, a mom of two. “My main concern with most backpacks is the lack of proper support. This one really impressed me,” she says, noting the chest clip as well the straps that are wide, padded and curved. “All features that I would appreciate when shopping for my own kids!”
The Away Kids backpack worn by a 9-year-old who is slightly on the shorter side, according to her mom. It can’t hold all of her school supplies, but it can hold some key items for travel.
That said, while the carry-on suitcase seemed best for ages 4 and up, Sachs feels the backpack could be used by a younger kid, since it’s more on par with a toddler backpack than an elementary school backpack. “Neither one of my elementary-aged kids could take this to school with all the required folders, notebooks and other devices they need to carry. But I can see elementary-aged kids carrying this for travel purposes when they don’t need to bring as much.”
Seymour agrees. “The suitcase and the backpack almost seem to be designed for two different age groups,” she says. On the plus side, the backpack definitely fits the requirements of a personal item for an airplane ride and would be easy to stash under a seat. It has lots of travel-friendly features including a tablet pocket, two water bottle holders, a front zippered pocket and a trolley sleeve that holds it to the handle of the carry-on suitcase.
The backpack can ride secured atop the carry-on.
Thoughts on the Away Kids Lunch Box
Who it’s best for: We like this lunch box for a kid of any age.
Experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab evaluate the best kids’ lunch boxes, but they have not yet had a chance to look at this new one from Away. Sachs did check it out with her kids at home, and loved it.
The Away Lunch Box fits a bento box, and has a zipped storage pocket inside.
“I would consider switching my kids to this lunch box,” Sachs says. “It easily fits a bento box inside, with room to spare if you need to add an ice pack. It’s also really lightweight; some insulated lunch boxes can feel heavy. I love the built-in storage pockets. It’s a feature I haven’t seen in most other lunch boxes we’ve tried, and makes it so much easier to pack utensils, napkins and other essentials for school lunch.”
The $40 price feels premium, but it has important features like a clip to attach it to a backpack. The only con is that if your kid was hoping for a lunch box covered in dinos, a character or anything else that speaks to their passions, this is a colorful but otherwise basic option. (Same goes for the backpack.) The lunch box is sold in blue, pink or the marshmallow color.
And finally, the Away Kids Packing Cubes
Away Kids Packing Cubes
Pros
- Helps keep clothes organized
- Mesh provides airflow
Cons
- Not a necessity, but nice to have
Who they’re best for: No one exactly needs packing cubes, but we think they make traveling a lot easier.
Once you start using packing cubes, it’s hard to go back. They make it so easy to either put whole outfits together in a cube, or organize your kids’ suitcase into all tops in one cube, bottoms in another, underwear and socks in a third. When you reach your destination, you can pull out the cubes and just sit them in a drawer, then tuck the suitcase under a bed or in a closet.
“When I first got these I was worried they would be too small, but they held a surprising amount!” Sachs says. “I packed a sample load for my almost-10-year-old. In the larger container, I fit in three days worth of outfits — leggings, T-shirts, underwear, socks — with room to spare. In the smaller container, I fit two days worth of outfits with room to spare.”
Away notes that these three nylon cubes are made especially to fit in The Kids Carry-On. “The packing cubes have mesh, which is great to allow airflow,” Seymour says. There’s only one set to choose from with a large green and smaller blue and yellow cubes.
The bottom line on the Away Kids Collection
Everything in the line seems to be durable and well-designed, especially compared to what is already on the market for kids. We’ve seen a lot of cheap and flimsy kids’ travel gear that doesn’t always hold up. This line is new, so we have not tested durability over time, but our initial impression is that the carry-on suitcase, backpack, lunch box and packing cubes are all high quality.
We think most parents will appreciate the bright, colorful aesthetic, similar to brands such as Primary and Cotopaxi. If your child has their heart set on a Moana or Bluey design, though, they might be harder to win over. On the plus side, these primary colors won’t be quickly outgrown! You should be able to get years of use out of everything in the collection.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
Executive Director, Strategy & Operations
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
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