Trunki Terrance Review: the classic ride-on kids’ suitcase that’s fun but a bit basic inside

I’ve used the Trunki Terrance (the blue one) on a couple of trips now with a 3‑year‑old, plus a few test runs at home. In short: it does what most parents buy it for – it keeps the kid busy and moving – but it’s not perfect as an actual suitcase. If you’re hoping for serious organisation and smooth steering like a scooter, that’s not what this is.

Where it shines is the entertainment side. My kid sits on it, rides it around the house, and in the airport it’s basically a portable toy that also happens to hold clothes. He likes it so much that he asks to play with it even when we’re not travelling. From a parent’s point of view, that already makes travel a bit less painful, especially during long queues.

On the more practical side, the 18‑litre capacity is enough for a few days of clothes, pyjamas, a soft toy and some books. You’re not packing for a two‑week holiday in there, but for a weekend or a short break it’s fine. It’s cabin size, and we never had issues taking it as hand luggage, though you should always check the airline’s current rules.

It’s not all perfect: steering is clumsy, the inside is pretty bare, and the shell scratches quite fast. But if you go in knowing it’s more “ride-on toy that stores stuff” than “serious luggage”, it makes more sense and you’re less likely to be disappointed by the compromises.

Price‑wise, the Trunki Terrance sits in that middle zone: not dirt cheap, not high-end. For what you pay, you’re basically buying a suitcase and a toy in one. If you compare it to a standard kids’ trolley bag, those are often cheaper and sometimes have better internal organisation (zipped sections, more pockets). But they don’t double as a ride-on, and they’re usually less fun for the child. So part of what you’re paying for here is the entertainment factor and the brand’s idea, not just raw materials.

In my view, the value depends on how often you travel and how your kid reacts to it. If you only fly once every two years, it’s probably a bit of a luxury. It will still get used at home as a toy, but you could also get by with a simple backpack or a cheaper suitcase. If you travel a few times a year or do a lot of train trips, ferries, or sleepovers, then it starts to justify the cost because it genuinely helps with boredom and gives your kid a sense of “owning” their luggage.

Compared to other kids’ luggage we’ve tried, Trunki feels more robust than the bargain trolley bags but less practical in terms of packing. You trade internal organisation for the ride‑on feature. If your priority is squeezing in as many clothes as possible and keeping everything tidy, the value isn’t great. If your priority is minimising meltdowns and keeping your hands free for as long as possible, then the value is much better.

So overall, I’d say it’s good value if you see it as a travel toy plus luggage, and just okay value if you only care about the suitcase function. There are better purely practical options at similar prices, but not many that your kid will actually be excited to use and play with like this one.

The design is clearly aimed at kids first, parents second. The Terrance model is bright blue, with simple curves and little horn‑style handles at the front where the child can hold on. Visually, kids like it straight away. My 3‑year‑old immediately understood it was something to ride on and started scooting around the hallway. From that angle, the design works: it looks like a toy, not boring luggage.

From a parent’s point of view, there are a few design trade‑offs. The wheels are fixed (in‑line style), so when you pull a child on it, it basically only goes straight. To turn, you either shuffle it with your foot or lift and pivot it. In a long airport queue, this gets old quickly. I found myself doing little zigzags or having to stop and turn it manually. It would be much nicer with swivel front wheels, but right now, that’s not how it’s built.

The way the case opens is another detail: it splits in the middle like a clamshell, but because of the curved shape and the horns, it doesn’t lie perfectly flat. That makes packing and unpacking slightly awkward, especially if you’ve stuffed it full. And since only one side has a strap to secure clothes, you have to remember to open it with the strapped side on top or everything from the other side can spill out.

On the positive side, all the handles, horns, and the general shape do make it comfortable for a small child to sit on. My kid can climb on it alone, hold the horns, and push himself along. He also likes the little key locks; it makes him feel like it’s his “real suitcase”. So design for play: good; design for smooth travel and easy access: decent but not great. You just have to accept those compromises if you go for this style of product.

For the child, comfort is mostly about how easy it is to sit, hold on, and move. In that sense, Trunki did a decent job. The top is slightly curved but wide enough for a 3‑year‑old to sit without sliding off. The little horn handles at the front give them something to grip, which helps with balance. My kid can sit and push himself along quite happily on flat floors. Our 4‑year‑old neighbour also tried it and had no problem riding it either, so it covers a decent age range.

Where it gets tricky is when you start towing a tired child through a busy place. The strap is long enough for an adult to pull comfortably, but that also means it’s a bit too long for a small child to pull it behind them without the case swerving around. We ended up tying a knot in the strap to shorten it when he wanted to pull it himself. When I’m the one towing, it’s fine for short stretches, but you feel every little wobble because the wheels don’t swivel. Turning corners or navigating tight queues isn’t smooth; you either drag it awkwardly or keep lifting and turning it.

For parents carrying it, the weight is light enough even when full. The shoulder strap works, but the shape of the case means it bumps into your side or leg, especially if your hands are already full with other bags. It’s doable, just not super comfortable for long distances. Using the top handle to lift it into overhead compartments or onto seats is easy and feels secure, so no complaints there.

So in terms of comfort: kids have fun and are mostly happy on it; parents get a mixed experience. It definitely helps to keep the child entertained and moving, which reduces whining and “carry me” demands. But don’t expect it to replace a stroller in terms of comfort and control. It’s more of a fun extra than a true mobility solution.

The Trunki Terrance is made from polypropylene, so it’s a hard plastic shell, not fabric. In practice, that means two things: it’s light and it can take a fair bit of abuse from kids. My kid has sat on it, ridden it into skirting boards, and tipped it over a few times, and the case itself hasn’t cracked or warped. The structure feels solid enough for what they claim (up to around 50 kg load). I’ve sat on it briefly while tying a shoe and it didn’t complain, though I wouldn’t treat it like a proper stool every day.

On the downside, the outer surface scratches very easily. After the first flight and a couple of train trips, the blue plastic had plenty of scuffs and marks. It still works fine, but if you’re the type who hates seeing scratches, you’ll notice them quickly. This is just the reality with this kind of shiny hard plastic – it doesn’t stay pretty for long once it’s dragged around on rough floors and bumped into things.

The wheels are basic in‑line skate style. They roll well enough on smooth floors (airport, tiles, wooden floors), but on rough pavements or cobblestones they get noisy and less smooth. They haven’t broken or wobbled yet, so from a durability angle they seem okay. Just don’t expect stroller‑level ride quality. The strap hardware and clips are the bits I’m most cautious about. They hold up so far, but they feel like the weak point that might fail first if you constantly yank and tow a heavy child.

Overall, materials are pretty solid for kid use, but not premium. The plastic does its job, the wheels roll, and the strap is fine if you’re not brutal with it. It’s built more like a toy than like adult luggage, which is fair for the price, but you can see and feel the difference if you’re used to higher‑end suitcases.

After several trips and a lot of home play, the Trunki Terrance is still structurally fine. The shell hasn’t cracked, the wheels are still straight, and the locks still snap shut properly. Kids are not gentle with it – mine rides it into furniture, drags it on its side, and sits on it while watching TV – and it has handled that without any serious damage. So in terms of basic toughness, it’s pretty solid for everyday kid abuse.

The cosmetic side is another story. The blue plastic scratches and scuffs easily, especially if you check it in or let it rub against rough flooring. The marks don’t affect how it works, but they do make it look older quite quickly. If you were hoping to keep it looking fresh for years, that’s not going to happen unless you baby it, which kind of defeats the point with a kids’ suitcase.

The parts I watch the closest are the strap clips and the anchor points where the strap attaches to the case. They feel a bit lighter and more fragile than the shell itself. So far, ours haven’t snapped, but I can see how they could if a heavier child is constantly towed at speed or if the case gets dropped hard while the strap is under tension. If that part breaks, the ride‑on and towing feature becomes much less useful, even though the case still works as simple luggage.

Given the price and the 5‑year warranty they claim, the durability is reasonable. You’re not getting lifetime hard-shell suitcase quality, but you’re also not paying premium adult luggage prices. For a few years of use between ages 3 and 7 or so, it should survive just fine, with the understanding that it will look well‑used quite fast. Functionally, though, it holds up better than it looks.

In real use, the Trunki Terrance does three jobs: it stores the kid’s stuff, it gives them something to ride on, and it acts as hand luggage. On storage, the 18‑litre capacity is enough for a child’s short trip. For a 3‑day break, I managed to pack: three outfits, pyjamas, a hoodie, a medium plush toy, nappies/wipes, and a couple of thin books. For a full week, you can do it if you’re smart with packing and don’t bring bulky items, but you’ll probably still need some things in your own luggage.

As a ride-on, performance is decent on smooth floors. In airports and at home on laminate, the kid can scoot himself along or I can pull him without much effort. On rough pavement or outdoors, it’s less fun: the wheels get loud, it doesn’t roll as smoothly, and the kid loses interest faster. Also, if the child is very young (under 2), balance can be an issue. We tried with a younger cousin and she slid off or tipped quite easily, so I’d say it’s more realistic from about 2.5–3 years up, depending on the child.

As cabin luggage, it fits overhead bins and under some seats, though under-seat space depends on the airline. We never had staff question it as hand luggage. Security checks are a bit annoying because you have to open the whole shell and hope stuff doesn’t tumble out. This is where the lack of internal dividers really shows. I now put all small items in a zip pouch to avoid chaos when opening it in tight spaces.

Overall, performance is solid for what it’s intended to do: keep the kid busy and carry their clothes. It’s not the most practical suitcase for fast access or perfect organisation, but it holds up, rolls okay, and kids enjoy using it. If you accept that it’s halfway between a toy and a suitcase, it performs as expected. If you want pure practicality, a standard kids’ trolley might suit you better.

Out of the box, the Trunki Terrance is pretty simple: a hard plastic blue shell shaped like a little animal, four wheels, a carry handle, and one long detachable strap. Mine also came with a basic sticker pack so the kid could decorate it. No fancy extras, no hidden compartments – what you see in the photos is basically what you get. The size is roughly 45.5 x 21.7 x 30.5 cm, so it’s sized for young kids, not for older ones who need loads of stuff.

Inside, there’s one main compartment, a single elastic strap to hold clothes on one side, and a small elasticated pocket. That’s it. No dividers, no zipped mesh pockets, no real organisation. If you throw crayons, small toys, and random bits in there without putting them in a pouch, they will fall out when you open it. That’s probably the most annoying part for day‑to‑day use, especially on a plane or train when you just want to grab one thing quickly.

On the outside, you’ve got two latches with a simple key (basically built into the strap ends) that kids like to play with. The strap clips onto both ends so you can pull the kid along or use it as a shoulder strap. The handle on top is basic but solid enough to grab and lift it into the car or onto a seat. It’s all very straightforward – no learning curve, just pack and go.

So in terms of presentation: it’s a straightforward, kid‑oriented suitcase with a toy vibe, not a piece of smart luggage. It’s clear the brand focused more on fun and simplicity than on clever storage or adult‑style features. If you’re expecting a mini Samsonite, you’ll find it a bit barebones. If you just want something the kid can sit on and drag around, it ticks that box right away.