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If your child is going on their first school trip soon and you’re wondering what luggage to send them with, then this is the article for you. I still remember having the same questions when preparing for my eldest daughter to go on her first overnight school trip. Below you’ll find tips to help you choose the right luggage for a school residential trip. There are so many things to think about depending on if the trip includes camping or outdoor activities.
Ad – this post is created in collaboration with Very who sell a wide range of luggage. All photos and opinions are my own.
Choosing the right luggage for a school residential trip can make a big difference for your child. It will help to make sure they can carry their belongings, that they can recognise their bag and that it gets all their belongings there and back safely.
Things to consider when choosing luggage for a school residential
The first thing to consider when choosing luggage is how long the trip is for and how much stuff your child will need to pack. The school will usually give you a suggested kit list of everything that your child needs to take with them. This is possibly the biggest consideration as you want all your child’s belongings to fit in the bag or suitcase. Remember that they probably won’t pack as neatly as you on their return!
You also don’t want the bag or suitcase to be so big that your child can’t carry it. For this reason, I prefer bags with wheels and a pull along handle for primary school kids at least. There will be staff to help lift it on and off the coach but they will usually need to carry their bags to and from the coach.
Also think about how far they will need to carry their bag and the type of location. For example, if they are going on a camping or hiking trip they may be required to carry their belongings a vast distance so a rucksack would be the best option. If you’re at all unsure, the school will be experienced and knowledgeable so ask them for advice.
Types of luggage for a school residential trip
Rucksacks
If your child is going on a one night trip that doesn’t require lots of changes of clothes then a rucksack is the best option. It’s also the best option for any kind of camping or hiking trip.
There are lots of different rucksacks available but even their school rucksack might work well for a simple one night trip.
The downside of rucksacks are that they are the smallest type of luggage but this can sometimes be a positive. They are easy to carry on your child’s back, you probably already have one or if you do need to buy one, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to use it again in the future.
Holdalls
The next step up from a rucksack, if it’s just not big enough for the amount of stuff that you need to pack is a holdall. There are lots of different types and sizes on the market. You can fit more things inside than your usual rucksack but they aren’t as easy to carry as a rucksack.
These might work for older children but I find for primary school kids that these aren’t the best option unless you have one with a handle and wheels. I know my children would struggle to carry a holdall full of their belongings from the school to the coach.
Hard shell suitcases
If you already have a hard shell suitcase that will fit all your child’s stuff then this might be a good option as long as your school allows them.
They come in different sizes such as cabin luggage and they have wheels and a handle. For this reason they are great for packing the amount of changes of clothes and shoes that your child will need for longer trips whilst still being easy for them to carry (or rather pull along).
Soft shell suitcases
Soft shell suitcases are similar to hard shell but I personally think they are better for residential school trips and I have heard some schools don’t allow hard shell cases (soft shell cases stack better in coaches).
These are like holdalls but with the benefit of wheels and handles so making them more practical for primary school kids.
We have a soft shell suitcase in a couple of different sizes. So far for a 1 or 2 night school residential trip the small has been big enough but we’re about to enter the high school years so I’m sure we’ll need the o bigger one soon.
I hope you find this guide useful for packing for your child’s residential school trip and I hope they have the best time.
Find more tips for packing for a school residential here.