Before we went on our fortnight holiday to Thailand, I made a list of useful items we would be taking, one of which was a Trunki BoostApak – an ingenious bit of kit (see here for prices)Â that is not only a portable travel booster car seat but also a handy backpack.
Being safety conscious, we were particularly worried that Monkey wouldn’t be buckled in properly on our three-hour transfer from the airport to our hotel in Hua Hin which is why we wanted to bring one along with us. And, even though the recommended age is 4+ (Monkey is younger) and supports a weight of between 15kg-36kg, we thought it would better to have something fairly robust than not.
What Is A Trunki BoostApak?
Essentially, it’s a 2-in-1 portable booster seat and backpack. It’s suitable for kids aged 4-12, and is perfect for times when it’s not practical to bring a big, bulky car seat (think holiday car hire, taxi rides, lifts with friends or grandparents, etc). There are different designs and colours to choose from, and while the price tag isn’t cheap, for what you’re getting I think it’s very good value for money.
In terms of storage, there’s plenty of space in the hard shell storage section, which zips up and has a little netted area for popping smaller things in that might get lost in the main compartment).
As a car seat, it attaches with a standard seat belt (no need for Isofix fittings). There’s no head support, like you’d get in ordinary toddler car seats, but you can buy seatbelt ‘pads’ which make it a bit comfier for little ones to rest their head when they nod off. You can use it as a standard booster seat, too – when you’re eating out or on public transport, for example.
Trunki BoostApak Review
Prior to our trip, I studied the guide on how to use the Trunki BoostApak – and even tried it out in our own car. It was simple to understand with clear instructions, so I knew I would be comfortable setting it up once we were abroad – there are instructions actually printed on the seat itself.
To use it as a car booster seat, you simply pull off the Velcro backing, fold up the seat supports (which have a quick-release button to fold back down), strap your child in and you’re good to go. You don’t even have to empty the contents of the bag – this section forms the booster seat and is made from toughened plastic, so it’s sturdy enough to support the weight of your child without squashing its contents.
Trunki BoostApak Features
Its features include ergonomic back support, with seat belt guides and adjusters as your child grows. There’s also the wipe-clean removable cover and the bag section includes an ID tag and high visibility reflective trim.
We let Monkey pack his toys inside the 8-litre storage capacity – as well as adding his sticker books, activities, and colouring pens. They all fit inside the hard plastic shell, even though I struggled to zip up the bag. But I think this was due to the fact I had overfilled it.
Even though I adjusted the straps to its smallest size, Monkey was unable to carry it because it was not only far too big for his frame but kept sliding off. Meanwhile, we soon realised that even if the bag could stay on, it was far too heavy in weight for him to manage.
At the airport, Daddy did most of the carrying, but considering we didn’t have much other hand luggage this wasn’t a problem. In fact, the Trunki BoostApak came in very handy when we grabbed a spot of lunch. Instead of getting a high chair, which are for ‘babies’, Monkey happily sat on his booster seat while eating his food.
Meanwhile, on the actual aircraft, we found the bag slid under the seat in front, which came in useful when we wanted easy access to Monkey’s belongings during the long flight.
Trunki BoostApak As A Booster Seat
We used it several times while we were away – and although Monkey wasn’t able to carry the Trunki BoostApak, we found worth its weight in gold. Not only was he comfortable in the booster seat – on several occasions he actually fell asleep – he also enjoyed being able to sit up high and look out of the window. But more importantly, we were thankful that the seatbelt straps were secured around him properly during each car journey.
The seat doesn’t have the high-backed safety features that proper car seats have – but when you’re away on holiday and you have no other alternative, the Trunki BoostApak is a good choice.
And the best thing is, even though the bag is too big for Monkey now, we know that he will be able to carry it in the future – after all, the Trunki BoostApak can be used by older children up to the ages of 12, which makes for a good long-term investment.
Trunki BoostApak Safety
After the changes in car seat legislation back in 2017, I’ve had many queries here to ask if the Trunki BoostApak still complies with law. The easy answer is yes,  the BoostApak conforms to UN standard ECE Regulation 44.04 and this is checked every two years by the independent European authority who originally issued the EC type-approval for this design. Of course, it is worth noting this Trunki BoostApak shouldn’t replace a full car seat with side protection, this is just a fantastic alternative for travelling. You can find all the safety information on the Trunki website.
Using A Trunki BoostApak In A Hire Car
Once we’d outgrown the BoostApak, I handed it over to my editor, Laura, who’s since used it on trips to Majorca, Italy and the Costa Brava with her little ones. I asked her to share her review of the Trunki BoostApak:
“We always tend to book a hire car when we go abroad. Booking a toddler car seat for a week is often upwards of £70, so the Trunki is a brilliant alternative for our 4-year-old. We also found it really useful to take out to restaurants with us for our 2-year-old, who hates a highchair but often struggles to eat properly without a booster cushion.Â
The storage section is great for popping in a change of clothes and a few nappies, too, so we can leave the nappy bag behind. We also use it a lot for visits to their grandparents’ house, so nanny and grandad can take the kids out for the day – it’s not the comfiest for a long journey, and it’s probably not one for everyday use, but for short journeys it’s perfect.”
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