Boarding school - Trunks

[oftenlurkingrarelyposting]

Please can anyone advise what size trunk is suitable for starting boarding school? Also he requires a lockable tuck box, is that like a mini trunk? Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

The bigger the better!

Thank you, are they a little unmanageable the bigger they are?

We don't use a trunk, they look great but are completely impractical, they weigh a tonne and require two to lift/move about a full one, we use a large really light weight suitcase with wheels get an expensive one they need to stand up to being knocked around and dragged up stairs so they need a strong handle. My DS's house is over loads of floors least it feels like that We can barely move the suitcase up them a trunk would be a nightmare. Our prep had porters but we don't have them at the senior school. Many schools also now discourage them as they take up loads of space.
We do have a small trunk/tuck box thing JL sell them get the smallest size, boarders need a lockable large box to keep their personal belongings in, use a combination look then you don't have to worry about loosing keys.

As an ex housemistress some school state only trunks can be used.
I personally hate them. They look good but the kids can't move them.
As an ex boarder I always used suitcases.

the place that sells the school uniforms/approved games kit will probably supply the approved boxes.

it may be prestigious to have an old one previously used by Bloggs maximus/Bloggs major/Bloggs minor and passed down to Bloggs minimus.

Agree with HG, a suitcase is more practical. Trunks are rarely used now in the schools I have experience of, imagine how difficult it would be for overseas boarders! My DS does n't have a tuck box but does have a lockable box provided in his boarding house.

Thank you all... Great advice. It's quite daunting as this my first one off to boarding school.

I don't think it is prestigious any more to have a old battered one it certainly isn't at my DS's school.
Many boarding children come from abroad and even UK children are often getting themselves back and forth to school under their own steam, a light, easily manoeuvrable, easy to carry suitcase, is the practical sensible option even the nots style conscious teenager will quickly realise this.

At my university it was de rigueur to use your school trunk as a coffee table in your set. To be considered .

I loved my trunk ,its still in the garage , ds2 has to use a suitcase, some schools like trunks because they are all a regular size for storage whereas suitcases are a bit higgledy pickledy .

Tuck boxes are lovely, my brother had a gorgeous zinc one which he still uses, he used to fill it with tins of rice pudding before he went back to school

When he was at prep school DS used DH's big Globetrotter, incredibly strong but very light, it has wheels at one end and a handle at the other. I was going to recommend one, but have just seen how expensive they are.

My DS's school doesn't allow trunks. They are a fire hazard and as others said impossible to get up flights of stairs.

Definitely yes to a small lockable tuck box. And it does need a lock, leave your phone and even money and it's fairly safe. However boys are known to raid your tuck box for biscuits, sweets etc.

So- the cream of our Public Schools steal stuff from other children's TUCK BOXES?

Really?!

Makes our current political order more understandable, if nothing else!

A really good tuck box can last a life time. I inherited my day's prep school tuck box, saw me through boarding school and University. For the last 17 years it has done excellent service as a bedside table. I think it now has itchy feet as is hoping DD will board at some point so it can have it's next great adventure.
Even in the 1980s trunks were no longer welcome and suitcases the thing.

I took my trunk to uni too, as did friends (and I graduated within the last few years). Was a great place to store my hundreds of pairs of shoes all my books! Used to get some rugby players or rowers carry it up and down, as invariably I always ended up in rooms on the top floors!

Used to love packing my trunk as well - can throw everything in and try to shut the lid.

But yes, I work in a boarding school now, and we're trunks or suitcases. Suitcases go under beds and trunks into storerooms, but I do think suitcases are a good way to go. Packed more neatly too at the end of term

I've seen tuck boxes and trunks in John Lewis recently, so there's another place to look.

Thanks... Sure this will be the first of many questions as I work through the endless lists!

Looming back it was a wonder someone wasn't maimed for life each end of term as we let our filled trunks slide down the stone staircases. Theoretically controlled by a dressing gown cord through he handle, but they generally got away from us

Dreamgirl from watching children and having sent two to boarding school from an early age the one who was quite homesick took about two terms to really settle, school staff/other parents felt the same, you have to give it time to work don't expect miracles in the first few weeks.

We were told what size trunk by the school. Could you not ask them if they want a trunk or suitcase? What size do they recommend? They know their storage facilities. Weekend bags are usually something like a large Longchamp Plié plus a book bag.