For Australian families, navigating airports and holidays with young children often feels like an extreme sport, involving a cumbersome caravan of suitcases, prams, car seats, and backpacks. This universal pain point sparked a brilliant solution from a Brisbane couple, leading to a world-first product that's now taking the global travel market by storm.
From Frustration to a World-First Innovation
Aussie engineer Tack Lee and his partner, physiotherapist Hoe Ping Lo, experienced the typical travel struggles firsthand. Exhausted from lugging separate travel prams and luggage, they decided to engineer a smarter solution. Their mission was clear: merge essential items into one seamless product. The result of their ingenuity is TernX, a groundbreaking carry-on suitcase that transforms in seconds into a fully functional travel stroller.
This clever gadget eliminates the frantic gate-side repacking and awkward juggling acts familiar to every parent. Crafted from lightweight aluminium and aviation-grade materials, the TernX is designed for the real world. It meets the strict carry-on size requirements of most major airlines, allowing families to keep their essentials close, avoid checked baggage delays, and move through their journey with unprecedented ease.
How the Revolutionary Design Works
The TernX's genius lies in its intuitive, quick-change design. The unit features a 55 x 36 x 23 centimetre suitcase attached to its back legs, offering 18 litres of storage. Through a simple process of pressing, pulling, and flipping, the compact cabin-sized luggage unfolds into a sturdy stroller without needing to unpack a single item. When storage is the priority, the pram folds instantly and stows neatly beside the case.
Weighing just 7.7 kilograms, the TernX prioritises both portability and comfort. It has earned an impressive 4.8-star rating on the company's website, backed by hundreds of glowing reviews from customers who call it a "game-changer" and a "masterpiece of design."
Global Recognition and Explosive Growth
The market response has been phenomenal. According to Smart Company, TernX has achieved a staggering 774 per cent growth over three years, generating $2.32 million in revenue. The innovation hasn't gone unnoticed by industry experts, earning a spot on TIME Magazine's prestigious Best Inventions list and winning multiple international design awards, including the Good Design Award.
Co-founder Hoe Ping Lo explained the driving force behind TernX: "Our mission has always been to make family travel less stressful and more joyful. As parents ourselves, we know the frustration of juggling luggage, prams, and tired kids. TernX was born out of that experience. It's about giving families freedom, confidence, and more moments to enjoy the journey, not just the destination."
The product's appeal extends beyond everyday families. Randi Zuckerberg, former market development director at Facebook, has publicly endorsed it, stating she believes it will "change the game for travelling parents everywhere."
By solving a common, frustrating problem with elegant engineering, this Brisbane-born invention is redefining what it means to travel with young children, proving that the best ideas often come from personal experience.
