travel ukulele stick

5 Best Travel Ukuleles – Enjoy Live Music On the Road!

A uke can be a fantastic travel companion. Whether you’re camping or heading out for an adventure, having a uke with you can allow you to entertain friends, enjoy some great tunes or just keep yourself company on your solo adventures. The best travel ukulele not only provides fantastic sound quality and tone, but is durable enough to handle the rigors of travel and is small enough for you to comfortably carry or fit into airline overhead storage bins.

Our team has reviewed over 20 travel ukuleles to assess how they perform and the sound quality. We’ve compiled a list and our editor’s choice, the Luna Vintage offers an excellent sound and beautiful finish while being beginner friendly. However, we’ve also ranked other travel ukes at different price points and different types to ensure there is a top pick to suit you.

Our team has spent hours researching the very best options to find which travel ukulele has the best design and features, whether you’re a beginner looking to learn or a more experienced uke player. The first and foremost thing we considered was sound quality, which is critical for any instrument. The weight and materials were also important, as your uke needs to be light enough to carry while being durable enough to withstand the rigors of traveling. The overall look and feel of a travel uke were also crucial, in addition to the balance between price and quality features. We’ve presented our research as a simple overview table coupled with a list of detailed travel uke reviews . You’ll also see that we’ve included a buying guide to guide you through the decision-making process.

• Editor’s Choice: Luna Vintage Ukulele "A stylish soprano ukulele made from excellent materials, providing bright, warm sound and superb durability."
• Best Tenor: Kala KA-SSTU-T Ukulele Bundle "A sturdy tenor ukulele with great sound quality, ease of play and superb esthetics."
• Best Concert Ukulele: UBETA UC-031 Ukulele Bundle "A beginner-friendly concert ukulele featuring a rounded back for a better resonance, which comes with a set of accessories."
• Best Starter: Kmise Travel Ukulele "An inexpensive tenor ukulele made from zebrawood and featuring a special bridge design that allows to change strings easily."
• Budget Pick: Kala Makala Shark Soprano Ukulele "An affordable soprano ukulele with unique shark-shaped bridge, the composite sides and back, providing great playability and nice sound."

Top 5 Travel Ukuleles Review 2024

Luna vintage ukulele – editor’s choice.

• Type: acoustic
• Size: soprano
• Dimensions: 27 x 10 x 6 in.
• Body material: mahogany, spruce
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.

Other features:  12 frets, walnut fingerboard, open-style tuners, walnut bridge, black satin finish, triangle inlays and a laser-etched rosette around the sound hole

The Luna Vintage ukulele is another soprano model from the popular brand. It has a lightweight and small size that makes it a great choice for all players including beginners, as it is easy for practice and transport.

What makes this model stand out as our pick for the best travel ukulele is the materials used. Luna only uses excellent materials to provide a quality sound. This helps the Luna Vintage to sound bright and warm like any uke should sound. These materials also provide superb durability, so you can be assured of a reliable instrument for many years to come.

If you don’t like all the tattoo or gimmicky designs, the Vintage is the instrument for you. It has a down to earth, unassuming design with a satin finish that makes it even more beautiful. This makes this uke ideal for those who prefer to be calm and collected.

If you’re looking for a stylish and great sounding uke, then Luna is a brand to deliver. These instruments are carefully crafted with beautiful designs and high quality strings. Despite this quality, the Luna Vintage is in the moderate price range, so you don’t need to worry about breaking the bank.

What are our favorite features?

• Beginner friendly
• Beautiful finish
• Excellent Sound

What could be better?

• Gig bags that are often supplied are not the highest quality

Kala KA-SSTU-T Ukulele Bundle – Best Tenor

• Size: tenor
• Dimensions: 28 x 6 x 11 in.
• Body material: spruce, mahogany
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.

Other features: 18 frets, laurel fingerboard, satin finish, an easy-to-use clip-on tuner, Custom Deluxe gig bag included

The Kala KA SSTU-T is our pick as the best tenor travel ukulele offering players a sturdy wood top with laminated back and sides for excellent durability and sound. The genuine rosewood fretboard and bridge produce clean and resonant notes and chords with a pure, clear timbre.

This tenor ukulele weighs only 2.4 pounds, making it an incredibly portable and compact design. It is also thinner than many standard tenors, so it is easier to carry around on your travels. This instrument really does have it all; great sound quality, excellent ease of play, quality workmanship and superb aesthetics that exemplify the Kala brand. WIth the KA SSTU-T you don’t need to sacrifice audio or instrument quality for lightweight and compact portability. You can enjoy a professional, potent tone that can be taken with you wherever you do. This instrument plays as neatly as it looks and is built to be used on the go. It offers a surprisingly rich, full audio quality despite its size and showcases the quality workmanship with rosewood detailing and die cast chrome geared tuners detailed with black buttons. There are even position marks on the top and sides of the fretboard incorporated into the design to aid new players as they learn. This makes this ukulele a great choice for beginners or experienced players alike.

Why are we impressed?

• Quality workmanship
• Rich and full audio quality
• Great for beginners or experienced players

What negatives must you be aware of?

• Thinner size may take a little getting used to
• Slightly high nut and string action

UBETA UC-031 Ukulele Bundle – Best Concert Ukulele

• Type: acoustic electric
• Size: concert
• Dimensions: 2 x 8.3 x 23 in.
• Body material: mahogany
• Weight: 2.1 lbs.

Other features: rosewood bridge and fingerboard, advanced tuner, special fret wire to avoid scratching, full set of essential accessories for beginners

The UBETA UC 031 is a fantastic beginner-friendly concert ukulele offering superb features for a modest price. This bundle also provides some great accessories including chord charts, a ukulele tuner, strap and strap pins.

The UC 031 is far thinner than a regular uke, but it has a rounded back that creates better resonance and bright, warm tones. The strings hold their tune and can provide a good sound, while the wood feels sturdy and looks nice. At this price point, even if the accessories are not the best quality, you’re getting a great instrument at a very reasonable price. The strings tend to be too high, so it is not completely playable straight out of the box, but it does make a good choice for a beginner if you have access to help with the setup.

The mahogany neck and body provide brighter sounds, while the rosewood bridge and fingerboard offer a comfortable feel as you play. The Italy Aquila nylon strings are very durable and deliver optimal volume with a clear, balanced tone. The UC 031 is also supplied with a gig bag that is an acceptable quality that feels lightweight yet sturdy enough to carry your ukulele on all your travels.

What makes it stand out?

• Decent sound
• Lots of additional gear provided

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Requires professional set up
• Does lack a little sophistication

Kmise Travel Ukulele – Best Starter

• Dimensions: 28.1 x 12 x 4.3 in.
• Body material: zebrawood
• Weight: 2.34 lbs.

Other features: 18 frets, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, natural matte finish, Aquila strings, celluloid abalone rosette and binding

The Kmise travel ukulele may be an inexpensive option, but it lacks the “tinny” sound that is often associated with a plastic ukulele. The brand has made a great number of changes and the company’s entire product range is stellar. This makes this ukulele an excellent option for those who want to get started but lack the cash for a mahogany uke. You can purchase a Kmise travel ukulele and all the accessories you need to get started for less than what you may pay for just a uke from other brands.

For the price, this uke is great. It offers amazing tone and a rich sound with contrasting details that look attractive in any setting. The copper tuning pegs do a great job of keeping the gears and tuning stable, particularly after the initial string stretching period. The Kmise ukes also feature a special bridge design that allows players to easily change strings if they need to be replaced or break. All of these features combine to provide a uke that looks cool, sounds great and is easy to play.

What makes it special?

• Impressive sound
• Nice design
• Good starter price

What cons did we find?

• String stock is not the best

Kala Makala Shark Soprano Ukulele – Budget Pick

• Dimensions: 21.1 x 7 x 2.4 in.
• Body material: kauri
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.

Other features: 12 frets, a mahogany neck, walnut fingerboard, shark-shaped bridge, geared tuners and Aquila Super Nylgut strings

The Makala Kala Shark is an affordable, yet decent instrument from one of the best names in entry level ukes. While the build quality is not flawless, it is better than most in this price range. The Shark also offers great playability and nice sound.

Considering the price point, the Shark is reasonably good and it is better than many ukes in this price range and beyond. The only obvious quality issue is that the tuners have loose plastic washers that can vibrate at certain pitches. This is a small issue, but it may annoy some players.

Straight out of the box, the Shark plays well with low enough string action, so you won’t struggle to play. The action may be a little high for some, but this can be brought down with a little basic set up work. This may go beyond the comfort level and skill of a beginner, so you may need to consult an expert or tutor.

The tone is quieter and thinner than some other models, but the Shark does sound far better than many cheap ukes. This may be due to the composite sides and back, which can also leave this uke feeling a little dense.

Like all ukes in the Kala line, the Shark is equipped with Aquila Nylgut strings, which are superior to the cheap nylon strings that are often found on a budget uke.

Why did it make our list?

• Very affordable
• Great playable

What is not ideal about it?

• Quieter, thinner tone
• Some build quality flaws

Things to Consider

A ukulele can be a fantastic travel companion, providing entertainment on the road even if you are off the beaten track. However, with so many different models on the market, making a purchase decision can be a little tricky. So, we’ve produced a buying guide with the things to consider and features to look for, in addition to answers to common questions to help you make your purchase decision.

Things to consider before buying a travel ukulele

Features to consider when choosing a travel ukulele

With so many ukuleles on the market, it can be difficult to make a purchase decision. However, there are some features to consider that can help you to narrow down your options and find the right instrument for your specific requirements.

There are a number of types of ukulele, but the most common are wooden and plastic. As with any instrument, the quality can vary according to the materials used and low quality materials can not only affect durability, but also sound quality and tone. As we touched on above, if you’re planning to travel to a very dry environment or your ukulele may be exposed to water, poolside or at the beach, a plastic uke may be the best option. However, if you’re not planning to travel to these types of areas, you may prefer the sound quality and feel of a wooden uke.

Another consideration for the type of uke, is whether you opt for an acoustic instrument or an acoustic electric. Most of us think of acoustic instruments when we picture a uke, but there are also acoustic electric models that feature built-in electronics that allow connection to an external amp to project the sound.

The first ukuleles were often soprano sized like Luna Vintage Ukulele and Makala Kala Shark Ukulele and this is still known as the standard size today. As the popularity of the instrument increased over time, tenor and concert size ukuleles were introduced to meet the demand for fuller, bigger sounds. The first tenor and concert sized ukes were sold in the 1920s and immediately made the instrument more accessible. It wasn’t until the 1950s when the baritone uke appeared on the market. This was thought to be designed as a small guitar or big uke, but it meant the instrument appealed to an even larger demographic.

The dimensions of a uke are often determined by the type. Sopranos are obviously smaller than the other types, but this is not the extent of the issue. There are different body thicknesses that can affect the quality of the sound and tone.

While all ukes are generally lighter compared to guitars, there are some differences in weight between models. The style of uke is a major factor, with the small sopranos being the lightest and baritones being heavier. However, the material also plays a role. Harder wood is heavier and will affect the overall weight of the instrument. For example, mahogany is heavier than softwood, and both are heavier than composite.

Other features

Finally, there are other features to look for. Geared tuners can help your uke to remain in tune for prolonged periods and if you’re a complete beginner, you may prefer to choose a uke that is supplied with additional extras such as straps, and other essentials that can help you to get started. Even if the accessories provided are not the best quality, you can always upgrade as you become a more confident player and develop your preferences. For example, the UBETA UC 031 is supplied with a full beginner’s kit making it an excellent option for new players.

What is the difference between a travel ukulele and a standard ukulele?

Travel ukuleles tend to be lighter with a thinner body and greater durability. Typically, a travel ukulele will cost less than a standard model, but this depends on the cost. If you opt for a top of the line travel ukulele, you may end up paying more than you would for a budget standard uke.

Can I bring my ukulele on a plane?

It is always a good idea to avoid exposing your uke to baggage handlers and the potentially damaging conditions in the hold. Most airlines publish guides for the size and weight of carry-on items, which will affect whether you can bring your uke on a plane. For example, Delta classes a uke as part of the free carry-on baggage for passengers, but it must be able to easily fit in the overhead bins or approved storage areas in the cabin.

Our Verdict

In our list of the best ukes, the UBETA UC-031 stands out as it is not only supplied with a great starter kit, making it very beginner friendly, but it also provides a great sound. While it does lack a little sophistication, it is decent quality and delivers a clear, balanced tone.

The Kala KA-SSTU-T is another great ukulele bundle that offers a fantastic balance of excellent ease of play, superb aesthetic, quality workmanship and great sound quality that are an excellent example of what is produced by the Kala brand.

However, the stand out as the best travel ukulele has to be the Luna Vintage. Despite the modest price range, the Luna Vintage is carefully crafted with high quality strings and a beautiful design that exudes quality, providing a bright, warm sound that you would expect from a fantastic uke.

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Best Travel Ukulele (Practical, Lightweight, & Portable)

If you are a traveler and a musician , you may experience frustration with the inability to play music while you’re on the road. Ukuleles are great instruments to travel with because they are small and portable, and luckily, there are many great options for lightweight and durable ukuleles that can survive travel.  

The best travel ukulele is the Flight 4-String Travel Series Soprano Ukulele because it is weather-resistant, durable, and affordable. However, there are many great options for travel ukuleles such as the Donna Carbon Fiber, the Enya Concert Fiber, and the Hola and the Everjoy’s Soprano bundles. 

The rest of this article discusses your best options for travel ukuleles. Keep reading if you’re looking to hit the road but still want to strum your uke! 

Best Overall: Flight, 4-String Soprano Ukulele

This ukulele is ideal for traveling because it is durable, weather-resistant, and sounds great! The neck and fingerboard are plastic that doesn’t react to different weather conditions, so you’ll be able to enjoy your uke on a humid beach or in a desert without worrying about it going out of tune. 

Furthermore, this ukulele uses a zero fret and an adjustable saddle, so you don’t need to worry about the intonation changing. 

Although the body and fretboard are plastic, that doesn’t mean that this ukulele doesn’t sound great. Luthiers create the soundboard out of laminate linden wood, which helps give it a bright and pleasant sound instead of the hollow sound many plastic ukuleles have. 

This ukulele is available in various colors and designs, including a mandala design if you want a more traditional look. It also comes with a denim-colored gig bag for extra protection and an instructional booklet if you’re a beginner.  

Finally, the affordable price makes this an excellent choice for a travel ukulele. Although this is a sturdy instrument, you may break it, or it could get stolen out of a hostel locker or from your backpack while you’re on the move. If this were to happen, you wouldn’t be out hundreds of dollars because this uke isn’t as expensive as other models. 

• Bright sound, even though it contains plastic 
• Tuners keep a tune well 
• Inexpensive
• Many different colors and designs. 
• Made mostly of plastic
• Isn’t as lightweight as some travelers prefer  

Best Budget-Friendly Option: Hola! Music Soprano Ukulele Bundle

If you want more bang for your buck, look no further than this affordable bundle from Hola! Music. This bundle comes with a 21” (53 cm) soprano ukulele, a canvas bag, a strap, and three pick sizes, so you’ll have everything you need to travel and play. 

For such an affordable price, the ukulele boasts surprisingly high-quality materials. The strings are premium Aquila nylgut, a synthetic string combining the best features of nylon and gut strings (hence the name). The ukelele neck is made of nato wood, the body is maple, and the bridge and fingerboards are walnut. 

These materials make for a great-sounding ukulele and one that is sturdy enough to handle the bumps and occasionally rough conditions of travel. 

If you’re a beginner, purchasing this bundle also comes with two months of free online ukulele lessons. There are many different colors to choose from, including a traditional-looking three-tone color as well as orange green, and blue.

• You get a lot for a low price 
• High-quality materials for its price point 
• It comes with a canvas bag for traveling 
• A thin neck makes for easy playability 
• It comes with free online lessons
• It offers a bright sound.

Cons  

• Professional players may be disappointed with the feel 
• You will need time to break the strings in, so it won’t be in tune for a few days after purchase 
• Tuners aren’t as quality as the rest of the instrument.

Best Splurge: Donner Carbon Fiber Travel Ukulele

If you have a little more money to spend and want a travel ukulele that will knock your socks off, this ukulele from Donner is a great choice. The high-density carbon fiber top makes for a sweet and crisp sound, and the material is reliable and maintenance-free, even in drastic changes in temperature and humidity. 

This ukulele is exceptionally well-designed. The unique shape of the sound hole further contributes to the great sound of this ukulele and the one-piece construction body that increases the efficiency of sound transmission. Furthermore, the frets are round and made with smooth material, so this ukulele is more comfortable to play with than alternative options.

• Unique design makes for great sound 
• Reliable and durable 
• Weather-resistant 
• One-piece construction body 
• Unique tone. 
• More expensive than other options on this list 
• It only comes in black, green, red, or white 
• Included strings break easily. 

Best Lightweight Option: Enya Concert Fiber Travel Ukulele  

The ukulele that comes in this Enya bundle is only 1.25 pounds (0.56 kg), and the body is only 2 inches (5.08 cm) wide, so if you’re looking for a uke, that won’t be a burden to carry around, this is your best bet! 

Additionally, this is an excellent travel ukulele because it is waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about getting caught in the rain or traveling by boat. This bundle offers a case, strap, capo, strings, and online lessons.  

The ukulele boasts carbon fiber composite polycarbonate, which is durable, and the body’s design makes it easy to clean. This instrument also features a side sound hole, which makes for better self-resonance.   

• Ukulele is extremely lightweight
• Waterproof 
• Designed for players at all levels  
• Bright sound
• It comes with a case, strap, capo, and strings.  
• Not compatible with wound strings or strings containing metallic compounds 
• Not as many color and design options as other ukuleles on this list 
• Some users struggle to keep it in tune 
• The neck might be too thin for some players 

Best Tenor: Travel Ukulele Tenor Zebra Ukulele  

This ukulele offers a genuine rosewood fretboard and bridge, which makes it one of the best-sounding travel tenors on the market. It is also highly portable and compact and only weighs approximately two and a half pounds, so it won’t weigh you down while you’re on the move. 

The Kala brand is known for its workmanship and pleasant aesthetics, so with this ukulele, you won’t be sacrificing quality and beauty for portability. The audio quality is rich and full even though the instrument is small, and the die-cast chrome geared tuners keep the uke in tune.  

• High-quality tuners keep the uke consistently in tune 
• Lightweight 
• Compact design 
• Aesthetically pleasing 
• Comfortable to hold and play.
• It might be too thin for some players
• It doesn’t come with a bag or strap  
• Lots of fret buzz 
• The uke lacks attachment for a strap. 

Best for Beginners: Everjoys Soprano Ukulele Beginner Pack  

For an affordable price, beginners can get this soprano ukulele made of fine basswood and blackwood, a digital tuner, a strap, spare picks, a polishing cloth, a bag, and a songbook to help them get started with their ukulele journey. The nylon strings are highly playable and stay in tune, even in changing climates. 

• Affordable 
• Lots of different color options 
• Includes ukulele, tuner, strap, and songbook 
• Smooth frets increase comfortability.
• Included strings are not high-quality 
• Tuning pegs are not highly secure on the head 
• The sound isn’t as bright as the alternatives.  

Final Thoughts 

There are many great options for ukuleles to travel with, as many ukulele companies have recognized travelers’ desire to have their instrument with them as they globe-trot. The best overall choice is the Flight 4-String Travel Series Soprano Ukulele, but you can’t go wrong with any of the options on this list.

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Top The Best Travel Ukulele

Enya nova u travel ukulele, magic fluke flea ukulele, makala shark ukulele.

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Travel Ukuleles

For the wanderlust-stricken musician, a travel ukulele is an essential companion. Compact, lightweight, and built for on-the-go strumming, these instruments are designed to withstand the rigors of travel. Here’s a look at some of the best travel ukuleles available in the market.

Our Top Picks for the Best Travel Ukulele

1) Enya Nova U Travel Ukulele

The Enya Nova U Travel Ukulele is a standout option for those seeking a durable and high-quality travel ukulele. Its carbon fiber construction ensures it can withstand the rough and tumble of travel, and its sound quality is impressive for its size and price point. This ukulele also comes with a beginner kit that includes a case, strap, capo, and strings, making it a great value for money.

2) Magic Fluke Flea Ukulele

The Magic Fluke Flea Ukulele is another excellent choice for travelers. It’s lauded for its sturdy construction and excellent sound quality. Despite its compact size, the Magic Fluke Flea Ukulele delivers a rich, resonant sound that rivals many larger ukuleles.

3) Makala Shark Ukulele

The Makala Shark Ukulele is a fun and affordable option for travel. Its vibrant colors and unique design make it a hit among younger players, but don’t let its playful looks fool you – this ukulele packs a punch when it comes to sound. It’s a robust instrument that can handle being tossed into a backpack or carried around a campsite.

4) Kala Travel Ukulele

Kala’s Travel Ukulele line features ultra-thin, lightweight ukuleles designed specifically for travel. Their arched backs are designed to deliver a surprising amount of volume and resonance for such slim instruments. With their solid spruce tops and mahogany back and sides, these ukuleles offer a balanced tone perfect for a variety of music styles.

5) Journey Instruments Meranti Concert Travel Ukulele

The Journey Instruments Meranti Concert Travel Ukulele is a high-end option for those seeking the best quality ukulele for traveling. Crafted from beautiful meranti wood, this ukulele offers a warm, rich sound that’s perfect for serenading your fellow travelers around the campfire.

In conclusion, whether you’re seeking the best soprano travel ukulele, the best ukulele for camping, or simply the best quality travel ukulele, there’s an instrument out there to suit your needs. From the durable Enya Nova U Travel Ukulele to the vibrant Makala Shark Ukulele, these travel ukuleles offer a blend of portability, durability, and excellent sound quality. Happy strumming, and happy travels!

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7 Best Travel Ukuleles On Sale For Backpackers 2024

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So, you’re thinking about taking a ukulele with you on a trip (or multiple trips, as the case may be).

Maybe you’re a ukulele player that wants to keep their nice Hawaiian Koa wood instrument at home. Or, maybe you’re a guitarist or bassist that needs an instrument to keep their fingers busy while on their journeys.

A ukulele is generally small by design, making most ukes suitable for backpacking and travel. But you would need to pay careful attention to how you pack the instrument or buy a solid case to put it in, because you don’t want to spend several hundred dollars on an instrument only to have it break on you. That would defeat the purpose of a travel uke.

So, here are the best travel ukuleles on sale for backpackers.

Luna Vintage Mahogany Soprano Ukulele

The Luna Vintage Mahogany Soprano Ukulele is quite possibly the best instrument in its price range, with a mahogany body, top, and neck.

It comes in Baritone, Concert, Concert Cutaway, Pineapple Soprano, Soprano, and Tenor , giving you a range of options to chose from. Soprano is probably the best choice for traveling ukuleles.

You can also buy the Luna with a tuner and quick start guide, or gig bag and accessories.

Most customers have been quite happy with their purchase overall, and that’s not surprising considering the value. This uke is good bang for buck.

Hola! HM-21 Soprano Ukulele

The Hola! HM-21 a reasonably priced soprano ukulele that comes in a variety of colors – red, blue, black, green, natural, pink, purple, light blue, mahogany/blue, and orange.

This is a quality ukulele sporting maple top, back, and sides, with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

Its small stature should allow you to pack it in the tightest of spaces without too much concern.

The Hola! Music ukes are worth considering if you’re looking for a travel companion to keep you entertained.

Kala KA-SSTU Soprano Travel Ukulele

Sporting a remarkably thin body, the Kala KA-SSTU is the ideal ukulele for the road.

It comes with a solid spruce top and mahogany back, sides, binding, rosette, and neck. The fingerboard is made of rosewood.

This is a great instrument to be sure, and perfect for the road, but it will cost you more than some of the other options mentioned here.

If you can’t see yourself making too many concessions or sacrifices, you’ll enjoy the Kala .

Eddy Finn EF-TRV-C Travel Ukulele

The EF-TRV-C might be a little peculiar looking due to the unique shape of its sound hole, but it’s reasonably priced, and a good instrument overall.

This ukulele has been built with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides, and has a thin body, which is always a good thing to look for in a travel uke. Customer sentiment is also good.

Many websites list the Eddy Finn has the best travel ukulele, because it fits the criteria of what most people look for in a travel instrument. You’ll have to try it for yourself to see if you like it as much as others have, but it’s worth a look regardless.

Kala Mahogany KA-15s-RLE Soprano Ukulele

Here’s another Kala instrument that is suited for travel. For one, you can’t argue with the low price of the Mahogany KA-16s-RLE . It’s also a soprano instrument, so you know it’s compact.

This uke comes in a few different forms, including Classic, Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian Tattoo, Red, Spruce Top, and Learn to Play Kit. These are all soprano ukuleles, so while the price varies slightly among the options available, it basically comes down to personal preference.

Customers have mostly had positive things to say about this uke, so if a travel instrument is what you’re looking for, you probably can’t go wrong here.

Ukulele Soprano Size Bundle From Lohanu (LU-S)

The Lohanu LU-S is low-cost, comes with all the accessories you need (strap, picks, pick holder, tuner, case, and extra strings), and has a Sapele/mahogany top, back, sides, and neck, and a rosewood fingerboard.

The body isn’t exactly the thinnest, as you would typically find with a travel uke, but this is still a highly compact and portable unit.

Customer sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, so at this price point, you can’t go wrong. The Lohanu should be a contender on your list.

Donner Soprano Ukulele Spruce DUS-3

As with a few others on this list, the DUS-3 may not be branded as a travel uke. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take it on the road. Being a soprano size ukulele, it’s quite portable and affordable to boot.

You can get the DUS-3 in three different configurations and price points: 21-inch, 23-inch, and 26-inch. Naturally, the best choice is the 21-inch if you’re going to be taking it with you on your travels.

This instrument also comes with a strap, tuner, case, and strings. The Donner would make for a great travel companion.

What Should I Look For In A Travel Ukulele?

In many ways, a travel uke isn’t that different from a standard one.

But that might leave you with more questions than answers on your search for a good travel ukulele.

So, here are a few criteria I would consider when shopping for a good travel instrument.

A Durable Instrument

Ukuleles are made of wood. As you are surely aware, wood isn’t the most durable material available. It can crush under significant weight, and break given enough force. It’s also a bit temperamental in that excessive dryness can cause cracking.

Simultaneously, instruments are built to last and stand up to the abuse of children, especially ukuleles. So, they’re not going to break if they aren’t under significant pressure.

You need to take good care of your uke. That’s always your first line of defense. If you keep your instrument in a good quality case and watch yourself as you’re carrying it around, you’ll have a better chance at keeping it in one piece.

Beyond that, it’s always worth scanning the reviews to see if anyone has had issues with the ukulele you’re thinking about purchasing. If you can’t find any negative reviews, you’ve done your due diligence.

A Thin Or Small Body

A soprano size uke is ideal for travel, because it generally has a small body.

But some ukes have a thinner body, making them easier to pack and fit into tight spaces. These instruments probably won’t sound as good as standard ukes, but they’ll still do the trick.

A thin body, however, is not a prerequisite for a travel uke. It’s a good quality to look for, but not essential.

In general, the smaller the better, and fortunately, most ukuleles are small, particularly soprano ukes.

A Reasonable Price Point

You can get a good travel uke for $50, but you can also pay upwards of $200 to $300 if you go for specialty ukuleles.

There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong here, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t immediately decide. If your budget is small, it’s okay to buy a uke in the $50 range. It shouldn’t break on you too easily (but always check reviews). If you’ve got a bigger budget, then maybe you don’t mind putting $200 to $300 into your travel instrument.

When it comes to travel instruments, I don’t generally buy the cheapest, but I don’t go for the most expensive either. I go with something that seems reasonable and has good reviews. After all, I’m only going to be using it while I’m away from home.

A Playable Instrument

Some cheaper ukes fall out of tune so easily that you end up having to retune every few minutes.

And, some ukes don’t exactly sound great because of the materials they’re made of.

That’s okay, because in the end you’re looking for an instrument you can take with you wherever you go, not an instrument to use for professional recording or live performance purposes.

That’s why I’ve put emphasis on a playable instrument. You’re not looking for (or at least you shouldn’t be looking for) a uke that plays and sounds amazing. That’s a whole other category of ukulele, as you can easily find instruments that cost $1,000 and up.

If it sounds decent, is playable, and holds its tune, you’ve got yourself a good enough travel uke. And, to me, that’s the most sensible way of looking at this purchase.

Should I Buy A Ukulele Or A Ukulele Bundle?

A ukulele is a relatively self-contained instrument.

What I mean by that is that you don’t need any extra gear to play it. You can take it out of its case and begin playing it immediately.

A strap is unnecessary, because unlike a guitar, a uke is very lightweight. Some people do prefer playing it with a strap, so it might be worth giving it a try before deciding. But if you’re going to be playing sitting down a lot of the time, you’re not going to need a strap.

You don’t need picks either, as ukes are generally played with your fingers. But it can be fun to play with a pick.

A tuner is a good thing to have, especially if you have trouble tuning by ear, or if you have no other instrument available for reference.

The only essential accessory is a case. And, the cases that come with bundles generally aren’t the best quality, though they do get the job done.

In the end, you must decide whether you want to buy a standalone instrument or a bundle. Since bundles are so affordable, there’s nothing wrong with getting the extras thrown in. You may not need all of them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t nice to have.

Is There Such A Thing As A Ukulele Travel Case Or Hard Shell Case?

You’re in luck. You can find hard shell cases for ukuleles, and they aren’t too expensive either.

It’s possible to get away with a soft case or a gig bag, even while you’re on the road, but if you want to take an extra precaution, you should look at purchasing one of these.

If you want to keep your uke in working condition, you must take some responsibility for it, and as I’ve already said, your first line of defense is you.

Is There Such A Thing As A Travel Ukulele?

The short answer is “sort of.”

There are companies that brand their instruments as travel ukes, but aside from the fact that they have thin bodies (and they don’t always), there isn’t much difference between a travel ukulele and a standard ukulele.

As you are likely aware, ukuleles are small instruments. This makes them easy to carry around. Some are bigger than others, but they’re rarely as bulky as a guitar .

So, overall, a uke is a good instrument to travel with.

If you’re looking specifically for a travel ukulele, here’s what to look for:

• A thin body . An instrument with a thinner body is easier to travel with. Naturally, you end up sacrificing tone for convenience.
• Geared tuners . Geared tuners help keep the instrument in tune. Most ukes have geared tuners.

But this isn’t to suggest any ukulele can’t be good for travel. It’s just that instruments that meet the above two criteria are going to prove easier to pack and a little more durable.

Best Travel Ukuleles For Backpackers, Final Thoughts

If you travel a lot, don’t be afraid to spend a little more on a travel instrument. Most people find travel instruments “tolerable”, but not necessarily the best to play. If you’re constantly on the road and practicing or playing a lot, a low quality uke is going to drive you nuts after a while. So, spending a little bit of extra money on a better instrument is not a bad idea.

Finally, don’t forget to have fun. As the person who sold me my first ukulele shared with me, “you’ll never find an unhappy ukulele player”. Ukuleles are meant to be fun and easy to play. As with any instrument, you can find beginner all the way to advanced players, but in the end it’s the joy of playing and making music that matters most.

P.S. Remember though, none of what you've learned will matter if you don't know how to get your music out there and earn from it. Want to learn how to do that? Then get our free ‘5 Steps To Profitable Youtube Music Career' ebook emailed directly to you!

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Travel Ukulele

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Travel Series

Plastic Fantastic! Conventional wisdom will say that plastic ukuleles are cheap, low-quality substitutes for “the real thing”. Well, it’s time to kick conventional wisdom out the door! Built unapologetically from plastic, the sound quality of these ukuleles will blow you away, and their durability will make them Keith Richards’ instrument of choice after Armageddon hits. These ukes are perfect for rainy festivals, cramped overhead lockers, moody teenagers, and ukulele teachers working with young children.

Key points:

Very unique and innovative product

Bright & Funky

Extremely resonant

Wiped color satin finish

No sharp frets

No neck bending

Durable, travel friendly

Perfect for children and first time learners

FLIGHT TUS50

Specifications

Every tiny detail matters.

Back & Side: ABS Bridge:  ABS

Neck: ABS Fretboard:  ABS Nut & Saddle:  ABS

Position Markers:  5th, 7th, 10th and 12th frets. Premium Features:  Zero Fret, Wooden Top, Arched back, Open Geared Tuners, ABS Fretboard. This instrument is also available in  various colors.

Arch of Triumph

ABS Back & Sides

Thanks to a wider arched ABS back, this baby has more volume in middle range than your average soprano, while also resonating better and sounding brighter. It is needless to mention the durability and resistance to humidity changes, the main enemies of the wooden ukuleles.

Let's play.

ABS Neck & Fingerboard

The neck and fingerboard of the TUS-35 are made from ABS plastic. It is a perfect solution for entry class ukuleles, since it is not prone to any weather changes. You will never get a sharp fret or bent neck in any of our Travel ukuleles. The neck surface imitates the wood pattern, to avoid a feeling of cheap plastic.

FLIGHT TUS35 WHITE

SOPRANO UKE

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Flight, 4-String Travel Series Soprano Ukulele, Black (TUS-35 BK)

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• Model TUS35

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Travel Soprano Ukuelele TUS-35

Hal Leonard Music Accessories

Product Description

Plastic fantastic! Conventional wisdom will say that plastic ukuleles are cheap, low-quality substitutes for the Real thing. Well, it's time to kick conventional wisdom out the door! Built unapologetically from plastic, the sound quality of these ukuleles will blow you away, and their durability will make them Keith Richards' Instrument of choice after Armageddon hits. These uses are perfect for rainy festivals, cramped overhead lockers, moody teenagers, and ukulele teachers working with young children. Thanks to a wider arched ABS back, This Baby has more volume in middle range than your average soprano, while also resonating better and sounding brighter. It is needless to mention the durability and resistance to humidity changes, the main enemies of the wooden ukuleles. Linden is a wood characterized by a bright sound and sleek texture. It also absorbs water colors in a very interesting way creating very cool patterns, which means that no UK is the same and your UK will be the one and only. On top of that, Flight is using a special wiping color technique to create even more patterns. The neck and fingerboard of the tus-35 are made from ABS plastic. It is a perfect solution for entry class ukuleles, since it is not prone to any weather changes. You will never get a sharp fret or bent neck in any of Flight travel ukuleles. The neck surface imitates the wood pattern, to avoid a feeling of cheap plastic. Zero fret paired with unique bridge construction keeps the string action low and intonation on point. Since the plastic is never going to move, you will never have to deal with any additional work on the saddle. Headstock design is an integral part of our identity. The headstock veneer of tus-35 is made of Linden and matches the color of the top. All Flight ukuleles feature a carefully-designed headstock fitted with geared tuners that will always stay in tune. The final touch that the travel ukulele needed was a cool gig bag to accompany it on your travels. The blue denim color will compliment your style and also make the bag stand out from the standard Black.

From the manufacturer

Let Your Music Take Flight

Based in Slovenia, Flight is an innovative manufacturer with a wide selection of beautifully crafted ukuleles. Since 2010, Flight has focused on creating the most affordable and high-quality musical instruments, and making them available to everyone who wishes to play.

Flight Ukuleles — Travel Series

Affordable & fun.

The Flight Travel ukulele is truly an innovative product. Never before have ukuleles with such outstanding sound quality been so affordable! But don't be fooled by its price and colorful appearance — this ukulele is an authentic instrument played by real musicians. Don't just take our word for it... Flight Travel ukulele has received high scores and much praise from Got A Ukulele. gotaukulele.com is an extensive and respected source for independent ukulele reviews.

Design & Sound

The ukulele's plastic back generates excellent sound projection. This feature, combined with Aquila Nylgut strings, produces a loud and clear tone. The neck and body of each ukulele is constructed from plastic, resulting in consistent intonation from our instruments.

Easy to Play & Kid-Friendly

The Flight Travel uke is perfect for children as their first ukulele. This instrument is virtually indestructible; an important quality when it comes to kids! Low action makes it easy to press the strings, plastic frets never stick out, and the plastic neck can be easily sanitized. Don't forget - each Travel Series ukulele comes with a starter booklet and blue gig bag!

Unique Features

• Impressive loud sound
• Curved back
• Zero fret for even lower action
• No wood shrinking problems
• Light and durable
• Stable quality
• Starter booklet included
• Blue denim colored gig bag included

Benefits of the ABS Back

Thanks to a wider arched ABS back, this baby has more volume in middle range than your average soprano. Our design creates a brighter sound that resonates as you play, making our ukuleles stand out from the rest. Needless to say, humidity is a major enemy of wooden ukuleles. Flight ukes avoid this issue because they have the durability to resist changes in weather.

Take a closer look at this stunning ukulele

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Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the quality, appearance and tuning of the stringed instruments. They mention that it's well made, looks and sounds great, and holds its tune very well. They appreciate the ease of use. However, some customers are mixed on sound quality.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers have mixed opinions about the sound quality of the ukulele. Some find it to have a nice sound, with accurate notes and a great tone. Others however, say that it has a disappointing flat sound, and that the C-string makes some noises.

"...I was surprised at how nice the sound was for plastic , it does sound a tiny bit 'watery' compared to my wood ukulele but just barely, the sound is..." Read more

"...Ukulele Underground, many of whom recommend it as a durable but respectable sounding "beater" uke for travel, camping, the car, the beach, etc...." Read more

"Love the look, the size the sound ! It is holding it's tuning well now even though I've only had it six days. Very very satisfied...." Read more

"...I attempted to tune this, but each chord sounded flat dull even . I am returning it but love the graphics design but wish it sounded better...." Read more

Customers like the quality of the stringed instruments. For example, they say it's well-made, has great sustain, and is built like a tank. Some mention that the fret paint seems to be holding great and the chords hold true. Overall, most are happy with the quality and durability of the product.

"...It's very sturdy and does not warp or get fret sprout in more humid/warm climates, the only thing is it the front of the headstock and front of the..." Read more

"...by members at Ukulele Underground, many of whom recommend it as a durable but respectable sounding "beater" uke for travel, camping, the car, the..." Read more

"...Very very satisfied.Was well packaged arrived in good shape and on time." Read more

"I wanted to love this, it's a gift it's well made . But feels cheap in the hands. Almost toy like I get it's intended for a beginner...." Read more

Customers like the appearance of the stringed instruments. They say the color is adorable, and the picture on the front is really nice.

" Love the look , the size the sound! It is holding it's tuning well now even though I've only had it six days. Very very satisfied...." Read more

"...I am returning it but love the graphics design but wish it sounded better. Might be good for a child" Read more

"...The travel cover looks nice , and I play this ukulele as a hobby to learn music and to play love songs for my girlfriend." Read more

"...The picture on the front is really nice and it won't chip off. Looks like water color . Very happy with it!..." Read more

Customers like the tuning of the stringed instruments. They say it stays in tune, holds its tune very well, and is able to tune it easily. Some customers also mention that the ukulele sounds great and holds its tuning well even though they've only had it six days.

"This ukulele sounds great and it holds its tune very well once the strings have been stretched and tuned for a while...." Read more

"Love the look, the size the sound! It is holding it's tuning well now even though I've only had it six days. Very very satisfied...." Read more

"The ukulele sounds great and stays in tune ...." Read more

"...Two is that it goes out of tune in a matter of hours or a few minutes of extended practice...." Read more

Customers appreciate the value of the stringed instruments. They say it's good for the price and the tuners, although cheap, work just great.

"...who wants to get the ukulele game with a real instrument at a ridiculously low price ...." Read more

" Great product for the price ! Keeps its tune very well! Highly recommended this product for anyone interested in ukuleles!" Read more

"...The tuners although cheap , work just great. But to me the star of the whole package has got to be the fret board...." Read more

"...It's good for the price and familiarizing yourself but after getting a 200 dollar Fender Uke, I recommend spending a little extra...." Read more

Customers find the stringed instruments easy to use and perfect for beginners. They say it sounds great and is a good starting point to learn chords and basic technique.

"...It's a good starting point to learn chords and basic technique. I just worry that it might discourage some players from getting better...." Read more

"Beautiful, easy to use and sounds great!!" Read more

" Great for a beginner . Good sound. Very reasonably priced." Read more

" Excellent for beginners and kids ..." Read more

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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The Fine Art of Underscheduling

The parents who are saying no to extracurriculars..

During the darkest depths of COVID, my husband and I had the same conversation over and over. I predicted the iron grip of Activities Culture would loosen after lockdown, and parents would become more intentional about protecting family time against overscheduling. My husband took the other side, hard. “Everything will snap right back like a rubber band,” he said, and four years later, there’s no question about who was right. Things didn’t just “snap back.” It’s like we all got launched out of a catapult, as the activity/sports industrial complex roared back into life, sweeping away game nights and family grocery shopping in its inexorable gears. If anything, logistics feel more stressful now than they did before COVID, as families play catch-up after the isolation of the pandemic. But something has to give.

No parent I have spoken to says this is the system they want, where families split up on the weekends to shuttle kids to different games and orchestrate a complex ballet of carpools to activities and practices after school during the week. Instead, it feels more like a runaway train no one knows how to get off. But lately, I have noticed a change. They may be the tip of the spear, or just a small group of outliers, but some families are simply saying: Enough.

The youth sports industry in the U.S. has exploded over the past two decades, becoming an economic juggernaut now worth at least $ 19 billion —larger than the annual revenues of the NBA or NFL. Club and travel teams are economically incentivized to start recruiting kids younger, and according to a 2022 study by the Aspen Institute, families spend an average of $883 for every sport a child plays. More than 50 percent of children play sports in the U.S., and 40 percent of those kids play one sport year-round. As Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania are Ruining Kids Sports—and Why it Matters , has reported , having a competitive athlete in the family can cause strain on parents and siblings , as well as the athlete . Access to sports has also become an equity issue, as expensive club teams and travel sports replace more affordable and less time-intensive recreational leagues, not to mention the unstructured, child-led pickup games kids used to play. But the problem here is not just about sports, qua sports; it’s more about the grind. According to a study published this year in the Economics of Education Review , overscheduling extracurriculars of all kinds is linked to depression and anxiety in youth.

Alongside of this, the college counseling industry— valued at $2.9 billion —is amplifying the message from colleges that teens must “brand” themselves starting freshman year of high school, making the stakes even higher when it comes to extracurriculars. As Sarah Bernstein, a college essay advisor, wrote in a cracklingly funny and extremely depressing recent essay in the New York Times, the idea that teenagers can have the space to try new things—or simply do less—in high school starts to feel like a risky bet to parents.

Gail Cornwall, a San Francisco–based journalist who focuses on education and child development, talked to me about the dilemma parents face. Cornwall, who is raising five children in a blended family, is one of the people I mean when I say that I’ve noticed that some parents are pulling back. She has been intentional about protecting her family’s time—choosing activities that are walkable or accessible via public transportation; giving her kids unstructured afternoons at the playground; and supporting her two high school–age girls when they decided to quit their respective sports this spring.

The challenge is this approach flies in the face of so many of the messages parents are getting about admissions to selective colleges. At a recent event hosted by her 17-year-old daughter’s high school, “the college counselor was talking about kids’ essays, saying that teens should tie their passions and interests to what they want to major in,” she says. “To be pre-med, these teens are expected to already have volunteered in a hospital or a lab. It’s all part of the professionalization of adolescence.” While Cornwall acknowledges that so much of the résumé-building that now starts (in some places) in elementary school is driven by parental anxiety, she adds: “We also aren’t making this shit up.”

“You hear that your child not only has to have perfect grades and perfect scores, but also has to be ‘pointy,’ to stick out in an extremely specialized way,” one Bay Area mother, who has a daughter in college and a son who will apply next year, told me. “Everyone is gunning for these super selective colleges, but the truth is, 80 to 90 percent of these kids are not going to get in. If families knew that from the start, we could spare ourselves a whole lot of weekend tournaments and after-school carpools to this or that, and instead just have a much nicer eight years together before our kids leave home.” Her son has drafted a very pragmatic list of colleges to apply to, and they are trying not to get as sucked in this time.

It’s fashionable now to blame overanxious, achievement-focused parents for everything, but our college admissions process has become so brutally uncertain , the stress of it reverberates well beyond ride-or-die Ivy Leaguers. And when you look at the messaging parents receive from high school and college counselors, the overscheduling obsession—with its focus on sports specialization or creating a musical, artistic, or philanthropic phenom—starts to make sense. Maybe, as Cornwall explains, parents are making rational decisions based on the ridiculous fact that a teenager who has started their own nonprofit is more attractive to a group of hypothetical admissions officers than a kid who has been babysitting regularly since they were 14. (Personally, I’d take the babysitter 10 times out of 10.)

But just like we may finally be waking up from our long slumber about how godawful phones and social media are for kids , families are starting to push back against overscheduling. Two mothers I know recently pulled their elementary school–aged kids from club sports, one holding fast to her decision even when the coach warned her not to “close any doors.” When Cornwall posted on X about how proud she was of her daughters for quitting their high school sports teams—a sentence that has been uttered by no one in America, ever—she received support, not the usual “bad mother” vitriol. Small groups of parents are banding together to create spaces for unstructured free play. To paraphrase Matilda, the scent of rebellion is in the air.

Activities Culture is not, on its face, a bad thing—we all know art and music and running around outside are positive for kids. But you don’t need a whole bunch of classes to do that when kids are young. When kids are just getting started with sports and lessons, many people sign up because of social pressure among parents, and the fact that a family life full of extracurriculars feels like the norm. Even when stress over college is years in the future, there is still a very palpable sense that being a “good” parent means giving your child an opportunity to take ballet, or piano, or play sports. And participation in scheduled activities can feel like it’s signaling the intensity and commitment of your parenting, and maybe even a certain position in life, given the uncomfortable fact that travel sports and extracurriculars take a ton of time and money, often shutting out less affluent families who may not have flexible work schedules. Given all of this, the first step off the treadmill might be to flock to the people who believe what you believe.

“I don’t know if it’s coincidental or if I migrate toward parents with a similar philosophy, but the parents I spend time with don’t overschedule their kids with activities,” says Jessica Gomez, a mother of a 6-year-old who lives with her family in metro Detroit. “The kids in our neighborhood are still young, so the parents watch them as they play outside, and it’s created a bond for all of us.” Gomez says her son is creative, and that having a packed schedule can hinder that. “I have felt pressure at times; I’ll see his classmates taking violin or piano lessons and think, I should get him into that. But it’s only something I’m willing to explore when another activity has ended.”

Gomez is holding the line, but that pressure is a real thing. A single mom who lives in the Boston area with her two daughters, ages 4 and 1, told me she is the only parent in her daughter’s class who doesn’t do activities, both because the logistics feel too thorny and because her daughter hasn’t asked . “Sometimes I do feel bad that we haven’t participated in ballet, ceramics, or soccer,” she says, but as a professional artist, she knows her kids are also getting a lot of stimulation at home. Another mom who works full time outside the home says, “I judge my friends for having their elementary school kids in so many activities, but also worry that they’re judging me for not doing that.”

Even for parents who resist overscheduling, it can be hard to find a middle road, because sports and activities ramp up so quickly. Having a few fellow travelers helps. Cornwall explains how she and a small group of parents in her daughter’s third-grade class all opted out of the club sports route, keeping their kids in the less-intensive rec sports track. “There’s a group of kids in her grade who are all really athletic, and the parents have kept them out of club sports so they can do rec sports together,” she says. “And the kids who aren’t as good are also playing on the team; they haven’t been boxed out.” It also allows kids to try a bunch of sports, instead of focusing on one.

But club sports are businesses that need revenue year-round, so the push to specialize starts early. “When people pressure your child to specialize at a young age, they are in the money game,” says Scott Lancaster , co-author, along with Luis Fernando Llosa and Kim John Payne, of Beyond Winning: Smart Parenting in a Toxic Sports Environment . “They’re just out for your money. It’s not in the best interest of the athletes or the teams.” Not only do the practice schedules and repetitive drills that come with club sports often result in injury and burnout, these authors explain, but early specialization crowds out time for unstructured play and exposure to other sports, which build the kind of creativity, flexibility, and skills that are essential to becoming a good athlete. (Lancaster, Llosa and Payne also founded Whole Child Sports, whose mission is to raise awareness about the challenges in youth sports and offer parents and coaches solutions.)

Payne, who also wrote the book Simplicity Parenting , argues that if you can hold off on organized sports until age 11 or 12, it allows your child “that whole learning window for creativity, resilience, negotiation, the things they learn during unstructured play.” Starting competitive sports early can interrupt the social-emotional learning development that comes from play, he explains, and they don’t even pay off the way most families think they will. “For children who start competitive sports before age 13, the dropout rate is 70 percent,” says Lancaster.

That doesn’t mean kids shouldn’t touch a ball before middle school. Before his five children were in middle school, Llosa, his wife Mary, and other parents formed a loose group of seven or eight families who let their kids play sports together in Manhattan’s Central Park, with no formal coaching or supervision, “just a parent on a bench keeping an eye out.” While it was a little extra work on the front end, “it gave the kids the ability and opportunity to argue, to figure out how the games were going to work.” While I am loath to suggest more work for overburdened parents, Payne argues that this idea of a rotating neighborhood play group is a lot more time-efficient than schlepping kids to endless games and practices.

Perhaps this is the time to mention that I loved sports growing up, and played lots of them. I also loved singing, piano, and writing a novel in No. 2 pencil that borrowed heavily from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe . Learning to be on a team, exposure to the arts—these are great things for kids. The issue is with how early extracurriculars ramp up, crowding out the downtime needed for free play and creativity, and how quickly they are packaged as résumé-builders instead of messy, joyful exploration. One mother of two who lives in Westchester, New York, told me that while she likes the rigor, consistency, and physical outlet that travel sports provide for her kids, “they say creativity requires downtime to let your mind wander, and that has been in very short supply for years.”

But another challenge for parents these days is that technology has transformed that precious downtime. When my brother and I were home as kids, we were reading and making couch-pillow forts; we weren’t scrolling TikTok. Screens have basically killed the childhood art of puttering, and forced a starker calculus upon parents, who would rather have their kids in a structured activity than glued to their phones or iPads. “There’s a wave building up of parents who are prizing their children away from screens and sticking them right in sports,” says Payne. “But there’s middle ground there—scrimmages, sandlot games, other activities. I’m trying to encourage more parents not to go directly to competitive sports.”

There are other reasons it’s so hard to jump off the train once it starts moving. “I hate to say bragging rights matter,” the mom who lives in Westchester told me. “But the social status hierarchies of middle school are a real thing. As much as I want to pretend I don’t care, I know it means a lot to my kids to have the travel sports anointment.”

Leena Feeley, a junior who attends high school in San Francisco (and one of the daughters in Gail Cornwall’s blended family), also notes how important sports are at her school, saying how proud she was when she made varsity softball her sophomore year. “But I didn’t enjoy it anymore because I’d been playing essentially my whole life,” she says. “I was under the impression that I needed to keep playing for colleges, and that was the only thing keeping me there, until I thought, Why am I 16 and committing hours and hours to something I don’t enjoy? ” She quit this year and is now spending some of that freed up time writing, getting her homework done earlier, and focusing on a service club she leads at school.

It’s a brave choice, the kind I would hope colleges actually want to see. “You really do feel the pressure to specialize from college,” says Feeley. “There are kids who aren’t really applying as themselves, they’re just applying with what they’ve forced themselves to commit to. It’s not really who they are.”

I hope when it’s time for my kids to start applying to high school and college, I can remember this. Because while we are drowning in logistics like every other American family, compared to other parents I know, we aren’t even that busy! No travel athletes live in our house. My 9-year-old daughter flat-out told me after kindergarten that soccer cut too much into her leisure time, and my 11-year-old son quit after first grade, saying it was too competitive. Four years later, he’s dipping a toe back in with Little League, and enjoying it. We are parents on the outer rim of youth sports. And while there’s a cost to that—we aren’t part of the playdates and plans made on the sidelines; we don’t experience the camaraderie of a team—it’s made space for other things.

My kids play the ukulele and the drums. They make stop-motion movies with elaborate plots. They walk the dog. My daughter participates in a theater program run by a director who’s a cross between Greta Gerwig and a magician. Her plays roll crisply off the assembly line every few months and yet require only weekly rehearsals, not the four- or five-day-a-week commitments that are now common. And sure, sometimes the wizard forgets his lines, or the head of a dummy flies off during an action sequence, but the show goes on, all the more delightful for not being perfect and professionalized.

It’s sad, but as I was reporting this piece, I couldn’t help wondering if one of the reasons my daughter loves acting so much is because her theater program is a nonprofit. I know, after years of covering parenting and education, that I should not feel so surprised and angry that so much of the Age of Overscheduling is powered by naked economics, but I am. Parents want to do their best by their kids, and we have an entire cottage industry that’s profiting off of that, while leaving families who can’t afford travel sports or college consultants out in the cold.

But we do not have to buy in. We do not have to buy in! I understand that no parent wants to feel like they are choosing between their family’s well-being and the playoff games and dance recitals that have become the hallmarks of childhood in America, let alone their kid’s shot at a good college. But there are good schools, like Arizona State University, that have gone the other direction, accepting almost all applicants. And given the risk of burnout and anxiety that overscheduling brings, the formula that’s being relentlessly peddled to parents isn’t even, arguably, the formula that “works” to produce a thriving kid.

So I’m going to suggest a radical idea. Do what’s truly going to make your family happy. If that is competitive sports, like it is for many families I know, that is wonderful. If you are a family who wants to keep to the middle road of rec sports or sandlot games, fight for that as long as you can. And if your kid wants to sit home making houses for stuffed mice out of cardboard, that’s fantastic too. There’s a college essay in there somewhere.

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Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev

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Gagarin cup (khl) finals:  atlant moscow oblast vs. salavat yulaev ufa.

Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final.  While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut.  Just reaching the Finals is a testament to Atlant's disciplined style of play, as they had to knock off much more high profile teams from Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg to do so.  But while they did finish 8th in the league in points, they haven't seen the likes of Ufa, who finished 2nd. 

This series will be a challenge for the underdog, because unlike some of the other KHL teams, Ufa's top players are generally younger and in their prime.  Only Proshkin amongst regular blueliners is over 30, with the work being shared by Kirill Koltsov (28), Andrei Kuteikin (26), Miroslav Blatak (28), Maxim Kondratiev (28) and Dmitri Kalinin (30).  Oleg Tverdovsky hasn't played a lot in the playoffs to date.  Up front, while led by a fairly young top line (24-27), Ufa does have a lot of veterans in support roles:  Vyacheslav Kozlov , Viktor Kozlov , Vladimir Antipov, Sergei Zinovyev and Petr Schastlivy are all over 30.  In fact, the names of all their forwards are familiar to international and NHL fans:  Robert Nilsson , Alexander Svitov, Oleg Saprykin and Jakub Klepis round out the group, all former NHL players.

For Atlant, their veteran roster, with only one of their top six D under the age of 30 (and no top forwards under 30, either), this might be their one shot at a championship.  The team has never won either a Russian Superleague title or the Gagarin Cup, and for players like former NHLer Oleg Petrov, this is probably the last shot at the KHL's top prize.  The team got three extra days rest by winning their Conference Final in six games, and they probably needed to use it.  Atlant does have younger regulars on their roster, but they generally only play a few shifts per game, if that. 

The low event style of game for Atlant probably suits them well, but I don't know how they can manage to keep up against Ufa's speed, skill, and depth.  There is no advantage to be seen in goal, with Erik Ersberg and Konstantin Barulin posting almost identical numbers, and even in terms of recent playoff experience Ufa has them beat.  Luckily for Atlant, Ufa isn't that far away from the Moscow region, so travel shouldn't play a major role. 

I'm predicting that Ufa, winners of the last Superleague title back in 2008, will become the second team to win the Gagarin Cup, and will prevail in five games.  They have a seriously well built team that would honestly compete in the NHL.  They represent the potential of the league, while Atlant represents closer to the reality, as a team full of players who played themselves out of the NHL. 

• Atlant @ Ufa, Friday Apr 8 (3:00 PM CET/10:00 PM EST)
• Atlant @ Ufa, Sunday Apr 10 (1:00 PM CET/8:00 AM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Tuesday Apr 12 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Thursday Apr 14 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)

Games 5-7 are as yet unscheduled, but every second day is the KHL standard, so expect Game 5 to be on Saturday, like an early start. 

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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