Travel-Friendly Spinning Wheels: Which SpinOlution Models Work Best for Flying or Packing?

wool and spinning

Oct 19

As a longtime SpinOlution dealer, one of the most common questions I get is from spinners who want to travel with their wheels—especially to spinning retreats or even on airplanes. And like most things in fiber arts and entrepreneurship, if I’ve had to look up the same answer five times, it probably deserves its own blog post or video.

Find your perfect travel yarn spinning wheel !

Airline policies are constantly shifting, and they vary widely depending on the carrier. So while I can’t speak for every airline (and SpinOlution, of course, doesn’t offer official guarantees when it comes to travel compatibility), I wanted to share the most up-to-date information I’ve recently researched for a customer—based on current airline guidelines and the official folded dimensions listed on the SpinOlution website.

For fiber artists on the go, bringing your spinning wheel along might sound like a logistical nightmare—but with SpinOlution’s lineup, it’s surprisingly doable. Whether you’re flying to a spinning workshop, road-tripping to a retreat, or just want a creative outlet on vacation, this guide breaks down which wheels travel best—and how to make it work.

First, Know Your Limits: Airline Carry-On Size

Most U.S. airlines allow carry-on luggage up to 22” x 14” x 9”.

Some are more generous (like Southwest, which allows up to 24” x 16” x 10”).

Anything larger typically must be checked or shipped separately.

International airlines tend to be stricter—on both size and weight.

The Bee Wheels: Best Travel Combo of Function + Portability

All three “Bee” wheels—Worker Bee, King Bee, and Queen Bee—fold down to the same compact size:

Folded Dimensions: 12” height × 19” width × 9” depth
Weight: 13–14 lbs
Carry-On Friendly? Often yes, depending on the airline

These models are nearly identical in size, but serve very different spinning purposes:

Queen Bee

Lace-weight & fine yarns

4 oz

View Queen Bee

King Bee

Balanced all-purpose spinning

8 oz

View King Bee

Worker Bee

Bulky/art yarn and texture play

16 oz

View Worker Bee

Why Choose a Bee Wheel for Travel?

If you’re attending a spinning workshop, retreat, or fiber event, these wheels give you the most fertility in your craft—meaning, the most flexibility and control over your yarn output. You can spin lace, bulky, or mid-range yarns using the same compact wheel frame.

The Pollywog: Lightweight Spinning for Vacation Mode

Dimensions: 20.75” height × 15” width × 9” depth
Weight: 8.5 lbs
Carry-On Friendly? No, but checkable
View Pollywog

Ideal For:

Spinners who want something lightweight, simple, and joyful to bring on a trip. If you’re vacationing and just want to bring spinning with you to relax—not to experiment with yarn weights or production speed—this is your match.

Pro tip: If you remove the flyer head and wrap components in padding, you can likely pack this in a checked suitcase.

The Firefly: Electric & Modular = Plug & Spin Anywhere

Height: 12”
Weight: 13 lbs
Carry-On Friendly? Not likely, but suitcase-packable
View Firefly

Ideal For:

Spinners who prefer treadle-free spinning or have physical needs that make electric spinning more accessible. The Firefly is modular and, like the Pollywog, can be packed down and padded for travel if the flyer head is removed.

This one travels well—but it’s best packed in checked baggage, not carried on.

Can I Ship a Wheel to a Hotel or Airbnb?

Yes. This is an option as well you would just want to make sure that your wheel was securely packaged by professionals at Fedex or UPS . You could then sace the packaging to send it back home when you left.