Chester Carry-On Luggage Review

This Chester carry-on luggage review shows that this hardcase suitcase is the best carry-on because of its durability, size, and recessed lock.

*A big thank you to Chester! Although they provided us with this suitcase in exchange for a review, as always, all opinions are our own.*

Chester Carry-On Luggage Review

We’d only ever had softside suitcases so we were excited to try our new Chester Minima carry-on, especially once we saw that Chester is considered one of the best hardside luggage companies out there. We waited a bit to write our Chester luggage review because we wanted to thoroughly test it out and we can now say that after traveling with it for a few months straight, we really like it.

The first big test came when we flew to Honduras for a house sit. We then used it as we road tripped from Miami to Nashville and then to Denver. It has held up beautifully as we’ve continued traveling and house sitting around the country, so this suitcase has become a permanent member of our nomadic family.

Chester Carry-On Luggage Is Compact

The Minima’s measurements are 21.5” x 13.5” x 8.5″ making it the best cabin luggage because it fits perfectly in plane overhead compartments. Our old carry-on was a bit bigger so depending on the plane, it didn’t always fit. Plus, we believe in budget travel, so we always try to avoid checking bags to save some money.

Even with it’s compact size, however, we were able to fit a week’s worth of clothes. We were able to fit a bit more than Chester advertises thanks to rolling our clothes in packing cubes. But still, there’s more room inside than we expected. And, there are also zippered compartments to put additional things in.

Chester Carry-On Luggage Is Light

We really appreciate when a suitcase doesn’t weigh a lot, especially when we’re trying to put a lot in it and then have to heave it up into an overhead compartment. Luckily, the Chester Minima weighs only seven pounds, making it one of the lightest polycarbonate hard shell suitcases on the market.

And although it’s light, it’s still tough. Coming back from Honduras, we had some souvenirs that we were a bit concerned about. You always worry about your luggage getting tossed around, but when we opened up our Minima everything was safe and sound. We also like that the suitcase is waterproof.

Chester Carry-On Luggage Glides

The Chester Minima has 360° multi-directional double spinner wheels, which makes it glide silently. We didn’t exactly go off-roading with it, but some of the sidewalks in Honduras were pretty bumpy and we had no issues pulling it along. And, a couple of times while we were bored sitting at an airport gate waiting to board, we just spun it around. Because we could. LOL!

Chester Carry-On Luggage Extras

Our carry-on came with a couple of extras that we thought were very convenient. One of which was a laundry pouch that came tucked into a side pocket. The other was a recessed TSA-approved lock (it comes with easy to follow instructions to change the combination).

Chester Carry-On Luggage Guarantee

In case you’re not fully satisfied with your Chester luggage, they do offer a 100 day trial period as well as free returns. We seriously doubt you won’t love it though.

Final Thoughts On Chester Luggage

Overall we’re very happy with our new Chester luggage. We like that it comes in seven different colors, making it easier to distinguish between the hundreds of suitcases coming off of the baggage carousel. And of course, how lightweight and durable it is.

Our only complaint would be that it doesn’t have an easy to access outside pocket; we’re used to having that with softside suitcases. If you’re also traveling with a small bag or backpack, though, it’s not really a big deal.

Ready to purchase your Chester Minima Carry-On? We’ve partnered with Chester to give you an extra 10% of your purchase, just enter coupon code BUDDY10. We hope you enjoy your new carry-on!

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