In August 2019, I was asked about a partnership with Chester Travels. Chester Travels is a new company that manufactures luggage and is located in New York City.

I was asked to try a piece of luggage and write a review and possibly join their affiliate program.

My first thought was, “I have a few pieces of luggage and I really don’t need another one.” BUT, then I thought, “I should help this company and what perfect timing” With a trip to Jamaica coming up I would be able to test the suitcase right away. I agreed to try the “Minima Carry-On Spinner Suitcase”. I even had my choice of color. I chose pink.

MY REVIEW:

The Minima Carry-On Suitcase arrived from Amazon on September 11, 2019, only 3 days after I sent my reply email.

Inside the Amazon box was a box marked “Chester” with the suitcase in it. The suitcase was in a thin cloth bag. The bag can be used to protect the suitcase from scratches and dirt when not in use.

Hard Shell

The hard polycarbonate shell is very durable, lightweight, waterproof, and prevents overpacking.

My soft sided carry-on suitcase was always bulging and wouldn’t fit in the airplane overhead compartment easily. Most times I ended up having to check my luggage.

I am not very careful when packing the car or rolling my suitcase around and this suitcase survived some hard bumps during transport to and from the car and also while walking at the airport.

*NOTE – This carry-on does not have an expandable zipper.

The suitcase comes with an identification tag and a built-in TSA-compliant combination lock that is easily programmable. You can learn how to set your combination here.

Zipper

The chain zipper is made of durable nylon and is easy to open and close.

Retractable Handle

The retractable handle is sturdy, has three positions, and slides very smoothly.

Spinner Wheels

The Minima Carry-On is equipped with four quiet 360﮿ degree spinner wheels making it very easy to pull or push in hotel lobbies, on sidewalks, in airports, and in airplane aisles.

Weight

The empty weight of this suitcase is seven pounds.

When packed, the weight was twenty-two pounds. We flew via Delta Airlines to Jamaica whose weight limit for carry-on luggage is twenty-five pounds.

Interior

The inside of the carry-on has two compartments. The right side compartment has a zipped compartment on the front of the panel. The left side compartment has two smaller zipped compartments on the front of its panel making it easy to keep smaller items organized.

It also comes with a matching nylon laundry bag.

Size

The dimensions of this carry-on are 21.5” x 13.5” x 8.5” including the wheels.

I was able to pack everything I needed for my 7 day trip to Jamaica, including toiletries, two pairs of sandals, my scuba dive logbook, GoPro floatable telescopic handle, and dive mask case.

How I Used the Minima Carry-On

I have used this carry-on two times since receiving it.

1. The first was traveling on the road. The suitcase was stored inside my truck cab and I had more than enough room for the rest of my travel needs.
2. The second was by plane to Jamaica. It fits nicely in the overhead compartment with ease, rolled through the airport and airplane aisle very smoothly, and was very easy to lift.

This carry-on suitcase fit nicely in the hotel closets also.

Storage

I store my carry-on in my double-wide bedroom closet.

Perfect Size for Me

I prefer the carry-on size of a suitcase because I do not like to check luggage when flying. Having a carry-on makes the time spent at an airport minimal giving me more time to enjoy my destination.

The Company – Chester Travels

Chester Travels sells directly to the customer through its website. This helps to keep the cost of their products lower than other manufacturers.

As of this post, Chester Travels has the carry-on and a medium-sized piece that can be checked at the airport. Both pieces come in six different colors. The large checked piece will be available by the end of 2019 according to the company.

Shipping

Chester Travels will ship everywhere within the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. They do not ship to PO’s or APO’s.

Shipping and return costs are covered by Chester Travels. Can you believe that?

They ship via UPS one day after your order is placed. It only takes 2 business days for you to receive your order after it is shipped.

You can set up an account on their website when you order. This makes it easy to track any orders. You can also track your order through their order tracking page.

Warranty

Chester Travels products come with a 10-year limited warranty. The warranty covers any damage to the shell, wheels, handles, zippers, or anything else that functionally impairs the luggage.

Chester Travels will replace or fix any damaged or broken pieces. You can read more about the warranty here.

100-Day Trail Period

They also have a 100-day trial period (if you purchase directly from their website). If you are not completely satisfied with the product you can return it with no questions asked and best of all, no cost to you. Returns are free.

*NOTE: Some retailers that sell Chester Travel products only offer a 30-day trial/return period.

If you email Chester Travels with a complaint about a 30-day trial, they will try to accommodate a longer trial period, no promises though.

Recommendation

I highly recommend the Minima Carry-On Suitcase by Chester Travels. The quality is excellent, it is lightweight, rolls smoothly and quietly, and the size is just right for those who like to travel light.

To Order Luggage

This link will take you to the Chester Travels website where you can purchase luggage for yourself. Use code 10AF and save 10%. I will earn a commission on your purchase from Chester Travels. This commission helps me keep this site up and running.