I was in search of a good-looking and durable carry-on suitcase within airline carry-on size limits for my long-haul flight from Boston to Los Angeles. That’s when the CHESTER Minima, a stylish, hard-shell suitcase, saved the day. Now, I can’t imagine traveling with it. Read my Chester luggage review, below.
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CONTENTS: In this article, you will discover
- Chester Minima Color Options
- What is a “spinner” suitcase (and why it’s better than traditional wheeled luggage)?
- Whether the Chester Minima Meets Airline Carry On Sizes
- How much the Chester Minima weighs?
- Is the Chester suitcase durable?
- What security features does it have?
- What does the inside of a Chester look like?
- Is it easy to keep this suitcase looking clean?
- What other suitcases does Chester Travels offer?
- Is the Chester Minima worth the price?
- What if I don’t like my Chester suitcase?
- Conclusion
- Additional Resources
Chester Luggage Review
Here are 11 Reasons I love my adorable carry-on.
Reason #11: The Chester is Pretty
Southern California stops on my itinerary—Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Catalina Island—are more fashion-forward than the New England back roads I often travel.
Whether you want to color coordinate your luggage with your travel outfit (who does that?) or prefer your luggage in a versatile neutral shade, Chester has you covered.
I was delighted to find the Chester Minima Carry-On Spinner Suitcase is available in seven (7) fashionable colors:
- Black
- Charcoal Grey
- Aluminum Grey
- Pink
- Ocean Blue
- Sky Blue
- Sand
Its simple lines offer a tasteful, timeless appeal.
I went with the Sky Blue, which matches the beachy vibe of Enjoy Travel Life and the carefree California lifestyle. That made it easy to look picture-perfect, stepping off the plane with my Chester.
Reason #10: The Chester Minima Rolls Like a Dream
The Chester Minima is called a “spinner” suitcase rather than a traditional wheeled suitcase. That’s because of the four (4) double spinner wheels that rotate 360° in any direction.
Simply, they “spin.”
These wheels allow the Chester Minima to glide over just about any surface with quiet ease. No more dragging a reluctant suitcase. Instead, you can roll the Chester Minima along effortlessly beside you.
In addition, the ergonomic handle is 100% aluminum and extends easily, locking in place at two heights. The adjustable handle makes it comfortable to maneuver through the airport (or anywhere) even for me, at 5’3” tall.
With the handle extended, there’s plenty of space to rest a personal item before you board. That might be a laptop bag, big purse, briefcase, or beach bag.
Reason #9: The Chester Meets Airline Baggage Guidelines
Airline regulations for carry on sizes may vary within an inch or two. The standard domestic carry-on luggage size is 22” x 14” x 9”. This measurement must include the handle and the wheels.
Measuring 21.5” x 13.5” x 8.5″, the Chester Minima is a compact solution that meets TSA and IATA cabin baggage guidelines. You won’t have to worry about unexpected baggage charges on your bargain flight because your carry on isn’t the right size.
Reason #8: The Chester is Lightweight
How much does The Chester Minima Carry-On Spinner Suitcase weigh? It’s a mere 7 pounds (3.2 kg)! To put that in perspective, most 15-inch (38-cm) laptops weigh about 5 pounds (2.3 kg).
The Chester is one of the lightest hard-shell cases you can buy.
This light weight is key to launching your carry on into the airplane overhead compartment.
Of course, you’ll have to account for what you packed. Getting the Chester carry-on suitcase into the overhead is made all the easier by a side and top handles (especially for a weakling like me).
Should you check your Chester Minima, the handles also make it easy to grab at the baggage claim carousel. The unique color doesn’t hurt, either.
Reason #7: The Chester is Durable
I’m tough on my traveling companions—at least speaking of luggage. The itinerary for this 10-day California trip was ambitious, to say the last. I moved from place to place, literally living out of my suitcase.
The Chester needed to withstand rough transitions. It went from the airport terminals, to the airplane overhead compartment, to the shuttle bus. Then, my Chester went into a rental car and finally tossed into one hotel room after another.
Despite these transitions, the Chester Minima fared well!
The suitcase is made of polycarbonate hard shell, the most durable hard-side luggage plastic available. The outer shell has enough flexibility to pack it to the max. And the sleek shell is water-resistant.
Two heavy-duty zippers glide smoothly, secure closure at the top of the suitcase.
The four double spinner wheels are well-positioned to distribute the weight and made with thick, heavy plastic to withstand a lot of traffic.
In fact, when my return flight sought passengers to check carry on luggage, I gladly surrendered my Chester. It had already proven to me it was up to the task.
Reason #6: The Chester Carry-On is Secure
Not only is durability a key consideration when considering luggage, but so is security.
Each of my accommodations had excellent security, but I never worried because I knew my Chester Minima had my back. That’s because it has 3 security features:
- Personalized Combination Lock
- TSA Security Lock
- Luggage Tag
It’s equipped with a 3-digit Personalized Combination Lock that spins where the zippers meet. The first time you open the TSA lock, the combination is “0-0-0.” Follow the directions that come with the luggage to set the combination lock to your personal security code.
It also has a TSA Security Lock, eliminating the need to fumble with TSA padlocks and tiny keys at Customs.
Finally, a leather Luggage Tag conceals my personal contact information from sight. Yet, it’s easy to retrieve should I get inadvertently separated from my suitcase.
With these security features, I didn’t think twice about or leaving my locked Chester luggage behind. That included leaving it in my hotel room while I was off for the day and checking it altogether.
Reason #5. The Chester Minima Keeps Me Organized
The Chester Minima Carry-On Spinner Suitcase holds 38-liters. That’s a lot of space considering it’s so compact. It’s big enough for three- or four-days packing, more if you pack light.
Case in point: I spent 8-days in California with only my Chester and a beach bag. I also take it with me on weekend road trips.
Interior features of the Chester Minima suitcase include:
- Two (2) large, zippered sections
- Three (3) smaller zippered pouches
- One (1) zippered nylon laundry pouch
The suitcase opens like a clamshell to reveal two zippered sections. A tasteful gray striped fabric that zips encloses each side. This makes it easy to open the suitcase without everything falling out.
It also helps keeps everything organized.
I practically lived out of my Chester on my trip to the Los Angeles area. That made the smaller pouches very convenient.
On one side you’ll find the two semi-transparent zippered pouches. On the other side is a long zippered pouch.
These built-in sections and pouches really help keep me organized, not to mention quieting my inner critic who has OCD tendencies. I could separate shoes and outerwear from daywear.
I didn’t need to bring an extra pouch for toiletries or a drawstring bag for delicates. In effect, they were built-in to the suitcase.
In addition, you’ll find a matching nylon zippered laundry bag to keep laundry separate and contained.
Finally, Chester’s distinguished brand marks the fabric over the center spine. A nice touch.
Reason #4: The Chester Minima is Easy to Clean
The Chester spinner suitcase arrives in a branded box and with an apron over it to keep it dust and scratch-free. It makes such an amazing first impression. It almost looks too good to use!
But, it’s easy to keep this stylish suitcase looking its best. The hard exterior is easy to wipe clean and has a textured surface to keep from scuffing.
Plus, there’s no fabric for tiny critters to hide in. (Ew!) The outside finish hides scuff marks.
Reason #3: The Chester Minima has a Companion Piece
If you’re looking for the same great features but a little bigger, you can also get the medium checked luggage, It’s called the Chester Regula Checked Spinner Suitcase.
Sized at 11” x 18” x 26″, the Chester Regula would be perfect for checked luggage. It’s available in two colors:
- Charcoal Grey
- Sky Blue
Reason #2: The Chester Minima offers High Value
You can get definitely get a more economical, albeit cheesy, carry-on suitcase at a discount store that might only set you back under $100 USD. It will probably last a year or two and won’t take half the beating.
And, I’ve seen a popular comparable hard side carry on luggage listed as high as $400 USD. Honestly, that’s more than I’m willing to shell out for a piece of luggage this size.
That makes the Chester Minima the perfect compromise. It provides all the value and quality you’d expect to find in the popular competition at about half the price.***
You’re getting a lot of value for the investment.
***For a limited time, Enjoy Travel Life readers get 10% OFF THE CHESTER MINIMA!
Just use code 10AF at check-out.
Reason #1: The Chester Guarantees Satisfaction
You can buy The Chester Minima Carry-On Spinner Suitcase with a 100-day trial when you purchase through the website.
If you don’t love it, send it back. No questions asked.
Orders ship UPS Ground 1 business day after you place your order. It takes about 2 business days after that to arrive at your door.
But don’t worry. This is no “ring and run” affair.
Chester offers a 10-year warranty on handles, wheels, zippers, and any crack in the hard shell. They even cover the shipping costs.
Conclusion
The Chester Minima Carry-On Spinner Suitcase is a luggage piece that works hard, looks great, and based on my evaluation, is worth every penny.
But don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’re going to love it.
Related: How To Get Airline Compensation For Delayed Baggage, Lost Luggage
Additional Resources
Chester Travels
Find out more about this awesome suitcase.
(Don’t forget to use code 10AF for 10% OFF.)
This article is part of a sponsored collaboration and has affiliate links.
Special thanks to Chester Travels Luggage for providing me with the Chester Minima Carry-On Spinner Suitcase for the purposes of this Chester Luggage Review. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
For more information, please see the following Disclosure.
Big fan of this luggage I’ve got 2 one for me and one for hubs love it. We can fit in 3 weeks worth of “stuff” and don’t feel overwhelmed with huge pieces of luggage.
Isn’t it amazing?! I feel the same way.
I too recently invested in a light weight, hard-shell cabin suitcase! It does save the day, esp. with budget airlines with all its weight restrictions!
Double spinner wheel and 360 deg rotation is definitely necessary. Good to know that the handle is ergonomic as well. TSA security locks is definitely a much needed feature these days!
Agreed!
It is definitely a good looking bag. And the whole wheels thing with 360 degrees makes it convenient as a lightweight cabin carrier. They sure have thought through the safety features too. This works especially in Asian countries. I wonder if they are available in this part of the world. Might want to consider buying one
It really is great for navigating through airports and tight spaces. As of right now, Chester ships everywhere in the US including Alaska and Hawaii and they offer two-day shipping. Perhaps on your next visit stateside, you could swap it out!
Chester Minima looks and sounds like a good piece of luggage. The only thing that I look nowadays in suitcases is its durability. Because the airlines have been gracious enough to ruin two of my suitcases! Chester looks durable enough. The size and capacity are great too. It will be perfect for a week’s trip. Would love to check about this luggage more.
Sorry to hear about your suitcases, Amrita! I seldom check bags any more… This one is small enough to tuck away overhead or possibly even underfoot. The Chester Minima did very well as a checked piece on my transcontinental trip to Los Angeles from Boston (and back) so I wouldn’t hesitate to check it again. Although, I love it so much…I may not!
I’m always thinking about my luggage. I travel almost-full time and am still trying to figure out the perfect luggage system. I’ve been wanting to get a different carry on for awhile now. The Chester Minima might work for me! Meeting airline requirements is a huge factor for me of course. I also really like that it is light and durable. I can always use the extra weight I save for extra items inside 🙂
That’s my thinking too: a little more weight available to bring home a few extra mementos from my latest trip! 😉
I am always watching for luggage recommendations. We travel enough that luggage takes quite a beating. We buy at least one new piece every year. Easy rolling may be at the top of my list. I tend to pack heavy and need a suitcase that rolls easily and on 4 wheels. Side handles are a great benefit when your bag is heavy! Will look at the Chester bag next time we need a new one.
This piece glides like it’s on ice-skates. I personally have trouble with wrist pain–so persnickety wheels are not an option! I was thrilled to find the Chester rolls like a dream. Glad to hear you’ll check it out!
The wheels of my suitcase broke half way through my last trip, that wasn’t fun. I need to shop for a new bag and wasn’t on top of it before Christmas. I like that this has a hard shell and double spinner wheels. So important for it to be durable in cases of mandatory checking, so many of my hard-shells suitcase crack during transport. The TSA lock is a bonus for sure. Thanks for the recommendation
Oh man! Sorry to hear about your other suitcase. I really like this one. Very durable and the TSA ready lock is so handy.
What a cute piece of luggage! It looks like the perfect piece of carry-on luggage. I love that it has the built in lock. I always misplace my luggage locks and then spend far too much looking for them so having a built-in lock is perfect for me!
Yes, I love the combination lock! You can easily change the passcode at any time, too. No keys to keep track of…yay!
I haven’t heard of this brand before. I use osprey for my checked and a decathalon/quechua bag for my carry on. I will look into this!
I find the Chester Minima perfect for both carryon and checked luggage. If you’re looking for something bigger, they have companion pieces too!
This is quite an in-depth review and covered everything and I mean everything. To be honest, I am actually looking for new hand luggage for myself and the wife for flights and the Chester Minima seems to fit the bill. Looks like it can carry all the stuff we need plus the dimensions are great but what gets me is how lightweight it is. We do a lot of carry-on only flights in Europe so we have to watch our weight with some airlines only giving us 7kg and the most would be 10kg so with the luggage weighing that amount, this is really ideal. have made a note of this and who knows…might be buying it very shortly.
I can’t say enough good things about this suitcase! It really is super-lightweight so it might be the perfect fit for your European travels. Enjoy!