TRIP REPORT: Did I mention I hate suitcases? There and Back Again

Did I mention I hate suitcases? Off to hunt for a replacement whilst on the road
There and Back Again

It’s a long-known fact that your writer hates suitcases, and prefers a decent rucksack instead. However, needs must, and it’s time to do one thing I didn’t want to do on a trip… replace a suitcase down route.

Sigh… 

In this adventure

• Let’s have a Melancholy Introduction
• To the 2:40 Coach and Heathrow Terminal 3
• Lounging in Terminal 3 with Cathay Pacific and American Airlines
• AA99 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare (Main Cabin)
• Into the USA and The Holiday Inn/Staybridge Suites, Rosemont 
• Airplane Art Extra from the Holiday Inn/Staybridge Suites, Rosemont
• Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Airplane Art Extra from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• An Unveiled Bean – Seeing Cloud Gate after works at the Plaza
• Did I mention I hate suitcases? The Hunt for a Replacement
• Exploring The Loop from Above with the Chicago L
• Random Food Adventures in Chicago 
• Off to O’Hare Terminal 3. Wait. T3? With the American Airlines Flagship Lounge
• BA296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow (World Traveller)
• Coffee and the Coach
• One step forward

In my dim and distant past – I had this thing for hating suitcases. Normally, because they’re defeated by one simple thing – stairs.  If you live in a country where transport systems aren’t designed for these sorts of things, you need to spend a lot of time hefting large items.

It’s not fun. Especially when the suitcase undoes itself on Marylebone underground station as you climb the steps.

However, I’ve got used to Spinner-Style suitcases over the past few years – mainly the ones I have taken a 100 ltr rucksack load – but also how I’ve travelled has changed, and I’ve learned to adapt how I pack and travel.

Also having 23Kg+ on your back isn’t that much fun these days. Shoulders get achy, and some of the bruises you get can be fun to explain…

That doesn’t prevent me from switching to a rucksack when I can. The smaller, the better sometimes.

So, as we all know at this point, the suitcase I flew out with is crapped out. The handle is gone, and the wheels also felt more than wobbly.

This is sub-optimal.

Whilst there are minimal points I need to wheel it around, it was getting embarrassing to walk crouched around. With the rest of the crap I carry, this suitcase wasn’t viable for the trip home.

Thus, I need a replacement suitcase, whilst downroute.

Wonderful.

And you can spend lots on a suitcase as we all well know.  Nonetheless, we’re on a budget here, but not too much of a budget that the wheel will crack the moment it hits something (see what happened to the black suitcase from Singapore. That’s been long disposed of).

Thus part of my Thursday in central Chicago was spent idly considering replacements – or if I was prepared to look more of a fool when going through the airport.

I could have stuck to the big-name brands here – and I did idly look at Macy’s, and Bloomingdales before heading to the “Rack”/Off-Season spaces – but still not finding anything that wasn’t going to hit my wallet hard.

Even Target was a little expensive.  And if you think I was heading to Primark in Central Chicago… God no (that and there’s a significant price mark-up on the suitcase compared to the UK).

Thankfully, another “rack” discounter has a branch in Central Chicago – Ross.

Now, I wish I could say I had a long list of requirements – but I wanted something with a traditional four-wheel layout (compared to the 8 wheels that crack off when you breathe on them).

The other thing for me was a soft-sided suitcase. Why? I’ve seen the dents hard-sided ones take – as well as the cracks when exposed to low temperatures. And if you’re going through Chicago with a hard-sided suitcase with a stress crack…. Well, do I need to spell it out?

Dear deity. Let the wars begin. 

I rooted around and saw a lot of off-brand ones, as well as some branded ones – including Tumi and Samsonite. With the Tumi slightly overpriced, the Samsonites were looking good at $95 a time + Tax. From there it was simply a matter of choosing a colour.

I went for a blueish one – mainly as black suitcases are too hard to distinguish (with AirTags being one of the few things you can use to find them).

Checking out, it came to a total of $104.73 including Chicago taxes or £80.74 through Curve. It was about £20 more expensive than a bigger Primark one, but I could hope this one lasts longer.

We’ll see on that front.

What about the old one? Well. It certainly wasn’t travelling back to the United Kingdom with me. I therefore wrote a note, put more than a few dollars on that note, and left it to the housekeeping team at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.

I apologised at checkout, but the agent didn’t seem to care.

I’m not proud, but there’s exactly nowhere else to bin the suitcase. Oh well.

As for how this suitcase performs – well, the handle extends, and it’s got a little dirty already – thanks to luggage loaders.

Although Emily the Squishmallow bat likes it for size already. 

Only time will tell if it survives 10 years.

It’s made the journey home. One thing at least.

Next:

Let’s explore The Loop from an elevated environment.

Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.

Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on BlueSky, Threads  Mastodon and Instagram!

Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.