The Perfect Suitcase
What makes a perfect suitcase? It’s a trick question, because everyone’s answer is different. If you have a suitcase you love and it serves you well while traveling: surprise! You already have the perfect suitcase.
There are many perfect suitcases, but this one is mine and parting is such sweet sorrow at the check-in counter. 90% of the time I hand-carry, but some regional airlines have strict policies—especially on small aircraft like the turboprop plane I was about to board.
Sadly, my suitcase isn’t available for purchase anymore but was originally a collab between Calpak and celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin and it was a steal at $188 final sale before it was discontinued. If you work at Calpak and you’re reading this: please please please bring it back. 😂 Here’s what I would buy today to cover with stickers all over again!
You can click to see the Amazon listings, but you’ll notice the main features I look for (after waaay too much research and field testing) are:
hard shell — keeps the water out, no fabric for dirt or critters to latch onto, and most importantly a surface suitable for stickering! Stickers are the new tattoos.
black — it’s just my color, substitute your own color here. Many of the links I shared have multiple colors available.
zipperless — it’s the fancy way to say that it closes with latches and it’s only way for it to be 100% waterproof. A simple ball point pen is the only technology needed to break into a bag with a zipper. I did include one zipper option that’s easy on the eyes and the budget, but maybe save up for one with latches!
handle — I’m a sucker for a lay flat handle on the side. I don’t know why I like it so much, but it’s the best., especially when you have to hand-carry up a flight of stairs.
Now I know you’re wondering: but what’s the top-of-the-line? If I win the lottery what should I buy? What bag should I dream about? Ok, I gotchu.
My husband’s suitcase is a Rimowa. It gets used even more than mine since he travels for work.
Rimowa (pronounced rim-oh-vuh) has been making luggage since 1898. Dantan has the Original Cabin. It was months of anguish before he pulled the trigger on the purchase, but ultimately this is a heritage piece that will outlive us. He was lucky to make the purchase before the price increase.
Nerd out with me and click to watch this video about Rimowa’s history. Visit the Rimowa store in NYC to see a suitcase that LITERALLY SURVIVED A PLANE CRASH. 🤯
Okay, so now you want a Rimowa and I deeply apologize, but I have a solution! Look for a used one on the secondary market. In fact, some people believe that the suitcases were best when all manufacturing for Rimowa was in Germany or before they were bought by LVMH, so maybe vintage is the way to go.
My cousins used to do this with Tervis tumblers, L.L. Bean gear, and other companies with lifetime warranties. If there was anything broken on their thrift store find, they would send it in to be fixed and sometimes score a brand new item in return. Now you have something to look for on your next trip to Goodwill! (Which, by the way, has NOTHING to do with Mark Cuban. How are we not talking about this?!)
The first trip with my suitcase was Egypt in May of 2022, since then lots of traveling and adding stickers. It’s a fun and easy souvenir to look for, but I admit many of my stickers are designed by me, rep a company I like, or just made me smile. I have stories about each of them! Maybe one day I can offer some of my stickers for sale. I got my Seven Wonders sticker here and custom name decal here (look for the product called ‘vinyl lettering’).
You can do it! You can pack COO (carry-on only). Not feeling it? Okay, I’ll try again in a different blog post.