I recently purchased the Travelers Club Chicago 20” Carry-On Spinner after reading some of the reviews for some weekend trips and quick getaways. Initially it sounded like it had a lot going for it: lightweight construction, stylish designs, smooth-rolling spinner wheels and compact size to fit overhead bins. I put it through its paces for a few short trips and this is the honest review, warts and all. For some categories, this little carry on really earns its money and outperforms expectations. For others, it very clearly shows its budget price point.
If you’re just looking for a new stylish and budget carry-on for domestic travel and quick trips, it might be a great value for your money. If you’re pounding the miles across rocky tarmac, your best bet might be to spend your money elsewhere.
Build & Materials: Lightweight Hardshell Without Heavy-Duty Protection
This carry on from Travelers Club is a hard polycarbonate/ABS case. It has a sleek look, particularly in fun colors like Thyme Green or Teal, and the textured material does a surprisingly good job of hiding smaller scuffs and scratches.
Travelers Club Chicago Carry-On Specs
- Material: polycarbonate shell with textured surface for scratch resistance
- Interior layout: Full divider panel with zipper, compression straps, and small zippered pocket
- Weight: 6 lbs 7 oz / 2.96kg
- Dimensions: 20” x 13.6” x 8.7” (WxHxD)
- Expands: Yes, via expandable zipper section on underside
- Wheels: 360 degree spinner wheels (double wheels)
- Handle: Telescoping handlebar
Right out of the box, the most notable feature is just how light it is to pick up and lift. Weighing in at about 6 pounds, it’s significantly lighter than a lot of comparable hardside carry-ons. You can also tell by holding it that the shell isn’t super thick either—it’s designed more for light carry-on travel than rough treatment by baggage handlers.
As long as you plan to primarily carry it on, you should avoid problems. But if you’re going to check this one often, expect it to develop a few scratches…and potentially some dents as well.
Interior & Packing: Thoughtful Layout for Weekenders and Short Trips
The Chicago’s interior layout is fairly well designed for short packing trips:
- Comes with a full divider panel with zipper to separate contents
- Compression straps included to compress clothing and hold in place
- Zippered pocket on divider panel for smaller items
- Packing Sample for 3–5 Days
- 2 pairs of jeans
- 4 t-shirts
- 1 pair of dress shoes
- Toiletries
- Chargers
- Light jacket
Side view of packed Travelers Club Chicago 20″ Carry-On Spinner
The Chicago holds its shape quite well when fully packed with clothing, shoes and other essentials. The interior material is a bit flimsy, but functionally fine. One surprise is that the internal handle rails take up minimal space, so you don’t have bulky bumps taking up room inside the suitcase.
The expandable zipper is a nice bonus when you return home with souvenirs or want a little extra packing space—but don’t go crazy packing to max capacity, as the case shell can flex only so much.
Rolling & Handling: Smooth on Smooth Floors; Less Comfortable on Rough Pavement
The Chicago has 360-degree spinner wheels that glide nicely on airports, hotels, and other smooth surfaces. I had zero problem smoothly rolling around a crowded airport terminal, and navigating tight turns at the front of an airplane aisle.
On rougher outdoor sidewalks or pavement, the smaller wheels started to struggle a bit. They’re not as cushioned as premium luggage wheels, so they don’t take much impact. Expect a lot of rattling if you plan on rolling this around outside on long journeys.
The telescopic handle also extends very smoothly and locks solidly in place. It’s not the beefiest telescoping handle out there, but during my testing it never collapsed or got stuck.
The top carry handle feels quite comfortable and has sufficient strength to grab and easily lift the suitcase into car trunks or overhead compartments.
Travelers’ Real-World Experiences: Mostly Good, Some Complaints
After shopping and reading a lot of customer reviews, I was curious about some of the real world performance issues that come up over the years with this luggage model. Here are some of the more positive and negative comments I found for this model:
Positive Experiences
- “Light, stylish, and compact to fit in overhead bins.”
- “Expandable section is nice for that extra bit of packing space.”
- “Good value for a carry on at this price.”
Negative or Mixed Experiences
- “Wheels not durable for heavy-duty rough use.”
- “Handle feels loose/jiggly after a few trips.”
- “Shell easily dents when checked often.”
Overall I saw a lot of happy users who were happy with its great price, stylish exterior, and compact size for light travelers or those in need of a carry-on for occasional trips. On the other hand, some travelers who used this hard-sided spinner like it was a premium $200+ suitcase were left disappointed after only a few trips with wheels or handle issues.
One piece of common feedback I read: if you mainly wheel this on smooth surfaces and hotel floors, carry it on and pack with some care, this case can perform quite well.
Security & Features: Basic TSA Standards
There’s no integrated TSA lock on the Travelers Club Chicago case, and while the zipper doesn’t feel cheap, it’s also nothing heavy-duty. For domestic travel or short trips where you’ll keep the bag near at all times, this is no problem. But for international travel or extended trips where you want TSA to access your bag without destroying the zipper, you might want to pack your own TSA lock.
A couple nice-to-have features I appreciated
- Expandable zipper for that little extra packing space
- Interior pocket for a little more organization
- Slim, stylish exterior that disguises scuffs and scratches well
Sizing Compliance: A True Carry-On Sized Suitcase
At 20 inches, this Chicago carry-on easily fit in overhead bins on all the major airlines (United, Delta, Southwest, Spirit). Even with the expandable zipper unzipped, it also stayed under the sizer height on check-in counters.
If you frequently fly on ultra-low cost airlines like Spirit, Frontier, or others, the Chicago can be your saving grace. Their strict personal item and carry-on sizing rules often require multiple flights of paying $10s for gate-check bags while the Chicago at this price will meet their guidelines.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Travelers Club Chicago | Rockland Melbourne 20″ | Samsonite Omni PC 20″ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Material | ABS | ABS | 100% Polycarbonate |
| Spinner Wheels | 360-degree | 360-degree | Oversized Spinner |
| Handle Quality | Decent | Basic | Excellent |
| Expansion Capability | Yes | No | Yes |
| Built-in Lock | No | No | TSA-Approved |
| Weight (Carry-On) | ~6 lbs | ~7.5 lbs | ~6.8 lbs |
| Price Range | $ | $ | $$$ |
Final Thoughts: A Great Choice for Light Travel, Treat Gently
If you need a budget-friendly and lightweight carry-on for shorter trips, this Chicago from Travelers Club is a good option to consider. It offers a stylish design, solid build at a low price, and nice features like expandable zipper and internal pockets.
Suitcase like this will hold up well for light use as long as you know its limits. For rough handling, heavy duty use, or frequently traveling with international flights, you might want to consider a more rugged brand like Samsonite or Briggs & Riley. But if you’re traveling on a budget and treat your bags gently? For under $50, it’s hard to beat this value.
Best Used By:
- Light packers
- Domestic travel and short trips
- Weekend travelers
- Light travelers and occasional flyers
- Travelers using discount airlines and ultra-low cost airlines
Least Ideal For:
- Heavy-duty travelers
- Heavy packers
- Frequent flyers
- International travelers
Overall Rating: 3.9 / 5
Perfect for packing light on weekend getaways. Enjoy its lightweight design and helpful interior features like compression straps. The suitcase’s expandable zipper and easy-access pockets will help make packing a breeze and travel day much more stress free.
Have you traveled with the Travelers Club Chicago carry-on? Leave a comment below with your feedback or questions – your tips could help other travelers decide whether it’s right for them!
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