The Stealth Carry on

We're always trying to optimize the way we travel in as few, easy-to-carry items as possible so we can breeze through check-in and onto the plane and effortlessly arrive at our destination. It never actually works out like that (especially with a little one in tow) but we can always keep trying :)

When we first decided to really invest in some travel gear, Rimowa was an obvious first choice. We had always gazed enviously at those aluminum wheeled cases that seemed to glide so easily through every airport and that looked even more interesting with all their little dings and dents that they made you wonder about the exotic locations the bag had traveled to. And when we realized those iconic aluminum cases also came in black (appropriately named the "stealth" version) we were in.

When you're ready to invest in one of these cases it can be a little intimidating trying to choose what size. We started with 2 x 22-inch cases that are designed to fit in overhead bins since we're always trying to fly without checking luggage.

They aren't necessarily the most perfect luggage of all time... the interior organizer feels a little old school--I prefer the ones with an interior zip--and I just imagine that the luggage handlers see these bags as a challenge and toss them as high and far as possible based on the dings and scratches that come back. But we still love their general sturdiness and the idea that they should last decades not just years or even months before ending up in a landfill.