Years ago back in Chicago I needed to check out of my hotel and walk to my worksite (last day of the trip, fly home that afternoon). Overnight it snowed faily heavily, and I checkout before any serious shoveling and plowing had occurred, meaning my rollaboard went through and over snow, ice, and probably salt.

The wheels were never the same.

After that trip I could feel the wheels struggling to roll, as if something (salt? dirt?) had gotten into the bearings and was interfering with the rolling mechanism.

That bag eventually got tossed. I am currently using a $40 Delsey Helium from TJ Maxx. Been fine for the past 6 years of constant travel, mainly as a carryon, but been checked several times and survived. I now have a client in Pittsburgh, and once a week when I check out I roll my bag several blocks from the hotel to the job site. With winter approaching I am anticipating the snow scenario...

So are there any bags out their whose wheels are impervious to any external penetration? No road salt, no snow, no water? I won't be impressed by a bag just because it's expensive or just because it has a long warranty! I need proof that the wheels are manufactured to handle and resist snowy, salty conditions. I expect to have to drag the bag over and through snow drifts, through icy water, and through piles of dirty, road-salty snow.

Any bags out there up to the challenge?