Pete, this is what we're waiting for. I'll use it as my main, checked, bag on this trip and also use it for some of our cold-weather gear (it was -24F up there this morning, with a wind chill of -54F). We have, of course, rented the really heavy-duty stuff: parkas, boots, pants. Ain't cheap to rent, but the parka we rent costs USD 650.00 and we'd have to get it home/up there. Renting is lots cheaper, and we already have outerwear sufficient for where we live.

The alternative is to use our "great gray whale" duffle, which has backpack straps and no wheels. It's nice, but not for lugging through airports and onto buses and things.

Also, we have both sent to our friend Mary a box containing about 20 pounds each of our heavier cold gear -- and we'll ship them back before we fly home. This includes expedition weight base layers, balaclavas, gauntlet gloves, boots, and so forth.