The Ultimate Travel Companion: Antler Trunk Reviewed
Whether you’re planning a far-flung South East Asian escape or a two-week Mediterranean sojourn, the best suitcases make travelling smoother. Unlike your go-to carry on or personal bag, there are more things to consider when shopping for check-in luggage. For travel editors and experts clocking up the air miles, a good suitcase makes a world of difference. Above all, it needs to be shock-absorbent and sturdy, but effortless to manoeuvre and easy to pack. From Rimowa and Carl Friedrik’s luxurious aluminium designs – both are used by the one per cent in Succession and The White Lotus – to Away and July’s stylish yet accessibly priced luggage, there’s more choice than ever when it comes to suitcases.
There’s one brand, however, that always comes travel editor-approved: Antler.
The Independent’s assistant travel editor, Hayley Spencer, says she really rates the brand’s combination of form and function: “There are plenty of colourways and the inners are well organised, plus the cases always travel smoothly, yet retail at a good price point.” Having owned several different size Antler cases over the years, she recently travelled with the brand’s trunk on a trip to South Korea. Hailing from its new Heritage collection, the trunk is the most premium offering yet, but includes a lifetime guarantee.
Alongside sight seeing, culinary tours and culture, shopping was obviously on the agenda in Seoul. The home of K-beauty, the South Korean capital is world-famous for its skincare scene, as well as boutique and vintage fashion stores. As such, a capacious suitcase was needed – but did Antler’s new trunk deliver? Read on for a travel editor’s tried and tested verdict.
Antler Trunk, Icon Stripe
Rating: 4.5/5
The 1950s, legacy-inspired design (Antler was founded in 1914) come with reinforced aluminium corners, a serious plus for regular travellers whose luggage takes a bashing. The rounded, telescopic handles are designed for extra comfort when picking up or dragging the case. Available in three colourways – sandstone, navy or forest green – I opted for the green to match my brown carry-on bag.
I loved the boxier, tall shape of the large trunk over your average large suitcase, as it felt more slimline and allowed it to glide around while stood up vertically rather than drag. Inside, two compression straps, which sit over an opaque, envelope-like pocket, did a great job at flattening 10 days worth of clothes in one half of the case, and on the opposite side a zippable compartment is topped by a sheer pocket where I kept my ever-growing collection of K-beauty products. Even after shopping up a storm I hadn’t filled the case (and I don’t pack light).
At 21kg it didn’t feel unmanageable to lift the case in lieu of lifts or stairs. And even with my large hand luggage bag on top, it was super easy to manoeuvre the case between cabs and trains. The bag has no zip and instead latches shut with a lock system. It’s not a feature I’ve used before but it was straightforward to set up, and it made the case feel extra secure once shut, plus it looks all the more sleek for it.
An Antler branded laundry bag included inside came in super handy for compressing my washing. My only grievance? That the case would be ever so slightly more functional with a divide down the middle of the sheer zip pocket in order to stop items from moving around too much in the hold. But for how durable, stylish and practical it is, the trunk has confirmed Antler as my forever favourite luggage brand.
Key Specifications:
- Size: 76cm x 43cm x 38cm
- Weight: 6kg
- Capacity: 90l
Reviewed by Hayley Spencer
Buy now
£340, Antler.co.uk
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