‘I’m a travel expertt – I’ve found my new favourite hand luggage for British BA’

Having worked as a travel journalist for most of my career, I’ve had my fair share of hand luggage along the way (including carry-ons that have been brilliant and others where the wheels have fallen off) so I was excited to hear Antler had launched a new version of its signature sell-out Icon Suitcase which the brand claims is its “best cabin bag yet”.

The Icon Cabin with Pocket has all the features of the signature Icon Stripe suitcase but with the added benefit of a practical fully opening front pocket.

The pocket has been designed to offer a convenient place for on-the-go travellers, with enough space to safely store laptops up to 15.6”, tablets, and any other items you might need to retrieve quickly without needing to unzip the main suitcase. Yet despite the pocket offering more room to store quick-grab items, it doesn’t compromise the case’s interior capacity or add any additional bulk to your suitcase – perfect when navigating airline luggage allowance rules.

You may have already seen Antler being pulled through an airport terminal or touted online by social media influencers. The luxury British luggage brand is perhaps most recognisable from its renowned logo, two curved deer-like Antlers emblazoned on every item, as well as its signature colour palette including its namesake Antler green shade (which is the colourway we reviewed).

I put the Icon Cabin with Pocket to the test on a recent trip to Toronto with British Airways. Measuring 40 x 55 x 24 cm, the suitcase fits British Airways’ hand luggage requirements (56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm) meaning you won’t be faced with any additional fees or forced to check in your bag due to its size.

The bag also complies with Jet2 and Jet2holidays hand luggage allowance (56cm x 45cm x 25cm). However, it is just a little bit too big to be used onboard the likes of TUI (55 x 40 x 20 cm) which is a shame. For airlines with even tighter free hand luggage requirements, such as Ryanair ( 40 x 20 x 25 cm) and easyJet (45 x 36 x 20 cm), you may want to look for a smaller bag (unless you’re willing to pay for Priority or a large cabin bag).

Away from airlines, though, the lightweight and sleek design of the bag makes it perfect for weekend staycations or hopping on the train. In my opinion, you could pack for a three-day trip with ease (four or five days if you are a light packer) – the addition of the pocket is particularly handy for business travellers and those who like to pack everything to the brim.

If you need to grab your passport or remove your laptop at airport security, you need not unzip the entire suitcase, simply pop open the pocket to retrieve anything you need quickly. The pocket unzips at the front and opens at a 45-degree angle to reveal a taupe interior with two padded sleeves for a tablet and laptop, two smaller pouches, a mesh pocket and even a pen holder.

The main suitcase compartment fits up to 47L of packing space, and is complete with double-zip pockets for organisation and compression straps to help maximise your luggage allowance. For a frantic packer like myself, I found the internal compartments to be extremely helpful in keeping my suitcase organised.

Though the luggage is a hardshell, made from polycarbonate it is extremely light, weighing in at just 3.16kg, meaning it won’t trip the scales at the airport. That’s great news if you’re a chronic overpacker like me. It’s also ideal for speeding through train stations, zipping through airport terminals, hopping on and off buses and chucking into the boot of the car.

I know, because my journey to Toronto included hopping onto a London Overground train, an Underground, through a terminal, onto an aeroplane, back onto another train and then finally into the car. Even with another suitcase in tow, wheeling the carry-on was a breeze.

The “bespoke Silent Glide 360 spinner wheels” were also largely to thank. One of my favourite things about the Antler Icon Stripe Cabin Bag (and every other Antler suitcase I’ve used) is that there are four spinner wheels which ensure your bag seemingly glides from A to B. Perhaps the only niggle with the wheels is that, at times, they can be a little too smooth to roll which meant having to hold onto my luggage whilst on the train to avoid sliding down the carriage.

Like all of Antler’s luggage items, the suitcase features smooth, contoured edges creating a modern and sophisticated style. It also comes with a handy Antler-branded storage bag to keep the exterior in top condition while storing it between trips. Antler’s inclusion of a built-in TSA-Approved combination lock keeps your belongings safe while in transit, securing both the main luggage compartment and front pocket in one go.

And, to top it off, like all Antler luggage products, the cabin bag comes with a generous lifetime warranty.

The Antler Icon Stripe Cabin Bag retails for £220.00 and can be purchased on the Antler website. However, it’s worth noting that Antler often runs seasonal sales and deals (with Black Friday just around the corner it’s worth keeping an eye on the website for any offers).

Antler’s Icon Stripe Cabin Bag promises a stylish hand luggage item that can help you stay organised with minimal fuss while on the go. The size of the bag makes it the perfect option for business trips, staycations and short stays overseas.

It also makes a great airline hand luggage option for those heading on longer trips who want to keep gadgets and tablets safe while in transit – with lots of extra room for any essentials you want to keep in the cabin with you.

The only shame is that for some major European airlines, such as easyJet and Ryanair, the bag is a little bit too big as a free hand luggage item – though it does fit both airlines paid “large” or “Priority” hand luggage options. As well as looking good, the bag is also a smooth mover thanks to the 360-spinner wheels, traversing all terrain with ease.