Want to know the go-to in-cabin luggage option for the seasoned traveller? Our Co-Editor Naomi puts the new Antler Lightest Suitcase Soft Stripe 2.0 Cabin to the test on a recent trip to Scotland, travelling lightly and travelling in style.

*Antler Lightest Suitcase - Soft Stripe 2.0 Cabin*

Luggage: for many, it’s perfunctory; for others, a fashion statement; and for some, a high-performance tool. Specifically in the realm of the carry-on, it’s a fine art to balance weight distribution, ease of porterage, and packing space against tightly enforced airline parameters.

As someone with a collection of luggage sets for different purposes and nearly 20 years of daily suitcase use—as a freelance makeup artist and hairstylist, I like the anonymity of travel with commercial luggage rather than industry-standard train cases—I know the brands I like and, more importantly, those that are durable enough to endure real day-in, day-out use, rather than a couple of trips per year and, still, somehow returning with a cracked exterior, funky zip or missing wheel. By miles, Antler have been my longest-reigning cases.

Whilst to-the-gram weight is usually more of a direct concern for checked bags, we can’t deny we all want a case that's smooth to tote through the airport and easy to haul into an overhead locker. Plus, something that looks the part of a comfortable traveller doesn't go amiss. So how does Anter solve the equation?

On a recent two-night trip to Scotland, I knew a complementary small cabin bag wouldn’t cut it for the range of planned activities, yet a heavy hard-shell carry-on seemed overkill for a quick flight and city transfer. I decided to try the Antler Lightest Suitcase - Soft Stripe 2.0 Cabin, and spoiler alert: I was not disappointed.

Weighing in at just 1.9 kg, it’s one of the lightest soft-shell cabin bags on the market, perfect for brief getaways or keeping your overall luggage weight low, and the aesthetics are on point: the minimal design has sleek lines and comes in a range of neutral colours with complementary hardware tones.

What else does the design have to offer?

With four 360 spinner wheels, the glide is ultra-smooth; you can also use the back or side wheels to navigate tight spots, and the extra-long handle offers three height intervals for added comfort.

Plus, its super-lightweight frame is robust enough to provide a comfortable perch in long boarding queues.

A TSA-approved lock lets you send it to the hold securely if required, and a double reverse-coil zip and water-resistant recycled polyester outer add durability. When longer trips mean extra luggage to navigate, an integrated back sleeve makes multi-case movement effortless by letting you slip the case over the handle of a larger piece of luggage.

Icon Mini Crossbody Bag in Black

Despite its soft shell, a light layer of padding protects delicate items. A front pocket offers quick access to laptops, travel documents, and other airport essentials, while the interior includes a compression strap and two pockets to help organise its generous 32-litre capacity.

From gym kit to evening dresses, daytime outfits to swimwear, a pair of heels, a beauty journalist's undisclosed amount of skincare, bulky over-ear headphones, my laptop, and a book… It made packing light work, quite literally, all in one case and with space to spare for a couple of souvenirs. Overall, it was a delight to travel with.

Looking for something extra?

While I managed to fit two nights and multiple activities into one cabin case, I did omit a few items in my admittedly hasty repack on a quick rebound between trips. So, the Urban Light Overnight Bag in Black is my next intended baggage add-on.

*Luggage Tag and Luggage Strap in Coral*

A long strap offers hand-free transit, as does the back sleeve: at 20 cm depth, it’s streamlined to the Soft Stripe Cabin and adheres to the underseat airline measurements, maximising your free onboard baggage allowance with an extra 25 litres of packing capacity. With its minimal design, hidden pockets keep airport items safe yet available, and its colour range and materials tie in with the Soft Stripe range.

And, for when I don’t need a larger bag but don't want to spend a flight kicking a beloved or expensive handbag under the seat in front, the Icon Mini Crossbody Bag in Black fits the bill. Phone, passport, purse; water bottle, headphones, camera. All the little bits I want to grab but don't want to carry are safely stashed in six litres of capacity and chucked over a shoulder.

Do I need the Luggage Tag in Coral for a carry-on? No. Do I want it? Yes. Not least because I also have the Medium for longer trips, but its eye-catching colours (from Mustard Yellow to Cobalt Blue and Moorland Pink) make it easier to spot in an overhead locker or on the arrivals carousel. See the reasons above for my call for the Luggage Strap in Coral.

I might be a sucker for chic design and matching colourways, but I am also a sucker for uncomplicated and laissez-faire toting options. As a gal of many sunglasses, the Leather Sunglasses Case in Black calls to me too, if only just to stave off a few more years before I add glasses chains to the eyewear wardrobe.

My packing style had a revelation many years ago. Now I wax lyrical about Packing Cubes (in Coral - Set of 4) for easy, quick, detailed and compact packing. If you travel regularly, they make your life ever so easier; but if you don’t, and you stink at packing, they still do too.

To add a nifty design to this travel hack, a compression zip makes stacking essentials tightly an absolute breeze, in a satisfying range of colours to complement all Antler ranges.

Who are Antler?

Launched in 1914, Antler is a heritage British brand and a traveller favourite for over 110 years. And while some of their older travel companions might not meet the demands of modern-day journeys, they make wonderful decorative pieces—speaking from experience—for walk-in wardrobes.

Designed in Britain, their colourways draw on the landscapes around them, from the leafy countryside that inspired their iconic Antler Green, to the pinks and purples of the Yorkshire Moors, the ocean blue and pebble grey of the Cornish coastline, and the taupe of London's iconic Regency townhouses.

Over the years, they've learned what works in innovation and longevity, with a twelve-point testing system for handles, wheels, zips, and everything in between. If you want to watch a classic Clifton case tumble around in an extra-large drum, or be flung around by the handle or dragged over a treadmill of bricks by a robot, see here; it really is mesmerising.

Yet if anything goes awry, their lifetime warranty covers any faults outside of the usual wear and tear of travel. Just register your warranty within 28 days of purchase.

Looking for travel inspiration? Check out our most recent trips here…