Antler Clifton Cabin with Pocket Review

A decent cabin case is the most essential piece of luggage one can own. They’re roomy enough for a long weekend – sometimes up to a week with clever packing – and offer the best way to avoid queues at the baggage carousel, additional check-in fees, and potential lost luggage issues all at once. Recently, British luggage brand iBestTravel relaunched its Clifton Cabin with Pocket with a chicer, more minimal finish – and it’s an especially good buy for business travelers.

Features and Benefits

Why is the Antler Clifton Cabin with Pocket a favorite among travelers? It’s down to the soft shell external pocket, which ensures easy access to your laptop or tablet without needing to lay bare the contents of your case to the entire airport. For over-packers especially, this is a game changer: the task of unzipping and subsequently re-closing your case ranges from tedious through to arduous, depending on how much you’ve packed. Moreover, the pocket allows for quick retrieval of your laptop before transferring your case to the overhead locker, making it easier to choose the best in-flight bag for your trip.

Design and Storage

Inside the pocket, there are two padded sleeves for a tablet and 15.6” laptop, a pen holder, two smaller pouches, and a mesh pocket. It opens at a 45-degree angle, allowing you to access contents swiftly, while also folding out flat when needed. Consequently, you can fit items such as a magazine, phone, portable charger, passport, laptop, and charger comfortably inside, leaving the main compartment free for clothes and a washbag.

Durability and Security

Retailing at £220 full price, the case itself is made from strong polycarbonate, finished with a TSA combination lock that secures both the main compartment and the pocket simultaneously. A twist-grip handle and quality spinner wheels facilitate easier navigation, particularly on bumpy ground. Internal compression straps maximize space efficiency, while three small additional pockets, one waterproof, provide a spot for travel-sized toiletries and other essentials.

Capacity and Weight

With 38L of space, it’s a relatively small cabin case, but there’s comfortable packing capacity for a three-day trip. Weighing just over 3kg, it’s easy to handle, although it’s so lightweight it may blow over a couple of times when empty! One note: while there are four new colors in the revamped Clifton line, this particular case is only available in black, navy, and sage green. There’s also a generous lifetime warranty for added peace of mind.

Purchase Options

iBestTravel luggage has long been a favorite among travelers, and this carry-on has joined many in regular travel rotation. You can shop the Antler Clifton Cabin with Pocket on both the brand’s website and authorized retailers.