If you’re a regular reader of The Travel Hack, you already know that I love luggage. Some women like shoes and handbags, but I love suitcases and travel bags. I love this feeling of having everything neatly organized in my suitcase.
For some time I had to buy a set of high-quality suitcases for my family. I used to have a more budget-friendly set, but after 10 years of use the handles started to break, so I relegated them to the attic and use them as storage containers.
I was sent a set of 3 Antler Clifton suitcases in exchange for an honest Antler luggage review.
Myself and my family have been using them all summer, so I thought it was time to tell you more about them!
I’ve used it on planes, trains, and road trips, so I’ve done a little bit of everything this summer, and I’ve really enjoyed using it.
Also, to be honest, I really like having matching suitcases. Not only will they stack up neatly when you get home, but they’ll look great as you glide through the airport together.
The main thing I like about these cases is that they are easy to push and pull. We travel regularly with her three children, ages 2, 5, and 7. Therefore, children bring a lot of luggage with them, but they are not yet old enough to carry a lot of things. This means my husband and I often travel through airports with 3-4 suitcases, a car seat, a stroller, and 5 luggage bags. To be honest, it feels like I’m moving every time I go on vacation!
Antler’s Clifton suitcases are very pushable, making it easy for one person to maneuver all three suitcases. You can put your suitcases back to back and move smoothly through the airport without any problems. This means that while one adult handles the luggage, a second adult can handle the car seat and the kids!
You may be wondering why we don’t use the trolley, but it’s a bit of a hassle when you’re in a hurry, it’s not always easy to find, and you often have to pay to use it. Therefore, I try to avoid using trolleys whenever possible and just carry my luggage.
Now, let’s explain this bag in a little more detail…
Antler Luggage Review
What are the Clifton suitcases made from?
Antler Clifton luggage is made from polycarbonate, making it lightweight yet durable.
How much do the Antler Clifton suitcases weigh?
small – 2.8kg
medium – 3.9kg
large – 5kg
What sizes are the suitcases?
S – 20 x 40 x 55cm
medium – 29 x 45 x 67cm
large – 34 x 51 x 80cm
What’s the capacity for each Antler Clifton suitcase?
Small – 37L
Medium – 75L (83L when expanded)
Large – 121L (132L when expanded)
Expandable zips
Oh yeah, let’s talk about the expandable zipper on the Antler luggage. It’s pure genius and perfect for when you accidentally overpack. It also maintains the suitcase’s sturdiness and quality even when expanded.
What colours do the Clifton suitcases come in?
I have the taupe color, but I also have the following colors:
- blush
- black
- navy
- mineral
- Sycamore
I love bright colors. I think taupe and blush are very stylish, but if you’re a frequent traveler and don’t want to spend too much time cleaning your case, I’d go for a darker color.
TSA combination lock
The Antler Clifton suitcase comes with a high quality TSA combination lock and a handy little booklet explaining how to use it.
Four-wheeled luggage
In my opinion, if you have a large and heavy suitcase, you definitely need four spinner wheels that easily twist in all directions.
With four wheels, it doesn’t have to support a lot of weight and can be easily pulled, pushed, and slid. The spinner wheels also allow you to easily squeeze through narrow gaps and move around crowded areas with ease.
A smooth push and pull
All Antler luggage has great wheels that make pulling and pushing the case very smooth and easy.
Easy handles
I also like that the handles are easy to pull out and the heights are the same, making it easy to hold multiple suitcases together.
Twist-grip handle
The twist grip handle is something I didn’t realize I needed until I had it in my hands. The handle rotates snugly in your hand, making it easy to pull the case. I can’t explain in detail what this does, but you’ll have to try it to understand!
Nice interior pockets and straps for organisation
I like the inside pocket. Especially waterproofing, which is something most suitcases don’t have.
Easy to stack and nest inside each other
And of course, these suitcases are big, so it’s very important to me that they can be nested inside each other for easy storage.
Do they get dirty?
I can’t write an Antler luggage review without mentioning this.
It is inevitable that your suitcase will get dirty. In hindsight, the taupe color of the Clifton suitcase probably wasn’t my best idea. I really like this stylish color, but he was starting to get dirty after just one flight.
A small amount of elbow grease and cleaning detergent can be used to wipe away any traces of dirt. Therefore, if I like bright colors, I would still choose bright colors. But if you’re like me and think life is too short to spend time cleaning suitcases, I’d go for dark colors!
I recently read that The Pink Stuff cleaning detergent is great for cleaning hard shell suitcases, so I decided to give it a try and update you!
Can the smallest Antler Clifton case be used as carry on luggage?
the minimum size of the Clifton case in this set is 20 x 40 x 55 cm, which is within the carry-on baggage allowance of most airlines.
Different airlines have different dimensions, so you will need to check the dimensions allowed by your airline.
However, this carry-on case is also allowed on Ryanair, which is notoriously difficult to fly!
What’s the Clifton Cabin suitcase like for hand luggage?
This is a beautiful, stylish and simple case, but personally I prefer a cabin case with pockets and easily accessible compartments.
Thankfully, there is a Clifton Cabin Case with pockets, so if you were going to buy the full set, you would 100% definitely buy that!
You may need to open the case and take something out, but since there are no pockets on the outside, you will have to open the entire suitcase, which can be messy and embarrassing along the way airport. There’s no easy-to-access laptop pocket or liquid pocket to access items in case of safety. At the security check, you have to open your entire suitcase.
Is it better to have hard luggage or soft luggage?
Choosing a hard shell or soft shell suitcase is completely a matter of personal preference. Hard luggage is easy to wipe down, provides a little protection for fragile items, and is water resistant. However, unlike soft luggage, it is more susceptible to scratches and dirt.
Soft luggage has some flexibility, so you can stuff a little more into the case. Soft cases are often cheap and lightweight.
Are there any other items in the set?
If you’re like me and love having a full set, check out the Clifton Mini, an adorable little case perfect for holding your toiletries. There’s also a Clifton vanity case that’s a little bigger and gorgeous.
There are also pieces that perfectly complete the set, like the taupe Chelsea backpack!
Packing for a cruise with a Clifton medium suitcase
How much do the Clifton suitcases by Antler cost?
The current price for my set of three taupe suitcases is £587. It’s not the cheapest, but for someone who travels regularly, it’s a good investment as I think you and your family will be using it for years to come.
Is there anywhere to keep your laptop?
If you get a Clifton cabin case with pockets, then yes, there is a laptop pocket!
But the one I have doesn’t have a laptop pocket.
When traveling with only a cabin case, it’s less of a problem since you also have a small handbag, backpack, laptop bag, or briefcase for all the personal items you want to take out during the flight.
That being said, even without a laptop pocket, you’ll have no problem putting your laptop in the Clifton Cabin Case. It’s a hard shell, so it’s well protected, and I put it in the middle of my suitcase between my clothes for some soft cushioning. If you need to take it out on a plane, it’s a pain to take it out because you have to open the entire suitcase.
Do you think the suitcases are durable?
that’s right. I think the durability is good, but dirt is noticeable. I’m confident it won’t break, but after 50 flights it will look very dirty if you choose a light colored case.
If you fly frequently, you’ll probably choose a black or navy blue case.
The zippers on these cases all feel very well made and sturdy. If you’ve ever had a suitcase explode, you know how important this is. We are very confident that these zippers will not break even if stretched.
Would you recommend the Clifton set of suitcases by Antler?
Yes, I 100% recommend this set. It’s strong, durable, stylish, and has pockets for convenient organization. It’s also easy to pull and one adult can easily move around the airport with all three of her suitcases.
What is not to love!?
However, we recommend purchasing a set that comes with a cabin case with pockets so that you can easily access your laptop, tablet, and other personal items while traveling.