Tried & Tested

Luggage review: Antler Prism

28 Nov 2016 by Marisa Cannon
Antler PRISM TEAL EMBOSSED 4W B1 Cabin_M1

The Prism range is one of the newer hard-shell cases to come from Antler, available in seven colours (burgundy, charcoal, pink, yellow, teal, orange and purple) and in an embossed version if you prefer the extra detail. The case is made from durable Makrolon polycarbonate and feels sturdy enough to take a bashing in the hold but also lightweight (2.2kg) enough to easily handle in and out of overhead compartments.

The case’s geometric design didn’t look that attractive on the website – the glossy shell is embedded with thin, tetris-like grooves – but in the flesh, it looks smart and the ridges give the case a three dimensionality that helps it stand out from others. The shape is also different – the case’s corners are flattened so it takes on a more hexagonal form, a design feature that looks like it would absorb shock too.

The Prism comes in three sizes; cabin-size, medium and large. I tried out the cabin-size case in teal, which, because of its slightly squashed shape, looked larger than other cabin cases, however the dimensions (55x40x20cm) do meet the requirements of many airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.

Inside, there are two main compartments of the same size – the top compartment contains a pouch with a zipper around the edge, while the bottom is open with elasticated straps that connect together in the middle. On closer inspection, I found a third zip along the central lining of the top pouch which offers more room to pack items (you’d want these to be less fragile), within the actual shell of the bag.

It also has four 360-degree rotating wheels, allowing it to glide easily along smooth surfaces – although these didn’t work in my favour when, searching for my front door keys, I parked the bag on a slight gradient only for it to career down by my front steps and into the road. This gave it a few scratches on the front, but nothing too drastic.

I found I could pack comfortably for a three-night trip (with winter clothes), however with only one zip around the outer shell, there was no give so be prepared to pack economically. The double-tube, retractable handle is another robust feature that never jarred no matter how many times I locked and released it at its two heights. It also has TSA-approved locks.

Verdict

An attractive, solid bag that feels well made and reliable.

Price: £129

Weight: 2.2kg

Volume: 34 litres

Specs: 55 x 40 x 20cms

antler.com

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