Which hard-sided cabin case should I choose?
Which hard-sided cabin case should I choose?

Which hard-sided cabin case should I choose?

Looking for a hard-sided suitcase but not sure which to choose? We’ve summarised our three best-sellers—Clifton, Portobello and Lincoln. All three come in cabin, medium and large but here we’ve focused on the cabin size cases, calling out the main features of each.

THE CLIFTON CABIN

Since we launched it in September, this hard-sided suitcase has proved such a best seller that if we’re not out of stock in the colour you want, get it whilst you can because we’re already running a waiting list on several shades. As of early February, it’s just landed in two new contemporary colour-ways – sage green and cornflower blue - so shop now to get one before they’re gone, they’re selling like the hottest of cakes.

@brittanybathgate @wethepeoplestyle

Clifton has been papped with some of London’s biggest influencers from Brittany Bathgate to Jessie Bush, so it’s got the fashion pack’s stamp of approval. Its crisp, clean silhouette and horizontal lines make it a stylish addition to your wardrobe. And whilst we’re definitely not saying we’re a serious trend-setter, when we stepped out with it en route to a recent family gathering we got a lot of comments saying we must have gone up in the world. A chic, matte finish makes it our most modern, and most in-demand, of cases.

What size is it? It’s 55 x 40 x 20cm so it fits the cabin requirements for all the main national flight carriers, including Easyjet, and Ryanair if you pay for priority boarding.

Key features?

  • Made of Polycarbonate
  • Four 360° double spinner wheels
  • An in-built, TSA combination lock
  • Interior features – elastic compression packing straps, a D-zip pocket with one mesh pocket and one waterproof pocket and a side slip pocket
  • Two grab handles (on the top and side) and an in-built base grab handle
  • A twist-grip trolley handle to ease pressure on your wrist
  • An expander zip on the medium and large
  • 37 litre packing capacity
  • 10-year international warranty

Weight? It’s 2.8kg.

Want to compare the Clifton in large to another brand? Our friends over at T3 did the honours when journalist Jamie Carter road tested his large Clifton case on a recent ski trip. You can read his review here.

THE PORTOBELLO CABIN

What makes our Portobello hard-sided cabin case stand out from the crowd is the metallic flake in the fabrication–you could say it has a bit of a glint in its eye. But it’s not shouty, it’s subtle and definitely a smart addition to any of your travel attire. It comes in four colours (pewter, bronze, silver and cobalt) so if you’re looking for something slightly different but not over the top, our hard-sided Portobello cabin case is for you. This is a suitcase that you’ll notice on the luggage carousel.

@thisway_ @anisasojka

And it’s been spotted with some of style set – Niomi Smart packed hers full when she moved to India recently, whilst Julie Palleson is a fan and Anisa Sojka takes her pewter set on every trip.

What size is it? 56 x 35 x 23cm. This makes our Portobello hard-sided cabin case a slightly different size to the Clifton cabin - a little taller and a little slimmer, but it also fits the airline cabin requirements for the main national flag carriers and Easyjet, but it doesn’t quite fit Ryanair’s restrictions if you’ve paid for priority boarding.

Key features?

  • Made of Polypropylene
  • Four 360° double spinner wheels
  • An in-built, TSA combination lock
  • Interior features – elastic compression packing straps, a D-zip pocket with two mesh pockets and a side slip pocket
  • Two grab handles (on the top and side) and an in-built base grab handle
  • Expander zip on the medium and large
  • 40 litre packing capacity (so 3kg more than the Clifton cabin)
  • 10-year international warranty

Weight? 2.5kg, making little lighter than the Clifton by 300g.

THE LINCOLN CABIN

This is a fun and friendly cabin suitcase that comes in classic black and light grey. Extra design touches, like the pops of colour on the wheels and contrasting piping around the zips, give it a stylish finish. This hard-sided carry-on suitcase is an upgrade on an earlier suitcase design so you might recognise the silhouette, but we’ve built in new and improved features like extra internal pockets and a new expander zip on the medium and large.

@onnthego @emmahill

Who has hot footed it on holiday with this number? London style-setter Emma Hill is loyal to her case and has it in classic black.

What size is it? 55 x 40 x 20cm. So it’s the same size as the Clifton cabin and as such, fits the same airport cabin size requirements of all the main airlines and Ryanair priority boarding.

Key features?

  • Made of Polypropylene
  • Four 360° double spinner wheels
  • An in-built, TSA combination lock
  • Interior features – elastic compression packing straps, a D-zip pocket with two mesh pockets and a side slip pocket
  • Two grab handles (on the top and side) and an in-built base grab handle
  • Expander zip on the medium and large
  • 39 litre packing capacity (2kg more than the Clifton and 1kg less than Portobello)
  • 10-year international warranty

Weight? 2.5kg. The same weight as Portobello, and 300g lighter than Clifton.

In summary, if your priority is...

  • the lightest weight hard-sided cabin case, go for either Lincoln or Portobello
  • the biggest capacity cabin, choose Portobello
  • the best for fitting in the cabin requirements for most airlines, it's Clifton or Lincoln
  • the case with the most extra features, make it Clifton