Product Review: Antler Liquis Luggage

What Is it: The Antler Luggage Liquis lightweight hard-sided carry-on.

Price and Where to Buy: Starts at $169.97 on Amazon.com.

Pros: Hard-sided luggage has some definite advantages—it helps protect your belongings from being crushed or mangled, and it keeps them dry and safe from spills or rain. However, many hard-sided suitcases have the drawback of being too heavy. Not so with the Antler’s super lightweight Liquis carry-on, which weighs in at just 4.4 lbs.

The four-wheeled design of the Liquis is great—the bag can be rolled in any direction (including from side-to-side), and won’t tip over when standing up, no matter how lopsidedly you packed it.

The Liquis, with its polycarbonate shell and water resistant zippers will protect whatever you’ve packed from everything from overzealous baggage handlers to unexpected rainstorms, to thieves (the suitcase has a built in TSA-approved combination lock which is more secure than a removable lock).

This suitcase is full of nice touches—it comes with a small nylon sack that clips on to the interior for easy organization, there’s a zippered compartment, the handle is soft and ergonomically designed, and it comes with a 10 year warranty.

Cons:

The Liquis costs around $280, which is expensive for a carry-on, although that is in the mid-range for a lightweight, hard-sided carry-on.

Also, as a chronic over-packer, I found that a hard-sided suitcase has the disadvantage of not being able to expand and holds slightly less than a soft-sided suitcase of the same size.

How it Rates:

• Usefulness: 9/10. This bag keeps your belongings safe and dry without adding extra weight.
• Portability: 9/10. At just 4.4 lbs and with patented four wheels, this bag is a breeze to take on the road.
• Value: 8/10. The Liquis is a pricey bag, but still a decent value for a lightweight, hard-sided carry-on.
• Durability: 10/10. The hard-sided shell stands up to a lot of abuse.
• Cool Factor: 10/10. The Liquis looks great with its wavy exterior design (available in navy, red, and chocolate.)

Final Verdict: If you’re in the market for a hard-sided carry-on, the Liquis is worth checking out.

Editor’s Note: Reviews are based on usefulness, portability, durability, value, and “cool factor.” Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. If you have any questions or comments concerning our reviews, or would like to suggest a product for review, please email us at editor@smartertravel.com.

(Photo Credit: Antler Luggage)