Tested: I Put a Century-Old British Luggage Brand Through Its Paces in the Landscape That Inspired It

Photo: Antler

Antler was founded in Birmingham, England in 1914 by John Boultbee Brooks, the same man behind Brooks England saddles, and spent the better part of a century outfitting British travelers before most American frequent flyers had ever heard of it. It went into administration during the pandemic, came back under new ownership with a lifetime warranty and a flagship store in New York’s SoHo, and is now making a serious play for the American market.

A century of luggage-making is a compelling pitch, so I tested out three bags: the Icon Stripe Carry-On with Expander ($275) in Antler Green, a hard-shell spinner with a section that unzips to give you extra space — the Discovery 45L Backpack ($240) in Dark Forest Green, a handy overnighter and day pack that opens like a suitcase — and the Icon Slingbag ($70) in Sand, a 6L crossbody that works as a practical everyday handbag.

Photo: James Gavin

In rural Scotland there’s a running joke about the person who drives a spotless Land Rover, wears a shiny Barbour and wellies that have never seen muck. The kit looks the part, but it’s never had to graft. Opening the Antler boxes, I’ll admit that’s where my mind went.

The boxes arrived stamped with “Born in Britain, 1914,” a not-so-subtle reminder that this is a heritage brand. Each bag came in its own dust cover, the carry-on in a soft white cotton drawstring bag with black ribbon ties, the backpack in a fitted grey ripstop sleeve, the slingbag in a matching grey pouch, all with the understated (and very British) antler icon.

Pulling out the carry-on in its deep matte green shell, it immediately felt too posh for my muddy life. The question was whether they would stay that way after a few rounds with Scotland’s terrain and weather.

Photo: James Gavin

The Icon Stripe Carry-On is a hard-shell spinner that falls within most airline carry-on limits at 21.7 x 14.2 x 9.1 inches and just over six pounds. The expander adds 5cm of extra depth when you need it. For a three-day Highland trip with jeans, a jumper, waterproofs, and boots in the bag, that extra room was welcome and there was no need to force the zip.

Of course I wanted to take the wheels for a spin straightaway. On Fort William station platform they rolled along without any fuss. On cobblestones and gravel you feel every bump, but this terrain is unforgiving on any wheeled bag. I’ve lost luggage to cobbles before. This model feels sturdy though, and if you tilt it slightly it glides a little better.

Photo: James Gavin

The carry-on has its limits though. The matte green shell picks up pale scuff marks fast on most things it comes into contact with from car boots to stone steps. I found most of it wipes off easily, but you do notice them. There’s also no exterior pocket, which I know will frustrate me at airport security when I want to get my laptop out without unpacking the entire case. Lastly, the only interior quirk worth knowing is that the handle rails push into one side of the packing space. I learned to put clothes on the flat side and shoes on the rail side, or everything creases.

What it gets right outweighs what it doesn’t. The TSA lock is positioned higher on the case than you might expect, which means you can open it while the bag is still upright in a security queue rather than setting it flat on the ground. The handles are rubberised and well-balanced, which are useful when you have a heavy case and need to store it in overhead bins and train racks. And at $275 with a lifetime warranty, I don’t think it’s overpriced. It feels like a suit of armour, and for a bag I’m going to drag through airports and train stations, the security of a lifetime warranty is reassuring.

Photo: James Gavin

The Discovery 45L Backpack was my favorite of the three and the one I’ll get the most use out of for getaways. It’s also the most interesting for the brand, marking Antler’s first foray into outdoor travel. It opens like a suitcase, which makes packing straightforward, and at 45L it has room for a few days’ worth of clothing and equipment.

I recently took it on a day hike along the West Highland Way, one of Scotland’s most celebrated long-distance walking routes, between Bridge of Orchy and Kingshouse. With just the day essentials it was comfortable. Where you feel the limitations is when you’re carrying everything you need for several days. As there’s no hip belt or load lifters, so after a full day on the move it starts to dig into your shoulders. Though in fairness to Antler, it’s billed as a travel backpack, not a hiking pack. For station platforms, ferry queues, and short walks between stops it’s excellent. The suitcase-style opening is genuinely useful at the start and end of a day and in light rain the fabric holds up (although in a proper west coast downpour you’d want to hang around without cover).

Photo: James Gavin

The Icon Slingbag in Sand is the one I’d change if I were ordering again. A darker color would have been more practical, such as the Dark Khaki option. I’m not one to sit still, and I find myself trying to protect it when brushing past wet branches or climbing over damp fences. Since it arrived though, it’s become my practical handbag. At 6L it holds more than you’d expect — phone, AirPods, a beanie, lead, snacks, a Kindle, and a battery pack all fit without the bag bulging too much. The two-way zip means you can open it from either end which is handy on a packed train when you need your ticket without taking the whole bag off. It also works as well in the pub as on the trail, which for me is essential. The one limitation is weight. I’m never without my Yeti Rambler and when you add a water bottle it pulls at the shoulder. But at this size that’s the trade-off, and I’m quite used to carrying the bottle or relying on my roomy jacket pockets.

So can they handle the terrain and weather of the UK? Ask me again in a few years. They still need more miles on them. But the early signs are good. The carry-on has held up on cobblestones, the backpack is the perfect weekender, and the slingbag hasn’t left my side since it arrived. They’re also genuinely well-made. The materials have a softer hand-feel than most travel gear, the colors have real depth to them, and the small details — rope zip pulls, toned-down trims, a satin finish on the shell — are simply gorgeous and suit my style to a tee. These bags look like they belong in the Scottish countryside but they’ll turn heads in the city too.