A suitcase that costs £795 has a lot to prove. Carl Friedrik's new aluminium check-in — the full-sized sibling to the brand's cabin case launched earlier this year — went through two long-haul flights, an overnight train and a six-hour coach ride across Vietnam in the hands of a Condé Nast Traveller UK reviewer. The verdict: it emerged almost unblemished, even after more than 12 hours in the cargo hold to Hanoi.
The case leans into old-school glamour. Aluminium, the same material aircraft are made from, recalls a more stylish era of flying, and the ridged shell with vegetable-tanned Italian leather handles looks the part in any terminal. Instead of a zip, there's a reinforced aluminium frame sealed by two heavy-duty latches with TSA-approved combination locks — so the classic problem of a busted zip or a case bursting open mid-flight disappears entirely.
Practical details hold up well. Japanese Hinomoto 360-degree spinner wheels glide quietly over both polished concourses and rough pavements, and the telescopic handle locks firmly without wobble, even when the case is stuffed full. Inside, the 76-litre capacity comfortably swallowed a week of clothes, shoes and wash kit, helped by compression straps and a removable compression pad. Dimensions are 68 x 46 x 29cm and it weighs 6.4kg.
There are trade-offs. Aluminium is heavier than the polycarbonate used in Carl Friedrik's cheaper Hybrid range, which costs £250 less. The rigid frame offers no give, so squeezing in hiking boots, a spare raincoat and end-of-trip souvenirs meant a genuinely difficult wrestling match to get the clasps to close. And while the shell proved impressively scuff-resistant on this trip, aluminium cases are traditionally prone to dings — something fans see as character, but worth considering at this price.
Who is it for? Frequent flyers who want a single suitcase for life: it comes with a lifetime warranty, which reframes the price as a long-term buy rather than a splurge. If you're an habitual overpacker or planning a two-week winter trip, the 76-litre limit and heavy latches may frustrate — the reviewer suggests the brand's Hybrid Check-In as a lighter, cheaper alternative. But for a week-long trip with a bit of style attached, it's a strong contender, and it matches the brand's aluminium carry-on if you want a full set.
