I have two years of travel to make up for, so it’s time to invest in luggage! Here’s my review of Horizn Studios’ M5 cabin luggage.
Overall review: If packing the maximum amount of clothes is of most importance and you don’t need a front laptop compartment, I recommend looking at other alternatives. If you’re looking for a stylish, well made rolling suitcase with enough space for 2 days worth of clothes and a front laptop pocket, I can highly recommend the Horizn Studios M5.
I’ll admit, I’ve always skimped out on luggage. But no matter how careful I am, I can’t protect my cheap suitcase forever. The Horizn Studio M5 (£385) is the first suitcase I’ve owned that has four wheels (I know, I’m a dinosaur) and that’s not made of a cheaper material like nylon.
Arriving on free standard delivery and opening the box, I can already see why it pays to invest in luggage that will hopefully last many holidays and trips in years to come!
Outside of the M5
Shell
The polycarbonate shell means the whole suitcase only weighs 3.4kg (because no one wants to wheel around something heavy).
Polycarbonate is heavier than polycarbonate, but that also makes it a stronger material for luggage (which is what I was looking for). It it more flexible than cheaper hard shell cases though, so it’s less likely to crack. After two years, the outside has held out pretty well with minimal scratches. The handle has become a little loose and flexible when extended fully, which can affect rolling the suitcase.
The M5 also comes with a dust protector to help keep it in good condition and a luggage tag.
And no more misplacing locks as a TSA approved locks comes built in.
Testing The Wheels
As I mentioned, this is the first time I’ve had luggage with four spinners (I envied and enjoyed wheeling my partner’s four wheel suitcase!). It may seem like a small thing, but take it coming from someone who has been tilting and making do with two static wheels on a suitcase – it really makes wheeling the suitcase so much easier.
Should anything go wrong and break, all Horizn Studios luggage comes with 5-year warranty which covers material defects, including cracks or breakages in the polycarbonate shell, broken wheels, defective handles/telescopic handles and zippers.
The wheels are larger and spaced further apart than the Level8, making it feel more stable when rolling. The rubber wheels make rolling extra quiet too.
Easy Access Front Pocket
I love the front pocket for storing my laptop. It’s far easier to reach for it when it comes to security. No more fumbling around opening the main part of your suitcase revealing my boxer shorts! There are multiple pockets for other essentials too (which was a surprise bonus as this feature isn’t shown on their webpage). The front pocket is water resistant too (I travel back home to Scotland often so this gives me piece of mind).
This front pocket doors eat up some space in the main compartment however as it has a non flexible back (meaning your laptop won’t get crushed at least). While the front pocket is useful for easy access to belongings like laptops and keeps small items organised, it does not have a lock. See my list of best carry on luggage with front laptop compartments if you do need a lockable front pocket.
Inside the M5
The M5 has a 33L capacity which is pretty standard for cabin bags. The back of the front pocket is solid, which reduces the space inside one half of the suitcase. This means it’s enough for a folded pair of jeans or sweatshirt depth wise. If you don’t have any use for a front pocket and need maximum space inside, if recommend looking at alternative cabin suitcases.
The other half also experiences issues with space as the poles for the handles eat into the storage. Again, this is less than ideal and can make packing awkward. I find rolling clothes and filling gaps with underwear and socks gets around this problem to some extent. I’ve also found using travel vacuum pack bags I can pack four days worth of travel (although this comes with cons of creased clothes).
Having two mesh screens inside helps not only keep things separate, but helps ensure I don’t have to dig to far to find what I want too (I’m used to luggage with the zip at the front and not in the middle, effectively one large compartment).
Sustainable & Eco-Friendly
Sustainability and eco-friendliness is something I’m increasingly concerned with. Horizn Studios is the first luggage brand to receive the PETA-Approved Vegan certification.
The polycarbonate hard shell which is made from partially recycled material. The front pocket is made of Vegan Hi-Core and nylon while the lining is recycled polyester. All other details are 100% vegan too.
Horizn Studios will release a new range of luggage named Circle One later this year which is 100% plant-based and biodegradable.
Customisation
Lastly, the M5 has many customisations you can make, everything from the wheel caps to the handle so it’s truly unique to you. There are also 15 colours to choose from as standard (I chose Night Blue). You can even monogram it if you like which makes it a great gift for the traveller in your life.
There is also a ‘smart’ version of the M5 (£70 extra) which features One-click removable smart charger (cabin approved for all airlines), a compression pad (so you can pack more and it keeps your shirt wrinkle free and a laundry bag.
Didn’t find what you were looking for? See the rest of our best luggage buying guides
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