Horizn Studios M5 Smart Cabin Case | Review

It may seem strange to be purchasing and writing about a travel accessory when so much of the world has been out of bounds this year. 

And yet 2020’s global lockdown has made me realise just how much I’ve been missing out on. 

From family holidays like last year’s adventure in Tuscany, big trips like going to China and small business jaunts to places like Belfast where you get to discover a little about another city, travel always brings you something new. 

As a vaccination programme begins to slowly roll out, I’m hoping that by next spring, travel of all kinds will be back on the menu. 

It’s my 2021 goal to go on a couple of getaways with my family, and as my job usually involves a little bit of travel too, a suitcase upgrade wasn’t a completely random idea.

Now, it’s time to confess I am somewhat of a packing addict. I actually love packing to go on a trip. Something about the anticipation, the planning, and the search for the perfect edit appeals to me. 

I’m the sort of sad individual that watches packing porn videos for fun and gets a kick out of making lists. This is the tragedy that my life has become.

So I took full advantage of the Black Friday sales this year and ordered a couple of the cabin sized carry on suitcases from Horizn Studios - one as a gift for my husband, and one just for me.

This is the M5 33L Smart Cabin bag in the ‘Blue Vega’ colourway, purchased from Selfridges - and it couldn’t be chicer!

For anything up to a week, I only take a cabin bag. I like to travel light and I enjoy the practical advantage of not having any checked baggage. Over time, I’ve learned to be pretty selective with the items I pack and how I pack them. 

There are various tricks to it - like sticking to a colour palette, following the 5-4-3-2-1 packing rule and limiting the amount of shoes you take. But if it means I don’t have to be stuck hanging around the airport for any longer than I need to, I’ll do it.

The Model M5 is a compact, hard shell cabin trolley bag with the useful addition of an external pocket - something most hard sided cases don’t have. 

This provides easy access to electronics (it’s big enough to hold a 15 inch laptop) and also your bag of liquids, so that you can remove it quickly at security points without having to open up your whole suitcase. 

There is also an integrated combination lock for better security, plus a removable power bank, to keep your gadgets fully charged up when you’re on the go - especially important in these days of mobile boarding passes. 

The suitcase is well equipped, sturdy and beautiful - certainly an upgrade on what I had before. The case costs £340 at full price, but Black Friday week brought huge savings - I paid £155 for it, and the same for the identical case in a deep olive colourway for my husband.

I did a lot of research into which carry on to buy, and Horizn Studios really stood out to me. 

The company launched as Europe’s first direct-to-consumer travel brand, providing ‘smart luggage for urban nomads’. Away seems to be another popular brand in this space at the moment, but for me Horizn Studios just seemed a little higher quality. 

The M5 is made from a mix of aerospace-grade polycarbonate and premium water resistant nylon for the front pocket. This makes it tough, durable and impossibly chic.

I’ve always had a black suitcase in the past, and although it’s practical, it does make it harder to instantly spot your case, so I decided to go for a splash of colour this time. 

‘Vega Blue’ is the most beautiful, soft, powder blue shade that stands out without screaming about it. It immediately reminded me of clear skies on holiday. 

The case has some great features, including a one-click removable smart powerbank (cabin approved by all airlines), high-end 360 spinner wheels for smooth gliding through the terminal, an inbuilt compression pad to help you pack and an integrated laundry bag.

The front pocket can be opened quickly with a zip, and has side panels so it tilts open without falling all the way. Inside, there are a number of smaller mesh compartments to allow you to keep things organised. This front pocket is ideal for anything you want to have quick access to during the flight or need to take out at a security point.

Inside, one half of the case has a mesh closure front with a zip and the other has the compression pad that you adjust with two straps with leather fittings embossed with Horizn Studios. 

A small zipped compartment to the side also holds a pull out laundry bag, so that you can easily chuck dirty clothes straight into the washing machine when you get home from your travels. 

There’s a TSA-approved combination lock integrated into the case to keep things secure, while the 10,000 mAh pop-out powerbank lives between the trolleys retractable handle. It’s spring-loaded and easily slides out. 

There’s a USB-C and a standard USB outlet as well as a charge indicator light at the too. The powerbank comes with a 2 year warranty, while the case itself has a 5 year guarantee.

The construction and design of this case are super high-quality and that makes it a pleasure to use. If you’re in the market for a new suitcase I would definitely recommend considering Horizn Studios for their level of aesthetic and their functionality.

Here’s to getting back to our travels safely next year!