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Our Verdict
We found the Horizn Studios H5 suitcase to be an exceptional travel companion. It is durable, functional, beautiful, and well-designed, making it an ideal choice for any traveler. But more than that, thanks to its unique combination of features and hip, contemporary design that blends seamlessly into any setting, we think it’s the best international carry-on luggage.
| Size | 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 inches (55 x 40 x 20 cm) |
| Weight | 6.8 Lbs (3.1 kg) |
| Volume | 36 L |
| Materials | German Polycarbonate (partially recycled) |
| Warranty | Lifetime Manufacturer’s Guarantee |
A few words about Horizn Studios
Founded in 2015 in Berlin, Horizn Studios is Europe’s first direct-to-consumer luggage brand, creating premium, innovative products for the modern traveler. They pioneered the world’s first suitcase with a detachable smart charger and have collaborated with renowned designers and brands, such as BMW, Beats by Dr. Dre, NASA, and private member’s club Soho House, to create unique and stylish luggage options.
Beyond innovation and style, the company places a premium on sustainability, utilizing eco-friendly materials and ethical manufacturing practices to minimize their environmental impact. In 2021, they launched the Circle One, a 100% plant-based and biodegradable luxury luggage line, further demonstrating their dedication to eco-conscious travel.
I’ve been using Horizn Studios products for years now, including the H7 and M5 suitcases, a couple of SoFo backpacks, and the stylish and very practical SoFo Weekender. I love most of their stuff, but it’s the polycarbonate suitcases that truly stand out as their forte. They’re lightweight, well-designed, and among the smartest hardside luggage you can get your hands on these days.
Style
The H5 is among the most stylish polycarbonate cabin luggage on the market. It’s modern, minimal, and has a clean polished look that instantly elevates your airport outfit. The brand’s attention to detail is evident in every aspect, from the well-crafted outer shell to the flawless stitching inside. The branding is tastefully restrained, embossed into the grab handles, further elevating the bag’s aesthetic appeal. The suitcase is available in two versions: Essential and Smart. They look identical and have a common set of features, with the main difference being the removable smart charger on the H5 Smart.
There are currently 12 beautiful colors – in both matte and glossy finishes – to choose from, which is more than enough to suit any traveler’s taste or style. I opted for matte black (something I almost never do) because it looks particularly sharp and makes the beautiful minimalist design pop, even though I know from experience that scratches are more likely to be visible on darker colors.
As an added bonus, the interior perfectly matches the outside, seamlessly continuing the color across the zippers, lining, and mesh pockets. On top of that, Horizn Studios lets you design your own unique H5 cabin luggage by choosing the color of the shell, handle, and wheel caps, and even adding a 3-letter monogram on the luggage tag.
Materials
One of Horizn Studios’ biggest aces is its choice of materials; the H5 is crafted from a unique blend of premium German Polycarbonate and recycled polycarbonate, ensuring the case is stylish and sustainable without compromising on durability. This material is impact-resistant, more flexible than aluminum, and protects your belongings from rain. It’s also easy to clean, which is a big plus for me. Despite its resilience, it’s refreshingly lightweight, which makes the suitcase easy to lift and maneuver even when packed to the brim, and allows you to pack more without going over weight limits. That alone makes the bag an excellent choice when flying with budget European carriers.
The interior lining and hidden laundry bag are made from a recycled, water-resistant fabric that feels incredibly high-quality and luxurious. Even the mesh inside the bag is high-performance, fully recycled polyester. And, like most of Horizn Studios’ hardshell luggage, the H5 is 100% vegan and produced in a way that is 99% waste-free.
Design and Functionality
I have received the Horizn Studios H5 Smart version to review. This is a beautifully engineered piece of luggage inside out. Its sturdy, solid construction is designed to last through frequent use and will protect your belongings without adding too much weight. On top of these, it’s the perfect carry-on for trips around Europe.
As we all know, European budget airlines have stricter size regulations for carry-on luggage, which means your suitcase needs to be smaller and lighter. Great looks and functionality aside, the H5 is sized just right, making it among the best carry-on luggage for international travel. I’ve personally carried it on flights with Ryanair and Norwegian, and it fitted easily into the overhead compartments of both of these airlines. Its compact size, lightweight nature, and comfortable handles on top and side made it a breeze to lift the bag into the overhead compartment, up the stairs, or carry it by hand when rolling wasn’t an option.
Removable built-in charger: Many suitcases come with USB ports these days, and you have to provide your own battery, but the Horizn Studios H5 Smart has its own removable 10,000 mAh built-in charger. Tucked just below the telescopic handle, this blends seamlessly into the suitcase’s design, doesn’t weigh much, and it easily pops in and out with one simple click. It’s probably my favorite of all the bag’s great features, and it always makes a difference when it’s time to choose a carry-on piece from my arsenal for an upcoming trip. It’s just too good of a feature to pass by!
The battery itself has multiple USB ports (USB-A, USB-C, Lightning), meaning you can charge multiple gadgets at once, and Horizn Studios also provides a cable that fits my Google Pixel, Apple tablet, and Microsoft Surface laptop like a glove. More than anything, this gives me peace of mind that no matter how many photos I desperately take in the last day or how much I talk to my father before embarking, my phone will never run out of juice, and I’ll still be able to play a game or two during the flight.
Wheels: Like most high-quality luggage brands on the market, Horizn Studios chose to outfit its suitcases with premium 360-degree Hinomoto wheels. It wasn’t my first experience with Japanese wheels, but these glided exceptionally well over a variety of surfaces (including bumpy concrete and uneven sidewalks) and made the H5 a breeze to maneuver through bustling airports.
Handles: The 4-stage telescoping handle smoothly adjusts to my height, making it comfortable to pull or push the suitcase with ease. The top and side handles further enhance maneuverability, ensuring that lifting it into overhead compartments, out of vehicles, or off conveyor belts is fast and easy.
TSA-approved combination lock: There’s a fully integrated, easy-to-use TSA-approved combination lock on the side guaranteed to keep your belongings safe throughout the journey.
Zippers: The H5 has some of the finest exterior zippers I’ve encountered on a suitcase. They’re sturdy, high-quality, and noticeably smoother to operate than the majority.
Interior
The H5 features a typical clamshell design with a zippered mesh divider on one side and a compression pad and tie-down straps on the other. This has made packing easy and efficient, allowing me to fit more into every trip while still complying with the size requirements for cabin baggage for most airlines.
The compression pad comes with its own mesh pocket, which I find extremely practical since I always tend to buy prints and magazines when I travel. It’s basically great for protecting any flat items, including documents, notebooks, and even a tablet or small laptop. The internal tie-down straps are refreshingly wide and easy to adjust, and the clips are among the highest quality I’ve ever seen. As I’ve mentioned above, Horizn Studios’ attention to detail is striking.
The inside is luxuriously lined with a silky, water-resistant fabric in a matching color and, according to Horizn Studios, has a storage capacity for up to 5 days of travel. Since I’m not a minimalist packer, I’d say it’s perfectly sized for a weekend getaway. There are two small zippered pockets on the side for keeping various bits and pieces organized, plus my favorite interior feature – a removable laundry bag for keeping dirty clothes separated from clean ones. This is completely washable and rolls up neatly into a zipper pouch when not in use.
Strength and Durability
The H5 survived its first flight without a scratch. Certainly, there are cheaper hardshell suitcases on the market, but few are as sturdy and well-made as this one. Its aerospace-grade polycarbonate shell is built with longevity in mind, and I feel confident that it will withstand the rigors of countless adventures. Its durability extends beyond its outer shell to its internal components as well. Everything, from the robust zippers to the locking mechanism, is designed to handle the stresses of frequent use, ensuring they remain secure and functional even after countless airport expeditions.
For true peace of mind, Horizn Studios also offers a Lifetime Manufacturer’s Guarantee (that you can activate online within 30 days with a personal code that comes with your bag) intended to cover all functional aspects of your luggage for the life of the product.
I haven’t used the H5 for so long, but I definitely will. However, as someone who has been traveling across Europe for the last 3 years almost exclusively with the Horizn Studios H7 and M5 Smart suitcases, I can definitely vouch for the quality and durability of their products.
Horizn Studios H5 vs. Horizn Studios M5
The main difference between the Horizn Studios H5 and the Horizn Studios M5 is the smart front pocket. Otherwise, both suitcases are crafted from the same aerospace-grade German polycarbonate, both are designed to fit in the overhead bin of most airlines, and both are available in a Smart version complete with an integrated charger.
If you’re traveling with a laptop, I would definitely recommend the M5, which has an insanely practical vegan nylon front pocket for easy access to your documents and electronics. As I’ve already mentioned above, I have been using it for many years, and for me, it’s the perfect carry-on as it completely eliminates the need for me to carry a bag.
If you favor a more streamlined and minimalist approach to travel, the Horizn Studios H5 could be your perfect match. While it lacks the smart front pocket, it boasts a slightly slimmer profile and offers two liters more interior space.
If you normally go away for more than a week at a time, I cannot recommend the strong and stylish Horizn Studios H7 enough. Its generous 98L capacity accommodates extended trips while advanced features like three-stage telescopic handle, TSA-approved lock, and high-end 360° Japanese spinner wheels ensure effortless travel and a stylish touch. Even better, make it a luggage set (of two or more suitcases) and enjoy €50 off at checkout.
How we tested
We tested the Horizn Studios H5 suitcase by taking it on several day trips around Málaga, a weekend in Granada, and a recent flight to Stockholm. We packed and repacked the bag with a variety of different items to see how well it could handle a variety of contents for different seasons and types of travel. We rolled it on carpet, sidewalks, the cobblestoned alleys of Marbella’s old town, and even on the grass around our community pool to test its durability and maneuverability. We carried it up several flights of stairs, loaded it into the car, and effortlessly fitted it in the overhead compartment on flights with Norwegian and Ryanair.
During our trips and tests, we also examined the construction materials and components (wheels, handles, and zippers) to ensure they could withstand the rigors of heavy use. Finally, we compared the H5 side by side with other carry-on rollers in our arsenal to see how they stack up against each other.
Value
The Horizn Studios H5 isn’t cheap. In fact, it’s a high-end carry-on piece almost double the price of many other hardshell suitcases. However, its smart, sustainable design, sleek aesthetics, and premium features & performance more than justify the cost, making it an excellent choice for frequent travelers who prioritize quality over affordability. After years of traveling, I’ve come to recognize that the right travel companion can make all the difference. And when it comes to carry-on luggage, the Horizn Studios H5 is hard to beat.
To sweeten the deal, Horizn Studios is giving our readers a special 20% discount with this exclusive code: HSxTravelaway.
