Antler: an iconic British luggage brand and favourite of both our editors and readers. Its Clifton cabin case with pocket is a go-to for us for work trips, and we’ve avoided baggage fees on weekends away by squeezing three days-worth of items into the Mary Poppins-esque Chelsea overnighter (with the addition of some packing cubes, of course).
But there’s another bag in Antler’s Chelsea range that’s become a hit in the Traveller office – including with our senior visuals editor, who’s even taken hers to the Maldives: the classic Chelsea Backpack.
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This bag has a 16.5” laptop pocket with an additional tablet slip, a water bottle side pouch, and a zipped front pocket with a card sleeve. There’s also a removable packing pocket for shoes and/or a change of clothes, which is great for keeping muddy trainers or a sweaty gym kit away from the rest of your gear. Essentially, there’s a dedicated feature for each of your daily essentials.
But a couple of other elements elevate the Chelsea from a commuter bag to a clever carry-on: internal compression straps and a clamshell opening. As it opens all the way out, it’s easier to squeeze in as many rolled clothing items as possible – and prevents the need to rummage around to find that one specific item in an overstuffed bag. Then, the compression straps keep everything neatly in place – another handy addition when closing a super-stuffed backpack without busting the zip.
“I use this bag every day for commuting,” says Sophie. “It’s lightweight, and opening up completely is helpful when packing. The laptop sleeve is well padded, so I feel comfortable taking it on busy tubes. The additional pockets inside are also suitable for keeping day-to-day essentials handy.
“When travelling to the Maldives, I appreciated the suitcase trolley sleeve at the airport – always a handy addition to a bag – and the internal mesh pocket gave me a good spot to keep liquids before heading through security.”
Will you be able to travel with just this backpack? That’s a no – it is on the smaller side. However, this is a smart option for a quality day bag for sightseeing, commuting and packing those all-important in-flight essentials. For a steer on size, here’s what Sophie packs in her Chelsea bag every day:
- Laptop
- Computer mouse
- Hard drive
- Lunch
- Headphones
- Gym kit
- Water bottle
And when using as an under-seat bag when travelling:
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Chelsea Backpack at a glance
Pros:
- Water-resistant
- Back sleeve slots over suitcase handle
- Internal packing straps
- Detachable internal packing pocket
- Good colour range
Cons:
You can shop the Antler Chelsea backpack on the brand’s website, or see our other top travel rucksack recommendations in our full guide.
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