This carry-on suitcase will elevate your airport outfits

SINCE THE WORLD opened back up to travel post-pandemic, there’s been plenty of chatter about bringing back stylish dressing when it comes to air travel. As fixated as we’ve been on not wearing sweatpants or pyjamas to “bring back civility” at the terminal (according to the US Department of Transportation, that is), the easiest place to start is with your main companion: luggage. So, as I was preparing for a recent work trip, Carl Friedrik was a brand I was keen to try out.

The London-based luggagemaker, founded in 2012, first came up on my radar when HBO’s Succession was airing. In the season three premiere when media mogul Logan Roy (Brian Cox) escaped to Sarajevo for political sanctuary, eagle-eyed viewers, some of whom run dedicated Instagram accounts documenting the quiet luxury labels and pieces worn on the show, instantly ID’d the patriarch’s elegant carry-on luggage as he disembarked from his private jet: it was a Carl Friedrik. The brand’s briefcases and duffle bags showed up on the arms of other high-net-worth characters soon after, quickly becoming a staple on the show (Logan Roy, the luggage influencer?). With its Scandinavian minimalist design ethos and best-in-class functionality with the globe-trotter in mind, it was a perfect fit for the show – a synergy that’s since made carrying a Carl Friedrik an IYKYK flex.

So, consider me influenced by the late Logan Roy when I chose the Carl Friedrik Carry-on X to be my companion for my work trip to Seoul, South Korea. I was set to depart in early December, trading the start of Australian summer for northern winter, in which case I opted for the grey/chocolate colourway from their autumn/winter 2025 collection to mark the transition into the colour season – I knew it would go with the earth-toned neutrals and hardy winterwear outfits I had planned. Don’t get me wrong, this will still be my choice for the summer and autumn long weekends. And more on that, and Pavlovian conditioning aside, becoming a “carry-on only” person was a way of travel I wanted to bring into the new year.

How much can the Carl Friedrik Carry-on X pack?

Turning the cabin case on its side and unclasping its integrated TSA-approved locks, it felt like I was opening a briefcase. We were in business.

As per the product description, the Carry-on X is “ideal for up to five days of travel”, which I was happy to find to be the case, even more impressed by the fact that I was packing thick winterwear. Provided you wear your one piece of outerwear, I managed to pack three dress shirts, an extra pair of trousers, two pieces of knitwear, and two scarves into the open half. On the other, a pair of Derbies and my packing cube inflated with undergarments, thermals, and pyjamas slipped right in like Tetris blocks. As for toiletries, I slipped them into the attached flap sleeve that segments the two compartments. Taking it to a warmer destination in the future, I imagine I’ll have plenty of room to spare.

Now, if you were wondering where I’d put my laptop, chargers, and the instruments a magazine writer would carry, this is where the Carry-on X shines. Its main feature comes in the integrated hard-shell front pocket that has one large sleeve for my 13-inch MacBook Air, a mesh sleeve for my notebook, two pen holders, and four smaller pockets for miscellaneous duty-free receipts, passport and boarding ticket. Sure, it signals we’re here to work, but it makes for an elegant mode to separate your gadgets in an airport security line.

How durable is the Carl Friedrik Carry-on X?

Of course, a full aluminium build has persisted in the luxury suitcase space as the ultimate status symbol. But for those of us not traveling at the front of the plane and without the baggage allowance to permit, brands have shifted to using the metal in sparing yet practical ways. Across their other Hybrid luggage models, Carl Friedrik uses a bolted aluminium frame that runs along the opening of the Carry-on X, ensuring a stronger hold on keeping it shut and in action for longer. The other luxury touch comes with the contrasting leather accents for the two hand-held straps, and the leather strip that runs along the top front. 

The hard-shell build itself is made with polycarbonate, making the piece weigh in at 4.7kg. The lightweight material is also a popular choice for its durability, like the scuffs and scratches I accumulated from its journey from the plane cabin to the car to the hotel, by which point I’d simply run a damp soapy towel across it in one swipe.

All that said, it’s in Carl Friedrik’s words that the Carry-on X’s make is “all in the name of smooth travel”. Bringing that a step further, my favourite feature by far were the 360° Hinomoto spinner wheels, which only bolsters that Carl Friedrik is meant to exist in hotel lobbies with marble floors. I was still curious to how it would fare on other urban surfaces, so I took it for a stroll in my hotel’s cobblestone and gravel courtyard to find the wheels jostled through smoothly enough without me having to pull it on its two back wheels.

Is the Carl Friedrik Carry-on X worth it?

Naturally, Carl Friedrik’s Succession cameo does allude to its target market and, therefore, its price. At $1300, the Carry-on X sits a little above up-market cabin cases (even ones made out of full aluminium), and $1000 less than a certain luxury suitcase manufacturer from Germany. It’s also worth noting that current offerings elsewhere haven’t been able to seamlessly blend luxurious feel, superior function, and thoughtful design than Carl Friedrik. As well as being a hybrid, the Carry-on X is a market unicorn.

And, of course, let’s talk about the looks. Carl Friedrik’s designs have a clear sense for where they see their pieces existing (in my case, the Four Seasons in Seoul). The feel of the Carry-on X is reminiscent of a time when you’d load a trunk onto a continental steam train, what with its aluminium frame, leather trimmings, and grooved design. Another measure of this piece’s good-looks? The stares it attracted as I rolled out of Arrivals. 

For the luggage enthusiasts who were already set on its functional aesthetic, Carl Friedrik is for the traveller for whom style is always part of getting dressed for the airport.

Carl Friedrik Carry-on X

$1300 from Carl Friedrik

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