We all have baggage. Some of it is simply easier to carry with confidence.
I’ve been lucky enough to travel to more than 40 countries, from the rust-red dunes of Namibia to the yellow-cab rush of New York, from Fiji’s barefoot beaches to the cobblestones of Florence (which, I can confirm, are merciless on bad wheels). I’d have been luckier still to find the right suitcase sooner.
Because if every mile has taught me one thing, it’s this: the best suitcase is the one you stop thinking about the moment you leave the house.
I’m firmly in the hard-shell camp. Give me a sleek silhouette, clever compartments, smooth-rolling wheels and room for the inevitable just-in-case extras, and I’m a happy traveler.
So when the Carl Friedrik Core Check-In Large rolled into my life, I had one question: can the suitcase favored by the billionaire Roy family in Succession travel as well as it plays the part?
Compared to the century-old voyagers of the luggage world, Carl Friedrik is a young explorer. Founded in 2013 by Swedish brothers Niklas and Mattis Oppermann, the London-based label hasn’t been on the road for long, but its reputation has already covered serious ground.
Here’s what you need to know about this well-(w)heeled sartorial suitcase.
A case for traveling well. If you want a hard-shell suitcase that turns heads on the carousel and earns its keep on the journey, Carl Friedrik delivers a silhouette that nods to Rimowa but speaks its own language, finished in warm leather, at a more palatable price. The Hinomoto wheels are the real smooth operators, and the two zipped halves keep packing pleasantly civilized. Polished without being precious, practical without being plain.
At a glance
- Best for
- Design-conscious travelers who want premium materials and practical organization
- Capacity
- 94 liters
- Dimensions
- 29.9 × 20.1 × 11 inches (76 × 51 × 28 cm)
- Weight
- 11.4 lbs (5.15 kg)
- Shell
- German-engineered Makrolon® polycarbonate
- Wheels
- Japanese Hinomoto 360° silent spinner wheels
- Handle
- Any-stop telescopic trolley
- Locks
- TSA-approved combination locks
- Details
- Vegetable-tanned Vachetta leather accents, brushed recycled polyester lining
- Colors
- Sand/Chocolate, Black/Black, Navy/Navy
- Price
- $645
- Warranty
- Lifetime warranty on functional damage
What we loved
- Japanese Hinomoto spinner wheels that glide almost silently
- Two fully zipped compartments keep each half of your packing contained
- Vegetable-tanned leather accents and one of the softest linings
- A quietly distinctive design that stands out on the carousel
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
- Any-stop telescopic handle
What could be better
- The lighter shell and leather detailing need a little extra care
- The handle could extend an inch or so higher for taller travelers
Why can you trust Luxe Digital? We’re not just digital explorers—we’re seasoned travelers who’ve put dozens of travel bags and suitcases through their paces in busy airports, packed trains, and winding backroads. Our editors live for the journey, so much so that the team created Luxa Terra, a magazine devoted to the art of better luxury travel. Read more about how we test and the HAPPY philosophy that guides every recommendation.
We’re not just Carl Friedrik Large Check-in (Core) Review: Quiet luxury, even quieter wheels
Unboxing: Words to travel by
Every trip starts at home, long before the first boarding pass. This one started with a box on my doorstep bearing three words I’d already chosen myself: “Carry with confidence.” Great minds, it seems, pack alike.
Inside, the Check-In Large was tucked into a Carl Friedrik dust bag.
Keep that dust bag. It’s useful between trips, particularly if, like me, you’d rather protect your belongings than shove them into a closet until the next departure.
The first impression was exactly what you’d hope for from a luxury luggage brand: considered, understated and reassuringly well put together.
Of course, a handsome unboxing only gets you so far. What matters is what happens when the suitcase leaves home and meets the airport.
Materials & craftsmanship: Fluent in fine materials
The shell is German-engineered Makrolon® polycarbonate, chosen for its balance of durability and low weight. Rather than cracking under pressure, it flexes and bounces back, which is exactly what you want when baggage handlers aren’t feeling gentle. And it stays lighter than a metal case.
The leather detailing is where the suitcase gets its warmth. Carl Friedrik uses vegetable-tanned leather made from Scandinavian hides, sourced as by-products of the meat and dairy industries. Like any good traveler, it’s meant to look better with a few stories behind it, developing a rich patina with every trip.
But the detail that genuinely surprised me is on the inside.
The suitcase is lined with brushed, 100% recycled polyester, and it’s among the softest linings I’ve encountered in a suitcase. Opening the case becomes a small pleasure in itself, like slipping your hand into a cozy coat pocket.
A little thing, perhaps. But when something you use on every trip feels good every time you reach for it, those little things add up.
Aesthetic & design: Stockholm cool, Succession swagger
A lot of suitcases cross our desks at Luxe Digital. Few have quite the same presence as this one.
The look is distinctly Scandinavian: clean lines, a restrained palette of timeless hues, and materials chosen to age well rather than impress for a season.
Then there’s the signature band and leather trim. They give the minimalist silhouette a finishing touch that sets it apart from the sea of anonymous black luggage on the carousel. The vertical ridges across the shell add another layer of character, tipping their hat to Rimowa’s grooved aesthetic without ever feeling like a copy.
And yes, it got the compliments rolling. Fitting for a small-screen star, minus the drama.
Colors & sizes: Shades for the long haul
I chose Sand/Chocolate, a pairing of two of my favorite things: sun-warmed sand and a good bar of Belgian chocolate. The pale shell contrasts beautifully with the rich chocolate detailing, a deliciously distinctive alternative to the ubiquitous all-black suitcase.
On the carousel, it catches the eye without raising its voice.
The trade-off? Scuffs and marks are easier to spot. If your suitcase spends its life being hurled onto conveyor belts and dragged through terminals, Black/Black or Navy/Navy will be more forgiving.
The Core collection also comes in a Carry-On size. And if you prefer a sturdier build, Carl Friedrik offers Aluminium and Hybrid collections, the latter pairing a polycarbonate shell with an aluminum lock frame.
Functionality: Roomy, reliable and ready to roll
A suitcase can look beautiful standing still. The real test is how it behaves when you’re racing to your gate after one too many minutes in duty free, boarding pass in one hand, coffee in the other.
Room to roam.
With 94 liters of space, this is a substantial check-in suitcase. Yet at 5.15 kg (11.4 lbs), it’s relatively light for its size: enough room for a two-week trip packed with outfit changes, with some wiggle room left under most airline weight limits.
The wheels: built for a New York minute.
If you’ve ever crossed JFK at a near-jog, you’ll know that wheels make or break a suitcase. Carl Friedrik uses Japanese-made Hinomoto 360° spinners, widely considered the crème de la crème of luggage wheels.
They earn the reputation. The case moves fluidly, changes direction on a whim and glides along quiet as a whisper. Steering a case this size around tight corridors and fellow travelers feels far lighter than it should.
Good wheels rarely get the attention they deserve. Until they don’t work, that is. The design may get the compliments rolling, but these wheels spin heads.
The handle: almost there.
The any-stop telescopic handle adjusts to whatever height suits you. My one small reservation: it could extend an inch or so further. If you’re particularly tall, you may find yourself wishing for a little more clearance. Not a deal-breaker, but good to know.
The leather carry handles, meanwhile, are comfortable to grip and add another tactile touch to the practical details.
The locks and zip: secure, and kind to overpackers.
Dual TSA-approved combination locks let airport security inspect your case without breaking anything, which is one less thing to worry about at check-in. And the zip closure, rather than a clasp frame, gives a little forgiveness to those of us who push our packing to the limit.
The interior: a tale of two halves.
Every trip, I’ve found, comes in two halves.
There’s the going: all anticipation, outfit plans and a neatly folded wardrobe. And there’s the coming back: sand in the seams, a scarf you didn’t need but couldn’t leave behind, and stories you’ll be telling for years.
The best suitcase handles both halves with equal grace. This one does it quite literally.
Most suitcases pair one zipped compartment with an open side held down by compression straps. Fine, in theory. In practice, things wander.
Unzip the Core Check-In and it opens into two equal, fully zipped compartments. Each half stays sealed, so you can split outbound and return, clean and worn, beach and city, his and hers. Two slim zippered pockets catch the small essentials that would otherwise vanish into the depths.
It’s an organized approach I love. No unnecessary bells and whistles, just a layout that makes packing and unpacking easier and helps prevent the dreaded mid-trip suitcase explosion.
A soft landing.
In most suitcases, you can feel the two hard ridges of the handle rails running down the inside of the case, and your carefully folded shirts have to work around them. Here, the frame is gently padded, so those ridges are softened rather than sharp. It’s a detail I’ve never come across in another suitcase, and once you notice it, it’s hard to go back.
Taken together, these details make the Core Check-In feel designed around the realities of travel, not just styled for the departure lounge.
Maintenance & care: Little care, many more miles
The coming-back half of every trip ends the same way: unpacking, laundry and a quick look at what the journey left on your luggage.
The Sand/Chocolate finish asks for a little more attention than a darker shell. For routine cleaning, wipe the polycarbonate with a damp microfiber cloth and mild soap. Keep cleaning products away from the leather, though. A dry, soft cloth is all it needs, and the odd mark will soften into that patina over time.
One particularly useful tip: never let airline baggage tags stick directly to the leather handles. The adhesive can damage the leather or lift its color.
Between trips, slip the case back into its dust bag. If you’re investing in a suitcase you intend to keep for years, a little care goes a long way. Several thousand miles, ideally.
Price: You’ve been upgraded
The Core Check-In Large retails for $645. It’s not an impulse buy, but it’s fairly priced for what you get.
Think of it as first-class materials at a premium-economy fare: Makrolon® polycarbonate, vegetable-tanned leather, a beautifully soft recycled lining, Hinomoto wheels and a genuinely smart interior. It’s also considerably less expensive than many comparable aluminum and premium polycarbonate cases from established luxury names.
The design is deliberately timeless, and the lifetime warranty backs it up. If you’d rather invest in one well-considered suitcase than replace a lesser one every few years, the math works in Carl Friedrik’s favor.
Then there’s the casting. Few suitcases get typecast as billionaire luggage; Carl Friedrik has landed the role twice, carrying the Roys through HBO’s Succession and the aristocrats of Netflix’s The Gentlemen. And you get the part without the family fortune.
Check price: Price: You’ve been upgraded at Carl Friedrikat Carl Friedrik · Trusted luxury retailer
Who is the Carl Friedrik Core Check-in Large best for
The Core Check-In Large is for travelers who notice the details: the feel of the leather, the ease of the wheels, the logic of the interior, and how a suitcase holds up after years of use, not just on day one.
Its 94-liter capacity makes it a strong choice for two-week trips, long-haul holidays and anyone who packs for every possible dinner reservation. Frequent flyers will appreciate the light shell and silent spinners. Couples sharing one case will love the two zipped halves.
It’s less ideal if you’re very tall (mind that handle). And if you want a scuff-proof workhorse, skip the Sand and go for Black or Navy.
Where to buy Carl Friedrik luggage?
The best place to buy is Carl Friedrik’s official website, where you can browse all colorways, sizes and collections. Luggage bought directly from the brand comes with a lifetime warranty against functional damage and a 60-day return window.
Your next departure is waiting.
Check price: Where to buy Carl Friedrik luggage? at Carl Friedrikat Carl Friedrik · Shop with confidence
Alternatives to the Carl Friedrik Core Check-In Large
Rimowa Essential Check-In: The iconic grooved suitcase
The luxury luggage brand that needs no introduction. Founded in Cologne, Germany, in 1898, Rimowa introduced its first aluminum trunks in 1937 and innovated again with polycarbonate in 2000. Today, the LVMH-owned brand’s grooved cases follow the jet set from one journey to the next.
You’ll know them for their gleaming aluminum, but we’re also partial to the Essential range in polycarbonate, the more accessible way into Rimowa ownership.
If you want an instantly recognizable status piece, Rimowa has the edge. If you want something that feels just as premium without the price commitment, Carl Friedrik deserves a closer look.
Check price: Rimowa Essential Check-In: The iconic grooved suitcase at Rimowaat Rimowa · Easy, secure ordering
Bellroy Transit Check-in: The minimalist with a toolkit
The Melbourne label’s hard-shell checked bag is built around a refreshingly unglamorous idea: repair, don’t replace. Its Fix-it Kits let you swap the wheels, handles and lock yourself in under 10 minutes, and a 10-year warranty covers the rest.
The matte shell is 80% post-consumer recycled polycarbonate, the 60 mm Japanese spinners roll quieter than a library, and a magnetic compression latch snaps shut with one hand, no fiddly buckles. The trade-off? Bellroy leaves its handle rails exposed on the back of the case for easy repairs, which is purposeful but not pretty. Choose Bellroy if repairability and a friendlier price ($439 for the 101L Large) matter more to you than leather and polish. Read our full Bellroy Transit Check-In review.
Check price: Bellroy Transit Check-in: The minimalist with a toolkit at Bellroyat Bellroy · Wide selection of styles
Horizn Studios H7 Essential: The vegan high-flyer
Founded in Berlin in 2015, Horizn Studios approaches luggage with an engineer’s eye. The H7 Essential’s shell is aerospace-grade German polycarbonate, and at 4.7 kg (10.4 lbs) for 98 liters, it carries more than the Carl Friedrik while weighing less.
It’s also fully vegan: no leather anywhere, just a tough polycarbonate shell and a water-resistant polyester lining, produced in a way the brand says is 99% waste-free. Add four Japanese 360° spinners, a TSA-approved lock and a lifetime warranty, and you have a lighter-footprint contender in every sense.
Choose Horizn Studios if you want maximum space for minimum weight, and prefer your luxury leather-free. Read our full Horizn Studios review.
Check price: Horizn Studios H7 Essential: The vegan high-flyer at Horizn Studiosat Horizn Studios · Trusted by shoppers
Final thoughts: Good baggage, better journeys
So, can the Roys’ suitcase of choice travel as well as it plays the part?
My answer is yes, and then some.
What I like most is the balance. It’s refined but never flashy, organized without being fussy, and distinctive without leaning on a logo. The leather softens the structured shell, the brushed lining makes every unzip a small pleasure, and those Hinomoto wheels turn the terminal sprint into a glide.
No suitcase is perfect. I’d welcome a taller handle, and the Sand finish needs a little looking after. But those are small compromises in a case that gets so much right.
Succession may have introduced me to Carl Friedrik, but the design and function are what make the case for it.
Because the best travel companions aren’t the loudest or the most expensive. They’re the ones that carry both halves of the trip, the going and the coming back, and make every mile feel a little lighter.
And if they look good on the carousel too? Well, that’s baggage I can get behind.
Where to buy
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Frequently asked questions about Carl Friedrik luggage
Is the Carl Friedrik Core Check-In Large worth it?
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What’s the difference between Carl Friedrik’s Core and Hybrid check-in cases?
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