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The Testing Lab: Is the Briggs and Riley carry-on worth the steep price tag?

Briggs and Riley

The high-end Briggs and luggage is worth the hype

Investing in good-quality luggage can help ensure that your travel goes smoothly — broken wheels and zippers can result in lost items and disrupt your travel plans to the point where you may miss your flight. The BestReviews Testing Lab conducted a Briggs and Riley carry-on review and found that it's is worth the buy, even with the high cost. 

In this article: Briggs and Riley Sympatico Hardside Carry-OnBriggs and Riley Baseline Traveler Tote and Briggs and Riley Baseline Traveler Backpack

What is the BestReviews Testing Lab?

Each month, the BestReview Testing Lab evaluates new products in real-world conditions to determine how well they really perform. The Lab analyzes these items just the way any consumer would, so they pay attention to factors like how easy they are to set up and use, how well they perform and any other features that set them apart from the competition.

Why go with Briggs and Riley luggage?

Briggs and Riley is an innovative international travel brand that aims to elevate industry standards. Briggs and Riley suitcases come with a lifetime guarantee, providing repairs or replacement parts if it malfunctions. What’s more, Briggs and Riley provides sustainable plastic-free packaging and offers customized monogram initials on many of its products.

What did our tester think of the Briggs and Riley carry-on?

Our tester admired this “stylish, durable suitcase” featuring a polycarbonate exterior with an overall design that is “great for the frequent traveler.” The four tilt-resistant spinner wheels let this carry-on be “easily moved by pushing or pulling.” 

While an expansion feature isn’t unique to this luggage, it does give you an impressive 22% extra storage space. In the Testing Lab, we found that the outer pocket was particularly useful for storing small items such as a phone, passport or portable charger — you see this feature more often with softside luggage. 

The interior compartments are more intricate than with most carry-on luggage; the interior includes an upper section with one large zippered compartment and two small mesh compartments, and the lower section has two buckles with adjustable straps for securing items.

Top Briggs and Riley travelware

Briggs and Riley Sympatico Hardside Carry-On

Available in attractive matte black, navy and plum shades, this 21-inch Briggs and Riley suitcase weighs 8.6 pounds, which is average for hardside luggage of this size. This spinner wheel carry-on includes a three-digit lock approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). 

Briggs and Riley Baseline Traveler Tote

This stylish tote bag has a leather and ballistic nylon exterior, with an ID tag and a slip-through back panel for attaching it to your luggage. The interior offers generous storage and includes a pocket for storing travel items. The Baseline Traveler Tote comes in black, navy, olive and maroon.

Briggs and Riley Baseline Traveler Backpack

This Briggs and Riley backpack has a ballistic nylon exterior with two front compartments, a left-side pocket, a 180-degree opening for easy access and a slip-through back panel. Inside, there’s a main compartment and padded slip pockets for a 15-inch laptop and 13-inch tablet. Padded shoulder straps make it comfortable to wear.

Briggs and Riley Baseline Toiletry Kit

This Briggs and Riley toiletry bag features heavy-duty ballistic nylon. The spacious main compartment can store plenty of toiletry essentials thanks to the expansion zipper, which adds 1.5 inches of extra packing capacity. The bag includes a top carrying handle and comes in black, navy and olive.

Briggs and Riley @ Work Rolling Briefcase

This Briggs and Riley briefcase has a rolling design, so you don't have to carry your work essentials to the office every day. It has a leather and ballistic nylon exterior and durable spinner wheels. The interlocking handle system lets you stack other bags on top of it. There's a main compartment, a laptop compartment, a tablet slip pocket, an RFID-blocking pocket for credit cards and additional pockets for organizing other small items. 

Briggs and Riley Garment Duffel Bag

This Briggs and Riley garment bag and duffel is a versatile travel piece to have on hand. For garment storage, it can accommodate up to two long clothing items or three shirts with hangers. When used as a duffel, there's a spacious main compartment, a front compartment with multiple pockets and a separate shoe pocket. It features a ballistic nylon exterior and a back slip pocket for attaching it to a rolling suitcase.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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