We Tested the Expandable, Easy-to-Maneuver Briggs & Riley Carry-On on a 3-Day Trip
Whether youre a seasoned globetrotter or an occasional weekend traveler, choosing the best luggage for your trip is essential for a smooth travel experience. You want hard or soft luggage that’s durable, easy to transport and features water-resistant and expandable qualities for all your packing and shopping needs. Thats why were excited to introduce you to the Briggs & Riley carry-onthe ultimate travel companion for your next adventure.
Our dedicated Product Testing Team rigorously tested the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner, evaluating its durability, water resistance, performance and overall value. This carry-on bag is designed for frequent travelers who demand high quality. To put it to the test, we also sent it on a three-day excursion with one of our testers, rolling it through the bustling streets of Chicago to see how it held up.
So, keep reading to discover just how the Briggs & Riley carry-on performed during our testing. You might just find its the right fit for your next journey.
What is the Briggs & Riley Essential 22-inch carry-on?
The Briggs & Riley carry-on is a luggage option available in classic black, navy, olive and plum colors. Our associate product tester, Dylan Fischer, describes it as an “excellent choice for on-the-go business travelers.” It weighs 10 pounds, measures 22 inches tall by 14 inches wide by 9 inches deep (11.5 inches deep when expanded) and can fit from 80 to 97 liters. This versatile carry-on boasts an expandable one-touch system, ensuring you can pack everything you need while easily compressing to fit in most overhead bins on U.S. flights.
Navigating busy streets is a breeze with the Briggs & Riley carry-ons 360-degree spinner wheels, allowing for effortless maneuverability. Plus, it includes a built-in garment folder that can accommodate one to two suits, keeping your attire wrinkle-free. Inside, youll discover two mesh zip pockets designed for organizing accessories and a soft interior lining for added protection.
What’s more, the sleek and classy exterior of the Briggs & Riley carry-on is complemented by a durable telescoping handle. But that’s not the end of stand-out features. There is a hide-away luggage tag, a battery pack pocket to charge devices while traveling, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA)-approved combination cable lock and a Smartlink strap for attaching bags or purses.
RD.COMEditor's Pick
Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22-Inch Carry-On
This expandable carry-on easily compresses and features cinch-down garment panels to keep clothes wrinkle-free.
How we tested it
After approximately 40 hours of rigorous testing, our Product Testing Team crowned the Briggs & Riley carry-on one of the best soft-sided carry-ons of 2024. Over the course of 12 tests with 14 other bags, the team packed it with two hefty moving blankets to simulate real-world weight and bulk, then put it through its paces on a variety of terrains. To mimic the rough handling bags often endure at airports, they even dropped it from 4 feet high, tossed it over barriers and dragged it for a yard, proving that this bag is truly built to withstand the toughest travel conditions.
What’s more, our long-term tester, Andrea Landowski, took the Briggs & Riley carry-on on a three-day trip to Chicago, and she was thoroughly impressed. Packing for her adventure, she found that the suitcase offered more than enough space for her belongings, especially since she opted for lighter clothing due to the pleasant weather. Id say you could easily pack for a full week with the expandability feature, she says. In fact, she managed to fit in four shirts, a flannel, two pairs of pants, two pairs of jeans, a water bottle, a portable speaker, a blow dryer, toiletries and a makeup caseand she still had room for purchases on her way back, including shoes, a jacket and two more shirts. Landowski loved the bag’s organization, highlighting its many pockets and dividers, which she found incredibly helpful for separating dirty clothes on the return trip. She counted three interior pockets, one interior divider, a removable garment bag to keep clothes neatly folded and a pocket for her portable charger.
Overall, Landowski found the Briggs & Riley carry-on to be spacious, durable and equipped with features that will make future travel a breeze. Her favorite detail? The free-spinning wheels, noting how they felt very smooth and light. Fischer agrees, adding that the bag effortlessly navigated various terrains during testing, including concrete, asphalt, grass, gravel and cobblestone. It handled all the lips in the concrete and sidewalks just fine, no matter which angle you hit them at.” However, he suggests pulling it instead of pushing it over grass and gravel. The Product Testing Team even found it more sturdy and less wobbly than luggage with plastic wheels.
One small downside: During our Product Testing Team’s quick dragging test, some discoloration appeared on the suitcases front. They also noticed some wear and tear on the bumpers, but thats no surpriseit’s exactly what you’d expect after such intense testing. On the plus side, the Briggs & Riley carry-on held up well when sprayed with water and left zero watermarks behind (although Fischer notes how it did feel “ever-so-slightly slick to the touch after it’s wiped down”). Fischer also praised the suitcase for its sleek design and non-bulky appearance. He even pointed out the sturdy feel of the zippers and how some of them are “a stylized chrome for added aesthetic appeal.”
Despite its quality features, Landowski has some reservations about the price, suggesting it might be better suited for frequent travelers who would benefit more from its lifetime guarantee. When asked how the bag could be improved, Landowski says, I think the only feature I would like to see is a removable quart-sized bag and foldable wheels. Overall, the Briggs & Riley carry-on has won over our testers with its ample space, thoughtful organization and travel-friendly design.
Pros
- Four dual 360-degree, self-aligning wheels
- Expansion-compression system
- Stylish and non-bulky design
- Built-in tri-fold garment folder to reduce wrinkling
- Sturdy grab handles on the bottom, top and sides
- Portable charger pocket
- Retractable luggage tag
- Smartlink strap for attaching purses and handbags
- Easily repels water
- Lifetime guarantee
Cons
- Steep price tag
- May scuff easily if thrown around
Why you should trust us
Whether you’re packing for a quick weekend getaway or embarking on a weeks-long adventure, we know the importance of finding luggage that’s lightweight, easy to handle and durable enough for whatever your trip throws at you. With years of hands-on experience using everything from travel backpacks to anti-theft bags, our team at Readers Digest is no stranger to testing the best gear for every type of traveler. From frequent fliers to road-tripping parents and even pet owners, we have a wealth of perspectives.
For this review, our Product Testing Team spent hours in the Testing Lab with the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner, inspecting every feature up close, including its quality, liftability, water resistance, appearance, damage after testing and more. We also put it through real-world trials, sending it on a three-day journey with one of our testers to see how it performs on the road.
After combining all our lab tests and travel experiences, we’ve pulled together this in-depth review of the Briggs & Riley carry-on to give you the confidence you need when deciding if it’s the right fit for your travels.
RD.COMEditor's Pick
Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22-Inch Carry-On
This carry-on is quite a splurge, but a frequent traveler will appreciate its durable build and slew of features.
The post We Tested the Expandable, Easy-to-Maneuver Briggs & Riley Carry-On on a 3-Day Trip appeared first on Reader's Digest.
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