Review topics: ["size","fit","color","shipping","weight","looks","strap","service","quality","material","fabric","problem","design","pockets","style","bag","construction","durability","piece","feels","move","zippers","wheels","suitcase","handle","luggage","carry","features","briggs","expansion"].
Reviews
Reliable Carry-On for Frequent Flying
"As someone who travels frequently, I really appreciate luggage that is simple, durable, and dependable. The Essential 22” 2-Wheel Expandable Carry-On checks all those boxes. The wheels roll smoothly, the handle feels sturdy, and the expansion feature is very useful when extra space is needed. The overall construction feels solid and well thought out. It’s a great carry-on for anyone who travels often."
— Daihyun K. (5/5)
Top choice by pilots and flight attendants
"By far, my favorite suitcase on the market. I polled hundreds of passengers, pilots, and flight attendants before I landed on this bag. The two wheel version is slightly larger than the four wheel and better on varied floor surfaces. The two wheel is notably larger. If ease of sliding through an airport is preferred get the smaller 22 inch 4 wheel bag. If having the largest carry on size is preferred, this is the best. It is a big carry on. And fits more than you’d imagine. I love the packing cubes with it. The straps internally keep my clothes in place. No shifting of clothes. Aesthetically, I preferred the look of the Tumi but their zippers are not as good as they used to be. Nor is their warranty. The adjustable size of the Briggs and Riley, the warranty, the zippers, were all selling points that exceeded everything else on the market. I love the gold foil monogram on the suitcase…. …but I’ll tell ya, if you get the gold foil leather strap handle, the foil will wear off within the first few flights. Not the end of the world. But this is a review on the bag and the bag is great. All accessories have otherwise been amazing. Surprised how much I liked the collared shirt folder and laundry bag with two pouches. Everything fits great. I’d actually say, be sure to get the laundry bag as it will help preserve the interior of the suitcase. Wish the lock was always connected… somehow but it worked well in South America."
— Peter C. (5/5)
Disappointed Flight Attendant
"I spoke with no less than 10 people who have and love this bag before I bought it. Maybe my hopes were too high, as everyone raves about it. I’ve only used it for two trips and will update if anything changes. I’m really hoping I grow to love it, or maybe I got a bum bag with bad wheels and sticky handle…. PROS: - light-colored lining makes packing and finding things a breeze - it’s compact and slim but holds a ton - the compactness of it makes it easier to carry up a flight of stairs than other, bulkier rollaboards - seems durable, but I’ve also seen them beat to crap by heavy travelers who say it’s hard to find repair shops these days - easy to pull up a step or onto a bus/train—the lower part of the handle casing allows the bag to slide up easily and doesn’t get caught. I really appreciate this CONS (which are pretty major to me, since I pull my bag for several city blocks multiple times a week): - THE WHEELS: when I spin them with my hand they stop almost immediately. My old bag’s wheels spun smoothly and for a longer amount of time, so it pulled smoothly and easily over surfaces like rough concrete. Not this one. It feels like how my old bag felt when it needed its wheels cleaned out or a new set. Not looking forward to how this rolls when it gets gunked up by city grit and airport/aircraft dirt and dust. Also, it sounds and FEELS like a shopping cart when you roll it over concrete—it’s not smooth on my arm/hand. I can feel the vibrations in my arm. Also: IT IS LOUD. - the handles are sticky and tricky to pull out and put down— considerably worse/more difficult than my old bag, which wasn’t exactly the most smooth - external pockets aren’t quite expandable enough for my liking. I miss being able to shove a book or water bottle into an external pocket. I knew this going in and was told by someone that you can fit a water bottle in the small back pocket. A small plastic water bottle would fit but anything larger threatens to fall out."
— Hannah (2/5)
The Ultimate Travel Bag: Durable, Functional, and
"As an airline pilot, I rarely feel compelled to write product reviews—this is probably only the second one I’ve ever written. I wasn’t requested or compensated for this review, though I did receive a discount on the bag. After using it for a year, I can confidently say I’m highly impressed, especially with its build quality and functionality. Before this bag, I used several popular pilot bags, including the Luggage Works Stealth 22 and 26, as well as the StrongBags Helix. For reference, the Luggage Works bags are heavy, steel-framed, while the StrongBags Helix was essentially a thick plastic bin with a gimmicky handle. To give you an idea of how rigorously I use my luggage: I typically fly three to four-day trips every week. Throughout each trip, I’m constantly moving through large airport terminals, commuting to and from hotels, and navigating different forms of transportation—including cars, buses, trains, and airplanes. This bag has accompanied me across multiple continents and endured every imaginable weather condition, from sunny skies to near-blizzard slush and ice. Durability & Build Quality After a full year of use, this bag still looks almost brand new—something I find unbelievable given my travel frequency. The fabric remains taut, the zippers are firm, and the upper wear plates look untouched. There is some expected minor wear on the wheels and front legs, but that’s normal. For comparison, my last Luggage Works bag was practically falling apart after nine months, requiring wheel replacements. Layout & Storage The design of this bag is incredibly well thought out. I can fit nearly as much into this 22” bag as I could in my previous 26” model. It also features a detachable suiter that doesn’t take up much space—perfect for keeping blazers wrinkle-free on personal trips or even packing my wife’s dresses when we share a bag. The pocket placement is intuitive. Initially, I didn’t think I’d use the front top pocket, but it has proven excellent for quick-access items like passports and small electronic devices. CX Compression-Expansion Feature At first, I assumed the CX compression-expansion system would be a gimmick, but I’ve found it to be a game-changer. While I don’t use it on every trip, it has been indispensable when packing for personal travel or when sharing the bag with my wife. Expanding the bag while packing and then compressing it back to its normal size keeps clothes wrinkle-free—very impressive. Additional Features One of the standout features of this bag is its weight. It is significantly lighter than comparable professional pilot bags while remaining much more durable. The external handle design maximizes internal storage space, and it has fit in every airline overhead bin I’ve used. Most airline pilots prefer two-wheel bags because they better support additional attached bags (like a flight case or cooler). While the wheels on this bag aren’t standard rollerblade wheels, they perform just as well—if not better—and cost about the same to replace. Areas for Improvement The only real improvement I’d like to see is with the SmartLink strap mount. There should be a locking mechanism to keep the strap securely attached, as it tends to detach at inconvenient times. Additionally, the strap should have a clip or another way to manage excess length. I don’t want to cut it, but I’ve considered it since it frequently gets caught on things. Final Thoughts Overall, I couldn’t be more impressed with this bag. While it may seem pricey, it’s an incredible value when considering its features, durability, and warranty. Personally, I haven’t had to use the warranty, but I know others who have and have reported excellent service and support. If you’re looking for a professional-grade bag that holds up to heavy use, this one is well worth the investment."
— Jacob H. (5/5)
Best suitcase for old traveling Hippies!
"This is by FAR the best carry-on I have ever owned. I love that I can fill it to the BRIM with filled compression cubes, then I can squish them down EVEN FURTHER so it still counts as a carry-on! It has an AMAZING amount of room, and rolls easily even when I hitch it my rolling walker! Of course, when I bought it there was only Boring Black in stock, but a tube of white gesso and a 12 pack of Posta Paint markers and I fixed that right up! After all, just cuz I fit into the financial bracket to buy buy a high-end lifetime- guaranteed suitcase DOESN’T mean I have to have, you know, ‘class’…"
— Beverly A. (5/5)
Just by the bag! …… Then change the wheels.
"I work as an airline pilot in the United States. I’ve had my previous bag, which was a Luggage Works executive series 22” two wheel roller for the last 7 1/2 years. I’ve had my Briggs and Riley 22” expandable baseline bag now for just about a month. This trip was the first time I’ve needed to use the expand/collapse feature. I was able to pack 6 days of clothes (including 6 days of gym clothes plus gym shoes) and my toiletries with ease. I’m not a small guy either - 6’2 and 300 lbs, my clothes really do take up some space an and are heavier than others I fly with. I have to say the B&R bag is great. I had hesitations before I purchased this bag though. When I travel for work (avg 15 days a month, every month) I always have 3 bags and I wasn’t sure the baseline could handle the weight. I bring my flight bag, which now hangs on the accessory strap at front and bottom, my lunch box/cooler which sits on top, over the handles, and of course the main luggage. I am happy to say so far I have not noticed any problem with the front accessory strap pulling too much weight over the top expand/collapse mechanism inside the bag. This was my main concern before I bought the bag. It’s working just fine. I really do love the build quality and how lightweight this bag is. Even my previous bag was mostly a plastic construction and it held up really well, but this B&R bag is much less weight. The only problem that I had with the B&R bag is the wheels. They are a rubber outer (good), but a hollow plastic inner (bad). So when you walk or pull the bag over anything other than completely smooth and flat hard surface it is very loud. For example, crossing over the threshold on a moving walkway or outside of the airport on a concrete sidewalk, anything really. Today I also switched over the wheels that came on the Briggs and Riley with those that come on luggage works, which are all solid rubber. You just need an Allen/hex wrench and 5 minutes time you swap wheel and inner bushings and bearings and done. Easy. They new wheels are so much quieter. I have no other complaints about the bag besides the wheels. I think it’s worth the money. 7 1/2 years time from now will really tell the story, so I guess it’s wait and see….."
— Taylor D. (5/5)
Almost perfect with one major catch.
"As a pilot that travels weekly, I decided to get this bag based on other pilot reviews and the warranty being the best in the industry. Well made, light at 9.7 lbs, not a ton of extra spaces I’ll never use, and easy to sort, and very sharp looking, I have been very excited using this the last few weeks. Biggest complaint: The T-strap to carry extra luggage. It is not securely attached and comes off if moved forward (it’s open at the top). Also the clip has failed twice already and I had to reattach to my flight case. This needs serious improvement due to its terrible design, very unfitting for such an otherwise excellent bag."
— William C. (5/5)
As an airline crew I
"As an airline crew I needed a carry on that would fit 3-6 days worth of clothing. Needed a replacement for my current roller bag, which is a luggage works, (limited warranty). After reading the reviews for B&R 22”, I decided to go for it. Absolutely happy with it .Love the CX® Compression-Expansion. Allows me to adjust the size for my travel needs. Amazed how easy the bag rolls/ pulls. Absolutely recommend it, yes slightly pricey but has lifetime warranty. This is the perfect carry on bag."
— Lida S. (5/5)
Very nice piece that works
"Very nice piece that works perfectly. Picture of its first trip to London."
— Tom D. (5/5)
Worth every penny
"Love my bag! The expandable option is awesome. I can pack so much for my work trips and my clothes stay wrinkle free with the compartment that allows me to hang clothes."
— Paloma S. (5/5)
