Tong Family

Well, we’ve actually had pretty good luck with luggage. We mainly use the two wheeler rollers and an old eBags one has lasted 20 years (I admit about three were during the pandemic, but still). It is fraying at the edges, but having an expandable 22″ bag is just really reliable.

About six years ago, Trang got a Brigg & Riley and I have to say that thing is really practical. It is more square than the eBags and can pack just about everything. So when Calvin asked for a new roller bag, I was on the look out for the latest and here are the conclusions. I looked at reviews from Outdoor Gear Labs with 2024 Update, Travel and Leisure, New York Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Hiconsumption, Gear Patrol and Afar (hint they love the Rimowa),

Softside Spinners and Rollers

This is a big category and here are some options here. We like the soft sided bags because they are less costly than aluminum and won’t crack like polycarbonate. Plus, they have squish, so if you are really loading up they bulge nicely:

1. Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22 inch Spinner. This is a New York based firm with a lifetime warranty. We have one and it is really pretty amazing, it’s the top pick at Outdoor Gear Labs. $649 at Amazon.com. They never discount this afaik. You can get their lower priced casts from CostCo Next, but it’s hard to find any discount. It comes in polycarbonate and also cloth. It’s heavier at 10 pounds because it has all that packing stuff. Personally, the packing thing is really useful, to compress all your stuff into one place.
2. Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Expandable Spinner. The Travelpro folks created the whole category and for a long time I had a Samsonite knock off of the original bag that was standard for flight crews around the world. $344 at Amazon. They have a great case, but also they (like the Samsonite) have magnetic alignment of the wheels so they are always pointing forward. It you’ve been in airports, you’ve seen spinners literally roll in every direction which kind is silly looking 🙂 And it’s the second

Bomb-proof Aluminum

1. The Rimowa Original. This thing is monsterouislyi expensive at $1600, but people swear by it. They have a zillion variations of the thing, but the original designed is over 80 years old and it is really nice. This thing is all aluminum so it will get dings and so forth, but it is bomb proof. It weights in a 9.5 pounds and has a lifetime warranty.
2. Zero Halliburton Continental Carry-On Case. This is another really expensive bag at $1100 (you do get 10% off the first order direct). And it is supposed to be equally durable. Note that this is a 22″ American sized bag and there is a smaller 21″ for international flights (although we usually get away with the American bag overseas, you are warned).
3. Arlo Skye Frame Carry-On Max: This one is much cheaper at $595 (it is currently $100 off). Conde Naste Traveller folks loved it. I tis a spinner. And it does have a USB charger in it (I actually don’t find that super useful as I normally just carry a “backpack” style battery)

All in One Bags Polycarbonate

I don’t actually think I will ever use these, they include a Laptop carrying case and things like that, but I normally have my Laptop either in a Peak Design Backpack or a Tumi Briefcase. That’s another story, but the Tumi is amazing, over 20 years old and you can’t tell and the Peak Design 35 Liter is just so versatile. The main issue with these polycarbonate bags is that while aluminum dings and cloth wears out, these things crack

1. Level Eight Road Runner Pro. This one has the integrated laptop carrying and a battery. It does weight 9 pounds. $210
2. Away The Carry On. This is the bag that started the whole category. I’ve been shying away from it because of the stories about their founder, but I see them a lot. It is plastic and hard sided. $275 direct.
3. Monos Carry-On Pro Rolling Suitcase. These guys are new and they are direct to consumer so quite affordable. Shows you the markups that live in the luggage business. $208 at Monos.com.
4. July Carry On Pro SnapSleeve. This is like the Away and the main feat ear is that you can rip away the laptop carrier. I don’t really need that, but kind of cool.