I conducted a lot of research before buying this bag. I needed something that would be the largest allowed to carry on a plane and also durable enough for the rugged places I have to travel to. This bag does the trick. It is by far, built better than any other carry on I've owned. It's very lightweight, yet sturdy and roomy. I love the pocket types and placements. There is no overkill, just what you need where you need it. The pictures do not show the upper lid pocket well, but what a great idea. It's constructed like a rectangular box, great for glasses or items you want relative protection around. The best part is that I use this to travel around war zones but can arrive at a 4 star hotel and still look classy. The 'no B.S.' warranty that Briggs and Riley has for their bags is a great relief as well.
I spent a lot of time reading reviews, speaking to friends and carefully evaluating sizes, brands and styles before picking this bag.
Size: I wanted a bag that fit in the overhead bin meeting std. US air carrier restrictions, and yet was as big as possible. This bag meets that requirement perfectly. I am able to fit my camera tripod (goes with me on most trips) and everything else I need for a 6 day trip. 5 STARS
Style: I had not initially thought of a bag that does not have stiff sides and a very rigid top. This was a concern at first, but I found the contents of the bag provides that structure that you expect from a bag like this. The advantage of the soft configuration is that you are more likely to fit this into a tight overhead bin as it bends/molds well. 5 STARS
Quality: The build quality is excellent. Wheels 5 STARS, handle 5 STARS, buckles, zips and fabric 5 STARS
Design: Almost perfect. The wide open main compartment with handle frame out side is excellent and I love the various outside compartments (slip magazines in the open one, laptop and manilla folders in the zip one and passport and liquids ziploc bag in the top one). The only negative I have with the bag is the main inside pouch. I am not sure what they were thinking (or not as the case may be) when they designed it. It has a single zip not double, so you cannot choose which way it opens and closes and it is the wrong way. Imagine you have your bag on the luggage rack at your hotel with lid open in a vertical position a very common occurrence. In this configuration, the zip opens at the bottom. Trying to put things in and close the zip before they fall out again is nigh on impossible. So Design gets a 4 STAR rating.
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I originally purchased a Briggs and Riley BRX 19" carryon (see my review) but found it was too small for my travel needs and was able to exchange it for this bag. I have been very pleased with the carryon--the craftsmanship is superb, it is light yet rugged and is a well thought out bag with enough compartments and pockets to be useful, yet not gimmicky. I especially like the almost invisible expandable feature of the bag, giving an additional inch or so to the depth of the bag. The top and side handles make carrying the bag when not using it as a roller it very comfortable.
I am very impressed with the way the bag rolls over all sorts of floor and street surfaces, and find that the exterior handle makes for a perfectly flat compartment; it's easier to pack and avoid wrinkling clothes. The large compartment has very easy to use dividers to help clothes from wrinkling and the smaller front compartment has handy pockets, a zippered sub-compartment, and a padded section for a laptop or tablet computer. It also has an exterior expandable slash pocket; my only very minor complaint is that there is no zipper or other way to secure this pocket, making it possible to have items fall out when placing in overhead compartments.
For longer trips, this bag and my BRX backpack are the prefect complements, making it possible to travel for a week or more without being burdened by luggage. I am sold on the Briggs and Riley BRX line of luggage--including their no-nonsense lifetime warranty--and find that their combination of light weight, appearance, and ruggedness make them ideal travel companions. The Briggs and Riley BRX line strikes a good balance between slightly adventurous looking, light and flexible luggage and the more traditional bags that countless travelers use.
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I've had this carry on for just over a year now, I bought it to replace an aging travelpro. I read quite a few reviews on various carry-on bags and settled on this based on the positive reviews, slightly different looking design to make it easier to spot at an airport vs. all the hippopanonymous black rectangles, and I liked the idea of the exterior luggage handle resulting in a flatter floor.
So after a year of use (~50k miles in the last year, combination of shorter and longer trips, both business and personal etc) I'm moderately happy with this bag:
Pros:
1) Build quality is overall very good. The one exception is the finish on the handle portion of the carry handle is wearing off prematurely, but overall it's holding up well. Fabric holds up well, zippers are pretty solid etc.
2) Generally well designed. Lots of little features that make sense, placement of pockets etc. One example is the little slot inside for your liquids is very easy to access quickly at security lines then replace after. An interior pouch for dirty laundry is also nice. Pockets on the exterior are the right size etc. The compression straps (someone posted in the comment of another review that they are not compression straps ... well they may well have other uses but they do compress the bag) cinche it down pretty tight when full, though I still had some problems fitting in overheads (more on that later).
3) Looks good and stands out from the pack while still looking reasonably sleek and professional. I want to be able to spot my bag on a luggage carousel (though I rarely check this), spot someone walking away with it etc. and the gray and slightly different shape help w/ this but at the same time doesn't look ridiculous.
Cons:
1) My biggest gripe is, it just isn't that space efficient in terms of interior space vs. the exterior dimensions of the bag. I think the exterior carry handle is probably the culprit here, along with the less "squared" shape of the bag. It just doesn't seem to fit as much clothing as my old travelpro, which would be ok but despite this I often have a harder time fitting the B&R into overhead bins depends on the plane, even on some larger planes like some 757s and 737s it either won't fit, or fits only with an inordinate amount of cramming (basically have to force it in so it compresses on itself as much as possible). Regional jets it needs to be checked at the jetway but that's a given for just about any bag of this general type. Also when packing clothes, the flatter floor as a result of the exterior carry handle doesn't seem to yield any practical benefits yes it's flatter but my clothes don't come out any less wrinkled or anything as a result.
2) Premature wearing on the carry handle is bothersome, though again otherwise the build quality and materials quality are pretty good and it's holding up well with this one exception.
Overall, a good product with good materials and build quality. However, if I could do it again after owning this for a year, I'd probably get something else something more rectangular with an interior carry handle (the more generic business traveller carryons you see everywhere) that seem to have less problems fitting into overhead bins while holding as much or more than this.
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Pros: Outside pockets provide stress-free organization, lightweight and compact size for most carry-on bins, flat internal area for packing, sturdy and durable construction, Lifetime warranty.
Cons: Expansion zipper/system doesn't work well and grab handle on bottom is awkward. Might not fit into all overhead carry-on bins.
If you don't want to carry your backpack or duffel bag on a business trip but need something a little more rough and tumble than the standard rolling suitcas the Briggs & Riley BRX line is a well designed bag that will meet both needs at the same time. It is like a chameleon that changes for the need and keeps your luggage inside the carry on compartment without skimping on the features of more full size suitcases.
The BRX 22" bag has made numerous trips with me to various cities and occasions worldwide. I have used it mainly for 3-5 day trips but also used it a few times for a ten day business trip in San Francisco and a week-long business/personal trip to Hong Kong. I would recommend the bag mainly for shorter trips as it is only carry-on size but it does expand and it larger than some 18" carry-ons. If you pack lightly and do not plan to purchase a lot in route it works well beyond the 3-5 days I generally use it for.
The length of the handle and the quality of the wheels were stand outs in my early tests with this suitcase compared to past suitcases. The handle was plenty long enough to not have the annoying leg bang that occurs with short handles and the wheels are a sturdy, dense rubber that always seems to roll well.
The expansion and bottom handle take some getting used to and are my biggest cons with this particular suitcase. The bottom handle can be hard to find when you are gripping the bag and at times feels flimsy because it is built into the outer fabric not a separate handle. Also, the expansion is a partial zip (not all the way around the top) and this makes the expansion feature smaller and less optimal than it should be. The size though as mentioned is adequate for a typical long weekend and up to a five day trip.
The bag is extremely durable and despite all the trips (including numerous times checked) it does not show major wear and tear. It also has a good cinch down strap feature that keeps me feeling safe that the bag will not come open unnecessarily. The construction does look more casual than the standard black rolling suitcase. This is done to provide for the outside pockets and provide additional rugged construction for use of this bag beyond a simple business trip.
I have not yet had to use the famous Briggs & Riley warranty but colleagues of mine swear by the policy and have gotten prompt and remarkable service when requesting a repair or new suitcase due to damage.
I would recommend this bag for use as a go to bag for almost every occasion, unless of course you need to have a backpack or carry bag in some of the more remote places. It provides stylish, durable construction with numerous convenience added packing features.
This bag is designed with fashion, not function, in mind. The side pockets are angled in a cool looking way, but unfortunately, you cannot carry even a small water bottle in one of these pockets because the angling causes the bottle to tilt & fall out repeatedly. The pockets inside are also angled to look cool, causing stuff to fall all over inside the bag. Also, the bag lacks the nice inside mesh pocket of other redtail backpacks (I've had several). Finally, there is a non-removable plastic panel inside the back of the bag that causes it to creak and squeak constantly as you walk. Very annoying, and loud enough for everyone around to hear. I would get a different, more basic redtail if I had the money, and would donate this one to the Salvation Army.
