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How to choose the best carry-on bag

My trusty Briggs & Riley four-wheeled spinner serves me well. Guess which airport I took this photo in- answer in comments! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

My trusty Briggs & Riley four-wheeled spinner ($400) serves me well. Guess which airport I took this photo in- answer in comments! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

When you are at the airport and see travelers toting four-wheeled “spinners” or shiny polycarbonates in a rainbow of colors, do you get luggage envy?

If  you are in the market for a new carry-on bag, here are a few things to consider:

HOW MUCH? “Frequent travelers should spend a little bit more money on a higher quality bag that lasts a lot longer. In the long run, they will spend less than they would having to replace cheaper bags over and over again.” advised my favorite luggage guru, Lou Briasco, the owner of Michael Bruno Luggage on Market Street in San Francisco. “Those who travel at least once per month should invest around $300 for good bag that won’t break when you really need it.” Briasco offers deep unadvertised discounts on all his merchandise. “It’s the only way I can stay in business and compete with the online retailers,” he smiled.

SPINNERS: Nearly all manufacturers are now rolling out new bags with four wheels, which are rapidly replacing older two-wheeled versions. The four-wheel spinner system allows the bag to be rolled easily in an upright instead of tilted position. Plus, the wider four-wheeled bags can be turned sideways to easily pass down airplane aisles.

The best wheels are those that are easily replaced (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The best wheels are those that are easily replaced (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

WHEELS: Despite their popularity, “spinners” have a few drawbacks. First, they don’t move as fast as the two-wheeled variety. Also, wheels are often the first thing to break on a bag, so with four of them you are doubling your chances of malfunction. Since wheels often break, even on high quality bags, Briasco recommends looking for sturdy wheels that can easily be switched out if broken. For wheeled bags, Briasco said that external frame telescopic handles result in more room inside bags.

WARRANTY: Make sure the bag you choose has a good warranty — for example, my crimson four-wheeled spinner is covered under Briggs & Riley’s famous, no-questions-or-exceptions lifetime guarantee, which covers normal wear and tear or airline damage. Briasco says that the high-end (and very popular) Tumi line has added too many exceptions to its warranty (such as proof of purchase requirements) in recent years, so he’s stopped carrying it in his store. For occasional travelers, he stocks less expensive Delsey bags, which he says are suitable for infrequent use. But you get what you pay for with its rather thin warranty that specifically rules out coverage for damage caused by airlines.

Look for heavy-duty stitching and zippers as well as "bulletproof" nylon (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Look for heavy-duty stitching and zippers as well as “bulletproof” nylon (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

PLASTICS: Ballistic nylon is still the number one best seller, but polycarbonate hard side luggage is the hot new thing. Polycarbonate offers the benefit of being very lightweight and durable, but frequent travelers should be sure to choose from top quality brands like Rimowa, Heys, or Victorinox. Other brands may not be as durable for the long-haul. Also note that most of those sleek and smooth polycarbonate bags don’t have exterior pockets, which means you have to open the entire bag to insert or remove smaller items you might need along the way.

DIMENSIONS: Carry-on bags are getting shorter and wider. For example, Briggs & Riley says that its 9″ x 16″ x 20″ wide-body bag is now its company’s bestselling carry-on. The wider but shorter profile allows for the same packing capacity as the more narrow and taller case. The advantage to this new dimension is that it fits more easily in the overhead compartments– but may not pass muster with the “baggage police” that sometimes enforce the standard 9″ x 14″ x 22″ standard.

Sturdy external frames and handles mean more room inside the bag (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Sturdy external frames and handles mean more room inside the bag (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

WEIGHT: Luggage manufacturers are using composite materials to help lighten the load on travelers and avoid overweight baggage fees. When choosing new luggage, it’s a good idea to lift two different bags simultaneously to compare their “tare weight” (the weight of the empty bag). However, while a light bag is easier on your back, frequent travelers should also consider function and durability — look for features like heavy duty stitching and zippers, sturdy wheels placed far apart to avoid tipping, and well-padded, reinforced handles.

COLORS: Black is still the number one seller, but I’m seeing a lot of newer, brighter colors, which are easier to ID in the overhead bin!

What type of carry on bag do you have? Do you love it or hate it? If money were no object, what type of carry on bag would you get? Please leave your comments below.

–Chris McGinnis


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Comments

  1. Andiamo Avanti is a great bag. You do sacrifice space with the carry on spinner, but sturdy and so easy to handle. Wheels work like a charm and can be replaced with a simple screw driver. Zippers are industrial. I’ve learned to pack a bit lighter, but it is well worth it to have a dependable bag the wheels well and measures within regulation dimensions. Two wheeler is nice as well and provides more packing space and a suitor, though I did go with the spinner. Pricey but well designed and made.

  3. We use 2 overhead bags and 2 suitcases by the Tutto luggage company. Handsome, unique and available in a variety of colors ( but we chose black anyway). The brand was specifically recommended to us by three different flight attendants. Great stuff!

  4. I agree with WorldwideGuy, Travelpro good enough for me. I will also stick to published dimensions and not risk having my carry on transformed into checked luggage and being delayed at the carousel I can’t ride. Also helps prevents lost or stolen, two reasons I carry on to begin with.

  5. I’m pretty shocked no one has mentioned TravelPro yet. As a former flight crew member, TravelPro bags were issued to me by several airlines and they are outstanding. I have owned at least six different styles in twenty years and I love them. The rollaboards are phenomenal and wheel changes are easy and cheap. There were some occasional handle issues in previous incarnations of the bags, but I have yet to find a better or well-thought out bag than a TravelPro.

  6. Briggs & Riley, hands down best warranty, bonus: B&R warranty facility is based in Half Moon Bay! Eagle Creek Tarmac is also a really, really good collection.

  7. Briggs & Riley. I’ve been through them all in 30+ years of traveling. The B&R people never question having to rebuild my bag (and they have done it several times).

  9. I still have all Tumi. But you are right about their warranty. It used to cover everything. Now, every time I get a bill for $80-100 for “normal wear” like frayed corners or busted seams. They will still cover wheels and broken zippers. The leather roll aboard is my favorite. With the handle down (not extended), it makes a perfect laptop desk; angled and the top of the handle is flat for stability.

  10. I actually disagree re the larger bag. My larger bag has spinners and I could take it or leave it. When it’s full, it takes a lot of strength to get it started rolling on anything that’s not a perfectly smooth airport floor.

  12. Spinners are ideal as checked luggage, since larger and heavier bags are much easier to handle with four wheels. Definitely stick with a quality two-wheeler for your carry-on, or you’ll be sacrificing precious packing space (or you may end up having to pay a checked bag fee when the agent advises that the dimensions listed on the manufacturer’s sales sheet and website often don’t include the wheels). It’s been noted that spinners can take up a lot of extra room in airports. When they are pushed in front of or beside the passenger, it can be the equivalent of the space taken up by an extra human. It’s like the days when young girls took up extra seats for their Cabbage Patch Dolls. Lastly, spinners don’t typically glide down the aisle as easily as many believe, resulting in frequent bumps of those in aisle seats.

  13. My husband and I have had Eagle Creek Switchback bags for many years – a wheeled carryon with a zip-off daypack. They have worked for many 3 week trips abroad, and we don’t have to worry about checked luggage. They have a lifetime guarantee and wear like iron. I believe the newer models are called Eagle Creek DoubleBack.

  14. Jeff, see my comment below … I recently bought the Briggs & Riley Baseline spinner and LOVE IT – the one in the picture. I slip my carry on tote over the handle and it is so easy to pull along side of me, rather than lugging it behind me as I had to do with my two wheels. BUT .. the only problem that I had is when it is standing next to me by itself, it tends to fall over from the weight of the tote (top heavy) and I have to keep remembering to hold onto it at all times. Other than that, I would recommend a spinner to anyone. I am a woman under 5′ tall and it is very very easy for me to ‘walk’ with it by my side.

  16. Briggs & Riley. Don’t even mess around with anything else. B&R has a spinner style and if I were to get spinners that would be the only brand. Has anyone had the B&R spinner. I’m thinking of getting some for my wife. I personally don’t care for them.

  17. I prefer my non-spinner because the inside of the bag is larger. Spinners protrude from the bag and are counted against the length measurement.

    Agreed re the wide body carry on – I love mine but don’t default to it as much anymore because it attracts too much gate agent attention.

  18. Pathfinder’s Revolution Plus Luggage and Andiamo’s Avanti Luggage are both covered by an EXTRA MILE warranty that extends to airline damage. Function/Durability/Quality

  22. I recently replaced a bag that has been around the world several times and was past its prime. The old bag had two wheels, and I replaced it with the same brand and model only with four wheels.

    What a mistake. The spinner bag is smaller inside, so i lose capacity. Even worse, if the ground on which you are standing isn’t completely flat, you can’t take your hands off the bag even for a second or it will roll away. It’s a giant pain when loading or unloading a car,’etc.

    Yes, it’s mildly easier to pull around, but not enough to make a difference. How hard was it before? Not hard.

    No more spinners for me.

  23. Love my Eagle Creek hybrid. Hard bottom keeps gear safe and they also have a great lifetime warranty that includes airline damage.

  25. We bought our Briggs & Riley Spinners from Lou Briasco a few months ago, a carry on and two larger ones to check through. The check throughs are in Sunset, a reddish color and my carry on is black with a turquoise wrap around handle. Love them all. So much easier to travel with Spinners …. especially if airport luggage carts aren’t free … I hate to pay $5.00 for a cart, but of course will bit the bullet when necessary. I have bought all of my luggage (I am a luggage addict) from Lou for years and he really knows his stuff and will steer you in the right direction. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

  27. Tom Bihn bags never disappoint. The craftsmanship is superb, and the bags are full of clever design. I carry the Aeronaut most trips, but am quite smitten with the Tristar.

  30. I would never buy a four wheel “spinner” as the outside wheels will either be small so as not to take up too much room, hence prone to damage; or large and study which will subtract from interior packing space. Overall dimensions determine if the whole bag fits in the overhead. It will always be two wheels for me.

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