We’ve found, over the years of traveling with suitcases with expanding zippers, that they’re better used as compression systems than an unexpected source of extra space.The tie-down straps are made of two broad panels with pockets that cinch down, similar in design and function to what you’d find in much more expensive Briggs & Riley bags. But it doesn’t have the expandable space most travelers rely on.We typically favor bags that let you pack your stuff the way you want, but the Road Warrior’s design is so well-executed that it made us forget about packing cubes.
It’s backed by a lifetime warranty.This two-wheeled carry-on bag isn’t as maneuverable but offers slightly more space, a garment folder, and larger, more durable wheels.This model is comparable in design, organization, and handling to a higher-end bag, but built less solidly. It’s not a full locking position. We prefer to use the expansion zipper as something of an ad hoc compression system: We unzip the expansion zipper while packing the bag and then zip it at the end, tamping everything down tight.
Most suitcases, backpacks, and duffel bags do a pretty good job of hauling gear to and from various destinations. Anna Perling . The best checked bag for most travelers. A folder should be wide enough that a suit isn’t cramped, and it should include hanger straps (which should fit around everything, even larger plastic hangers) to keep things from shifting around too much. (There’s a The Road Warrior’s telescoping handle, which tucks away in its own compartment, extends smoothly. In practice, this is very helpful for scaling stairs and could save you some hassle in tight quarters, such as in the aisle of an airplane. It’s a buy-it-for life suitcase.If you’re willing to give up maneuverability for more space and bigger wheels, this is also a great option.If you fly more than 25,000 miles per year, it’s worthwhile to invest in luggage that goes beyond merely being sturdy and will actually improve your overall travel experience. LAT_56 also gave its Road Warrior bag the most comfortable top handle we’ve tested. Travel; Bags; The Best Duffle Bags… There’s also a side handle, which is convenient for toting it around in tight situations.Lacking the expanding capabilities of all our other picks, the Road Warrior has the shallowest depth of any bag we tested, which makes it light (a little less than 7 pounds), maneuverable, and just the right amount of bag for a quick trip with nothing extra. Sometimes I carry it. It always fits.” —Brian Lam, Wirecutter founderOn the outside, the Baseline Domestic is pretty unremarkable.
Packing cubes help, but after years of packing and unpacking soft-sided luggage with a single lid, I definitely find a clamshell design to be more finicky.The Muji’s textured exterior looks and feels similar to that of the pricier Away. This means a hard drop on a corner has the potential to jab farther into your bag than it might on the Platinum Elite.Like the Platinum Elite, the Crew 11 includes a USB extension cable, which runs from a side pocket to a USB port on the back of the bag. Not really.This model is comparable in design, organization, and handling to a higher-end bag, but built less solidly.
It’s also true that they use larger, more durable wheels, which roll better over rough surfaces at least in one direction. The Briggs and Travelpro suitcases are available in two-wheeled models that have more capacity, but we’ve used the measurements from the spinner versions of all these bags for consistency. It’s a unique design and very satisfying to use.The adjustable settings on the Briggs & Riley bag’s ingenious expansion ...The adjustable settings on the Briggs & Riley bag’s ingenious expansion ...Another significant difference: The tracks for the handles are on the outside of the bag, which allows for a flat surface in the interior of the bag, with no small crevices to work around for simple packing. Furthermore, the Crew 11 appears to have a weaker internal frame that feels less supportive than that on the Platinum Elite. How user-repairable was the bag? Its external pockets, as with all the bags we tested, are nothing to write home about, but they do strike a nice balance between protecting and compressing small items (a shaving/sewing kit, say) without showing much extra bulk.All of these features add up to a carry-on that is easier to pack than any other bag we tested.One last long-term testing note for this luggage review: Wirecutter founder Brian Lam has carried a two-wheeled Baseline while traveling 150,000 miles and farther over the past four years. Its dumbbell shape felt well-balanced, with the weight of the water on … There are some exceptions—for example, the Hard-sided luggage also doesn’t age as well as soft-sided luggage. Spinner wheels have become more robust since they first appeared, but if for whatever reason your wheels do break, you can swap them out yourself with Travelpro’s The Platinum Elite also does very well by the numbers.