Best Rollaboard Bag - Reviews

Question

I get to travel quite a bit for my work. For the last 3 years in a row, I have been flying 100,000+ miles a year. I travel without checking-in luggage, mostly on 2-3 day trips and need a good rollaboard.

I have been using a Samsonite bag I purchased 5 years ago for about $120. It has served me well and was good enough for the job but after a casualty (the bag fell), the handle started to jam and it was time to replace it.

This is my search for the next rollaboard replacement and my thoughts about what works and what does not.

Option 1: Briggs & Riley Baseline 20" Carryon - $400

Product description & features
Pros:

Lifetime warranty, even if damaged by airline
20" which means it has a much better chance of fitting into a small overhead bin in Europe or Asia
Great looking bag - clean and slick design
The rails from the handle are on the outside of the bag, which does not wrinkle the clothes
Convenient pockets on the front and back

Cons:

Cost is $400 + tax
None others at first

Conclusion: A really really nice bag. Notice that the handle rails are on the outside (exposed), which some do not like, but that makes the surface of the suitcase flat, which everyone likes as that does not wrinkle your clothes. Also the little pocket between the handle rails is great for stashing a bottle of water into while you are walking or a cup of smth.... but i never go to use it or even take the tag off. I Returned it due to the wide handle. My laptop bag could no longer fit on top of the handle and that was going to be a pain in the neck to deal with that or I would have to purchase a replacement bag for may laptop, which after spending $400, I did not look forward to. Also, my laptop bag is one of those scanner-friendly bags that does not require me to take out the laptop when it is going through the x-ray machine, which is a really helpful option.

Attachment:

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Kirkland Signature 21" Rollaboard (Costco) - $99

Available from your local Costco Store. Not available online.
Pros:

Great quality ballistic nylon
Great look
Life-time Costco warranty
Unbeatable Price of $99
Great additional bag strap, suiter, ample pockets, etc

Cons:

None at first though the zipper was BIG

Conclusion: I really loved the bag. The bag ended up being too long for the Continental's 737-900. I had to put it sideways into the overhead bin. It did fit (barely) into the CO's 737-800. UA's 757 fit it just fine, with some room to spare. This could totally be an issue of Continental's planes but I did not want to have a bag that would not fit on ANY plane that it should fit (Regional jets excluded)
Attachment:

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Tumi T-Tech International Business Carryon - $150

Available from Costo Onilne or in-Store
Pros:

$150 for a Tumi bag (though some report it is not as solid quality), in this case you have the Costco life-time warranty
Good quality of the whole bag - suiter, additional bag strap, handle, wheels
It is wider than most bags, which allows quite a bit more stuff to be packed

Cons:

No special/dedicated pocket for all your crap while going through security - B&R bag had it
The railing goes through the bag (pretty common), so everything gets wrinkled
Not the prettiest bag - it is a bit fat
No bottom handle - just a small fabric sleeve

Conclusion: This is the bag I have right now. So far it had gone on one trip and fit very airplane so far. The handle is good but not as solid as I originally thought it to be. The wheels are nice but not as gentle as the gel ones I had in Samsonite - I can feel more vibration in my hand on rough surfaces

Attachment:

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todd1200 · Answer

LuggageWorks makes one that's bulletproof and is the max dimensions for a carryon (with nothing in the exterior pockets). It is 22" so you may have to valet check it every now and then, but it does fit into the over head bins on smaller regional jets. I've had one for a little over four years, usually flying three or four days a week. It does look a little tactical (not very clean or slick) and would probably only be carried online or at a specialty pilot shop (there's often one in the area around big airports).

Link: https://www.luggageworksonline.com/index ... 2-bag.html

bb · Answer

Wow - this looks pretty hardcore!
Thank you for posting this one. i am quite happy with the Tumi for now esp at the $150 price point. 
Posted an update to my thread.

P.S. I do like your Avatar image - is that Constellation?

https://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/3/8/7/1948783.jpg

todd1200 · Answer

Nice, glad you found a winner. I think it's a TWA Constellation over Manhattan. I honestly don't have any connection to the picture -- just a vague nostalgia for the adventure of the "old days"

That Breitling Connie looks amazing.

Best Rollaboard Bag - Reviews

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