Briggs & Riley Sympatico Review
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Briggs & Riley Sympatico International Carry-On Spinner
The Briggs & Riley Sympatico International Carry-On Spinner is the best cabin bag from this luggage collection. It’s small enough that most international airlines will accept it as a cabin bag, and it’s got a capacity that can be big enough for a week away if you can pack light. View Latest DealConsidering getting a Briggs & Riley Sympatico suitcase? Then you’re certainly in the right place because this detailed review will tell you all you need to know about the Sympatico luggage collection!
Materials, durability, packing space, and additional features are all explored in detail in this review. Read on to learn more about the Briggs & Riley Sympatico luggage collection and see if it’s a good fit for you!
| Sympatico International 21” Carry-On | Dimensions: 21” x 14” x 9” Weight: 8.6 lbs Capacity: 39.2 - 47.9 liters | |
| Sympatico Domestic 22” Carry-On | Dimensions: 22” x 14” x 9” Weight: 9.2 lbs Capacity: 41.3-50.5 liters | |
| Sympatico Medium | Dimensions: 27” x 18.5” x 11.5” Weight: 12 lbs Capacity: 87.2 L - 102.3 liters | |
| Sympatico Large | Dimensions: 30” x 20” x 12” Weight: 13.5 lbs Capacity: 110.1 - 137.7 liters |
Materials And Durability
The Briggs & Riley Sympatico luggage is made from Makrolon polycarbonate. It’s one of the toughest iterations of polycarbonate, which is the go-to material for high-end suitcases.
Polycarbonate is a lightweight type of plastic that is exceptionally durable. It’s flexible and it bends upon impact, which is the best thing about it. If your Sympatico suitcase lands badly on a corner, the shell will likely just get dented and you can pop it back into place later. That wouldn’t happen with other plastics that aren’t as flexible as polycarbonate – ABS and other plastics break upon heavy impact, which is why PC is the preferred option for high-end luggage.
The Sympatico suitcases are all equipped with YKK RC zippers. They’re self-repairing, ergonomic, and have lockable zipper pullers. YKK zippers are generally considered the best on the market, so it’s a good thing that the Sympatico luggage uses them.
Sizing Options
The Briggs & Riley Sympatico luggage collection features just four suitcases – that’s a small collection, especially for this brand. The collection includes an international carry-on, a domestic carry-on, a medium checked bag, and a large checked bag.
The sizing variety is lacking a bit, especially when you compare it to some of the brand’s other collections like the Baseline, which has more than a dozen different luggage options. On the other hand, you can’t really expect a hardside luggage collection to include backpacks and duffel bags, so it makes sense that there aren’t too many Sympatico bags to choose from.
Expandable Capacity
All the Sympatico luggage has expandable capacity for more comfortable packing. The suitcases are equipped with Briggs & Riley’s proprietary CX expansion system, which adds 17% more packing space to the bag.
This expansion system consists of buttons inside the packing compartment. Pressing the buttons unlocks the expansion, giving you that extra room inside your luggage. To compress the suitcase again, you just need to push the shell back in place once the case is packed and zipped.
Main Packing Compartment
Briggs & Riley luggage stands out because it usually features a 70/30 division of the packing compartments. This means that you get one main packing compartment, and then you have a suiter section or just some extra space in the lid.
The Sympatico luggage boasts a spacious packing compartment with soft and smooth interior lining, garment compression panels, and multiple internal pockets for easy organization.
All the pockets are in the lid, which is much smaller than the main compartment, but it’s still roomy enough to hold a jacket, shoes, or a suit. A suiter section is not included in this luggage, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for luggage for business travel.
The lid features a large zip-around compartment and two smaller zippered mesh pockets.
Spinner Wheels
All the Sympatico suitcases are equipped with smooth double-spinner wheels. The ball-bearing wheels include steel components for improved durability, and they allow for effortless 360° maneuverability.
It’s also worth mentioning that the wheelbase is extra wide and tilt-resistant, for maximum stability of the luggage. Overall, the wheel system is of excellent quality, and it performs just how you would expect from a high-end suitcase like the Sympatico.
Adjustable Wheel Handle
This luggage collection from Briggs & Riley features a recessed wheel handle. It’s made from aircraft-grade aluminum for maximum durability, and it features a telescoping design with multiple height stops.
The handle on the carry-on luggage locks into two height spots, while the larger cases offer three lockable height positions. This allows everyone to get a good fit of the wheel handle, for easy and comfortable maneuvering of the luggage.
It’s worth noting that this luggage collection doesn’t include the Briggs & Riley staple Outsider handle. Instead, the Sympatico bags have a recessed handle that helps minimize the wrinkles inside the case, but it still protrudes inside somewhat. The grip on this wheel handle is the same ergonomic grip of the Outsider handle, so you’re still getting some benefits from the other handle system.
The Grab Handles
The Sympatico suitcases all feature soft-touch top and side grab handles. They’re molded for extra comfort and textured for better grip, so it’s always easy to pick up a suitcase. This is especially important for the carry-on suitcases since it makes it so much easier to pick up the bag and place it in an overhead bin.
It’s also important to note that both handles feature a low-profile design that maximizes baggage allowances. In other words, the bag isn’t a couple of inches wider because of the handles, and they won’t impact whether the cases fit into sizers and overhead compartments.
Built-In TSA-Friendly Lock
Briggs & Riley Sympatico luggage is equipped with TSA-friendly combination locks. All the cases have the same built-in lock – it’s a three-digit combination lock that secures the zippers of the main compartment.
A TSA-friendly lock is a convenient feature, especially for checked luggage. TSA agents can access the contents of your suitcase without damaging it, plus it gives you some extra peace of mind to know that your luggage is safely locked.
Power Pocket (Carry-On Luggage Only)
The two Sympatico Carry-Ons have an additional Power Pocket in the back. It’s the only softside component of the luggage, and it’s positioned between the tubes of the wheel handle.
The Power Pocket is a pocket with a USB port that lets you charge your electronics on the go. It’s large enough to hold a power bank, and it’s TSA compliant for battery removal.
The two checked suitcases do not have any sort of pocket in the back.
Lifetime Guarantee
Briggs & Riley backs the Sympatico luggage with a Lifetime Guarantee. Whenever a part of your suitcase gets damaged, Briggs & Riley will replace it free of charge. You just need to pay to ship the bag to a repair center – the brand even covers return shipping.
Their warranty is good as it covers pretty much everything except for cosmetic damage (scuffs, scratches, discoloration, etc.). The brand will even repair damage caused by an airline, but they advise customers to file a complaint against the airline first.
Also, it’s worth noting that Briggs & Riley sells self-repair kits, which allow you to fix certain parts of the suitcase on your own. The kits are free but there is a $15 shipping and handling fee per kit, which is still likely cheaper than shipping an entire suitcase to a repair center just for them to replace a corner guard.
Value For Money
Is the Briggs & Riley Sympatico luggage worth the money? That mostly depends on what your definition of expensive is.
The Sympatico cases have some steep price tags that can’t be justified just by the quality of the materials and craftsmanship. A good chunk of their price tags is because the bags are Briggs & Riley – in other words, you’re paying for the brand name and the status that comes with wheeling around a Briggs & Riley suitcase.
The luggage is of premium quality, it’s very durable, and it’s covered with a great warranty, but it’s not worth every single penny. Keep that in mind when deciding whether Briggs & Riley Sympatico luggage is the best option for you.
Briggs & Riley Sympatico Review: Final Thoughts
Should you get yourself a Briggs & Riley Sympatico suitcase? You should if you can afford it.
Briggs & Riley Sympatico luggage is high-end luggage made from premium materials. It boasts the brand’s proprietary CX expansion system that gives you 17% extra packing space – that’s more than 25 extra liters on the largest suitcase!
There are also multiple pockets inside the bags, garment panels to compress the items a bit further, and a built-in TSA lock for maximum safety. If you’re not looking specifically for hardside luggage with external pockets, the Sympatico suitcases are an amazing option with all the features you could possibly need.
However, they are pretty expensive, and even the amazing warranty doesn’t fully justify their price tags. So, if the Briggs & Riley Sympatico bags are a bit outside your price range, it’s fine – there are dozens of other great suitcases you can get for a fraction of the cost.
Head over to Amazon to see the color options and price points of the Briggs & Riley Sympatico luggage. If you’d like to see some more options first, you’ll find some excellent alternatives in our related posts!
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