Briggs & Riley vs Tumi: A Detailed Suitcase Comparison

Briggs & Riley vs Tumi Comparison

When you are comparing these two suitcase manufacturers, you have to look at a few things in detail:

Size

Each brand has three main sizes that usually suit most people’s needs:

• 21-22-inch is a small carry on that you can take on the plane
• 24-26.5-inch is a mid-size that suits smaller trips or one person for a week if you don’t overpack
• 29-30.5-inch is the largest size that you can use for longer trips or include two people (or more for shorter trips.

If you are looking to invest in something for a big trip, you will want a carry-on and a large case. If you just want options, you can grab the mid and large cases (which is what I did – week trips, and long trips).

I use a backpack for carry-on in any case, but it depends on what you are planning when you arrive. Backpacks don’t work so well for business trips :> Or so my boss tells me!

Weight

Although all of the manufacturers claim their cases are “lightweight” be sure to check out our comparison table above to see if that is really true. In general, the soft cases are often heavier, as they have more material to protect you (outer material and frame).

So it’s no surprise the Vapor Lite is the lightest in this review (although the Samsonite has some lighter cases if that is important to you).

Durability & Quality

Hardcases are very strong and durable, but soft cases are quite flexible/compressible so can actually handle travel a lot better, in the long run. Especially if it is a quality case. Just remember, that with a soft case you don’t have the protection around whatever you pack, so you have to remember to leave your Mom’s best china crockery or vases at home!

In terms of materials on soft cases, Ballistic Nylon is a better, more durable material.

Both these companies put a lot of money and research into all their materials, so no matter which way you go, you will have a top-notch product.

The devil is in the details though, with things like extra corner protection, recessed wheels (Tumi), and zippers designed to be replaced (Briggs & Riley).

Features

Most suitcases have the same basic feature set, so it’s rarely a problem to pack and put your stuff on a plane. You will get:

• Lots of room for packing
• Internal and external pockets for extra packing
• Suits designed into the bag or can be added later (beware they take more room and are heavier)
• 2 Wheels or 4 Spinner wheels to help make your life easy pushing or pulling your case to/from their airport

Where things differ a little is in the following:

• TSA locks built-in to the Tumi Hardcase
• All Tumis have 4 dual spinner wheels that are top quality (most Briggs have them too, just not the Upright model)
• Tumi also has their own tracking system to help find your case if it’s lost
• But Briggs and Riley have their own variable internal expander that is not found on any other manufacturer’s case I have seen. Most just have a zipper, they have taken it to a new level.

Price

There are some price differences between the models, so be sure to shop around.

Just be aware that both these manufacturers are at the top end of the suitcase market, so no matter which model you choose, you are not going to find a bargain. That being said, the last model in this review, is way cheaper than some of the others. But it’s a hard case, so might not be for everyone.

Briggs & Riley Suitcase Reviews

Briggs and Riley are synonymous with high-end, great-quality luggage. And once you take a closer look at the features they offer, you will start to see why they have such a good name.

Briggs & Riley Baseline

One of their most popular luggage lines is the Baseline.

It comes in two flavors, the Upright, and the Spinner. Both of which share many of the same impressive features (external telescopic handle for flat packing, internal variable expander, quality materials) but they also differ on a few things.

The Upright comes with just two wheels, whereas the Spinner has 4 dual-spinner wheels. The other difference is that the Upright has a trifold suiter built-in, so is great for business travelers or those who carry creasable clothes. For the rest of us, the Spinner is a better lighter choice.

The rest of the features are in both models of the Baseline, and they include:

• Retracting top, side and bottom handle for lots of carrying and sliding (into bins) options
• 3 position, aircraft-grade Aluminium telescopic handle -suitable for people of varying heights (located outside the case)
• Flat bottom interior (made possible by the outside telescopic handle)
• Rugged water-resistant Ballistic Nylon material that can handle the rigors of airline baggage handlers!
• Butterfly compression panels for crease-free and secure packing (see image below)
• 2.5-inch variable expansion
• Strong corner protection against mishandling
• External hidden luggage tag between handle area on the back
• Briggs & Riley Lifetime Guarantee

All in all, the Briggs and Riley Baseline is a well-thought-out, quality luggage line for people who appreciate products that will last a very long time.

The flat bottom packing is something rarely seen (most have the handle come into the case – which is a pain) and the butterfly compression straps, which really help with packing and avoiding wrinkles, are also only on a few top-of-the-line pieces of luggage.

You also have the choice between the two-wheeler/suiter (Upright) or the Spinner (4-dual wheels) which probably suits more people.

READ MORE: BRIGGS & RILEY BASELINE REVIEW

Briggs & Riley ZDX

The ZDX is another of Briggs and Riley’s popular cases, although perhaps not as well-beloved as the Baseline above. (everyone seems to go for the baseline).

The whole series comes with two carry-on versions (US and international) as well as a large 29″ case. They also have some great duffels to check out.

Both these cases actually share most of their features, so in many ways, you can’t go wrong. The difference is mostly in the price (the ZDX is cheaper by about 30%) and the ZDX is simpler in terms of features being less focused on the business traveler.

• It does not come with the suiter so has a less complex setup
• Has 2.5” of expansion depth which is always handy
• An outside battery pocket for continuous charging
• A large U-shaped foldout pocket for easy to access items and security

The rest of the features are in both the Baseline and Transcend:

• Retracting top, side and bottom handle for lots of carrying and sliding (into bins) options
• 3 position telescopic handle suitable for people of varying heights (located outside the case)
• Flat bottom interior (made possible by the outside telescopic handle)
• Rugged water-resistant Ballistic Nylon material that can handle the rigors of airline baggage handlers!
• Butterfly compression panels for crease-free and secure packing
• 2.5 inch Transcend variable expansion
• Strong corner protection against mishandling
• Briggs & Riley Lifetime Guarantee

 

Tumi Suitcase Reviews

Another high-end luggage manufacturer that is definitely worth checking out is Tumi.

And perhaps their most popular luggage line is the Alpha soft case. So, let’s take a look in detail, how it stacks up against the Briggs and Riley Baseline and Transcend.

Tumi Alpha 2

The Tumi Alpha is a hybrid soft/hard case that has a whole bunch of features that makes this case stand out from the competition.

For example, it is a clamshell design, which makes for easy packing with two equal halves, instead of one deep section. Not everyone likes this, but for some, it is one of the key benefits of hard cases over soft.

You can choose to pack more sensitive items like shirts on one side, or simply separate your more difficult (or dirty) items like shoes. And with the zippered upper compartment, it’s easy to secure it all for closing.

The Alpha is also extremely robust, with some of the best-protected corners I have seen, even more so than the Briggs and Riley, who does a great job too. They have also put feet on the side, in case you rest it there, saving the material from being ruined.

And lastly, the telescopic handle and spinners are protected too. The spinners are especially noteworthy as they are recessed about 50%, helping protect the most easily broken part of your case from luggage handling accidents.

Another notable feature of the Alpha is the integrated Tumi Tracer system. It’s a simple barcode on the bottom of the case which you can register online with your contact details.

Then, if your case gets lots there is always a built-in tag and way to track you down, even if the airline tags or name tags have come off. With so many cases getting delayed, separated, or lost these days, it’s nice to have this reassurance from Tumi.

Aside from all these high-end features, Tumi also gives you:

• Recessed molded top, side bottom handle for lots of carrying and sliding (into bins) options with additional bottom handle for getting in and out of the car or overhead bings
• 3 position telescopic handle suitable for people of varying heights (located outside the case)
• Interior pockets – one along the side for smaller items, one on the upper section for longer items
• Rugged water-resistant Ballistic Nylon material that can handle the rigors of airline baggage handlers!
• Triangular compression straps (better than just single straps) help to secure the bottom section well
• Zippers designed to be easily replaceable should they break during transit (patented Tumi Omega system)
• Strong dual-fold corner protection against baggage handling issues
• Comes with a TSA lock to help secure your case when checked in
• 5 Year Limited Guarantee – First Year Worry-Free (Fix or replace) 2-5 years normal defects

This is perhaps one of Tumi’s best and simplest designs which will last you a long time and avoids all the frills of other suitcases, which give you tonnes of features you don’t need. The depth of thought into the design and robustness of the cases is also impressive, along with the built-in tracking, which is rare to find. Most people just have to buy a luggage tracker themselves.

There are a couple of things I find the Alpha is lacking. For example, it is not expandable, but there is an expandable version of the Alpha 2 which does. The wheels and handle intrude into the packing space, which is actually a common problem in most cases. But Briggs and Riley don’t have this issue, so if that is what you prefer, I would try them.

Tumi Vapor Lite

Dubbed Tumi’s lightest hardside luggage collection, the Vapor lite is one of Tumi’s cheaper luggage options, packed full of their favorite features.

Very similar to the Alpha above, this suitcase range has top-quality dual-spinner wheels, aircraft grade Aluminium 3-stop telescopic handle and a built-in TSA lock.

The interior is the classic hard case clamshell style, with two sides to help you separate your packing easily. The bottom has an elastic compression strap, while the top zippered compartment where you can store your more crease-able or delicate items.

More notable features include:

• Molded top and side handles that recede upon release
• 3 position telescopic handle suitable for lots of height options
• Interior pockets – one along the side for smaller items, one on the upper section for longer items
• Suiter options in the top section via a hook and optional Tumi hangers
• Rugged polycarbonate shell that comes in bright colors
• Built-in TSA lock on the zippers
• Tumi’s Tracer Tag system for easily finding your luggage when it gets lost.
• 5 Year Limited Guarantee – First Year Worry-Free (Fix or replace) 2-5 years normal defects

As with the Alpha model, the spinners are nicely recessed to help protect them from the fun they have inside the airport when NOT in your hands. Another great idea for making your case last longer.

The built-in tag and Tumi tracking system is always a plus, as is the TSA compatible lock to save you having to find yours and lose it when the TSA takes their cutters to it (after not being able to open it during inspection :>).

For me, this is one of the best value suitcases amongst the Tumi and Briggs and Riley options. Unless you absolutely have to have a softcase, this suitcase is a great buy. All the Tumi quality with lots of valuable features, without breaking the bank.

And it comes in a bunch of sizes too:

READ MORE: TUMI LUGGAGE REVIEW