Rimowa Vs. Briggs & Riley

Rimowa Luggage

Rimowa is the pioneer of hardside luggage. They created the world’s first polycarbonate suitcase, and they’re synonymous with quality and durability. If you’re in the market for hardside luggage, consider getting one of the suitcases below.

Rimowa Original

Rimowa Original is the suitcase that made this brand famous. It’s one of the best-known luggage designs ever, with the distinct grooves that make it so easily recognizable. This luggage is made from Aluminum with plastic handles, metal zippers, and cotton dividers.

All the Original suitcases are equipped with double spinner wheels and a stage-free wheel handle. The wheel handle offers customized height adjustment so that anyone can make it suit them just perfectly. Rimowa Original luggage is also equipped with two TSA-approved locks, for maximum security while traveling.

There are two packing compartments in this luggage, and each compartment has a height-adjustable Flex divider. It keeps the packed items in order while you’re traveling, and you can adjust its height to fit the contents of your suitcase perfectly.

The Original collection from Rimowa features the most size variety out of all the luggage collections, with four carry-ons and six checked bags. The color variety differs – some sizes are available in as many as four colors, while others come in just the staple silver colors.

Rimowa Classic

Rimowa Classic is the brand’s simplest aluminum suitcase. It is available in a variety of different sizes ranging from a small carry-on to a massive checked trunk, and all the different sizes are equipped with the same features.

This includes the sturdy double spinner wheels, the double TSA-friendly locks, and adjustable Flex dividers. All the Rimowa Classic suitcases are also equipped with a stageless telescopic wheel handle, which allows for custom height adjustment.

The Classic luggage from Rimowa features two packing compartments that are both fully lined. There’s a Flex divider in each of the compartments, and it’s possible to adjust the height of the divider so that it suits your belongings best.

In addition to that, this Rimowa luggage also boasts padded grab handles on the top and sides, as well as an ergonomic grip with an extra leather insert on the telescopic wheel handle.

It’s worth noting that the Classic collection is available in only two colors – silver and black. It is possible to customize the accents on the suitcase for a price, but there are no other options for the color of the luggage body.

Rimowa Hybrid

Rimowa Hybrid luggage collection combines two of the best materials for luggage – aluminum and polycarbonate. The Hybrid suitcases all have the incredible strength and durability of aluminum while preserving the light weight of polycarbonate, which makes them an excellent option for frequent travelers.

The Hybrid luggage also boasts smooth double spinner wheels, a stage-free telescopic wheel handle, and two TSA-approved locks. There’s a Flex divider in each of the packing compartments, ensuring that your belongings stay put during transit.

There are also top and side grab handles on this Rimowa luggage, as well as corner guards for improved impact resistance. The suitcases don’t have an expandable capacity, and they don’t boast many internal pockets either.

The Hybrid collection is available in three colors and four sizes. It includes two carry-on suitcases and two larger checked bags, so there are enough options to choose from.

Rimowa Essential

Rimowa Essential is the brand’s main collection of polycarbonate hardside luggage. The brand did invent the first PC suitcase, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they’re still famous for their various polycarbonate collections. The Essential luggage is available in six different sizes and more than a dozen different colors!

The color variety mostly includes bright pastels, which is what makes this luggage a great option for travelers who prefer fun colors. You can also get them in boring neutrals, but there are more options for people who prefer to stand out.

The suitcases all feature the staple Rimowa double spinner wheels, a stage-free adjustable wheel handle, and a TSA-approved lock. The polycarbonate luggage is zippered, so there’s only one TSA lock on the suitcase.

The luggage interior consists of two packing compartments, both of which feature a Flex divider inside. It’s a height-adjustable divider so you can easily organize your belongings inside the main compartment and ensure they stay put during travel.

Rimowa Essential Lite

Rimowa Essential Lite luggage collection features some of the lightest and most affordable suitcases from this brand. This collection is in a price range that can compete with the Briggs & Riley suitcases, so definitely consider the Essential Lite collection if you’re looking for lightweight polycarbonate suitcases.

These Rimowa cases are a lot lighter than their Briggs & Riley counterparts. To put things in perspective, the Essential Lite 31” case weighs 8.2 lbs, while the Briggs & Riley Sympatico 30” case weighs 13.5 lbs. And get this – the Rimowa suitcase costs just $1 more.

Most other features were also reduced to a minimum, in order to make the suitcases so lightweight. The wheel handle is a T-Bar telescopic handle with three-stage adjustment, there’s a simple zippered mesh divider inside, and the handles on the top and sides are low-profile.

This Rimowa luggage doesn’t feature expandable capacity, but it does have a TSA-friendly lock to secure the zipper of the main compartment. Overall, this collection is an excellent choice if you want to buy an extremely lightweight suitcase that will make it extra hard to go over the weight limit for luggage.

Additionally, this is a good entry-level collection of Rimowa luggage. If you’re not willing to spend more than a thousand on a case, pick up something from the more affordable collection and see how it fares.

Rimowa Essential Sleeve

Rimowa Essential Sleeve is the brand’s stand-out collection. It’s the only luggage collection that has an immediately noticeable unique feature, and it’s a zippered softshell pocket on the front of the luggage. This is a collection of carry-on luggage for business travel, so it’s definitely not a good option if you’re specifically looking for a checked bag.

The Essential Sleeve suitcases are made from polycarbonate with poly jacquard lining and plastic handles. They’re equipped with Rimowa’s staple double spinner wheels and a stage-free telescopic wheel handle that allows for custom height adjustment.

The suitcase boasts two packing compartments with a Flex divider in each of them, as well as a TSA-approved lock that secures the zippers. It’s worth noting that only the zippers of the main compartment can be locked, and there’s no additional lock to secure the contents of the front compartment.

The zippered front compartment is great for items you want to keep handy during trips. This is the only Rimowa suitcase that features an external compartment, and it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a carry-on with great organizational features.

Best Briggs & Riley Luggage

Briggs & Riley is a luggage brand best known for its innovative features and technologies. They manufacture both softside and hardside luggage, as well as duffels, backpacks, and a variety of accessories. If you’re in the market for a softside suitcase, you’ll find plenty of excellent options in the Briggs & Riley product range.

Briggs & Riley Baseline Spinner

The Baseline collection from Briggs & Riley is one of the brand’s most popular luggage collections. It includes softshell suitcases in a variety of sizes and styles, so there are plenty of options regardless of the luggage size you’re looking to buy.

All the Baseline luggage is made from durable ballistic nylon and features YKK zippers. The brand’s proprietary CX expansion technology is one of the best features of the suitcase. It is entirely zipperless, and it allows you to increase the capacity of the luggage by some 20%.

This Briggs & Riley luggage collection features double-spinner wheels, a built-in garment folder, and an easily accessible external pocket. The suitcases are all fitted out with outsider handles, which are entirely mounted to the exterior of the luggage. They do not take anything away from the internal capacity and you don’t have to pack around handlebars in your luggage!

The suitcases also feature top, side, and bottom handles, as well as internal pockets and dividers. There are also sleeves on the luggage, and the carry-on-sized bags even have a USB port for charging on the go.

Briggs & Riley Sympatico

The Sympatico collection from Briggs & Riley features four polycarbonate suitcases with CX expansion technology. They’ve all got double spinner wheels, a recessed wheel handle, and molded top and side grab handles.

The luggage has a 70/30 split of the packing compartments, and the expansion system is entirely in the bottom compartment. It allows for 25% additional packing space, which is perfect for anyone who likes to do some shopping while they are traveling.

Both compartments feature internal pockets for easy organization, but there are no external pockets on this hardside suitcase. If you prefer hardside luggage with external compartments, consider the Briggs & Riley Torq or the Rimowa Essential Sleeve collections.

Additionally, the Sympatico suitcases also feature a TSA-friendly lock that secures the zipper of the main compartment. All the luggage is lightweight but not quite as lightweight as some of Rimowa’s counterparts, so keep that in mind if you’re prioritizing weight over all the other features.

Briggs & Riley Rhapsody

The Rhapsody collection from Briggs & Riley is a collection of softside luggage. It includes two suitcases – a carry-on and a smaller checked bag, as well as a variety of totes, underseat bags, and backpacks.

The suitcases are great for shorter trips. They’re both made from durable micro-weave nylon and feature self-repairing YKK zippers. The luggage is equipped with double spinner wheels, an aluminum wheel handle, and a padded top handle for easy maneuvering. These bags also have the brand’s staple Outsider handle, which takes nothing away from the capacity of the main compartment.

There’s only one packing compartment in the Rhapsody luggage and it promises a pleasant packing experience. There are several zippered pockets inside the Rhapsody suitcase, as well as compression garment panels that will ensure your belongings stay in place during transit.

The Rhapsody luggage does not have an expandable capacity, but it does have external pockets. Both suitcases have an easily accessible SpeedThru pocket on the front panel, as well as an additional front compartment.

Briggs & Riley Torq

Briggs & Riley Torq collection includes six polycarbonate spinner suitcases. They all feature double-spinner wheels, an Outsider wheel handle, and a TSA-friendly combination lock. The luggage is fitted out with YKK RC zippers, and it’s got cinch-down garment panels inside the packing compartment.

Certain features such as the USB pocket or the hinged external compartment are exclusive to the two carry-on suitcases in this luggage collection. The Torq carry-on is one of the best suitcases you can buy if you’re looking for hardside luggage with an external compartment that’s big enough to hold a laptop. The front compartment features a laptop, a smaller slip pocket, and an RFID-safe pocket for your wallet.

There’s a 70/30 split between the two packing compartments and the bulk of space is inside the bottom compartment. The top compartment has a mesh divider panel, but it’s worth noting that its capacity is even more reduced because of the external pocket.

However, it’s worth noting that the Torq suitcases don’t feature the brand’s proprietary expansion system. The Torq luggage is not expandable at all, and what you see is what you get when it comes to capacity.

Briggs & Riley ZDX

The ZDX collection from Briggs & Riley includes four softside suitcases and a few (rolling) duffel bags. The luggage is all made from 800D ballistic nylon and it features durable YKK zippers for the best performance.

All the ZDX suitcases feature double spinner wheels and an Outsider wheel handle for smooth maneuvering. The wheel handle doesn’t interfere with the main compartment, so you get more packing space and a flatter packing surface.

This luggage also features multiple internal and external zippered pockets, as well as an expandable capacity. The smaller suitcases are even equipped with a USB port and a Power Pocket for easy, on-the-go charging. All the luggage also features straps that let you attach other bags to them, so it’s easy to get around with multiple pieces of luggage.

The ZDX collection is an excellent option if you like having lots of pockets on your luggage. The carry-ons are particularly great because they have plenty of external pockets to keep all your travel essentials handy, while their internal pockets make it easy to stay organized while packing.