Luggage: Reviews

Updated October 2008

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Best rolling luggage

Briggs & Riley Transcend 20 Carry-on Upright

*Est. $200 Compare Prices

Reviews praise Briggs & Riley Transcend luggage for superb durability, water-resistance and excellent ease-of-use, plus a lifetime warranty that even covers accidental damage. The "Outsider" handle telescopes into an… outside pocket so the bag's interior is flat and easy to pack, with maximum usable space. A clip attaches a second smaller bag, if desired. The 20-inch version meets carry-on size requirements and weighs 8.7 pounds. Smaller and larger versions of the Transcend are also available.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: Objective tests at Good Housekeeping find that the similar Briggs & Riley Transcend 24-inch Expandable Upright is the only bag ...

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports tests the similar Briggs & Riley Baseline 20, comparing it with 11 other rolling carry-on bags. Bags are ...

The Travel Insider: Editors here give the similar 21"-inch Briggs & Riley Transcend carry-on bag top ranking here, praising its lifetime warranty, ...

EBags.com: Nine owners review the Transcend 20-inch" Carry-on Upright here, giving it extremely high ratings for durability, but some owners ...

Luggage Online: Only two owners review the 20-inch Briggs & Riley Transcend carry-on bag here, but one notes that the outside compartment for the ...

Amazon.com: The 21-inch expandable carry-on bag gets two reviews from owners here, with praise for the organization and flat-based packing ...

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Budget wheeled bag

Delsey Helium Fusion Carry-on Expandable Suiter Trolley

*Est. $80 Compare Prices

Travel experts recommend budget rolling luggage for infrequent travelers. The 10-pound Delsey Helium Fusion carry-on bag is made with polyester instead of better Cordura nylon, and the warranty doesn't cover accidental… damage. However, it passes tests of handle strength, and most owners say this Delsey luggage stands up to rough handling. The 21-inch carry-on bag is unusual in that it includes a garment hanger for suits. You can also expand the 8.5-inch depth by another 2.5 inches if you're willing to check it as baggage. Delsey Helium luggage is also available in two larger sizes.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: Testing larger bags that need to be checked as luggage, Good Housekeeping recommends the Delsey Helium Fusion bag as one of the ...

ConsumerReports.org: Editors at Consumer Reports test the Delsey Helium Fusion carry-on bag for durability and maneuverability, comparing it with 11 ...

Money: Comparison tests here rank the Delsey Helium Fusion Carry-on Expandable Suiter Trolley second only to the much more expensive ...

Steam-Cleaners-Direct.com: Smart Money editors and the CEO of JetBlue airlines evaluate five models of carry-on luggage for maneuverability, packing space, ...

EBags.com: More than 200 owners review and rate the Delsey Helium Fusion 21-inch Carry-on Expandable Suiter Trolley here, with especially ...

Luggage Online: Twenty-one owners review the Delsey Helium Fusion carry-on bag here, noting that the handle adjusts to different heights, and ...

Amazon.com: Half a dozen or so owners review the Delsey Helium Fusion Carry-On Expandable Suiter Trolley here, with some reports of broken ...

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Spinner luggage

Samsonite Sahora Brights 20-in Spinner Upright

*Est. $170 Compare Prices

Tests confirm that the four wheels make this "spinner" carry-on easy to maneuver and easier on the back than two-wheeled luggage (although many people still prefer bags with two wheels). This hybrid bag combines polyester… fabric (including a zippered pocket) with polycarbonate sides. The bag opens like a clamshell to make it easy to see contents. The 8-pound weight is a plus, but it's now hard to find this luggage in any color except black.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Wired.com: This review gives eight points out of a possible 10 to the Samsonite Sahora Brights 20-inch Spinner Upright, praising it as ...

The Travel Insider: Based on expert comparisons of a great many carry-on bags, the Samsonite Sahora Spinner ranks second in weight, with praise for ...

EBags.com: Twenty owners rate and review the Samsonite Sahora Brites 20-inch Spinner Upright here, with 95 percent saying they'd buy it ...

Luggage Online: Half a dozen or so owners review the Samsonite 20-inch Spinner Upright here, praising its appearance and organization, but ...

Amazon.com: Quite a few sizes and colors of Sahora Brights luggage get reviews here, but only two owners have posted reviews of the 20-inch ...

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Big rolling duffel

Osprey SpaceStation 100

*Est. $220 Compare Prices

If you just need one huge rolling bag, reviews recommend this 6,100-cubic-inch duffel as an excellent value. Packing is easy with two inner compartments and two outside pockets plus a wet-dry pocket. The Osprey bag is… made with tear-resistant ballistic nylon, and the lifetime warranty covers baggage-handling damage for domestic travel.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Outside Magazine: Based on abusive tests of new luggage, including trying to soak it with water, Outside editors recommend the Osprey SpaceStation ...

REI.com: The SpaceStation 100 hasn't accumulated any reviews here yet at the time of our report, but owners give other Osprey luggage ...

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Moosejaw.co- m

for $219.00

Budget carry-on backpack

Rick Steves Convertible Carry-On

*Est. $100 Compare Prices

Non-wheeled bags are lighter than rolling luggage, and are easier to fit in overhead compartments. This 3-pound polyester bag has two handles and, for heavier loads, it converts to a backpack with tuck-away straps.… Experts say the hip belt on this travel pack makes a big difference in comfort. Plenty of pockets plus compression straps make it easy to organize contents. The limited lifetime warranty doesn't cover accidental damage.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

San Francisco Chronicle: Travel editor John Flinn recommends the Rick Steves Convertible bag as the easiest to pack among his favorite type, carry-on bags ...

Amazon.com: About a dozen owners review the Rick Steves Convertible Carry-On here, giving it a near-perfect average rating and saying it's ...

LuggagePoint.com: Eight owners reviewing the Rick Steves Convertible Backpack bag here give it the highest possible rating, saying it holds much ...

About.com: James Martin, About.com's guide to European travel, recommends the rolling version, but praises Rick Steves luggage for ...

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Carry-on shoulder bag

Red Oxx Air Boss

*Est. $225 Compare Prices

The rugged Red Oxx Air Boss is expensive, but extremely durable, made of urethane-coated Cordura nylon. It's ideal for business travelers, since it accommodates a laptop in the middle of its three compartments. The… 4-pound bag opens on the wide side for convenience on luggage stands, and carries a full lifetime warranty with free repairs.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

OneBag.com: This business travel expert recommends the Red Oxx Air Boss as the best carry-on bag for frequent travelers, praising its middle ...

TravelGearReview.com: This well-illustrated single-product review covers the Air Boss in detail, based primarily on testing it on a week-long trip. The ...

One Bag, One World (blog): This single-product review gives the Red Oxx Air Boss a perfect five-star rating, calling it a top pick. Photos show the bag ...

Fodors.com: This review gives top ranking to a similar Red Oxx bag, the Skytrain, which lacks the separate compartments of the Air Boss but ...

The Travel Insider: This review covers another carry-on bag by Red Oxx, but much of the praise also applies to the Air Boss. Editors like the light ...

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