Briggs & Riley Transcend 20 Carry-on Upright

*Est. $200
Reviewed
October 2008
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Briggs & Riley Transcend 20 Carry-on Upright

Pros
  • Lifetime warranty covers accidental damage
  • Excellent water resistance
  • Lightweight (8.7 pounds)
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Telescoping handle can stick
  • Size is deceiving

Reviews rank the Briggs & Riley Transcend carry-on bag as the best rolling luggage, praising it for superb durability, water resistance and excellent ease of use -- plus a lifetime warranty that even covers accidental damage. The handle telescopes into an outside pocket so the bag's interior is flat and easy to pack so clothes don't wrinkle, with maximum usable space. A clip attaches a second smaller bag if desired. Smaller and larger versions of the Transcend luggage are also available. If you travel infrequently and don't want to spend this much, reviews recommend the Delsey Helium Fusion Carry-on Expandable Suiter Trolley (*Est. $80) as a budget choice, though it doesn't have a warranty that covers accidental damage.

We found the best comparison tests of Briggs & Riley luggage at Good Housekeeping and Consumer Reports magazines. Good Housekeeping tests a larger size in the Transcend series, while Consumer Reports tests the 20-inch carry-on in the similar Baseline series. TheTravelInsider.com compares the 21-inch expandable Transcend bag less formally with other carry-on bags, but based on long experience testing luggage. We also found useful owner-written reviews at eBags.com, LuggageOnline.com, and Amazon.com.

Where To Buy
 
 
Featured StoresStore RatingNotesTotal Price
LuggageGuru.comLuggageGuru.com rated 4.68 (101 reviews)101 store reviewsIn Stock. $199.00
eBags.comeBags.com rated 4.02 (265 reviews)265 store reviewsIn Stock. Free Shipping, Free Returns$199.00
Zappos.comZappos.com rated 4.89 (20079 reviews)20,079 store reviewsIn Stock. Free Shipping BOTH ways!$399.00
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. Good Housekeeping

Objective tests at Good Housekeeping find that the similar Briggs & Riley Transcend 24-inch Expandable Upright is the only bag (out of 11 tested) that earns perfect scores for water resistance, durability and fabric abrasion. The only drawback is that its expandable handle sometimes sticks.

Review: The Best Lightweight Check-in Luggage, Editors of Good Housekeeping

2. ConsumerReports.org

Consumer Reports tests the similar Briggs & Riley Baseline 20, comparing it with 11 other rolling carry-on bags. Bags are subjected to abuse in a giant tumbler to measure durability, and staffers take luggage for a test spin on an obstacle course.

Review: Toughest Travelers, Editors of Consumer Reports, Oct. 2008

3. The Travel Insider

Editors here give the similar 21"-inch Briggs & Riley Transcend carry-on bag top ranking here, praising its lifetime warranty, "general superiority" and the option of splitting the bag into two.

Review: The Best Carry On Bag, Editors of TheTravelInsider.com

4. EBags.com

Nine owners review the Transcend 20-inch" Carry-on Upright here, giving it extremely high ratings for durability, but some owners note that the bag only fits into some overhead compartments sideways, not wheels-in, because the luggage is actually 21 inches, including the wheels.

Review: Briggs & Riley Transcend 20" Carry-On Upright, Contributors to eBags.com

5. 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 telescoping handle can make the bag too thick to meet some airlines' carry-on requirements. Other sizes in the Transcend series get more (and better) reviews here.

Review: Briggs & Riley Transcend 20in. Carry-On Upright, Contributors to LuggageOnline.com

6. Amazon.com

The 21-inch expandable carry-on bag gets two reviews from owners here, with praise for the organization and flat-based packing compartment -- and of course, the durability and warranty.

Review: Briggs & Riley Transcend 21" Carry-On Expandable Upright Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com

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