Briggs & Riley Transcend 20 Carry-on Upright

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.