Head-to-head · Best Carry-On Luggage

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner vs Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.7 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about frequent business traveler doing 30-plus trips a year who wants one carry-on for the next 15 years and values warranty coverage that survives airline damage without paperwork — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Carry-On Luggage

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner

4.7

$729

Outdoor Gear Lab scored the Baseline Essential 88/100 (third of seventeen) and the Baseline Domestic 82/100, with NYT Wirecutter naming Briggs & Riley its 2025 upgrade pick. The CX expansion compresses an entire extra outfit back to carry-on dimensions, and the no-questions lifetime guarantee covers airline damage with no proof of purchase. At $729 it's the bag for the traveler who'll keep one carry-on for the next 15 years.

Strengths

— Patented CX compression expands the bag 30% then ratchets back to carry-on dimensions
— Simple as that lifetime guarantee covers any damage including airline damage — no proof of purchase
— Premium ballistic nylon with YKK self-repairing zippers, aircraft-grade aluminum handle

Watch-outs

— $729 list is the highest price in this roundup outside of TUMI premium variants
— 10 lbs empty makes it the heaviest carry-on tested in Outdoor Gear Lab's roundup
— Exterior ballistic nylon absorbs water rather than repelling it in rain tests

$729 · Buy at briggs-riley.com Full review →

Ranked #1 in Best Carry-On Luggage

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner

4.6

$390

Outdoor Gear Lab scored the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" 91/100 and NYT Wirecutter ranked it first across 67 bags tested, citing its self-aligning MagnaTrac wheels, deep 40-liter capacity, and built-in USB charging. Travelpro's bag is the one pilots and flight crews actually pull through terminals, which is the best long-term durability signal in carry-on luggage.

Strengths

— NYT Wirecutter top pick — placed first across 67 bags tested
— MagnaTrac self-aligning spinner wheels track straight even when bag is overloaded
— Integrated USB-A and USB-C ports plus a dedicated FAA-compliant power bank pocket

Watch-outs

— Overall 23.5" height (including wheels) exceeds the strict 22" sizer on some smaller regional jets
— $390 list is double the price of value softside competitors
— Soft DuraGuard fabric shows scuffs faster than a polycarbonate hardside

$390 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner

Heavier than every other bag in this roundup (10 lbs vs. Samsonite Freeform 6.6 lbs and Away 7.5 lbs), but the only one whose warranty literally says airline damage is covered with no proof of purchase. The CX compression delivers a real 30% expansion vs. the Travelpro Platinum Elite's 2-inch zipper expansion, which is closer to 15%.

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner

More charging integration than the Away The Carry-On (USB-A + USB-C plus a power bank pocket vs. Away's no built-in battery option since the 2022 redesign). Lighter than the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential (7.8 lbs vs. 10 lbs) but lacks Briggs's CX compression that recovers a full inch of depth after stuffing.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner	Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner
Material	Premium ballistic nylon with YKK self-repairing zippers	Premium ballistic nylon with DuraGuard coating
External Dimensions	22 x 14 x 9 in (expands to 11.5 in deep)	23.5 x 14.5 x 9 in (with wheels)
Packing Capacity	37-48 L (CX expansion)	40 L (46 L expanded)
Weight	10 lbs	7.8 lbs
Wheel Type	4 dual 360-degree spinner wheels	8 MagnaTrac self-aligning dual-spinner wheels
Compression System	Yes, patented CX ratcheting	—
TSA Lock	Yes, combination cable	Yes
Sub-Compartments	Built-in tri-fold garment folder, SpeedThru pocket, HideAway ID tag	—
Warranty	Simple as that lifetime — covers airline damage with no proof of purchase	Lifetime limited
Expandable	—	Yes, 2 inches
Charging Port	—	USB-A + USB-C with power bank pocket

← See the full ranking of best carry-on luggage