To check a bag, or not to check a bag? It’s really not a question for me, especially when I’m rolling through the airport testing the Briggs & Riley Sympatico Essential 22” Carry-On Expandable Spinner.
There are primarily two types of airplane travelers. Those who always check their luggage, and those who do everything in their power not to hand over their bag. I’m in the latter category. While I appreciate the freedom and ease that comes with dropping your bag at the ticket counter, upon landing, I want to get out of the airport, not wait at a baggage carousel.
When I first got the Sympatico 22” Carry-On Expandable Spinner, I’ll admit to having a moment of concern, as I thought it looked small. It isn’t. I just needed to learn how to pack it correctly.
Accustomed to clamshell-style roller bags that split in two halves, this bag also splits in two, but one side is deep and the other shallow. (Briggs & Riley refers to it as a 70/30 top lid opening design.) The deep side features Briggs & Riley’s CX technology that allows the bag to expand and reportedly provide 25 percent more space.
And though it sounds like tech of this nature could be hard to use, it’s refreshingly simple.
There are two CX buttons inside the deep side of the roller bag. To expand the bag you press on the buttons and pull up the sides. When you’re packed and ready, zip the bag closed and give the front of the suitcase a firm but doable push, and it compresses back to the original size.
There are an assortment of other handy features inside the carry-on including a garment compression panel, a large zip-around pocket atop the shallow side of the roller bag, and a few smaller mesh pockets to hold those random little things that always seem to come with traveling.
The 360-degree shock absorbing wheels make rolling along a breeze, and an easy flick of the hand can send the case gliding. I recently spent a good amount of time rolling it about on the busy streets of Oahu’s Waikiki Beach, and was impressed with how well it maneuvered.
I’ve also been surprised by how frequently I use the Power Pocket™ on the back of the bag; with a pass-through hole for a USB cord, it’s intended to make charging on go easier, but I find it the perfect place to quickly stow my phone when going through airport security.
All Sympatico bags are now constructed from recycled polycarbonate, and I appreciate the commitment to manufacturing sustainable luggage. Another perk, if the bag is damaged in any way anything, it’s covered by Brigg’s & Riley unconditional “Simple As That” lifetime guarantee.
The SYMPATICO Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner comes in three colors: olive, black, and navy. (Fingers crossed more colors are in the works.) Cost is $649 on the Briggs & Riley website. An optional three character monogram is complimentary.