Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Spinner Review

Boasting a remarkably deceptive capacity and classically understated good looks, the high-end Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Spinner knows its priorities — core strength, innovative and reliable design, and thoughtful, highly effective features. Polished, smart, and hyper-responsive, it's sure to reduce the pains of packing and might just introduce a dash of joy back into those long travel days.

Capacity

There is a fine line between a collection of smart and useful extras that can make packing and travel easier and a bunch of potentially burdensome features that may get in the way and slow your prep and movements down. Briggs & Riley manages to master this line with aplomb.

A large flip-lid delivers a wide front-side opening to the 36-liter main compartment, offering immediate access to two interior mesh zip pockets sized just large enough to separate one's undergarments or other small necessities from the core contents of the bag. Upon closer inspection, a much more elaborate storage feature is hidden just behind: a tri-fold garment envelope nested subtly into the structure of the opening lid. To access it, just unzip and unfold the suiter down into the central storage area below. Then, once you've laid out and secured your delicate attire into place, just fold the envelope back up into the lid for closure to help minimize wrinkles in transit. Business and wedding travelers alike will rejoice at the simplicity and effectiveness of this design.

While using and testing my Baseline Essential Spinner, I also quickly noticed that the main compartment has a perfectly flat base. This is with intention, as they've opted to attach their aircraft-grade aluminum telescoping handle to the exterior of the case instead of the interior. I liked how this instantly upgrades the bag's storage capacity by removing what can become an awkward obstacle and replacing it with a flat, packable interior compartment.

That said, this bag's 36-liter main compartment offers less packing volume than many of the bags in our lineup. Likewise, it's the heaviest member of our flight crew, weighing in at 10.1 pounds. This can be attributed to its comprehensive packing system accessories. When directly compared against the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21", I feel the Travelpro may be more desirable to many travelers because it's cheaper and weighs just 8.1 pounds. Additionally, my personal measurements estimated its main compartment volume to be 40 liters.

I easily packed for a 7-day summer getaway (complete with different outfits for each day of the trip) during testing and found the Briggs & Riley to be one of the most “packable” of all carry-ons I've tested, leaving room to spare even without ever employing the expansion tool or having to rely on its exterior pockets. My second packability test involved far bulkier items, including the things I'd need for a multi-day rock climbing trip, including a helmet, grigri, shoes, ropes, clothing, and so much more. And once again, even considering the highly irregular shapes and densities of the items involved, I had no problem squeezing everything in — at least once I employed the expansion feature. I even had room to spare! Once compressed, the bag reduces right back down to nearly its original airline-compliant size.

Part of the magic of the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Spinner is the proprietary mechanism they've created for case compression and expansion. Instead of the old unzip-it trick as found on most expandable carry-ons, this bag's system is two-fold, with both compression and expansion elements built right into the main compartment. The first step requires releasing the expansion feature by pulling gently up on two tabs found embedded into the side of the bag's interior. Next, make use of its two well-crafted compression panels, each set wide across the length of the bag. These work wonders on their own, adding a great deal of capacity to the bag without any further expansion. Cinch the panels down over the payload and watch as nearly everything in the suitcase compresses neatly below. Then, just re-zip the bag closed and press down on its outer edges. This will engage the expansion tool, compressing everything down as the suitcase reduces in size yet again. A nifty party trick and an even better travel tool.

Ease of Transport

What makes the Baseline Essential Spinner rollaboard so compelling is just how well every aspect of the design, construction, and functionality was considered. Large shock-absorbing wheels with 360-degree maneuverability glide effortlessly beside you as you run between hotel lobbies and busy city streets or airport security lines. Strong protective wheel housings and high clearance mean the double-spinners won't flinch in the face of thresholds, curbs, or gravel. However, our Briggs & Riley bag's rolling prowess was slightly bested by the Rimowa Original Cabin (which rolls smoother) and the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" (because its wheels magnetically self-align).

One of this bag's key transport features is an ergonomic telescoping handle, complete with five locking heights — one of the sturdiest I've tested. It makes maneuvering long distances and tight spaces nearly effortless.

Whenever a stairwell or overhead bin does appear, the two cushioned carry handles and a smaller hand grip on the bottom are available to make it easy to lift and lower the case smoothly into position. As mentioned, the entire trolley handle system is located on the outside of the bag. In addition to freeing up internal space, it also doubles as a full-length bumper rail — one of the most robust guard rails I've tested.

In addition to being very adaptive to a wide variety of terrain and obstacles, the Baseline Essential Spinner's wheels roll with zero vibration, and most importantly, they stay the course. Throughout my rolling tests, this bag towed the line every time, producing consistent results and proving that its spinners are built for the long haul.

Construction Quality

Although surprising to some, the soft ballistic nylon exterior of the Baseline Essential is actually quite durable and well-equipped to match the regular traumas and pitfalls of life on the road. With substantial corner-guard protection and heavy reinforcement along vulnerable outer edges, the core structure of the bag is built to match the harsh demands of transit. Matched by an aircraft-grade aluminum telescoping handle, big hefty zippers, and a set of large, road-ready shock-absorbing spinner wheels. Every feature on this carry-on is built to serve and last.

Equally impressive is how the Baseline Essential Spinner stood up to testing, looking just as good on day one as it did coming out the other side, surviving hauls up and down stairwells, long walks across rough gravel, dubious hours in airline care, and multiple drop tests onto rock-solid concrete. In each case, this rugged carry-on was nearly unphased. And on the few occasions when tiny scuffs or scrapes did appear, I was impressed with how well those minor blemishes blended easily into the bag's understated softshell. I was specifically impressed with how my Baseline Essential responded to being dropped from three feet in the air and pushed down concrete stairs. In both tests, its exterior-mounted trolley handle proved to be an exceptional construction component that protects and offers added packing space.

An occasional rainstorm or spilled drink is no match for the rugged exterior shell of the Baseline Essential. During our water tests, I drenched it with a five-minute hose-water rainstorm and was pleased to find its main compartment virtually dry. However, its exterior pockets were just a tad damp. The Tumi 19 Degree International Expandable performed better than the Baseline Essential by remaining virtually dry on the inside. Surprisingly, so did the much cheaper SwissGear Sion Softside Expandable 21-Inch.

Design and Functionality

If you want to stand out in a crowd, this case is probably not going to be the first to draw your eye. Its classically sophisticated softshell exterior is well-designed to transition between professional meetings and leisurely vacation destinations without a hitch, but it won't likely pair well with the bold urban style of today's fashionistas. Then again, what it lacks in color options or blingy accessories, it more than makes up for in quality of design and top-tier functionality. So, for those who prefer an aesthetic that's more luxe than trendsetting and have the budget to pay for premium performance, this sleek, understated rollaboard will not disappoint.

The Baseline Essential Spinner embodies a simple, classic design but still includes a number of highly valuable organizational features. A tri-fold garment keeper along the inside of its opening flap minimizes wrinkles on delicate fabrics when needed. When not in use, the envelope's streamlined design keeps it discretely tucked out of the way so you can focus on using the main compartment to pack your essentials. It's also entirely removed from the core compression system below, so cinched panels don't scrunch finer items above.

The Baseline Essential Spinner also comes equipped with two good-sized front exterior pockets (including a sleeve large enough to fit a small laptop), a SmartLink strap to secure a second bag to your case, a power pocket nested at the back, and a TSA-approved lock to secure the contents of your bag. So many well-designed yet simple solutions to common needs that will make your travel days brighter. The only bag that compares is the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21". My only complaint when it comes to this premium case is its heavy weight –- among the heaviest in the entire collection –- which we suppose is the tradeoff necessary to enjoy the wide range of high-quality, valuable features that otherwise make it a reviewer favorite.

The Baseline Essential also boasts some of the best zippers from the test group, with pulls that glide like butter around the edges of the bag, even at full capacity. Not once did I have to fight with them nor worry they'd get caught up on closure or give out when the bag became overstuffed. Meanwhile, each of the three exterior pockets is well thought-out in terms of placement and size, which allowed me to organize and access all day-of incidentals easily while on the move. The large front sleeve pocket stowed a 17-inch laptop with no problem. But, if you'd rather keep your computer stowed under the seat in front of you, a laptop backpack may be a nice accessory. Lastly, I loved the Baseline Essential's brightly-lined top pocket that was perfect for tossing in our phone, tickets, or keys. Its inconspicuous power pocket is nested on the backside within the external telescoping handle mount. It was a perfect spot to stash a power charger and cords, so they were easy to grab for a boost while I was on the move.

Should You Buy the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Spinner?

I'm pleased to report this suitcase performs so well, given it's a very expensive carry-on option in a suitcase category that includes other notably expensive choices. At full price, the purchase could be a tough pill to swallow. But it is undeniably an excellent piece of premium luggage with a variety of valuable features and a structure built to last for years to come. This would be an ideal carry-on for someone who travels extensively for work and needs to stay organized while also looking and feeling put together upon landing. And it would no doubt be loved by anyone whose vacation plans include special events requiring fancier, more extravagant attire, as the built-in suiter is a wonderful tool for protecting delicate fabrics of suits and dresses in transit. So, while it's not my top choice for average traveler needs, it is well up at the top of my list of favorite carry-ons for anyone who has the budget to support such a premium purchase.

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