Carbon LW
 

Any of you have any reviews of the carbon fiber LW? Heard from a few people that it doesn't bend at all like the steel one.

I bought a used 21” international 2-wheel version of the Briggs & Riley off eBay. BEST $125 I’ve spent on that app/site. As you mentioned, their warranty is LEGIT! When I received the bag from eBay it needed new wheels, new handle and several zippers worn -worn/torn, so I elected to ship it to an authorized repair facility (depending on where you live - Google authorized repair shop/store) I actually took it to an overnight in Portland, OR. But the repair shop said that there’s soo many versions of B & R bags/handles that he didn’t have the parts in stock. Yes, I probably could have just ordered the parts and done the work myself, but wanted to test the warranty. So I paid $50 to shiip it to a place in NJ and a week or so later got what looked like a new bag AND the repair center covered the shipping back to me.

- I bought the 21” international version because the “22 domestic version doesn’t fit wheels first in the overhead bins on our 737-700 and some of our older 767-300. (Watched as a captain I was DHing with struggle and finally had to slide it in sideways). Even though I’m on the Airbus and don’t have a bag issue, we deadhead a lot at U.

- One caveat, the handle frame is on the outside of the bag which might be an issue trying to stick in the crj-200 overhead (I always used the cockpit storage when I was at Z-dub). But the outside pouch in between the handle makes a perfect spot for storing our stupid reflective vest we have to wear.

So I finally decided on the Biggs and Riley ZDX 22” Domestic Carry-On Expandable Spinner. $335.20 was the final cost after the airline crew discount. It also came with a free battery to charge your stuff like the ones we have for our iPads only much smaller and lighter. I’ll try to make this thorough yet somewhat brief and feel free to ask me any questions. First I don’t really think it’s worth what I paid but it should hold up well and if they honor their warranty then maybe I’ll change my mind on that. The only thing I have to compare it to is my Luggage Works 22” metal frame. The BandR is noticeably way lighter. The 4 wheels also makes it seem even lighter because rolling it on 4 wheels takes pretty much all of the strain off your back and shoulders. It rolls amazingly well in smooth surfaces. A little less well on airport carpet. I find myself tipping to 2 wheels going up or down slopes and in rough parking lots simply because it wants to tip over in those scenarios. With a cooler bag sitting on top and a small soft sided brain bag attached to the outside it also wants to tip. It takes some getting used to but after some practice I can anticipate situations where it wants to tip and counter it accordingly. It has a slightly smaller interior space than the LW but it still holds everything I need. Winter might be a different story when I have to pack bulkier clothes but I’m sure I’ll make it work. It’s slightly harder to get in and out of the CRJ200 overhead bin because of its different shape but it actually fits better once it’s in. The extending handle stops at about 6 different positions which is nice for different scenarios or taller or shorter people. I notice how rampers like to lift bags by that handle and I don’t see this handle tolerating much of that. It’s sturdy but it’s also thin metal and thin plastic. It’ll take normal use just fine but I predict rampers ruining it much more quickly than I ever could. I’ve only had to gate check it one time and it was returned to me with several deep scratches in some of the soft plastic pieces. I think the fabric exterior will outlast every other part of the bag. It’s soft and smooth but also thick and durable. If the LW is a tank then the BandR is a compact luxury hatchback. It’s an awesome bag that is probably overpriced. Assuming that the warranty is as good as they say it is, I’d say the BandR is a clear winner over the LW. No more bent frames and no more exploding wheel bearings. Price is very similar to the LW but the warranty is supposedly much better. If neither bag came with any sort of warranty I might lean towards the LW just because it’s so heavy duty but considering the BandR warranty is theoretically so much better and the bag is so much lighter, I’m going to say I’d recommend the BandR without any doubt or hesitation.

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Funny....that's what I was thinking. (See above)

I could have made it twice as long and nobody would have read it. I could have made it half as long and it wouldn’t have been very informative. If it’s too long don’t read it. Are you really complaining about getting information on something that nobody ever really talks about?

Thank-you for the review.

Not complaining as much as surprised a review about a suitcase and learning how to roll it through a parking lot could ever be so long. I could not come up with a filibuster like that if I owned the company that built the bag.

Wonder why no body ever talks about it....and yes I’m complaining. I’m a pilot that’s what we do. Fly planes and complain about things.


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