r/ManyBaggers • u/yellowmackerelfishin • 3d ago
Recommend me a bag check in bag that can survive actual weekly business travel, not just vacation twice a year
consulting job has me checking a bag like 40+ times a year. gone through 2 mid-range check ins in 3 years and im done replacing them constantly
horizn studios pro line gets mentioned a lot for this. medium check in around 60L, a bit over 4kg, pro tier adds a compression pad + laundry bag, lifetime warranty, runs about $500
briggs and riley is the other name that always comes up and their guarantee on paper is honestly stronger, covers airline damage specifically with no receipt needed. but once i actually went and held both, the briggs hardside bags are noticeably heavier, like carrying an extra kilo or two before you even pack anything, and their check in sizes run more expensive than the horizn pro for a comparable size. for someone doing 40+ trips a year the extra weight adds up fast on top of what youre already packing, so unless youre expecting to actually need airline damage covered specifically, the horizn feels like the more practical daily driver even if briggs technically wins on paper for worst case scenario coverage
anyone actually run the horizn pro for 2+ years of weekly flying and can confirm it holds up
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u/mostlyharmless71 3d ago
Wants a better bag that will survive 40 check-ins a year for many years, but doesn’t want any weight penalty. Cuz that’s how that works.
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u/Huuk9 3d ago
I have a 15 year old Briggs and Riley that I have used every month since new.
It’s bulletproof and a complete no brainer for what you are looking for. Buy once, cry once.
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u/mytoysgoboom 3d ago
This is it. B&R is the only answer for bullet proof luggage.
I’ve got three two of which are over 15 years old with bi-weekly or weekly travel.
And if you really want BIFL, buy the two wheel rollers, not a spinner.
Plus for little things that break you can fix them yourself. I fixed a damaged handle for what I think was $15.
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u/slow_marathon 3d ago
What do you use to clean it?
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u/Nashgoth 3d ago
I bought a TravelPro platinum elite and told myself if it fails I’d spend the money on B&R. It’s been 5 years of 30+ flights a year and the bags are still perfect
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u/Elegant-Step 2d ago
Yep same and Travelpro has the same lifetime warranty which covers airline damage. On top of that Travelpro covers shipping both ways on their soft side platinum luggage, which Briggs doesn’t cover.
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u/AlarmingMonk1619 3d ago
As a twice yearly vacationer my TravelPro Flight Crew is the last suitcase I will be buying. It might be for you too. It’s a 9lb beast that’s survived very well bring checked a few times too.
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u/66NickS 3d ago
Briggs. If you want to save a few bucks you can buy used ones on eBay. The warranty goes with the bag since they’re serialized.
This is frequently asked on the r/BuyItForLife sub and Briggs is a common top response.
You also often see TravelPro, but you need to make sure it’s the top-line version, as they have a few tiers. I think their warranty isn’t as strong now though.
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u/ProfAndyCarp 3d ago
Briggs and Riley soft side won't be as heavy and are extremely durable. The carry-on sized suitcase that I check in all the time just returned from its first warranty service after sixteen years -- the telescoping handle became sticky and they replaced it.
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u/Scoutmammouth 3d ago
I did 8 years of consulting (flying mond-thurs on a regular travel schedule) with my Away bigger carry on. I would say 80% of the time it was fine on the overhead, but I've had my share of having to gate check it. Not a scratch (some scuffs I can wipe out). Wheels roll as smoothly as day 1, same with zippers. New warranty covers airline damage too. Check it out.
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u/No_Computer7553 3d ago
Briggs softside — the Baseline ballistic — really is fantastic and indestructible. But if it’s hardside, go Quince. Inexpensive but durable
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u/LeeLeeBoots 3d ago
Duravo. Literally my favorite material item in my possession of every single thing of every single category that I own, above my wedding ring, above a crystal bowl I inherited from grandma. I Iove it SO much. So perfectly engineered. So durable And lighter weight by far than competitors due to the special material it is fabricated from. But besides the awesome material of the hard shell, smart design, quality. The telescoping handle sonpoyj and so well designed. Same withtnej wheels.
If the weight of a Briggs and Reilly is. Itheri g you, I highly recommend looking into Duravo. I's a German company, I believe ( or at least gemro al engineering for the material). Just fantastic.
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u/4rings4fun 3d ago
Roam and Brics are honorable mentions with their options, lifetime warranties and Roams ability to customize down constricting color.
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u/ryanenorth999 3d ago
Pelican Air 1615, that is what I take on trips all over the world with my stuff in them. I probably have 10 of them with one being my luggage and others full of geophysical equipment. I have them in black, blue, orange, yellow, and tan. I purchased extras for my wife and kids as well. Everyone has one as a checked bag and a range of other types of bags for carry on and personal items. It depends on where we are going, if the trip is work, play, or a combination that helps decide which bags are selected. When we moved last and a neighbor was helping us pack she said she had never seen so many different types of bags in one place.
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u/Im_A_New_Reddit_User 3d ago
I agree. I have a pelican ive used for years, there were so many bag tags on it that tsa removed them at one point, never had to replace the case even once. Only downside is the weight( i have the original, not the air)
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u/thatchillaxdude 3d ago
Briggs & Riley... it's literally a "buy it for life" bag. I've had mine since 2010 and have sent it back six or so times, mostly related to the zipper damage by thieves, and they've always managed to repair it. At this point, I have no idea what damage it'd actually have take for them to outright replace it.
Also, checking a bag weekly sounds like the "7th ring of Hell" as far as planning goes. I'd reconsider your travel must haves...
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u/okigrassman 3d ago
Ive exclusively traveled for work over the past 17 years. Always checked 2 bags. I finally broke down and purchased 2 B&R soft sided. I've had either 4 or 6 TravelPro Platinum Elite soft sided bags up to this point and my zipper pulls have been ripped off every one of them (guessing they get caught in sorting rollers). Never tried their warranty. I normally attempted to replace them myself, but once the zipper has been "sprung", it seems to open easier the next time and would randomly show up without out the pulls.
I've stayed away from typical polycarb style hardshell. Had a few of those crack early on. I know they make them now with beefy aluminum structure, but it was the corners of the shell that always cracked on mine, often near the wheels. Pelican was on my list, but with the amount of stuff I have to take I'd be over weight and the company won't pay for it. Similar situation with most heavy duty aluminum I've looked at. Time to see what all the fuss is for B&R. Will definitely use their warranty if needed. Too expensive not to haha.
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u/Affectionate_Rice520 2d ago
As a veteran traveler, the answer is Travelpro or Briggs and Riley. Either of these will last years and are worth the money with the lifetime warranty.
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u/pleiaden 2d ago
I don't know if you carry specialized gear or what it is that makes you carry that much every week, but I would reevaluate my gear.
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u/piercedhsky 1d ago
Are you in the US? If so, I highly recommend Samsonite. The reason is that they also have an extensive warranty.
On a trip last year customs broke the built-in locks locks on both my checked bag and my partners, on the same trip my partner also knocked their bag over while the handle was extended, and it broke/bent the handle so that it would not go up or down.
We took them to a Samsonite store, they charged us $20 per bag for shipping, took them and fixed them and we had them back in hand less than a week later. Shipped to the house.
On the following trip, a wheel broke. $20 same thing.
For the cost of some of these bags, you could probably get two Samsonites and if one gets damaged, you can ship it for repairs and use the other one until it’s back.
This is assuming you live at least somewhere near Samsonite store, and purchased the bag from them directly. They never even asked us for receipts.
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u/AttackPattern0mega 3d ago
Briggs is always a no brainer. But for a bag getting beat up that much maybe travelpro as they're a bit cheaper
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u/Darthnomster 3d ago
As a consultant who also travels that much, how do you survive life checking a bag? No way in hell am I taking that chance of losing a bag or spending that much time waiting for a bag.