Briggs & Riley vs Tumi: Which One Comes Out on Top
Having the right luggage could make all the difference when it comes to travel. Whether taking a short weekend trip or going on a weekend adventure, your luggage is your constant companion, carrying everything from your clothes to your electronics and souvenirs. So, investing in a high-quality functional bag that can withstand the bumps and bruises of travel is essential.
Two names often come to mind regarding high-end luggage brands: Briggs & Riley, and Tumi. Both brands offer a range of luggage options, from carry-ons to large suitcases, and have a reputation for their quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. But which one is truly the best?
This article will compare Briggs & Riley and Tumi in terms of design, warranty, Price, Airline restrictions, customer rating and advanced features.
Briggs & Riley
Briggs & Riley is an American brand founded in 1993, and its bags are known for their quality, long-lasting and functionality. The brand’s signature feature is its Simple As That lifetime warranty, which guarantees the repair or replacement of the bag no matter the damage.
Their products are famous among airline crews frequent and business travelers. The brand’s products include a range of luggage from suitcases to backpacks, totes, duffel bags and other travel essentials. Their suitcases also have fantastic packing features, such as packing organizers, toiletries pouches and improved compression systems.
Product Lines
Briggs & Riley offers a variety of product lines for various types of travelers and travel needs. Here are some of their most popular product lines:
Baseline
This product line is made for frequent business travelers who need a durable bag that can withstand constant use. The bags in this line have expandable compartments, garment panels, and compression straps to keep clothes wrinkle-free and organized.
Sympatico
The Sympatico line is ideal for adventure travelers needing a rugged bag to handle terrain or weather conditions. These bags feature high-quality materials, self-repairing zippers, and spinner wheels for easy mobility.
Transcend
This product line is designed for leisure travelers wanting stylish and versatile bags. These bags have expandable compartments, multiple pockets, and elegant designs to give a fabulous look with the quality material bag.
Kinzie Street
The Kinzie Street line is for modern professionals who want a stylish and functional bag. These bags feature a sleek, minimalist design and premium materials like ballistic nylon and leather.
@Work
The @Work line is made for business professionals needing a bag to hold their laptops and other work essentials. These bags feature padded compartments, multiple pockets, and a variety of organizational features to keep the work items organized.
Tumi
Tumi is another famous brand and a competitor of Briggs and Riley in the luggage industry. It was founded in 1975 and gained a reputation for producing high-quality bags for frequent flyers and the airline industry. Tumi is a more luxurious brand than Briggs & Riley, and costing a lot. Do you want to know Why Tumi is so expensive? Let’s find out!
At the beginning of its career, the brand offers a lifetime product warranty. But later, due to a change in ownership, the lifetime warranty was changed to a limited warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship for the product’s life.
Product Lines
Alpha 3
The Alpha 3 line is in Tumi’s flagship collection for regular business travelers. These bags are made from high-quality materials and feature a range of compartment sections for organizing business essentials. The line includes carry-on bags, check-in bags, and laptop bags.
Latitude
This line is for adventure travelers, and its bags features lightweight, durable materials, impact-resistant corners, and spinner wheels.
Voyageur
The Voyageur line is designed for women who want a stylish bag. Use this lined bag as double as a carry-on or everyday bag. These bags feature a range of compartments and pockets as well as durable materials that can resist the rigors of travel.
19 Degree
The 19 Degree line is Tumi’s most stylish collection. It is perfect for people who want a bag that makes a statement. These bags feature a sleek, modern design inspired by the angles of a diamond, as well as durable materials and spinner wheels for easy maneuverability.
Harrison
The Harrison collection is for modern professionals. These bags feature a range of compartments and pockets for organizing work essentials and have durable material.
Briggs & Riley Vs Tumi: Key Differences
1. Weight
Let’s find the key differences between the brands and start with weight. The good thing is not all models from these brands are equally heavy. The lightest carry-on in Tumi was the Latitude hard side which weighs 2.85 kg. For Briggs, the most lightweight bag was the Torq which weighs 3 kg.
Regarding the weight of suitcases, Tumi’s hard side suitcases tend to be heavier than their soft side suitcases. At the same time, Briggs & Riley’s Baseline line features lightweight materials that make their bags lighter overall.
2. Durability
Durability is a factor that means it can withstand any wear or damage if we discuss luggage durability from both brands. Many users report that they have been using suitcases of these brands for over a decade without any significant issues.
Briggs uses polycarbonate material in luggage and ballistic nylon in soft side bags. Tumi offers patented materials such as Tegris and SRPP Ballistic hard-side composites. They use FXT Ballistic Nylon for soft-side bags, similar to regular ballistic nylon. All these materials are highly durable. Both brands are highly durable for other luggage components like zippers, handles, and wheels. However, Briggs & Riley uses YKK zippers and spinner wheels that combine polycarbonate and rubber for smoother rolling. In contrast, Tumi uses regular polycarbonate wheels.
Both brands offer highly durable suitcases, with Briggs & Riley marginally outperforming Tumi.
3. Warranty
Tumi and Briggs & Riley have different warranty terms for their luggage. Tumi used to offer a lifetime warranty when they first started, but since 2004, their suitcases only have a 5-year warranty. Everything is covered for the first year, including shipping fees, wear and tear from use, manufacturing defects, and airline damage. Only manufacturing defects are covered from years 2-5, and you’ll have to pay for shipping to their repair centers.
In contrast, Briggs & Riley offers a better warranty than any other luggage manufacturer. Their warranty covers any defects for the product’s lifetime, except cosmetic damage and normal wear and tear.
4. Style And Design
When it comes to the style and design of the luggage of these brands, both are known for their stylish, modern designs, but they cater to slightly different aesthetics. Both Briggs & Riley and Tumi bags are known for their contemporary, modern designs but cater to different aesthetics. Briggs & Riley bags have a classic, professional look, while Tumi bags have a sleek, minimalist design.
Briggs & Riley bags come in a limited range of colors and patterns. In contrast, Tumi bags offer more customization options, with a wide range of colors, materials, and personalization features.
5. Airline Size Restrictions
Briggs & Riley and Tumi make carry-on suitcases that meet the common Airline size restriction of 22 x 14 x 9 inches. However, they have different definitions of “international/global” sizes. Briggs & Riley offers domestic and international sizes, slightly shorter and wider at 21 x 15 x 9 inches. Tumi also provides domestic and international sizes, but their global size is wider at 22 x 16 x 9 inches.
The maximum size limit for checked baggage is 62 linear inches. Most of the checked luggage from Briggs & Riley and Tumi are below 62 linear inches, except for the Briggs & Riley Torq at 63.1 linear inches and the Tumi Alpha 3 at 66 linear inches. However, the international size restrictions vary depending on the airline. Get to know more about the Carry on Airline size restrictions guide.
6. Safety And Security
Safety is an essential factor when traveling with some luggage. Briggs & Riley suitcases do not come with built-in TSA locks. So those who want to increase the security of their luggage may have to pay an additional fee. However, they do have high-quality zipper loops that are hard to open and provide a sense of security.
On the other hand, TUMI suitcases have built-in TSA locks on their hard cases and Alpha range of bags. These locks are solid and reliable to ensure the safety of your belongings. In addition, TUMI also has its own Tracer Tag system, which can help you locate your bag during longer journeys. It provides an extra layer of security and peace of mind while traveling.
7. Advanced Features
Regarding features, both Briggs & Riley and Tumi offer exceptional options for travelers. However, Briggs & Riley stands out with unique features that can make your travels much more effortless.
Briggs & Riley suitcases offer features such as a built-in garment folder, Outsider® handle system, and CX™ compression-expansion system, which expands the suitcase up to 34% more capacity. Moreover, the bags have a Smartlink™ system that allows you to connect multiple bags for easy transportation.
Tumi offers the Tumi Tracer system, expandable zippers, double spinner wheels, an Omega Closure system and additional protection features like guard rails and plastic/metal corners.
8. Customer Rating
Regarding customer ratings, Briggs & Riley has a slightly higher customer rating than Tumi on Amazon and Trustpilot. Briggs & Riley has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, based on over 1,500 customer reviews. On the other hand, Tumi has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, based on over 3,000 customer reviews.
9. Price Point
Briggs & Riley and TUMI offer high-quality luggage but differ in their target market and pricing. Briggs & Riley covers a broader market and offers more economical options. So, their suitcases make better value for the price. On the other hand, TUMI is a luxury brand, and its products are often more expensive than other brands.
Conclusion: Which One Should You Get?
Now you know the key difference between both brands. If you want a reliable and efficient suitcase without breaking the bank, Briggs & Riley offers excellent value for the price. Their bags are made of high-quality materials and come with practical features.
However, if you’re willing to spend more on a premium brand and want the best product, TUMI is the way to go. Their suitcases are designed for luxury with cutting-edge technologies. They also come with advanced features such as TSA locks, ideal for frequent flyers who want extra security.
If you also want to explore other brands’ luggage, check out our articles on the best travel bags and luggage for teens and the best lightweight luggage and suitcases for seniors. These articles comprehensively list top-rated luggage options for specific age groups and travel needs.
