Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22" Carry-On Expandable Spinner review

Briggs & Riley's Baseline Essential 22 is built around two ideas: expand when packing, compress at the gate, and never pay for repairs. The CX system adds up to 30% more space, taking capacity from 37 to 48 L, and then compresses the case back to 22 x 14 x 9 inches so it fits most US overhead bins. The Outsider handle runs on the outside of the bag, which leaves a flat interior that keeps clothes from creasing. The fabric is ballistic nylon, the zippers are self-repairing, and there are impact-resistant corner guards, a PowerPocket for a battery pack, grab handles on all sides and a TSA-accepted cable lock. The lifetime guarantee is the strongest here: repairs are free of charge and no proof of purchase is needed. The costs are real, though. At $729 it is more than double most bags on this list, and at 10 lbs it is the heaviest, which eats into strict cabin weight limits.

Who it is for

Frequent flyers who want the strongest warranty and will pay for it.

Price

$729.

Baseline Essential 22" Carry-On Expandable Spinner Regular price $729.00
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• CX expansion adds up to 30% more space, then compresses back to carry-on size
• Exterior Outsider handle for a flat interior
• Premium ultra-durable ballistic nylon
• PowerPocket for a battery pack with a pass-through USB cord
• Self-repairing zippers, corner guards and a TSA-accepted cable lock

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: 22 x 14 x 9 in. exterior when compressed
• Strength: Simple as that lifetime guarantee, free of charge with no proof of purchase needed
• Strength: Grab handles on the top, bottom and sides for bin retrieval
• Weakness: The most expensive bag here at $729
• Weakness: Heaviest bag on this list at 10 lbs
• Weakness: Expanded depth of 11.5 in. will not fit a sizer

Key facts

• Exterior size: 22 x 14 x 9 to 11.5 in.
• Weight: 10 lbs
• Capacity: 37 to 48 L
• Material: Ballistic nylon
• Warranty: Lifetime, no proof of purchase needed

Where it ranks

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22" Carry-On Expandable Spinner is No. 7 in our Best Carry On Luggage verdict.