Briggs & Riley Baseline Global 2-Wheel Carry-On
A carry-on that expands, then squeezes back to fit the bin
A softside 2-wheel carry-on, 21 x 15 x 9 in, that expands to 11.5 in and compresses back down. It has wedge feet, mesh-lid zip pockets and a lifetime repair service.
Our take
Expandable carry-ons have a catch people forget. Once you unzip the expansion, the bag can be too big for the bin, and you're the one at the gate watching it get tagged for the hold.
The Baseline Global gets around that. It expands to 11.5 in deep for more room, then compresses back to 9 in to fit the bin again. The two-wheel base with wedge feet handles rough sidewalks better than small spinner wheels, there are mesh-lid zip pockets for small things, and the lifetime repair service is a real plus if you fly constantly. Then there's the weight. At 9.7 lb empty it's very heavy for a carry-on, which hurts on airlines that weigh cabin bags. It's also very expensive.
Where we land. If you fly all the time, rarely hit cabin weight limits and want repairs for life, it's worth it. For most people, a lighter mid-priced carry-on does the job just as well, so save the money.
Who it’s for
Frequent flyers who value lifetime repairs and a compression system, and rarely face cabin weight limits.
Skip it if
Skip it if weight or budget matters to you. A lighter mid-priced softside carry-on holds about as much for much less.
Briggs & Riley Baseline Global 2-Wheel Carry-On: questions people ask
Are 2-wheel or 4-wheel carry-ons better?
Spinners are easy to push through smooth terminals. Two-wheel bags roll better on cobblestones and curbs, and their wheels are less likely to break.
How heavy should a carry-on be?
As light as you can get, since some airlines set a cabin weight limit. Many carry-ons weigh between 5 and 8 lb empty.
Do airlines measure carry-on bags?
Sometimes, mostly budget and international carriers. An overpacked, expanded bag is the one most likely to get sent to the hold, so check your airline's limits.
Where we recommend it
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