Travel Technology - Laptop Bags - Specfically Briggs & Riley

I've searched through and read a couple of laptop bag discussions recently and wanted to pose a specific question. It seems there are a number of people around here that really like the Briggs and Riley bags. Does anyone here have experience with the BBW4X or the BB104X? I am looking for something in nylon that is expandable. Both of these seem to fit the bill well, but honestly, I can't tell what the difference is (by searching online) as they are both called 'Expandable Overnighter Computer Brief'. You can get the BBW4X for about $109-139 and the BB104X for $199 firm. Is a $90 difference really worth it?

I don't know what the BBW4X, and it doesn't seem to appear on the B/R website.

I have the BB104X and couldn't be happier.

I don't know what the BBW4X, and it doesn't seem to appear on the B/R website.

I have the BB104X and couldn't be happier.

Yeah, it is hard to track down as it must be an older model.

http://briggs-riley.com/product.asp?pid=26

I have the BBW4X and it's a great bag. I've used it everyday for the last 3 years, including a fair amount of travel, and it looks as good as the day I bought it. The bag looks small compared to some of the othe laptop bags I've seen, but it can hold everything I need to travel without looking stuffed.

IMHO Briggs & Riley has the best warranty in the luggage business, no matter what you purchase from them.

If your Briggs & Riley bag is ever broken or damaged, even if it was caused by an airline, we will repair it free of charge. Simple as that!

I have had their large garment bags repaired while I wait when traveling without any issue at all.

I think your choices are:BBW102 and BBW104X.

Unless you are going to pack clothes then the 102 is fine. The 104X expands to where you could pack a change of clothes.

I have a BBW2-4 (basically the BBW102) and I love it. Still looks good and as another poster mentioned, great warranty. I would buy B&R again if I needed a replacement.

I don't know what the BBW4X, and it doesn't seem to appear on the B/R website.

I have the BB104X and couldn't be happier.

I also have the BB104X. I remember having doubts about the high price tag, but like Mikey likes it, I love mine. I compared mine to the Tumi-equivalent he has, and I have to say I can't notice a difference in quality and mine is almost half the price (not to mention I like the layout of the BB104X better).

Would definitely buy B&R again ^ ^ ^

I have the BBW4X and it's a great bag. I've used it everyday for the last 3 years, including a fair amount of travel, and it looks as good as the day I bought it. The bag looks small compared to some of the othe laptop bags I've seen, but it can hold everything I need to travel without looking stuffed.This is exactly my experience - three years on and it still looks like it did when it came out of the box. Highest recommendation.

I have the BBW4X and love it with one exception and that is the strap arrangement is kind of diagonal - great for the ergonomics of carrying the bag but always seems to get in the way when loading or unloading but you can easily unhook it. The bag holds a lot and is lighter than most on the market if you are concerned about shoulder strain. For me I love it for traveling and the nicest part of it is when expanded you can easily slip three or four 750ml bottles of single malt in it and go right through looking like the typical business person ;) although you shoulder may be sore the next day. Personally I don't think you can go wrong with the BBW4X or in fact any B&R bag. ^

I've had the BB104X for about a year and a half now, and I *love* it. It really feels like you can pack an entire office into it, there are plenty of useful little pockets, great for all your cables and whatnot. I've actually rarely found myself putting clothes in it, but the expandability is great because from time to time I'll carry around a lot of binders, or sometimes two laptops. Highly, highly recommended.

I lovelovelove Briggs & Riley products. I'm on my third piece, the BB107 Vertical Computer Brief/Backpack (http://briggs-riley.com/businesscases/nonrolling/233_verticalcomputerbriefbackpack.asp). It's absolutely perfect for me as a school backpack and to travel with. I also have the rolling computer case and the 21" rolling suiter. I couldn't imagine a better designed product. ^

Everyone is always talking about Tumi, and I think that you get a better bang for the buck with B&R. In addition, I have taken advantage for their warranty several times and never bother to file a claim at the airport for damages done to my bags by the airlines. It saves me a great deal of time and energy. ^

I recently purchased the B&R vertical computer brief (BB107 (http://www.briggs-riley.com/businesscases/nonrolling/233_verticalcomputerbriefbackpack.asp), retail: $175) and thought I'd add a brief review to this thread.

I've had the bag for a little over a month now, and I've used it on a few trips. In short: I'm quite impressed by the bag and highly recommend it. Essentially, it is a nylon computer bag that converts between an over-the-shoulder style tote and a traditional backpack. The bag has three zippered compartments: up front is a compartment with myriad smaller pouches and pockets. I won't go into detail about these, but I will say I was surprised by their smart design and usefulness. The middle compartment carries your laptop, which sits in a zippered, removal, lined sleeve. There's room for my T61 power supply as well, but YMMV by laptop. The rear compartment is designed for documents, with three sections that resemble (in design) an accordion-style file folder. Finally, there's a smaller pouch near the front handle that's designed for tickets (it works great for my ticket/passport holder).

The shoulder strap has a padded section, which has 'grip' material and stretches slightly. This makes it quite comfortable, and it stays on your shoulder. The backpack straps attached with a large clip near the top of the bag and two smaller clips near the bottom that 'hide' when not in use. The straps have marginal padding, but I find the bag comfortable in this mode (YMMV, I store clerk I talked to say many people didn't like the feel of the backpack straps). There's a zippered storage pouch for the straps when not in use, and (on the front) a retractable name tag. The bottom of the bag has small plastic feet, and it sits upright on its own.

I'll sum up with some overall pros and cons:

Pros:

Very smart design, with a host of useful features and few useless ones
Excellent build quality, including metal components in many places
Compact size; fits easily under airline seats with room to spare
Ability to switch from tote to backpack quickly and easily
External ticket holder
Value (see 'price' below, but with the B&R warranty, this could be affordable in the long run)
B&R no questions asked warranty (see my experience here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=634014&highlight=briggs+riley+laptop), post #5)


Cons:

In backpack mode, the bag can be difficult to put on
Weight (reasonably heavy)
Price (see 'value' above, but this is not an inexpensive bag)
Lacks a dedicated water bottle holder
Papers 'snag' on the document separators when being inserted into the bag
With the backpack straps in their storage pouch, it's difficult to put the bag over the handle of a rolling bag


As I said, I recommend this bag. It's not the most stylish, but for me it was a nice compromise between looks and functionality.

Everyone is always talking about Tumi, and I think that you get a better bang for the buck with B&R. In addition, I have taken advantage for their warranty several times and never bother to file a claim at the airport for damages done to my bags by the airlines. It saves me a great deal of time and energy. ^

I think in every objective way such as density of nylon, quality of materials, and warranty B&R isnt just better value than Tumi, they are flat out better. I have the 104X. I carry it everywhere, often loaded to the gills. I use it for travel as well as for a briefcase when Im at home. No problems at all. Love it, in fact Im thinking of getting the rolling version of it as well so that I can roll either my briefcase or my suitcase, depending on the situation. I like flexibility ;)