Battle of the bags
February 6 2007
A few months ago, my laptop bag died an untimely death. Through this blog, a Tumi "angel" discovered my plight and convinced me to give them another try. Then, on the very day that I bought my new Tumi bag, Briggs & Riley's PR manager read that blog entry, and offered me a test drive of their latest @work rolling bag. The evaluation unit arrived a few weeks later, but I was ensconced in the Tumi bag at that point. So the Briggs & Riley bag sat waiting patiently for a turn. Lotusphere week, I made the switch -- I knew that I wanted a wheeled bag for Lotusphere, no doubt about it. So, after spending a few weeks traveling with each of these worthy contenders, it's time to review.
The Tumi 26141 is a great laptop bag. It's sleek and easy to work with. It's relatively lightweight, and the overall construction and durability is excellent. I especially liked the removable computer pouch, which I used anytime I was just popping over to Starbucks to work for a bit. The front pouches on the Tumi bag had more capacity than I expected, and I liked the little carry case stored within the front upper left pouch. In fact, the only downsides I could point out about this bag would be 1) it doesn't come with any kind of owner's manual, so some of the features and compartments are left up to the buyer to figure out, and 2) since the bag is farily commonplace, it's important to keep an eye on your own bag. I still wish I could figure out which pouch is meant as a travel document holder and which one is for an umbrella. The logical waterproof pouch is on the back, but that means that an umbrella in there produces an odd bulge in the backside.
As an aside, at the moment, Tumi seems to believe that I've moved to the UK -- all prices on its website are in British Pounds. I checked this on two machines in two different browsers, so it's not a cookie issue.
The Briggs & Riley BR214 started out with one demerit. My first day in Orlando, I found this bag uncomfortable to pull around. The handle didn't extend to my arm's length, so I was essentially pulling it by my fingertips. Only after about 24 hours of retracting and extending the handle did I realize that one section of it was stuck unopened. Once I got that open, the handle extended another six inches, now at an appropriate height.
With wheels and a handle, the B&R is heavier than the Tumi. The shoulder strap has some elasticity in it, which absorbs some of the movement and heft when carrying it. The construction is excellent, and I especially like two features: 1) the retracted luggage tag, which hides away without being hidden, and 2) the clamshell on the back, which easily mates this bag to the pull handle on a larger suitcase (even one that's not Briggs & Riley). There's a whole lot of storage areas, though I find it more difficult on the B&R to get to the elastic area hidden behind the computer sleeve. Like the Tumi, the computer sleeve is removable -- but is attached by zipper, so no grab-and-go thug is going to take it out of there (remember, it almost happened to me....).
The Briggs & Riley has two other major advantages over the Tumi -- 1) it's cheaper by $75 or more, for comparable construction and quality and 2) has a lifetime warranty, while Tumi's is limited to five years.
The bottom line for me -- the Tumi is a bit more organized, while the Briggs & Riley is a bit more practical for my kind of travel. I wondered at the time that I obtained them whether the answer for me was simply that I needed both kinds of bags, much like I have four or five different kinds of other luggage. In the end I think that's the answer -- and I recommend them both. I hope this Tumi proves more durable than the last, so come on back in three years and we'll see where we're at (I'll ask Kathleen to be prepared to give the competitive update for her Briggs & Riley laptop bag).
I just bought four new tires for my SUV -- if only evaluating them was somehow this easy.....
Post a Comment
- 2
Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 2/6/2007 12:29:36 PM
Hang on -- 1) I paid for the Tumi bag, albeit at a discount and 2) Briggs & Riley sent me an evaluation unit. I specifically was thinking about the MS/Acer Ferrari issue when I wrote this blog entry, and that's why I indicated above that I purchased the Tumi, and that the B&R was an evaulation unit. If I decide to keep the B&R, I'll be paying for it.
- 3
Nathan T. Freeman http://nathan.lotus911.com | 2/6/2007 12:53:15 PM
Ed... my friend... I was joking. That's what the wink was for.
- 4
Curt Stone http://www.curtsisland.com | 2/6/2007 12:55:09 PM
I'm fond of my Lotusphere bag. The last two years were the best bags. My 2006 bag is holding up well. I switched over to the 2007 only because it's new. I like the style , padding for a laptop, plenty of pockets, ipod holder and the logo, too :)
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Brian Benz http://www.softwaresoapbox.com | 2/6/2007 1:23:48 PM
Thanks for the reviews. My brands are not as exotic ;), but I too have a wheeled bag and a smaller bag, both of which have merits. I used the monstrous Samsonite wheeled bag for trips of 2 weeks or more, as my only carry-on. I use the smaller Wenger bag when I visit the office in Vegas or when I'm not checking bags on a short flight/trip. Both bags are very well set up, and the small one is surprisingly compact for what it can carry....The other one is just a behemoth, and packs huge amounts of stuff for long trips.
As you say, bit have their uses....One of the things i like is that both came with the pull-out sleeves so transfering the laptop, mouse and power form one to another is quick and easy.
As for the Tumi, I appreciate that the company did the right thing re your warranty in the end, but I would be reticent to buy a Tumi bag. Based on your experience, it looks to me like the bag wore out earlier than expected (despite heavy use), and instead of just honoring their warranties, Tumi employs people to scan the web and bestow warranty privileges in the guise of favors if it looks like they're going to get some bad publicity. Based on this, it's hard for me to justify the price over your average bag at Best Buy or Office Depot....Or maybe I'm just cheap....:)
- 6
Stuart McIntyre http://quickrblog.com | 2/6/2007 1:27:56 PM
@4, I like your style. Shame about the Sun logo ;-)
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Kevin Mort | 2/6/2007 2:33:13 PM
@1 - As a rabid Tifosi (is that redundant?) I would love one of those Acer Ferrari units. Carbon fiber on your laptop...yes please.
And generally: my luggage and laptop bag(s) are all TravelPro. I have two, one which is a rather traditional rolling bag with removable sleeve. The other I consider more of my "conference bag" mainly because it is a convertable wheeled & backpack unit. This one holds more stuff and works well for trolling the Expos.
K.
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Richard Moy http://www.dominointerface.com | 2/6/2007 6:15:26 PM
@4
Yes, the backpack have been much better during the past two years. I liked the 2006 bag better than the 2007 Lotusphere backpack. But there was one problem with the 2006 bag, it would not stand it would always fall over. The 2007 is simpler and it stands but I miss all those pockets, though sometimes it was hard to find something. The 2007 bag's problem is that if you put anything of any weight into the top pocket it would collapse the mid section. Each year I bring back another bag from Lotusphere and my wife says not another one. But I tell her "this is a $2000.00 backpack." Imagine what it will be worth in 20 years!
- 9
Mike Lazar | 2/7/2007 8:14:27 AM
Wheels are an absolutely must for me. Back problems from years of abuse make any sort of backpack/shoulder strap problematic. I might look at the B&R, as my current bag is nearing end of life, I fear.
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Alan Dalziel | 2/7/2007 8:51:44 AM
As an avid laptop case collector, I have had my fair share of backpacks, folios, wheeled and non-wheeled cases. I switched to wheeled cases to save my back a few years ago but I've moved to a messenger back lately as it gives me the best of both worlds (anyone see a Tour de France one at LS this year? Me!). My workhorse travel bag is a Samsonite wheeled one I got 8 years ago that goes with me any time I get on a plane, but that isn't as frequently as Ed :-) My most used Lotus conference bag is from DevCon 2001 - I saw someone in Orlando with one this year - because It is discreet and forces me to think about the amount of 'stuff' I carry with me.
My biggest gripe about cases in general is that when you buy a lightweight laptop because you travel a lot, you can't get a case that matches the dimensions or weight saving goals of the machine!
- 11
Richard Smith http://www.basic.co.uk | 2/7/2007 3:03:25 PM
@ 4,6,8 -
Here's another vote to the LS2006 & LS2007 Bags... significant improvements on earlier bags. LS2006 i think was slightly better, as the organizer section for bits and bobs was easier, particularly when the bag was overly full.
Although I liked the fact that this year's has a gap in the bottom of the two main sections, for ease of stowing wider stuff.
I forgot to feedback about the bags on the feedback form.. so heres a public vote for even better bags next year (still with plenty of room ;-P )
I'd even gladly pay an extra $10 or $15 to the conference price to get a heavier duty version of these better bags.
You might call me sad, geeky or just enthusiastic about Lotus S/w, but I used my LS2006 bag so much traveling (been now to 5 countries) the rubber handle bit at the top is fraying away from the actual bag. (no real complaints, as Ive used it too much maybe)
Anyways, this is getting long, so i'll leave it there!
- 12
Ken Lin http://kenlin.com | 2/7/2007 3:14:40 PM
Ed says: "I just bought four new tires for my SUV -- if only evaluating them was somehow this easy....."
I've been buying summer, winter, all-season, and race tires at Tire Rack for over 10 years I think. I let them do the evaluating ({ Link } ) and also chat with my 100+ car friends ({ Link }
- 13
Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 2/7/2007 3:22:28 PM
@12 in fact, I DID buy the tires through TireRack.com. They didn't have that many choices that fit my car (20" SUV tires) and driving profile (needing all-seasons). I finally did find some reviews on other sites that helped me pick out what sounds like a much better tire than the OEM. It would have been useful to find a site like PhillySCCA or the like, too.
- 14
Felix Binsack http://TIMETOACT.DE | 2/11/2007 2:03:53 PM
I like small bags. After Lotusphere I discovered the smallest bag ever to just merely fit my notebook and all required accessories.
And the best thing: the ACMEMADE bag is very stiff and protects not only the notebook edges, but, much more important, the screen lid from pressure.
{ Link }
It helps a lot to disciple yourself and not to clutter your bag. Besides my subnotebook it fits the power adapter, UMTS card, business cards, retractable ethernet cable, retractable headset, retractable usb cable, 3 pens, notepad and some papers. Whatever does not fit the bag is not important. But the bag is so small, it easily fits into other bags.
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Doug Hetland | 2/22/2007 3:03:40 PM
I have had my TUMI computer bag for about 13 years. It was either the first model they offered or at least one of the earliest. I bought it after my previousone wasa stolen in the Hong Kong Train Station (another story). The bag came with a lifetime warranty. Unfortunately, after many years of hard use (over 50 trips to China...and not just Beijing and Shanghai!, as well as many other trips), I had to send it back due to several bad zippers and a couple of other things.
Much to my chagrin, TUMI came back to me and said they wanted $109 to fix it and no guarantees. The suggestion was that it isn't worth it and I should buy a new one. I have sent other pieces of luggage back to TUMI and have never encountered this.
On another note, I had an equally old Briggs and Riley piece of luggage that had had almost as many trips that required repair. I took it to the local repair place and was told the repairs needed were too extensive for them to do it and it would have to go back to the factory. I said OK and paid a nominal fee for the shipping. I just got it back and it is in great condition. The bill? $0. I must say I have been very impressed with them.
In my view standing behind the warranty in addition to a lower price swings the deal for me. In the future I will stick to Briggs & Riley.
So both vendors send you free bags, and your review finally is "I like them both?"
Methinks someone will be sending you an Acer Ferrari laptop soon. ;-)