You're standing in a luggage store, looking at a range of carry-ons, and you don't know where to begin. It's a good time to pause and consider which one is best for your needs. In this guide, we'll look at one premium option: Briggs & Riley. Let's look at what its guarantee covers, how repairs work here in Canada, and how the price holds up over years of travel.
At A Glance: Is Briggs & Riley Worth It?
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Price: Premium. You'll pay more up front than you would for most suitcases on the market.
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Guarantee: Lifetime. All functional aspects of the bag are covered, with no proof of purchase required.
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Fine print: Cosmetic wear, cleaning, and lost or stolen bags aren't covered.
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Repairs: Free and available here in Canada.
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Verdict: A win for frequent travellers. If you only travel once every few years, we recommend a less expensive bag.
What You're Really Paying For
A good chunk of the cost goes into things you can't see on a store shelf. Briggs & Riley luggage is built around a few smart ideas that keep paying off years after the purchase:
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Outsider handle: The handle tubes run along the outside of the suitcase, so the interior floor is flat. Shirts lie flat, and you fit more in.
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CX compression: Expand the bag, pack everything, then press it back down to its original size. It's a favourite with carry-on travellers.
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Ballistic nylon fabrics: Tough, tear-resistant, and very good at hiding scuffs.
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Replaceable parts: Every wheel, zipper, and handle is designed to be swapped out, so one broken part never ends the life of the whole bag.
The quality carries over to the business line, too. The Briggs & Riley @Work collection brings the same build to briefcases and backpacks, which is very useful for business travellers.
The Simple As That Lifetime Warranty, Explained
Briggs & Riley offers one of the best warranties in the world of travel gear; if a functional part of your bag is broken or damaged, the company will repair it free of charge, for life. You don't need to register your bag, and you don't need to keep the receipt or the box it came in. Since proof of purchase isn't required, you don't have to be the original purchaser either. A second owner gets the same coverage.
What's covered:
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A broken wheel, handle, zipper, or frame
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A tear that affects functionality
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Damage caused by airlines
What isn't covered:
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Cosmetic wear, including dents, scratches, scuffs, and stains
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Normal wear that doesn't affect how the bag works
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Cleaning
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Replacement of lost or stolen bags and their contents
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Fabrics damaged by sun or water from improper storage
There are two things to keep in mind. First, this is a repair guarantee, not a replacement plan. In other words, you won't get new bags or a store credit when something breaks. Second, given the nature of some repairs, your bag may not come back looking factory-fresh, and discontinued parts are replaced with the closest available match.
Curious how this compares across the industry? Read our full guide to luggage warranties.
How Briggs & Riley Repairs Work In Canada
Canadian customers have three ways to get a repair done:
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Do it yourself. Briggs & Riley has repair kits for wheels and handles on its site. This is often the fastest option for simple repairs.
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Visit an authorized repair centre. The manufacturer calls these Authorized Repair Centers, and U.N. Luggage is one of them. Our full-time repair team works out of our Winnipeg store in the Exchange District. Bring your bag in, or contact us first if you're shipping from elsewhere in Canada. We'll determine what's needed and complete the work. No repair number required. Calling ahead helps, since we can check whether the part is in stock.
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Send it to Briggs & Riley. Submit a repair request online, then ship your bag. You cover the shipping cost to get it there (you can buy a shipping label directly from them), and they ship it back free.
Briggs & Riley Vs. Other Premium Luggage Brands
At U.N. Luggage, we sell and repair all three of these brands, so here's a quick table of how their warranties compare:
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Brand |
Warranty Length |
Airline Damage |
Proof Of Purchase |
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Briggs & Riley |
Lifetime |
Covered |
Not needed |
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TUMI |
5 years, limited |
First year only |
Required |
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Samsonite |
Limited, varies by line |
Not covered |
Required |
TUMI and Samsonite both make high-quality bags. On warranty alone, though, it's hard for any other brand to win against Briggs & Riley luggage.
Who Should Buy Briggs & Riley (And Who Shouldn't)
It's a great fit if you:
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Fly several times a year for business or leisure
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Check your bags often
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Would rather buy once than replace a suitcase every few years
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Want an airline-approved carry-on that expands and compresses
You may want to look elsewhere if you:
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Travel once every year or two
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Want the lightest bag possible
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Are bothered by scuffs and scratches, which aren't covered
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Like to change your luggage colour or style often
What Briggs & Riley Really Costs Per Trip
We recommend putting the price to the test with some simple math. Say you spend $900 on a carry-on, which is about what a Baseline spinner costs in Canada, and take 10 trips a year. Over 15 years, that's 150 trips, or $6 per trip, with repairs included.
Now picture a $300 suitcase that typically lasts four years of the same travel. You'd buy four of them over that stretch, spend $1,200, and land at $8 per trip. That doesn't account for the trip where a wheel breaks on a gravel road, and you have to carry your bag for the rest of the week.
The more you travel, the better the cost-to-value ratio gets. If you only take one trip a year, a mid-priced bag will serve you well. Take the time to decide where your number falls.
Shop Briggs & Riley At U.N. Luggage
We've been helping customers pack smarter since 1940, which makes us the oldest luggage store in Canada. Our team knows this line of quality luggage well because we sell it and we repair it. Visit us in store, give us a call, or shop Briggs & Riley at U.N. Luggage online. Choose a bag that can handle everything the world threw at your last one!
Frequently Asked Questions About Briggs & Riley Luggage
Is Briggs & Riley worth the extra cost?
For frequent travellers, yes. Free lifetime repairs mean the higher price spreads out over decades of trips.
What does the simple-as-that warranty cover?
It covers the repair of all functional parts of your bag for life, including wheels, handles, zippers, and frames. Cosmetic wear and cleaning aren't included.
Does the warranty cover airline damage?
It does. If you decide to hold the airline responsible instead, file a claim before you leave the airport. Otherwise, Briggs & Riley will repair the damage at no charge.
How long does a Briggs & Riley repair take?
It depends on the repair and the parts. In our shop, a wheel replacement takes one to five days, and a zipper repair takes three to seven. Mailing a bag to the manufacturer adds shipping time.
Is Briggs & Riley better than Samsonite or TUMI?
On warranty, yes. On style, weight, and price, it comes down to your priorities. Our staff can walk you through all three in person.
Where can I get my Briggs & Riley bag repaired in Canada?
U.N. Luggage is an authorized repair centre for Briggs & Riley. We accept walk-ins at our Winnipeg store, and customers elsewhere in Canada can contact us about shipping a bag in.