even i didnt first realize that expansion part, is actually for compression. you pack with fully expanded. when finished, you push in and it locks to compress. one of its best features.
That strap is actually really handy. It loops around a smaller suitcase (a carryon with wheels, for example) then the T bar clips into the slot on top of the suitcase and let's the carry on piggy back. I tried it on mine today and it worked beautifully! No more trying to juggle a carry on and a big suitcase thru the parking garage and into the airport. It's a nice feature!
I have this same B&R Baseline in the medium spinner and it has held up all over the world, but I'm thinking of trying to go lighter, since mine is about 13 pounds unpacked (advertised as 12.5). That's 13 pounds I have to think about out of 50, because most places I go any more have a limit of 50 pounds without excess fees. Ok, so I never go over 50 pounds, and it's easy to do in the medium baseline spinner, but, as I'm getting older and my spine is not what it used to be, I'm looking for something just a few pounds lighter to start with. From what I'm seeing, B&R is a good brand as long as you stick with the fabric. I have not heard good things with the hard side. My fabric is olive and it is really scuffed up, but it really doesn't look that bad and I can say it looks like my luggage wears those scuffs like a badge of honor without looking like it's on its last legs. I would never get a large check in size, though, you're just asking for overweight fees.
This review is spot on for someone who is an amateur traveler. For the professional traveler like myself and others, it doesn’t get much better than B&R. If you don’t know the value of the external strap, expanding capability, why the pocket is orange, etc. then you really shouldn’t be reviewing luggage. Also, the pen test on the zipper is a waste of time and, besides, if it breaks then that’s why you have a lifetime warranty.
@@OroundTheWorldno one is sitting there going around with a pen. Go and buy a pelican case at triple the weight then. You’re clearly not someone who travels much.
Spot on. Even a TSA lock is defeatable. If you trust the TSA/inspectors then once you check the luggage, it’s not a big deal whether you have a zipper or a hard lock. If you do care, then you need to request an inspection prior to checking and then put your OWN non-TSA lock on the hard Pelican case after a “TSA inspected” sticker is placed on your case avoiding any future inspections after checking. That’s the most secure method and one headache that a frequent traveler will not deal with given the risk versus inconvenience ratio. Loss or theft of the entire bag is a much bigger issue than the risk of some sneaky ballpen wielding thief who might sneak into your bag between check-in and pick-up…. An issue which is more likely on an international flight through a third world country where the inspectors might be the thieves. People do not want your second-hand clothes. And any valuables should be on board with you on your carry-on.
As a road warrior for 30 years, I wouldn't ever buy a 29-inch bag because it will be over 50 pounds when fully packed, triggering excess airline fees. My favorite checked bag is the lightweight 26-inch B&R ZDX. It only weighs 10.4 pounds and fits almost as much as the 29-inch bag. It's still expandable but without the patented CX expanding gadget. Best of all, it's always 44-48 pounds when fully packed, and it's much less expensive than the B&R Baseline bag.
say, how are you liking the zdx ?? looking at the line for several pieces, 22, m, l vs baseline for occasional travel. the price is more attractive for me than the baseline. is not having edge guards on the zdx an issue ?? last, what color did you choose ?? thanks so much for your time
@@JoelSc14 We LOVE our B&R ZDX bags. We have the 26 inch and we also have the 21 inch International Carry-On bags. They've been to Europe and back twice as well as multiple road trips just in the past year. They're holding up really well. The 800D ballistic nylon is pretty tough. There's really no need for edge guards on a carry-on bag. But I would imagine the 26 inch bag will get some scuffs on the edge over time. It's a tradeoff for saving $220 vs the Baseline, and saving on the weight as well. btw - we always get black bags and we wipe them down after each trip with a rag sprayed with Interior Vinyl Cleaner Detailer (car). It takes 5 minutes and they'll look like new. Enjoy!
Thanks for the idea. I've been thinking of a lighter bag and have the B&R Baseline medium spinner (about 26"), but is about 13 pounds and it's just too heavy to start out with. I was considering the Torq medium spinner until I heard problems with cracks and zippers, so the ZDX medium spinner might just be the ticket, since it's a few pounds lighter. I was trying to go 8 or 9 pounds, but I don't know if that's possible without sacrificing sturdiness.
What I can't figure out is---how likely is this size going to end up overweight (>50lb) at check-in? I'd like a big bag but if it's just going to end up overweight, I'll buy the medium.
It’s useful to keep a hanging scale. Medium is safest but a large is useful for light contents .. like foam floaties etc when with kids. Also great for road trips.
Appreciate the thorough review! I'm curious - have you found any soft-sided luggage to pass the pen test? Or have any mechanism to prevent the bag from ripping open while being tossed around by luggage handlers? I've heard that luggage straps actually can increase the chance of damage because it's one more thing to get caught on. I've been using suitcase covers recently for this purpose, but they're a bit of a pain.
I have yet to find any zipper luggage that passes the pen test. This is the strongest I've come across so far, but I am intrigued to test bags that have the rubbery flap tight on the zipper. For bags ripping open I have used a luggage strap in the past. It obviously helps keep it together but doesn't keep things inside. Do you use the covers by themselves or do you put a strap around the outside of the cover?
@@OroundTheWorld Will keep my fingers crossed that the rubber flap does the trick! As for myself, I've been using covers by themselves, with the idea it reduces the chances of anything getting caught during transit. I have had to do a bit of tape repairing to the covers during each trip, which is a bit annoying (they have been cheap plastic covers though).
Finally some review for this luggage, much appreciated. Still contemplating as the weight is the single biggest factor for not getting this. However I don't see any comparable luggage that seems to come near this. Any great recommendations?
The 20" does interest me, since the weight would no longer be as big of a deal, and putting the garment bag in my control might actually keep the suit from getting wrinkled.
Absolutely love your delivery. At first I thought it was a boring/low-voice presentation style that many luggage videos have, but man oh man was I surprised. Thanks for the awesome laughs. Please make more!!🎉
Thank you for this review. It helped me regarding my next luggage purchase decision. I’m considering the purchase of a B&R ZDX medium soft side case, very similar to this model. The medium ZDX weighs 10.4 lb. and the large weighs 11.4 lb. I suspect the difference in weight from the Baseline is that the ZDX lacks the attached suiter, which is fine with me. Even though your review was for a different model from the ZDX, most features are identical or at least very similar. I agree with your opinion on that small outer pocket on the front/top of the case. A bigger pocket that could hold, say, a pair of shoes might be useful. Otherwise it’s only good for holding that attachment strap for a second bag. It also seems that since B&R doesn’t have built in TSA approved locks, providing them (installed or separate) would be a welcome courtesy, considering the price of the bags. I may instead opt for the B&R duffle in medium, which weighs only 8.6 lbs. The only negative factors I can see with the duffle are 1) it has only two wheels, and 2) those big carry straps that cross over the front of the bag are liable to get tugged on and separated during baggage handling and stowage. I read some online reviews to that effect. So I’m left to choose between the lighter weight of the duffle, with its lack of 4 spinner wheels and its awkward straps, and the almost 2 lb. heavier medium ZDX, which in spite of its weight might be easier to handle. Decisions, decisions!
The small orange pocket on the outside is to tuck your phone, keys, and anything that might be in your pockets while you go through security. The orange lining alerts you when it is open so nothing Falls out.
say, what did you end up choosing ?? looking at the zdx duffle myself, along with a 22, m and l case.. the baseline is very nice, but weight, more $$ , anything else you could share would be amazing, the zdx is sorta quiet on the web vs the baseline.. occasional traveler here, duffle could be nice for road trips too..
Most people tend to prefer carrying a second bag on top of the rolling luggage instead of dangling off the side. Also the idea of hanging another bag off of a Checked Suitcase for the 5 minutes between the uber and the check in counter seems very silly.
The only thing I don't like about the adjustable handlebars is that they will get jacked up and scratched as shown in this video. I like to keep anything I own dent and scratch free if possible.
Fair point. They definitely do get scratched. Personally, I take that over the bar bumps though, but that's because I have a real hatred for the bumps lol
even i didnt first realize that expansion part, is actually for compression. you pack with fully expanded. when finished, you push in and it locks to compress. one of its best features.
The guy making this review is clearly a newbie at travelling.
Think what you will, but my old passport ran out of pages.
@@OroundTheWorldwow!!! 😱🤣
That strap is actually really handy. It loops around a smaller suitcase (a carryon with wheels, for example) then the T bar clips into the slot on top of the suitcase and let's the carry on piggy back. I tried it on mine today and it worked beautifully! No more trying to juggle a carry on and a big suitcase thru the parking garage and into the airport. It's a nice feature!
Great tip!
I have this same B&R Baseline in the medium spinner and it has held up all over the world, but I'm thinking of trying to go lighter, since mine is about 13 pounds unpacked (advertised as 12.5). That's 13 pounds I have to think about out of 50, because most places I go any more have a limit of 50 pounds without excess fees. Ok, so I never go over 50 pounds, and it's easy to do in the medium baseline spinner, but, as I'm getting older and my spine is not what it used to be, I'm looking for something just a few pounds lighter to start with.
From what I'm seeing, B&R is a good brand as long as you stick with the fabric. I have not heard good things with the hard side. My fabric is olive and it is really scuffed up, but it really doesn't look that bad and I can say it looks like my luggage wears those scuffs like a badge of honor without looking like it's on its last legs.
I would never get a large check in size, though, you're just asking for overweight fees.
This review is spot on for someone who is an amateur traveler. For the professional traveler like myself and others, it doesn’t get much better than B&R. If you don’t know the value of the external strap, expanding capability, why the pocket is orange, etc. then you really shouldn’t be reviewing luggage. Also, the pen test on the zipper is a waste of time and, besides, if it breaks then that’s why you have a lifetime warranty.
The pen test is for security.
@@OroundTheWorldno one is sitting there going around with a pen. Go and buy a pelican case at triple the weight then. You’re clearly not someone who travels much.
Spot on. Even a TSA lock is defeatable. If you trust the TSA/inspectors then once you check the luggage, it’s not a big deal whether you have a zipper or a hard lock. If you do care, then you need to request an inspection prior to checking and then put your OWN non-TSA lock on the hard Pelican case after a “TSA inspected” sticker is placed on your case avoiding any future inspections after checking. That’s the most secure method and one headache that a frequent traveler will not deal with given the risk versus inconvenience ratio. Loss or theft of the entire bag is a much bigger issue than the risk of some sneaky ballpen wielding thief who might sneak into your bag between check-in and pick-up…. An issue which is more likely on an international flight through a third world country where the inspectors might be the thieves. People do not want your second-hand clothes. And any valuables should be on board with you on your carry-on.
As a road warrior for 30 years, I wouldn't ever buy a 29-inch bag because it will be over 50 pounds when fully packed, triggering excess airline fees. My favorite checked bag is the lightweight 26-inch B&R ZDX. It only weighs 10.4 pounds and fits almost as much as the 29-inch bag. It's still expandable but without the patented CX expanding gadget. Best of all, it's always 44-48 pounds when fully packed, and it's much less expensive than the B&R Baseline bag.
say, how are you liking the zdx ?? looking at the line for several pieces, 22, m, l vs baseline for occasional travel. the price is more attractive for me than the baseline. is not having edge guards on the zdx an issue ?? last, what color did you choose ?? thanks so much for your time
@@JoelSc14 We LOVE our B&R ZDX bags. We have the 26 inch and we also have the 21 inch International Carry-On bags. They've been to Europe and back twice as well as multiple road trips just in the past year. They're holding up really well. The 800D ballistic nylon is pretty tough. There's really no need for edge guards on a carry-on bag. But I would imagine the 26 inch bag will get some scuffs on the edge over time. It's a tradeoff for saving $220 vs the Baseline, and saving on the weight as well. btw - we always get black bags and we wipe them down after each trip with a rag sprayed with Interior Vinyl Cleaner Detailer (car). It takes 5 minutes and they'll look like new. Enjoy!
Thanks for the idea. I've been thinking of a lighter bag and have the B&R Baseline medium spinner (about 26"), but is about 13 pounds and it's just too heavy to start out with. I was considering the Torq medium spinner until I heard problems with cracks and zippers, so the ZDX medium spinner might just be the ticket, since it's a few pounds lighter. I was trying to go 8 or 9 pounds, but I don't know if that's possible without sacrificing sturdiness.
What I can't figure out is---how likely is this size going to end up overweight (>50lb) at check-in? I'd like a big bag but if it's just going to end up overweight, I'll buy the medium.
It’s useful to keep a hanging scale. Medium is safest but a large is useful for light contents .. like foam floaties etc when with kids. Also great for road trips.
Besides the weight do you still reccomend it? Great vid!!
You are the most hilarious reviewer I have ever seen. Thank you so much for this!
Wow, thanks!
Thanks for the review! Can you try their hard side luggage? I’m considering their sympatico luggage.
I will certainly add it to the list. Thanks Jasmine
Appreciate the thorough review! I'm curious - have you found any soft-sided luggage to pass the pen test? Or have any mechanism to prevent the bag from ripping open while being tossed around by luggage handlers?
I've heard that luggage straps actually can increase the chance of damage because it's one more thing to get caught on. I've been using suitcase covers recently for this purpose, but they're a bit of a pain.
I have yet to find any zipper luggage that passes the pen test. This is the strongest I've come across so far, but I am intrigued to test bags that have the rubbery flap tight on the zipper.
For bags ripping open I have used a luggage strap in the past. It obviously helps keep it together but doesn't keep things inside. Do you use the covers by themselves or do you put a strap around the outside of the cover?
@@OroundTheWorld Will keep my fingers crossed that the rubber flap does the trick! As for myself, I've been using covers by themselves, with the idea it reduces the chances of anything getting caught during transit. I have had to do a bit of tape repairing to the covers during each trip, which is a bit annoying (they have been cheap plastic covers though).
For those who have spinner suitcases, do you ever wish you had Rollaboard instead?
Finally some review for this luggage, much appreciated. Still contemplating as the weight is the single biggest factor for not getting this. However I don't see any comparable luggage that seems to come near this. Any great recommendations?
They do sell a 20 and 22” version! If might need to view the packing light video. I love my 20” and you couldn’t convince me to use anything else
The 20" does interest me, since the weight would no longer be as big of a deal, and putting the garment bag in my control might actually keep the suit from getting wrinkled.
how do you do audio? it's incredible. sounds like youre spekaing into a mic
I actually had really bad audio, I just cleaned it up with the free adobe podcast's Enhance Speach Beta
Dude! You are hilarious 😆. I really enjoyed your video!!
Glad you think so!
Thank you. This made me laugh.
Was lookin for vids that go more into B&R wheels and handlebars and you nailed em. Much appreciated brotha
Thank you Peter. Glad you got what you were looking for.
this is such a great video, would you ever review monos luggage? would love to see the pen test on it
Monos is definitely on the list.
Love your style.
Thank you James!
Absolutely love your delivery. At first I thought it was a boring/low-voice presentation style that many luggage videos have, but man oh man was I surprised. Thanks for the awesome laughs. Please make more!!🎉
Thanks so much M!!
Thank you for this review. It helped me regarding my next luggage purchase decision. I’m considering the purchase of a B&R ZDX medium soft side case, very similar to this model. The medium ZDX weighs 10.4 lb. and the large weighs 11.4 lb. I suspect the difference in weight from the Baseline is that the ZDX lacks the attached suiter, which is fine with me. Even though your review was for a different model from the ZDX, most features are identical or at least very similar. I agree with your opinion on that small outer pocket on the front/top of the case. A bigger pocket that could hold, say, a pair of shoes might be useful. Otherwise it’s only good for holding that attachment strap for a second bag. It also seems that since B&R doesn’t have built in TSA approved locks, providing them (installed or separate) would be a welcome courtesy, considering the price of the bags. I may instead opt for the B&R duffle in medium, which weighs only 8.6 lbs. The only negative factors I can see with the duffle are 1) it has only two wheels, and 2) those big carry straps that cross over the front of the bag are liable to get tugged on and separated during baggage handling and stowage. I read some online reviews to that effect. So I’m left to choose between the lighter weight of the duffle, with its lack of 4 spinner wheels and its awkward straps, and the almost 2 lb. heavier medium ZDX, which in spite of its weight might be easier to handle. Decisions, decisions!
The small orange pocket on the outside is to tuck your phone, keys, and anything that might be in your pockets while you go through security. The orange lining alerts you when it is open so nothing Falls out.
say, what did you end up choosing ?? looking at the zdx duffle myself, along with a 22, m and l case.. the baseline is very nice, but weight, more $$ , anything else you could share would be amazing, the zdx is sorta quiet on the web vs the baseline.. occasional traveler here, duffle could be nice for road trips too..
Don’t like the inside expander and it’d be nice if it had a pretty plaid pattern or something inside.
If you don’t know what a luggage strap is you shouldn’t be reviewing luggage.
I know what it is. I just think it's silly and outdated (A lot like posting insults in youtube comments) 😉
@@OroundTheWorld Luggage straps outdated? Guess I'm not aware of the new technology that has replaced it.
Most people tend to prefer carrying a second bag on top of the rolling luggage instead of dangling off the side. Also the idea of hanging another bag off of a Checked Suitcase for the 5 minutes between the uber and the check in counter seems very silly.
@@OroundTheWorldnot all bags have luggage pass through straps. That's when the add-a-bag strap is useful.
The only thing I don't like about the adjustable handlebars is that they will get jacked up and scratched as shown in this video. I like to keep anything I own dent and scratch free if possible.
Fair point. They definitely do get scratched. Personally, I take that over the bar bumps though, but that's because I have a real hatred for the bumps lol