When travelling, your hand luggage stays with you the entire trip and so you want something that you are happy with. I wanted a backpack and decided to invest in a Briggs & Riley bag. You will have to fork out a little extra than you would normally for a backpack but it is definitely worth it and I’ll tell you why.

backpack front

Firstly, Briggs & Riley offer a no-strings-attached lifetime guarantee on all of their bags. Most luggage companies offer some sort of limited warranty and guarantee but they almost never repair a bag if any damage was caused by the airline. Briggs & Riley, however, will repair your broken or damaged bag free of charge, even if it was the airline that damaged your bag.

Now let’s take a closer look at the backpack. Briggs & Riley have updated this model and so you will want to look for the BP240 BRX, which has all of the same features (and a couple extra!).

The main compartment is spacious and holds large and bulky items. The u-shaped opening provides easy access to your belongings and padded laptop compartment and the lockable zipper can give you peace of mind. The u-shaped opening may sound insignificant but it allows you to access something at the bottom of your bag without everything else falling out.

backpack open

There are also lots of different compartments to keep your belongings organized and separate with pockets that allow for quick and easy access, especially handy for quickly storing items during security. On the side of the bag are little loops that you can attach things to e.g. headphone cases, water bottles or travel cushions.

backpack pockets

So far so good, I’m recommending a backpack that can hold your belongings and even keep them separated and organized albeit in a more efficient manner than your regular backpack but I want to highlight some features that really set this backpack apart.

The backpack is made from a lightweight, durable fabric that resists wear, moisture, dirt and abrasion. The padded straps and back are covered with an aerated mesh to allow air to circulate against the body. My favourite feature to the backpack is the slip-through back strap that allows you to slide the bag over the handle to your rolling luggage.

backpack straps

The backpack easily stores under the seat in front of you on the plane for when you want to conveniently access your belongings or if the overhead bins are full.

Of the many advantages to this backpack, I have come across only 2 disadvantages. The first is that because it has a spacious main compartment and lots of other compartments, it is extremely easy to fill up the backpack and then you end up with a very heavy backpack. This is not too much of a problem if you also have a roll on as you can use the slip-through back strap but there will always be a time when you have to carry your backpack on your back. You also need to be aware of the weight allowance for hand luggage with the airline you are flying with. To avoid this disadvantage, just remember that just because you can fit more into your bag, doesn’t mean you have to. If you follow that simple rule, your shoulders and back will thank me!

The second disadvantage is that whenever I adjust the straps to my size, I find it difficult to get my second arm through the strap. However this minor inconvenience, which sometimes ends in me almost taking a stranger’s eye out if I’m not careful, can be managed by putting both arms through the straps at the same time. It could also just be a sign that I’m not very flexible!

As soon as you get your hands on this backpack you will be able to tell that it was designed with the traveller in mind. It is strong and durable and surprisingly lightweight. This will be the best backpack you ever own.

About the Author

Rhian Torontow is a Family Travel Consultant with Magical Family Adventures. Rhian creates travel experiences that foster connections in your family that will last a lifetime and transforms your children into open-minded, flexible, well-travelled people. During Rhian’s childhood, her father travelled for work constantly and it was always travel that brought her family back together. You can follow Rhian on Facebook at www.facebook.com/magicalfamilyadventures, Instagram @MagicalFamilyAdventures and you can also connect with her on LinkedIn ca.linkedin.com/in/rhiantorontow/