As a now lifetime Briggs & Riley subscriber, I’ve always been a massive fan of their products. When they announced the less-conventional ZDX series of suitcases, my curiosity was piqued.
I needed a smaller carryon suitcase to travel on European carriers, but I wasn’t willing to give up on space or convenience. That’s where the expandable Briggs & Riley 21″ ZDX International Carryon comes in.
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Briggs & Riley ZDX Series Suitcases: Smart, Light, and Useful
I’ve now had my brilliant Briggs & Riley ZDX 21” for over a year. For comparison, I had been using Briggs & Riley’s wonderful 22” expandable baseline for years, and it has been the perfect blend of workhorse and quality. But I was looking for something smaller, lighter, more lowkey – the ultimate leisure carryon.
First Impression
My first impression taking the Briggs & Riley ZDX Carry-On out of the box was: wow, it’s so light!! I’m not sure I’ve ever had a suitcase this shoulder-friendly before, and I’m thankful.
The quality shines through in a Briggs & Riley way, and it feels so solid and materially sound despite its more affordable pricing compared to conventional Briggs & Riley suitcases.
Storage
The quite possibly best part about the ZDX is the witchcraft Briggs & Riley uses to get so much storage out of such a light carry-on suitcase. Pockets, pockets, and pockets inside of pockets.
Compression straps and zipped up compartments help you squeeze in more than you’d expect. But if you end up needing extra room after going a bit wild with the souvenirs, Briggs & Riley’s patented expandability means you won’t have to throw away any of your clothing (thank goodness).
Even if you don’t need the extra room, the expandability makes packing so much easier. Expand, pack, close, then simply push down and the latches will compress the suitcase back to size.
Features
For such a conveniently-sized suitcase, Briggs & Riley manages to really pack a ton of features in their ZDX suitcases.
- Expands an additional 2.5”
- Quick access pockets, including a laptop pocket in the front
- Cinch-down garment panels to minimize wrinkles
- An excellent, multi-position handle that rises super high
- A perfect battery pack pocket on the outside
- Grab handles all over makes handling the ZDX super easy
- Smooth gliding, self-repairing YKK zippers
- Metal ball bearing spinner wheels
There’s also a super convenient attachment (SmartLink Strap) for the backpack in case you want to hang it off like a J-Hook, though Briggs & Riley backpacks slide perfectly onto the handles.
Size
I can’t emphasize how useful all of the pockets are.
Despite its Euro-small size, the ZDX has enough room for one week’s worth of clothing. You can store your shoes and laptop in two different sections of the outer pocket, battery pack in the rear pocket, jacket in the inside compression sleeve, leaving plenty of room for all your clothes on the inside.
- Exterior Dimensions: 21 x 14 x 9 – 11 in / 53 x 35.5 x 23 – 29.4 cm
- Interior Dimensions: 19.5 x 14 x 8 in / 49.5 x 35.6 x 20.3 cm
(As per the Briggs & Riley suitcase)
Price & Warranty
At $499, the ZDX International is one of Briggs & Riley’s more affordable suitcases. Granted, it’s more expensive than the typical Samsonite you’d buy at a random airport shop. But like all Briggs & Riley suitcases, it comes with a true lifetime guarantee.
The lifetime warranty is not just a testament to the quality of the suitcases, but a nice piece of reassurance to keep in your back pocket.
I’ve used and abused several Briggs & Riley suitcases and bags over the last years, but thanks to the quality haven’t had to use the warranty. It’s nice to know I could if I needed.
Conclusion: a lightweight suitcase that packs a good punch
The Briggs & Riley ZDX International Suitcase packs a punch far larger than its European-compliant size. With abundant super-intelligent features, plentiful pockets and sleeves, smooth-gliding ball-bearing spinner wheels, and unbelievably light weight, it’s quite likely the best suitcase you could buy for a leisure trip – and you won’t have to worry about having to check it in.
I loved the ZDX so much, I actually bought another one for my father! It’s just so versatile, I can’t recommend it enough.
