That pic above shows some of the stickers on my Briggs & Rilewy Torq international rollaboard spinner. I love this case. After nearly fifteen years, it is still going strong. And with a lifetime warranty backed by a compoany that isn't going anywhere, I suspect my kids will eventually be using it. For something. When I first enthusiastically embraced the concept of one-bag travel, this was my go-to. I was still traveling for business, often wearing a suit, and a soft-sided backpack- or duffel-style bag was not very appealing.
That's something I miss when using the Pelicans, however, the spinner eats up valuable internal space and can sometimes make a difference in which tripod I can get in there. I agree that a spinner is great; I love my Briggs & Riley Torq roll-aboard spinner; the wheels are relatively low profile and a bit recessed, but they still use up internal space.
| Spec | B & R Torq | Aer Small |
| Weight | 6.9 lbs / 3.1 kg | 8.2 lbs / 3.7 kg |
| External Length | 21 in / 53.5 cm | 21.7in / 55 cm |
| External Width | 14 in / 35.5 cm | 14 in / 35 cm |
| External Depth | 9 in / 23 cm | 9 in / 23 cm |
| Claimed Volume | 2318.2 cu in /38 liters | 41 L |
Hmm. The Aer is only .7 inches longer than the B&R. So, where is it getting the extra 3 liters of storage space? I don't have an answer for that.Volume of travel bags remains an inexact science, where a variety of different methoda are deemed acceptable and reasonably accurate.
Also, take a look at the Torq's published internal dimensions:
19.5 x 14 x 9 in / 49.5 x 35.5 x 23 cm
That's interesting. How is it possible that the Torq internal and external dimensions are the same, except for the length, where they take account of the handle, which doesn't change the length) and the wheels (which do)? Obviously, even with modern strong, thin polymers, its's not possible. There has to be a difference between the outside and inside dimensions. Further, those internal specs don't account for the handle inset that eats into the design of the box (see top pic).
TANSTAAFL. There Ain't No Such Thing As a Free Lunch. That means that every compromise—bag makers call them "features"—comes with a price. B&R loves to talk about their external telescoping handles, and how they free up more internal storage space. Yes, well, yes and no. If a designer has designed a box, and a marketing person has said "now it needs a hideaway telescoping handle," the designer has three choices: hidden inside the box, stuck on the surface of the outside of the box, or flush mounted within the thickness of the box walls. The first option consumes storage space; the second effectively makes the box larger, possiby jeopardising its onboard-ability, and the third means the walls of the box, or at least the rear wall where the handle mechanism will be hidden, is thick enough for the handle, thereby consuming some of that precious internal storage volume for which the box and its high-tech polymer construction were first optimized. You get the picture. we don't yet have some Schrödinger's Cat quantum luggage handle that can both be there and not be there. So it's going to consume some room no matter what your design choice.
I happen to like the Briggs & Riley design choice—yup, that's one reason I bought it—but it means that the back wall is a bit thicker than it might otherwise have to be.
Remember, everything you pack has mass, not just volume This is why I recommend against compression or vacuum packing; it merely allows you to add weight to the same volume. It does not reduce mass.
There are a few things I really like about the Aer: the significant price differential, the wheel brake built into the top of the unit, the hidden smart tag pocket, the slightly more useful lid size allocation [though there is a very good reason for the Torq's differential lid sizing [works better on top of luggage racks in your hotel room], and the sleek design. And maybe, if and when the Torq ever dies—unlikely given Briggs & Riley's lifetime warranty for any and every thing, no questions asked—I might consider what Aer is offering.
