Arlo Skye vs Briggs & Riley
A side-by-side comparison of Arlo Skye and Briggs & Riley luggage: features, capacity, weight, price, returns and warranty. Arlo Skye prices are live. Briggs & Riley details are sourced and carry the date they were checked.
Short answer: Arlo Skye's Carry-On Max Front Pocket is $395, holds 48 L (58 L expanded) and weighs 7.5 lb, with a hard-shell laptop pocket. The Briggs & Riley Sympatico Essential 22 inch carry-on is $695, holds 41 L (51 L expanded) and weighs 8.6 lb. Arlo Skye's Top-Load Trunk is $595 for 110 to 125 L at 10.5 lb. The Sympatico Large is $859, 110 to 131 L, 13.6 lb.
Carry-on
| Feature |
New Expandable Carry-On Max - Front Pocket $395 |
Briggs & Riley Sympatico Essential 22 in Carry-On Expandable Spinner $695 |
|---|---|---|
| Front pocket | Hard-shell pocket with laptop sleeve, fits up to a 16 inch laptop | Compared model has no front pocket. The Front Pocket version is $799 and fits most 15 inch laptops |
| Expandable | Yes. Optional zip expansion adds up to 2 inches when you need it, 48 L to 58 L | Yes. One-touch CX expansion adds 25%, then compresses back |
| Antimicrobial lining | Yes. 133 GSM lining infused with natural silver fibers | Not listed on the product page |
| Ball bearings in wheels | Yes, integrated. Smoother roll on carpet and uneven pavement | Not listed on the product page |
| Wheels | Hinomoto 360 degree silent-run dual wheels with integrated ball bearings, built to Arlo Skye's specification | Solid high-density spinner wheels |
| Lock | Built-in TSA-approved Travel Sentry 008 combination lock | Built-in TSA combination lock |
| Included | Leather tag, 2 shoe bags and laundry bag included, plus cotton dust cover | Storage bag, leather monogram nameplate, USB pass-through pocket |
| Monogramming | Yes. UV-printed on the shell, $45 add-on, adds 5 to 7 days to fulfillment | On a leather nameplate, not on the shell |
| Capacity | 48 L, 58 L expanded | 41 L, 51 L expanded |
| Size | 23.0 x 15.0 x 9.6 in | 22 x 14 x 9 in, 11.25 in deep expanded |
| Weight | 7.5 lb | 8.6 lb |
| Lighter option | Carry-On Max without the pocket: 7.0 lb, same 48 L, $350 | Not applicable |
| Price | $395 | $695 |
Large checked
| Feature |
New Top-Load Expandable Trunk - Large $595 |
Briggs & Riley Sympatico Large Expandable Spinner $859 |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Opens from the top, single chamber | 70/30 lid opening |
| Expandable | Yes. Optional zip expansion adds up to 2 inches when you need it, 110 L to 125 L | Yes. CX expansion, then compresses back |
| Antimicrobial lining | Yes. 133 GSM lining infused with natural silver fibers | Not listed on the product page |
| Included | Leather tag, 2 shoe bags and laundry bag included, plus cotton dust cover | Storage bag, leather monogram nameplate |
| Monogramming | Yes. UV-printed on the shell, $45 add-on, adds 5 to 7 days to fulfillment | On a leather nameplate, not on the shell |
| Capacity | 110 L, 125 L expanded | 110 L, 131 L expanded |
| Weight | 10.5 lb | 13.6 lb |
| Price | $595 | $859 |
Returns and warranty
| Feature | Arlo Skye | Briggs & Riley |
|---|---|---|
| Returns | 90 days (unused in original packaging) | 30 days at authorized retailers |
| Warranty | 5 years | Lifetime guarantee |
| Airline or transit damage | Not covered | Covered. Functional damage is repaired free for life, including airline damage |
| Warranty conditions | Manufacturing defects. Parts, labor and replacement are free for 5 years. All shipping is free in years 1 to 2, then billed at Arlo Skye's discounted carrier rate. Stress cracks in the shell are covered in year 1. Original owner | No proof of purchase needed. Cosmetic wear excluded. Owner pays shipping to the repair center, return shipping is free |
Arlo Skye prices are live. Briggs & Riley prices and specifications were checked on briggs-riley.com. Checked September 21, 2026. Competitor prices, specifications and policies change, and this page may not reflect the latest updates. Please confirm details on Briggs & Riley's own website before you buy. This comparison is provided for general information and reflects publicly available information as of the date shown. See something out of date? Email hello@arloskye.com and we will review and correct it. Briggs & Riley is a trademark of its owner. Arlo Skye is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Briggs & Riley.
The hard-shell front pocket
The Carry-On Max Front Pocket has a hard-shell exterior pocket with a laptop sleeve that fits up to a 16 inch laptop, a pullover and travel essentials. The pocket is part of the polycarbonate shell, so it keeps its shape and protects what is inside. Travel + Leisure named it Best Expandable Luggage with a Laptop Compartment in April 2026, and Condé Nast Traveler featured it as business trip luggage for its front laptop pocket in January 2026. The Sympatico Essential compared here has no front pocket. Briggs & Riley sells a Front Pocket version at $799 that fits most 15 inch laptops.
A trunk that opens from the top
The Top-Load Expandable Trunk is a single 110 L chamber that opens from the top and expands to 125 L. It is designed for small rooms, cruise cabins, and bulky items, because it can be packed standing up without opening flat across a bed. Forbes Vetted named it Best Expandable Trunk Luggage (August 6, 2026), noting that its 125 L expanded capacity was the largest on its list, and Yahoo Shopping named it Best checked luggage overall for 2026. Briggs & Riley's Torq Extra Large Trunk Spinner holds 123.9 L at 10.4 lb and does not expand.
Wheels with ball bearings, lining and lock
Hinomoto makes wheels with and without ball bearings. Arlo Skye specifies Hinomoto 360 degree silent-run dual wheels with integrated ball bearings. They cost more and roll more smoothly, especially on carpet and uneven pavement. Briggs & Riley's product page does not list ball bearings. The lining is 133 GSM antimicrobial fabric infused with natural silver fibers, and the built-in lock is a TSA-approved Travel Sentry 008 combination lock.
About Arlo Skye
Arlo Skye was founded in New York in 2015 by former Louis Vuitton and TUMI executives. Condé Nast Traveler readers ranked it the No. 1 luggage brand in the Readers' Choice Awards in 2023 and 2024. Condé Nast Traveler also gave its 2025 Stamp of Approval, an unpaid editorial recognition, to the Expandable Carry-On Max with Front Pocket.
What each warranty actually covers
Warranty length and warranty scope are different things. Briggs & Riley's Simple As That guarantee repairs all functional aspects of the bag free for life, including airline damage, with no proof of purchase. Cosmetic wear is excluded, and the owner pays shipping to the repair center. It is the broadest warranty in this comparison and broader than Arlo Skye's. Arlo Skye covers manufacturing defects for 5 years. Parts, labor and replacement are free for the full 5 years. Shipping, including round-trip shipping to a repair center, is free in years 1 to 2 and billed at Arlo Skye's discounted carrier rate in years 3 to 5. A stress crack in the shell within 12 months of purchase is treated as a defect. Airline damage is not covered.
Choose Arlo Skye if
You want more carry-on capacity at a lower weight for much less, a hard-shell pocket that fits a 16 inch laptop, 90-day returns, or a trunk that opens from the top.
Choose Briggs & Riley if
You want a lifetime guarantee that covers airline damage with no receipt, one-touch expansion that compresses back down, monogramming, or a worldwide repair network.
Arlo Skye vs Briggs & Riley: common questions
Is Arlo Skye better than Briggs & Riley?
Arlo Skye holds more in the carry-on, weighs about 1 lb less, adds a hard-shell laptop pocket and costs much less, with a 90-day return window. Briggs & Riley has the broadest warranty in this comparison: functional repairs free for life, including airline damage, with no proof of purchase.
How do returns compare?
Arlo Skye: 90 days (unused in original packaging). Briggs & Riley: 30 days at authorized retailers.
Do Arlo Skye or Briggs & Riley wheels have ball bearings?
Arlo Skye uses Hinomoto 360 degree dual wheels with integrated ball bearings, which roll more smoothly on carpet and uneven pavement. Briggs & Riley's product page does not list ball bearings.
Can Arlo Skye luggage be monogrammed?
Yes. Arlo Skye offers monogramming directly on the luggage shell as a $45 add-on. It is UV-printed, and it adds 5 to 7 days to order fulfillment. Briggs & Riley: on a leather nameplate, not on the shell.
Does Arlo Skye make a trunk?
Yes. The Top-Load Expandable Trunk is a single 110 L chamber that opens from the top, expands to 125 L and weighs 10.5 lb. Yahoo Shopping named it Best checked luggage overall for 2026, and Forbes Vetted named it Best Expandable Trunk Luggage in August 2026. It is $595.
How do the Arlo Skye and Briggs & Riley warranties compare?
Briggs & Riley's Simple As That guarantee repairs all functional aspects of the bag free for life, including airline damage, with no proof of purchase. Cosmetic wear is excluded, and the owner pays shipping to the repair center. It is the broadest warranty in this comparison and broader than Arlo Skye's. Arlo Skye covers manufacturing defects for 5 years. Parts, labor and replacement are free for the full 5 years. Shipping, including round-trip shipping to a repair center, is free in years 1 to 2 and billed at Arlo Skye's discounted carrier rate in years 3 to 5. A stress crack in the shell within 12 months of purchase is treated as a defect. Airline damage is not covered.