Hard-sided luggage that also expands is first of its kind

Having had check-in luggage get lost, rerouted or otherwise mysteriously disappear, I now travel with only a carry-on wheelie bag. That also means I’m continuously searching for the “next best” luggage.

Briggs-Riley, known for performance and its lifetime warranty, has engineered the first hard-sided spinner bags that expand and compress to original size, with a rigid, zipperless system.

The new Sympatico CX collection comes in 21-, 27- and 30-inch sizes. Taking the 21-inch bag on a recent one-week jaunt back east, my clothes were kept neat and wrinkle-free by the internal adjustable garment panels. The expander tab is activated by an easy flip switch, and its double steel — not aluminum — spinner wheels have the smoothest ride of any bag I’ve tried.

Other pluses: multiple handle extension settings, an external handle design that leaves a roomier interior (no bars), and built-in locks.

I would have liked an additional internal zipper pouch, but solved that with a medium Ziploc bag. Though at first leery of not having a soft-side bag’s external zippered compartments to hold my umbrella and books, Sympatico’s stability meant that I could stuff those items into my companion piece placed on the handle and still have a very stable ride. All in all, Sympatico gets an “A-.”

Sympatico CX runs $529-$649; companion pieces, $155-$219. Available online and at select retailers, check briggs-riley.com for more details or call 877-745-3978.

Julie L. Kessler is a travel writer, attorney and legal columnist based in Los Angeles and author of the award-winning book “Fifty-Fifty: The Clarity of Hindsight.”