7710 travel luggage

This 7710 is a beast in size and ability.... and I need (want?) a new travel luggage bag.


I have a TUMI all leather bag on 2 wheels for travelling. but it is about 8 yrs old now and one wheel is destroyed. I still wheel/drag it with me though. I'm shipping it for repairs, but I want new for my new precision 7710. He deserves it. *I'm going to keep the old TUMI for my macbook and M6500 to haul them around. - yeah, that will never happen

So I'm looking for new travel luggage. My eyes are on Briggs and Riley; and also TUMI. TUMI have a 5 yr warranty, TUMI is Mercedes class in regards to customer support and quality. They've replaced bags for me in the past under warranty (not repaired. Replaced). And after 5 yrs they are pretty lenient in that they've only charged 20 bucks plus 20 more for shipping when a handle cracked near the body (I was moving across state lines and they were rough movers).

So my first choice is a Tumi Alpha 2, leather case. The latest generation of the bag I already have.
http://www.tumi.com/p/4-wheeled-deluxe-leather-brief-with-laptop-case-096627D2
It has four wheels, which would be super convenient when unboarding a plane when we move an inch at a time.... the 4 wheels are on casters so they move in any direction. Meaning I could put the bag on the floor in front of me, long ways (narrow ways - squished like hamsters), inching along while unboarding instead of holding it, walk forward a foot, picking it up, holding it, picking it up, walk another foot, and so on. It is about $1000 USD. not cheap but excellent and perhaps best quality. They also have surrounded bumper (hard plastic/rubber) at the corners.

The closest competitor is the Briggs and Rilley Large Rolling case.
http://www.briggs-riley.com/shop/function/business-cases/large-expandable-rolling-brief
It is half the price of the above TUMI, no bumpers except at the bottom. No leather option (Nylon). Two wheels opposed to four on the TUMI. The Briggs doesn't have as much structural reinforcments and is inferior sewing (2X2 instead of 2x3 in the TUMI). The Briggs has two things going for it in my opinion... a slightly LARGER slot for the laptop itself and the briggs is less than half the price.

The briggs also has a lifetime warranty. You might think that would be the deciding factor. But in reality, after 5 yrs, I'm ready to upgrade my bag. Briggs (although a lifetime) won't entirely replace your damaged bag as TUMI would, like say if a cut or tear occurred along the surface of structure. With Briggs you would send away and a month or so later and get your patched up Briggs. Tumi would give you a brand new bag right then in the store (while within warranty and within reason. If only a wheel needed repair TUMI would replace just the wheel).

I'm leaning to the TUMI Alpha2, I'm pretty much sold on it. I decided to wait one day to see what you guys think. I'd be buying from a local retailer and I've been trying them both in store as comparison. I'm only repeating from reports I've read and heard (heard from Briggs retailer) and what I saw in their store. I've never owned a Briggs. But I would like your thoughts, experiences and feedback on purchases. Thanks

 

I'd go with the Tumi. Having four wheels is extremely helpful in tight airport travel.

I was able to pick up a Tumi bag from TJ Maxx a few years ago. MSRP was around $1000. TJ Maxx wanted $600. I was able to negotiate them down to $350. You'll never know what you can find in that store...

You may also want to check to see if there is an outlet near you. Sometimes the outlets can have some pretty good deals.

I just bought a Pelican 1495CC1 for my 7710. That will be what I use to throw around in the back of my car. I'm still trying to find the Tumi 17" laptop shoulder bag that is included with their briefcases. I like it because it is very thin. Good for a light day when I don't need to carry anything because the computer itself.

 

It looks like the interior laptop case is built for older 17" diagonal 16:10 aspect ratio like your 6500, not current 17.3" diagonal 16:9, which can be an inch wider. Depth (closed height of laptop) is only 0.14 in less than the 1.5 in available, but you need 0.42 in extra width.

I'd guess it might fit in the exterior case if you don't use that interior case, since the outside width is 17.5", giving you a half inch allowance on each side for the thickness of the bag walls and a replacement interior case if you decide to use one.

(Since you already have an older Tumi, I guess you already know this if you have already used it to carry your 7710.)

Tumi Alpha 2

Dimensions
H: 15.5 in W: 17.5 in D: 10 in
Expanded Depth 12 in

Laptop Dimensions
H: 12 in W: 16 in D: 1.5 in
Fits up to 17"​

Dell 7710

Dimensions
Height (front-Rear): Front 1.12” (28.5mm) – Rear 1.36” (34.49mm) x Width: 16.42” (417.04mm) x Depth: 11.08” (281.44mm)

Weight: starting at 7.55 lbs (3.42 kg) with SSD​

The Briggs & Riley site also says their Large Expandable Rolling Brief fits 17" laptops, but does not give interior dimensions. It says the outside is 17.5" and does not mention an interior case, so it looks similar. However, the eBags site says there is a laptop sleeve (but does not list the sleeve dimensions), and gives dimensions of the compartment into which it fits:

Laptop Compartment Dimensions: 16.6" x 12" x 2" ​

(I found a similar issue with the TomBihn BrainBag interior case a few years ago. It looks like several 17" bag makers manufactured large numbers of 16:10 cases and were stuck with excess stock when the industry shifted to 17.3" 16:9 screens. They did not replace their offerings with cases suitable for the wider 16:9 laptops, even though that shift was 5-6 years ago now, maybe because Apple discontinued their 17" laptop.)

[edit: added Briggs & Riley laptop compartment dimensions from eBags.]

 

I was at the local Tumi and Briggs & Riley store and I brought in my 7710 to test fit.

The TUMI Alpha 2 bag comes with a separate removable laptop sleeve that would be way too small for the 7710. I don't think my m6500 would even fit in the sleeve. My 17" macbook pro can use that sleeve. I'm speaking of the removable sleeve pictured below.



The 7710 fits into the TUMI ALPHA 2 pocket shown above (the pocket that the sleeve is hanging out of). It is the compartment in the TUMI that is intended specifically for the laptop and laptop sleeve. But that compartment is tight around the corners of the 7710 chassis where the zipper encloses it. The width of the 7710 actually fits perfect (in both the tumi and in the briggs). In the TUMI, the 7710 fits in that intended laptop compartment and the zipper closes , but I had to use two hands to get the zipper around the corners of the laptop chassis. If the 7710 had been just a little narrower or not as deep. The 7710 fit tighter than I would like it to be in that TUMI intended pocket. It would eventually wear on the zipper seams and also scratch the 7710 chassis after awhile. The interior height of that compartment in the TUMI is too shallow to comfortably fit the 7710 and also close the zipper. It was the same in my existing TUMI bag when I tried to fit the 7710 in that intended compartment.

The Briggs & Riley bag has a taller (ie higher) interior dimensions for the actual laptop compartment. The 7710 fit in the Briggs & Riley laptop's compartment much better with about 1/2" gap between the laptop and the zipper when zipping it closed. The reason the TUMI is shallower in the laptop compartment is because that particular zipper compartment sits near the caster wheels which limit how high that compartment can be. The Briggs has only two wheels, and those wheels are on the backside of the bag, not on the front where the laptop compartment is. The Briggs can have a higher interior dimensions for it's laptop compartment without running into wheel assembly.

In the TUMI I would use one of the the bigger and taller file folder compartments for the 7710. Those have more than enough space and protection for the 7710 without being too loose either. shown here:


I'll keep hunting. Maybe I'll find a good deal someplace. The price of the Briggs and the fact that it's intended laptop pocket fits the 7710 perfect sure does make it enticing. Briggs and Riley photo below of the "Large Expandable Rolling Brief"

 

That Pelican case looks cool and will protect it well. I currently have a 5 yr old leather Kenneth Cole Reaction laptop shoulder bag but the 7710 doesn't fit in it very well. It worked great for light duty around town with the m6500. I didn't pay much attention to the shoulder bags at the Tumi and Briggss store, I'll check them out when I return there.

 

Go with the Tumi. The Tumi alpha laptop bags are classics. Tumi uses top-notch design, materials, and craftsmanship.

The only drawback of Tumi gear is the price. But if that isn't an issue, then there really isn't a reason to NOT buy Tumi.

If you're inclined, you might want to check a Tumi outlet near you (usually found at Premium Outlet branded outlet malls). Something like a Tumi alpha is a "classic" design that is brought back year over year, so there's a good chance that an outlet would have it.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

I like the TUMI alot, of course. I still have my old TUMI which I will be repaired soon (outside of warranty but they are only charging me $20 USD for shipping). But I think I'm going to go with the Briggs as the new travelling bag for the 7710. Although a bit lesser in quality compared to the TUMI, it really does fit the 7710 better than the Tumi when using their intended laptop storage compartments. The 7710 in the TUMI would have to go into the compartments meant for file folders and binders and such. The 7710 is too large for the Tumi's intended Laptop storage compartment.

I have a huge outlet mall about 45 minutes drive away, but no Tumi

The briggs is really nice, even if not as nice as the Tumi.

With the money I save going with the Briggs I'm going to also buy an XXL laptop backpack bag for in town when I'm not travelling. I prefer backpacks more than other types bags or briefcases for around town. I can fit my mechanical keyboard, my external HDD cradle, file folder and binders, etc. Backpacks just work better for me in general. There are two oversize laptop backpack bags I'm currently considering:

The Dell Alienware 18" Vindicator is one. I know that alienware may seem juvenile but it really does look like well designed bag with tons of internal storage space. I even like the alien design.

http://www.dell.com/content/product...r_backpack?c=us&l=en&cs=19&s=dhs&sku=A6897217

The other backpack I'm leaning to is the Everki Titan Backpack. I like it in that it has more zippered pockets on the outside than the Alienware (quicker access to smaller items without having to open up main compartments). It also might be a little better quality, but not sure.

http://www.everki.com/products1/18-...iendly-laptop-backpack-fits-up-to-18-4-detail

between the two backpacks, I like the actual laptop intended storage compartment of the Alienware Vindicator more. Seems to be more foam, but can't be sure without seeing them side by side in person. I think I would be happy getting either one. They both have limited lifetime warranty incase a strap, seam or zipper breaks.

 

I agree with the Briggs & Riley, in that case. If it does the job better than the Tumi bag, then definitely get it. Functionality beats brand any day of the week

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk