Legacy Collection vs. Briggs & Riley: The Case for Buying American
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Two of the finest luggage lines you'll find anywhere. Both on our shelves at Lieber's Luggage in Albuquerque. And connected by a story so remarkable that most people don't believe it when they first hear it.
This isn't just a product comparison. It's the story of how a single act of courage in 1939 created a thread that runs through both of these bags — and ends up on the shelves of a luggage store in New Mexico nearly a century later.
The Connection You Don't Know About
In July 1939, Max Lieber — founder of Lieber's Luggage Shops on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio — signed an affidavit of sponsorship for a Jewish refugee named Hans Ax, helping him escape Nazi-occupied Austria. Max didn't know Hans personally. He was deeply involved in a Cleveland Jewish refugee organization and is believed to have sponsored Hans as a complete stranger — guaranteeing him a home and $75 a month for as long as necessary.
Hans Ax made it to America in 1940. He survived. He started over, founding London Leather and building a new life in his adopted country.
His grandson, Richard Krulik, grew up in that family business orbit — the leather goods and luggage world his grandfather had rebuilt from nothing after escaping Vienna. In August 2000, Richard acquired Briggs & Riley Travelware under the umbrella of U.S. Luggage LLC. Today he serves as CEO, guiding one of the most respected luggage brands in the world.
In August 2017, Richard was sorting through old family documents in his mother's basement when he found a letter he didn't recognize. Dated July 1, 1939. Written on the letterhead of Lieber's Luggage Shops. Signed by Max Lieber.
The man whose life was saved by the founder of Lieber's Luggage grew up to run Briggs & Riley — a brand that sits on Lieber's shelves today.
That's not a coincidence. That's history.
Two Bags. One Standard.
Understanding that connection makes the comparison between these two bags feel different. Both exist because of the same founding belief: that travelers deserve luggage built to last, backed by people who stand behind it.
Here's how they compare.
The Legacy Collection: Built in Albuquerque, Built to Last
The Legacy Collection is our flagship line — hardside spinners assembled right here in Albuquerque at The Luggage Lab. Every bag is built by hand, using screws throughout (not rivets) so every component can be serviced and replaced. This is repairability by design.
- Shell: Hardside polycarbonate/ABS construction — impact-resistant, lightweight
- Wheels: 8-spinner wheel system for 360° smooth roll
- Expansion: Expandable design for extra packing capacity
- Personalization: Free custom monogram on every bag
- Assembly: USA assembled in Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Colors: Black, Mocha, Stealth Mocha
Legacy Collection pricing:
Briggs & Riley: The Unconditional Lifetime Standard
Briggs & Riley was founded in 1993 and built its reputation on one promise: the most comprehensive warranty in the luggage industry. Airline damage included. For life. No questions asked.
The Baseline line is their flagship softside collection — built around the patented CX® compression-expansion system, ballistic nylon fabric, and a built-in garment folder that keeps suits wrinkle-free. The ZDX line adds hardside options, USB charging via Power Pocket™, and a hidden AirTag slot for the modern traveler.
- Shell: Softside ballistic nylon (Baseline) or hardside polycarbonate (ZDX)
- Warranty: Unconditional lifetime — airline damage included
- Expansion: CX® one-touch compression-expansion (Baseline)
- Organization: Built-in garment folder, multiple zip pockets
- Personalization: Free monogramming on all pieces
Briggs & Riley pricing at Lieber's:
- Baseline 21" Global Carry-On — $729
- Baseline 26" Medium Checked — from $799
- ZDX Global 21" Carry-On — $569
- ZDX Global 21" Hardside — $549
Head-to-Head
| Legacy Collection | Briggs & Riley | |
|---|---|---|
| Made in | USA — Albuquerque, NM | Designed in USA, manufactured overseas |
| Shell | Hardside only | Softside (Baseline) + Hardside (ZDX) |
| Warranty | Backed by Lieber's directly | Unconditional lifetime, airline damage included |
| Repairability | Screw construction — fully serviceable | Authorized repair network worldwide |
| Price range | $229.99 – $289.99 | $519 – $799+ |
| Monogram | Free custom monogram | Free monogram |
| Heritage | Century-old Lieber's name, USA assembled | Founded 1993, owned by grandson of Hans Ax |
The Case for Buying American
The Legacy Collection exists because we believe travelers deserve a bag that was built by someone who cares — assembled by hand, designed to be repaired, and backed by the people who sold it to you.
At $229.99 for the carry-on, it's not a budget bag. It's a deliberate choice. You're buying American craftsmanship, a century of luggage heritage, and a bag that can be fixed rather than thrown away when something goes wrong.
Briggs & Riley is the choice when you want the most comprehensive warranty in the industry, the CX expansion system, and a softside bag trusted by road warriors worldwide. It costs more. It's worth it for the right traveler.
Both bags are on our floor. Both are backed by people who know luggage. And both exist because of a letter written in Cleveland in 1939 by a man named Max Lieber — who put his name on the line for a stranger, and changed the course of two luggage dynasties without ever knowing it.
Come in and hold both. You'll know which one is yours.
Shop the Legacy Collection → Shop Briggs & Riley →
Lieber's Luggage — 6515 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM. Since the beginning. Built for the journey.