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How to Choose Between Hardside and Softside Luggage ...
In addition to the materials themselves, we evaluated the overall design, weight, and capacity considerations for both bag types. We sifted through testing notes from more than 200 hardside and softside suitcases personally tested by our Travel + Leisure team, so once you pick team softside or team hardside, we narrowed it down to the best carry-on, checked, and underseat luggage pieces. Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of hardside and softside suitcases ' and decide which will work best for you.
It's time to settle the long-time debate between the two types of suitcases on the market: hardside and softside luggage. While the final decision boils down to personal preference, we put together this comprehensive guide with cold hard facts to help you decide which style suits your needs.
Hardside Luggage
Materials
Most hardside suitcases are made out of polycarbonate, polypropylene, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), or aluminum. Polycarbonate is one of the most durable and flexible materials, which means it's more impact-resistant but is also heavier than polypropylene and ABS bags. Polypropylene is the most lightweight when it comes to plastic hardside bags while still remaining fairly durable.
ABS typically falls in the middle weight-wise ' it is often the cheapest option but is commonly found in a blend with other materials. Aluminum, on the other hand, has the sleekest look but is usually the priciest and heaviest; it's the most protective, which also means it has the least "give" out of the hardside options when packing.
Arguably the biggest pros and cons of hardside luggage are related to the material used. A hardside suitcase is typically better than a softside bag for protection (as long as your items are packed safely inside, too). However, all hardside materials are prone to getting scuffed, scratched, or possibly cracked more so than with fabric suitcases. Just remember that it's normal for hardside suitcases to look beat up, particularly after checking them in, but it's usually not too difficult to buff the case with a sponge to remove the marks (and some suitcases even come with buffing sponges). You can also opt for dark colors that hide damage better like navy blue or black.
Design
One of the most appealing factors of hardside luggage is the sleek design. The shell is typically protective enough to safeguard your belongings during rough airport baggage handling, in-flight turbulence, or rainy delays on the tarmac, making the investment worth it for peace of mind. In general, you can expect to see four 360-degree spinner wheels on most hardshell suitcases, which is ideal for maneuverability in crowded airports.
In terms of interior organization, there should be zippered sections or pocketed dividers to help pack a range of clothing items between the two clamshell-style compartments. However, you'd be hard-pressed to find exterior pockets on many hardside suitcases due to the stiff, solid plastic material, so once your items are packed away, it'll be difficult to access anything. If this is important to you, seek out hardside suitcases with quick-entry front pockets to solve that problem.
Weight
While polypropylene is the lightest weight material in the hardside suitcase category, other hardshell suitcases will likely still be heavier than softside bags. Aluminum is very durable but it can be quite dense with most carry-ons, weighing over 10 pounds. If weight is important to you for a checked bag with airline weight restrictions, you'll be better off with a lighter-weight polypropylene suitcase or a softside one. In general, a hardside carry-on will weigh anywhere between five and 10 pounds and a lightweight checked bag will weigh nine to 12 pounds.
Capacity
Since hardside suitcases typically have a clamshell-style design, it's possible to naturally divide up a lot of items. You may find it easier to use packing cubes to help maximize space and stay organized since there are generally fewer pockets in hardside luggage. Conversely, hardside suitcases have less give in the material, so it can be harder to squeeze extra items in.
With hardside carry-ons, your suitcase will always fit in the overhead bin as long as it fits the airline's dimension requirements as the structure of the bag won't allow it to exceed its original size ' unless it has an expandable zipper that will add an extra inch or two of space. Still, it is easier to overpack a softside bag since the material is more flexible as long as you can close the zipper.
Our Top Picks
Best Checked
Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside
PHOTO: Amazon
Why We Love It
The polycarbonate shell feels nearly indestructible.
What to Consider
It weighs 11.5 pounds, which is on the heavier side for checked luggage.
Going on an international trip? This large Samsonite checked bag can fit more than a week's worth of clothing items thanks to its generous capacity and built-in compression straps that help secure and compress clothes. Made out of durable polycarbonate, the suitcase helps protect all of your belongings no matter the conditions during transit. While it's on the heavier end of the luggage spectrum at 11.5 pounds, it's worth it for a durable and wallet-friendly checked suitcase.
The Details: 31.5 x 20.5 x 13 inches | 11.5 pounds | Expandable | 4 spinner wheels
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Best Carry-on
Samsonite Freeform Carry-on Spinner
PHOTO: Amazon
$200
Why We Love It
It's super lightweight but spacious enough for a variety of trips.
What to Consider
There could be more pockets for storage.
This polypropylene carry-on is exceptionally durable to withstand anything from accidental drops to transits in inclement weather. Its light weight will surely be appreciated when you're lugging it from place to place, too. The clamshell-style suitcase has plenty of room for clothing, shoes, and anything else you need to travel with, but we do wish there were a few more interior pockets for smaller items. The four 360-degree wheels are very smooth and make it easy to maneuver around any airport or hotel obstacles. There's also a matching checked suitcase in the Freeform line if you're looking to buy a great luggage set.
The Details: 21 x 15 x 10 inches | 5.6 pounds | Expandable | 4 spinner wheels
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
The Best Carry-on Luggage of , Tested and Reviewed
Best Underseat
Calpak Hue Mini Carry-on Luggage
PHOTO: Calpak
Why We Love It
It has a variety of designated pockets to use the small space efficiently.
What to Consider
The TSA-approved lock has a slight learning curve.
Calpak's underseat suitcase fits perfectly under a standard airplane seat and, although it's a hardside bag, it has enough flexibility to squeeze underneath a smaller airplane seat. There are a variety of interior pockets for a laptop, charger, and other small items to stay organized while packing light, but you can still easily fit a weekend's worth of clothes. Plus, the 360-degree wheels make it incredibly easy to roll this small polycarbonate suitcase through a busy airport.
The Details: 16 x 13.5 x 8 inches | 6.05 pounds | 4 spinner wheels
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph
The Best Hardside Luggage of , Tested and Reviewed
Softside Luggage
Materials
The most common fabrics used to make softside luggage are nylon and polyester. Higher-end softside luggage is often made with more durable materials like cordura and ballistic nylon whereas budget luggage may be made of a less durable polyester. Ballistic nylon was created during World War II and is a thicker woven fabric designed to be more resistant to abrasion, tearing, and odors. It can also result in a heavier bag.
Softside material can generally hide tears or stains better than a hardside suitcase can hide scuffs or scratches but may still fray and fade over time. A downside to softside luggage is that although the fabric conceals damage better than hardside luggage, your items may not be as well-protected in inclement weather transit so you may want to travel with a hardside suitcase if you're traveling to a cold or wet destination.
Design
There's nothing more classic than a piece of softside luggage. While four 360-degree spinning wheels are the industry standard now for prime mobility, there are still quite a few softside suitcases with two wheels on the market. It's ultimately a personal choice whether you find it easier to get around with four wheels rather than two, but a suitcase with four wheels offers both options as it's possible to either pull this style behind you on two wheels or roll it by your side on four wheels.
The typical design of a softside suitcase includes one large main compartment with a separate top flap that often has both interior and exterior pockets for organization. That option for external pockets is softside luggage's most notable design feature as most hardside suitcases lack these. In fact, most softside suitcases will have at least one large front zippered pocket with smaller pockets in or around the larger one so you can access items without having to open the entire suitcase.
Weight
Polyester fabric is very lightweight, so if you're looking for a suitcase to stay within an airline's strict limits, softside luggage is a great option. (Remember that any wheels, handles, or the frame itself can add weightiness, too.) It ultimately depends on the brand and size of the suitcase itself, but softside carry-ons can weigh as little as four pounds. Polyester checked bags typically weigh between eight and 11 pounds, with ballistic nylon options often checking in around 15.
Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Capacity
When it comes to capacity, softside luggage truly shines. Nylon and polyester have more give than hardside suitcases, so there's more room to cram items in if needed. Plus, softside luggage often comes with expandable zippers that can add several inches of room in the suitcase ' a game changer for squeezing in last-minute items. The front zipper pockets are also very helpful for easily accessing items while traveling and can keep you extra organized, too. However, remember when packing this style that you may inadvertently exceed overhead luggage size requirements with overstuffed or expanded bags.
Our Top Picks
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Best Checked
Hartmann Luxe II Medium Journey Luggage
PHOTO: Hartmann
Why We Love It
It exudes quiet luxury with leather accents and elegant colorways.
What to Consider
We wish the interior had a few more pockets.
One of the biggest drawbacks to softside luggage is usually the style factor, but luckily, that's not the case with this stunning Hartmann checked bag. The vintage-inspired design of this large suitcase makes it effortlessly elegant thanks to the delicate leather trim and subtly patterned fabric. During our durability tests, we noticed that the bag came out completely unscathed, looking as good as new after being hit with a baseball bat several times. This bag can easily fit enough clothing for up to two weeks of traveling, and it also has an expandable zipper to add even more room. The only slight inconvenience we noticed is that the interior only has one large pocket on the opening flap; otherwise, you'll need packing cubes or you can utilize the two large front pocket for organizing smaller items.
The Details: 27.3 x 18.5 x 11.5 inches | 9.4 pounds | Polyester, polypropylene | Expandable
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
Best Carry-on
Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-on
PHOTO: Amazon
$430
$430
Why We Love It
The high-density nylon is super durable and the wheels roll smoothly across all types of surfaces.
What to Consider
It has a USB port, but you have to buy a power bank separately.
When it comes to durability, Travelpro's Platinum Elite Carry-on is made with a high-density ballistic nylon fabric with Duraguard coating to ensure the longevity of the suitcase. It has four spinner wheels that glide smoothly over rough and flat surfaces, and going around sharp corners was a breeze when we tested it. The capacity is standard for a carry-on and there are a variety of internal and external pockets including a pocket with a USB port ' but you'll need to supply your own power bank to place in the compatible pocket.
The Details: 23.5 x 14.5 x 9 inches | 8.3 pounds | Expandable | Smart | 4 spinner wheels
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Best Underseat
Calpak Luka Soft-sided Mini Carry-on Luggage
PHOTO: Calpak
Why We Love It
This underseater is deep and spacious, but it still has some give in the material, so it's easy to place underneath an airplane seat.
What to Consider
The handle popped out after we threw it off a table, but it wasn't damaged.
This compact bag makes a great alternative to a tote or duffel if someone wanted a bag that had wheels (but it also has a luggage sleeve on the back if you do want to place it on top of a larger suitcase). It has a puffy, softside exterior and a padded laptop compartment in the front pocket. We especially loved the accessory pockets lining the main compartment, and the smaller pocket on the outside that was perfect for storing a or keys. There is a semi-accordion style opening so you can unzip the bag while its standing upright without the whole lid flapping open. The handle did pop open after we tossed it around when we tested it, but it wasn't damaged, and the puffy material seems like it would be great for protecting the items you have packed inside.
The Details: 16 x 14.25 x 9 inches | 5.3 pounds | Polyester | 4 spinner wheels
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Hard Vs. Soft Suitcases: Which Is Better For Air Travel?
Shot of queue of passengers waiting at boarding gate at airport. Group of people standing in queue ... [+] to board airplane.
gettyIn the great debate over hard and soft luggage, these considerations will help you decide what's best for you.
I travel by plane four times a month, with a few road trips thrown in for good measure, and I've watched as suitcase preferences have changed over the years. I'm seeing more hard-sided luggage than ever before ' enough to make me get my own hard bag to get to the bottom of this upswing. Mind you, I've never owned hard luggage in my life, so this was a big step for me, and one I am glad I took. But I still love my soft luggage and happily switch between the two of them.
There's so much to consider here, from durability to weight to ' let's face it ' how much you can stuff inside without massive wrinkling or messy breakage. So with all that in mind, here are two great carry-ons ' one soft-shell and one hard-shell ' and the pros and cons that go along with each.
What You Need to Know About Softside Luggage
Travel suitcase isolated on white.
gettyWhen it came time to replace my old bag, I opted for what I saw all the flight attendants using ' Travelpro. I purchased the Maxlite 5 Compact Carry-on Spinner. It was lightweight, affordable, and durable, with the added bonus of a history of excellent reviews. I've found it to be consistently reliable, and with the exception of some black surface marks from the times I checked the bag, it has worn incredibly well. Here are the benefits and weaknesses of a softside suitcase:
Softside Suitcase Pros
Luggage Weight
A soft bag tends to be lightweight, and on the occasions when I've had to check mine, it's never been subjected to overweight restrictions or additional costs, a huge consideration when buying a suitcase. Moving through the airport is easy ' just a light grip pulls the suitcase along seamlessly. And lifting this case up into and down from the overhead is not a strain.
Luggage Expansion
Soft luggage tends to remain more popular than hard luggage because it is more flexible. You can pack it to the gills, open the extender zipper for a couple extra inches, and shove a laptop in the large front zipper compartment. You can wedge shoes along the sides, pushing the edges out to their maximum capacity. Basically, you have wiggle room where needed.
Luggage Fit
Conversely, if your suitcase isn't jam packed, you can squeeze it into smaller spaces, an option you won't get with a hard-shell suitcase. I've been able to finagle mine into smaller-than-usual overhead bins or find a spot for it in a packed shuttle suitcase rack.
Softside Suitcase Cons
Luggage Protection
My biggest concern about soft suitcases has always been their ability to protect what I've packed inside, and I think that concern has merit. If I decide ' as I have on a few occasions ' to check my bag on my return flight, I worry about my liquids every single time. Will my bag appear on the claim belt drenched in red wine? Will I manage to ruin all of my clothes packed inside? If you've ever watched bags being handled by airport personnel or worse ' airport machines ' you've likely sweated the safe return of your bag. Soft-sided luggage just doesn't give you the peace of mind you need when packing liquids or breakables.
Luggage Durability
It's rare with a good quality suitcase like Travelpro, but fabric can be ripped and stained over time. Soft-sided suitcases are more susceptible to overhead damage, being crushed by heavier suitcases, and soaking up general 'gunk' that is part of the checked bag process. Eventually, no matter how carefully you take care of your bag, you have to accept that when it's out of your hands, it will be beaten up and stained, and that wear will show.
What You Need To Know About Hard-shell Luggage
The emerald hard-case Tumi in full size and carry-on
Courtesy of TumiWhen I dipped my toe into the hard-shell luggage pool, I decided to go with the increasingly popular Tumi brand. The latest and greatest is the Tegra-Lite line made from recycled materials that are durable and lightweight. I travel with a suitcase I've grown to love ' the International Front Pocket Expandable Four-Wheeled Carryon.
Hardside Luggage Pros
Durable Luggage
The main reason travelers opt for hard-shell luggage is durability and protection against damaged contents. And I have to say that using my very first hard suitcase gave me a sense of peace, especially when I had to check it. No matter how far that bag was tossed, the contents would be safe. And if a liquid broke inside, it might spill onto some contents, but it wouldn't damage and stain the outer suitcase as it would a soft-sided one.
Waterproof Luggage
And speaking of moisture, one must consider what your bag will be exposed to, weather-wise. If you've ever retrieved a soft-sided bag from a baggage carousel and found it soaked from being transported in the rain, you know what I mean. Not to mention shuttle transports to your destination and your own walks through the rain, suitcase in tow. Hard-shell suitcases can easily be cleaned and toweled off.
Organized Luggage
While my Travelpro has one large packing section, my Tumi splits the sections in half, with one half in a zippered, covered section, and the other open with straps to contain the contents. This allows me to pack shoes and miscellaneous options in one half and my clothes in the other, with no fear of transfer of germs and dirt. And while this bag complies with international standards (making it a couple inches smaller than U.S. approved bags) its layout (especially with the expander open) allows me to carry just as much.
Hardside Luggage Cons
Lacks Luggage Flexibility
There's no squeezing hard-shell luggage into a small space ' it simply won't get smaller or allow itself to be tucked around overhead hinges and protrusions. It's the biggest downside to hard luggage, so if this aspect is important to you, you might want to stick to a soft carry-on and perhaps try a hard bag you can check for the best of both worlds.
Is Susceptible to Scuffs
The first time you get a scuff on the outside of your gleaming new hard-shell suitcase, you'll sigh and bemoan your decision. In my mind, a scuff is no different whether it's on a soft-shell piece or a hard-shell piece ' and scuffs will happen no matter how much care you take. Just know that hard luggage is still susceptible to damage. Tumi is known for its advanced technology in its materials (and the price reflects that), so if you want a bag that will stay in great shape over the years and you can afford it, it's a great choice.
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