Hard Case Luggage Vs Softside

Luggage comes as either hard shell plastic cases or soft sided fabric baggage.

Hard case luggage vs softside.

Softside luggage is definitely preferred for carry on luggage. Be prepared to increase your luggage budget when looking for hard sided bags. But i ll only travel with soft sided luggage it s lighter and more practical. Softside bags are also easier to fit into the overhead bins.

Hardside materials are more often than not easy to clean simple by wiping the surface. The only downside is you might need to pay more for a really lightweight piece of luggage. Although many hard cases especially those made from polycarbonate are expandable soft luggage can still stretch more around the edges. They re not as flexible.

However you should also look beyond the material of bag and pay closer attention to quality and the craftsmanship. Plus they don t slide around and stack easier i hate packing the two halves of a hard side suitcase. Soft side soft side flexibility is the winner for many as mentioned above most travellers prefer a soft side suitcase which is typically made of nylon or similar softer materials. Hard cases may protect your luggage contents better especially when the bags are being tossed around or smashed.

It may offer better security than soft sided baggage because it can t be ripped open as easily and usually has. Yes the hard style luggage is usually the trendier of the two which also makes for a bigger price tag. Plus it s easier to set a soft case on a luggage rack. You may want to buy hard sided luggage if you ll be packing breakable items.

Also if you need to be frequently moving or lifting your luggage around a soft side luggage is a great choice since they are lighter. Some of the stylish hard cases will run you a lot more than a soft side case of the same dimensions. Hard side luggage on the other hand will hold up to being thrown around if you need to make frequent transfers. The molded exterior of a hardside bag does not allow for this extra space.

Soft luggage is also easier to manipulate into small spaces such as overhead bins or luggage racks on buses whereas hard cases really compete with other bags. Softside luggage on the other hand absorb water and are more prone to retaining stains and smells.