I am in the market for buying new luggage sets. Which one is better? Hard Shell or Soft shell?
I have heard Hard shell breaks is that true? Someone suggested me to buy Hard shell ABS light weight bag.
List your experiences with both.
Thank you in Advance
Hardshell is the trend now, easy to clean and push around, and and it is better to protect your valuable stuff from the aggressive throw by the baggage handlers
I use both, I have gotten 10 years out of a large hardshell suitcase bought at MBK Bangkok and it is now starting to show some cracking (easy fix with a bit of fibreglass). Obviously some brands are going to be better than others, but I have softshell just as old still doing a fantastic job.
The biggest thing for luggage is get rollers with 4 wheels - easier to manoeuvre and the baggage handlers roll them on the wheels rather than throwing them along the cargo decks.
As a regular traveller both domestically and internationally, hard shell all the way. It is more durable, less squashable (good if you have fragile things inside), easier to clean, often lighter. Good quality stuff shouldn't break; most come with a lifetime warranty (keep your receipts).
I am particularly pro hard shell after watching fabric bag after fabric bag being torn open on one especially dodgy carousel in the states once, too…
Also, make sure you get luggage with 4 sets of wheels instead of 2.
Also also: don't get a black bag. Everyone has black bags and it's a pain trying to spot your own. Get an interesting colour.
Until everyone else gets interesting colours too…
Thanks Brih. That explains it all. Yeah def getting a 4 wheeler. 2 wheel is a pin in the @ss :P.
a pin in the @ss
Ok that’s definitely bad!
I agree, i have had a few fabric bags that arrived torn at the destination.
Switched to hard shell recently, let's see how they fare, wonder how prone hard shells are to cracking ?
The good thing about fabric bags is their size is adjustable. Most come with an extra zipper to make them wider, and you can cram them to the brim. A hard shell suitcase can't do that.
Just for clarification, I have found a lot of hard shell cases with expansion zippers. (In case like me, someone is looking for luggage feedback and searches OzB like I did)
Definitely hard shell is my preference.
Being lighter is the biggest plus, but also most luggage gets to and from the plane open to the elements. Although the zips might leak (worst case), the case itself will repel any rain etc., rather than absorb it.
And, yes, like everyone else has said: 4 wheels and not black.
I'm gonna go against the trend here and recommend soft cases. Have travelled for over 30 years, never torn. Held up well to all treatment dished out. But then I've never had hard shell luggage either.
And I have also studied the pros and cons of 2 vs 4 wheels. I am definitely in the 2 wheel camp. Main reason is durability. 2 wheelers tend to be tougher, don't break off easily. Second reason is practicality. Try wheeling a 4 wheeler over rough terrain, cobblestones, grass. And dont forget the runaway baggage with 4 wheelers if you're not on a level surface, or on stop-start public transport. The only advantage 4 wheelers have is ease when on a hard, level surface such as airport terminals. And you're there for what percentage of a trip? Not really that long, considering a 2 wheeler isn't that much effort to tilt a little bit to move it anyway.
The Checkout did a bit on Samsonite's dodgy warranty exclusions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC7ZQKRTn7I
I'm planning to get a Crumpler hard case in future as I trust their warranties more.
For checkin luggage, I go hard case.
For cabin luggage, I use a softcase/backpack. A hard case isn't practical for me because every time I need to open it (such as when taking out my laptop/tablet for security screening or if I wanted to get something out), I'd need to lay the whole case flat somewhere and unzip. It doesn't help when I'm in a rush. A softcase/packpack has many pockets that I can just slip things into or take things out while on the go. The other advantage of a backpack is it's almost "mouldable" when there's not enough overhead space - no chance of doing that with a hard case.
I have a soft shell case. I deliberately got it because it was one of the lightest suitcases on the market - Antler Aire, large size, 2.7kg. Good because I like buying lots of stuff when I go overseas, and packing wise, I generally use clothes and other stuff to wrap fragile stuff carefully.
My husband had a hard shell once and it cracked on the second use, he uses soft now, I don't have any luggage myself yet but we're planning to travel and when I do buy some I'll be buying metal hard shell so there is no risk of cracking, plus it looks amazing, expensive though!
How much would the metal hard shell weigh? Something to consider.
Personally, I prefer lightweight soft shell suitcases that are expandable because having that extra space is handy (think at the end of a trip when you've done a but too much shopping, or when you have to pack in a hurry and don't have time to food everything up neatly), plus I prefer how it's one space rather than 2 & that it's easier to open a in a tight space.
PS. I've travelled extensively and never had one ripped/ torn. They do eventually start to fray years later.
My theory is to use the right type of luggage according to its purpose.
Carry on : little or no mistreatment, plus need as light as possible = a light soft case.
Check in : loads of mistreatment, needs protection , doesnt need to be light as possible = hard case.
we fly a lot(2 dozen times a year at least) & now buy cheap 2 wheel soft bags. Had too many hard sided bags break. Last bought a $20 bag at Walmart in USA, which has flown about a dozen times & a bit of superglue on frayed nylon does wonders. Just flew to Sydney & one of wheels of another 2 wheeled bag broken, or at least the bit holding it. A bit of liquid nails($2 one from Bunnings, not selleys, brand starts with P, (Parfix???) I think) does wonders. Just takes 2-3 days to dry hard & need some tape to hold it in place, until then.
Bag looks like crap, but no one will mistakenly take it or steal it.
Refuse to buy any bag over $40 on sale & will just keep repairing old ones, until they finally "die" & get used for storage on junk we can't yet let go of, even though we should (we have too much storage space in our house)
When I bought my latest luggage a couple of years ago I decided to go with soft shell (Samsonite 72 Hours specifically).
With all the luggage weight restrictions these days, I wanted something as light as possible but still reasonably durable. The bag has been all over the place with me and still going strong and looking practically new. Also soft cases are expandable which helps when my wife goes shopping.
Hard shells are great for protecting your stuff, but the trade off is weight.
with soft shells simply pack any breakables deep inside, with clothing on outside. Never had anything broken including a bottle of rum.
I have had both. No issues with either to be honest. Hard shell is a bit lighter in weight but you can get some light soft shells these days too. Just buy a good brand with a good warranty and you should be ok.