Soft or Hard Luggage?

bargainhunter87 on 01/02/2019 - 19:23

Hi - travelling overseas in a couple of months and I was after two new suitcases. After a quick search on the internet, it appears that choosing suitable luggage is not as easy as it may initially appear. So calling out to anyone that may have recently been through this and may be willing to offer friendly assistance.

A few points about my situation:

  • Travelling on an airlines which allows 2 x 23kg baggage.
  • I was after a 'spinner' i.e. something on 4 wheels
  • Travelling to Asia
  • Will be doing heaps of shopping.

My main question is around whether most people prefer soft or hard luggage? Soft is of course much lighter (which I prefer because we will be shopping a lot!) - but are there any main reasons why people steer clear of soft suitcases?

Any good brands that people can recommend?

Budget - not more than $200 per suitcase (on sale).

Thanks OZB

Travel Luggage

Comments

  • jjjaar on 01/02/2019 - 19:27
    -1

    I find that luggage where you roll alongside you rather than behind you is just not natural. Depending on where you’re going (Europe: cobblestones, or anywhere up a slight hilll) it can be so much more difficult.

    So while I have no preference for soft or hard, I would say that if you get one on four wheels, make sure two of them can pivot so you can tilt it on an angle when rolling it alongside becomes hard.

    • JimmyF on 01/02/2019 - 19:31
      +36

      Europe: cobblestones, or anywhere up a slight hilll) it can be so much more difficult.

      You know they can work just like a 2 wheel suit as well? You 'tilt' them over so the act like a 2 wheel suitcase. Problem solved.

      https://images.pexels.com/photos/1457691/pexels-photo-145769…

      • jjjaar on 01/02/2019 - 19:56
        +4

        Not all of them do, hence my comment saying “make sure you get one that tilts”.

        I have travelled with a few friends that have had the four wheel ones that didn’t tilt.

        • gyrex on 02/02/2019 - 11:46
          +1

          Were the wheels glued to the ground? I'd love to see this special design which doesn't allow any tilt - I've never seen it before in my extensive travels.

          • jjjaar on 02/02/2019 - 13:50
            +8

            @gyrex: For one of them wheels were placed too far from the edge of the base. The wheels themselves didn’t actually tilt, but you could tilt the case so it could be handled on an angle. However, because of the wheels location on the base and the long handle, the hard case would drag on the ground when the angle was optimal. In order to not drag it, it was an awkward angle that was very hard to walk with.

            Obviously it was a horrible design, and this was some years ago so has probably been rectified, but, this is what I have seen with them so was just ensuring OP knew this has been a possibility before.

            • aerona on 04/02/2019 - 04:21
              -1

              @jjjaar: I think your friends were punking you by bringing an untilitable luggage of all luggages

              • jjjaar on 04/02/2019 - 07:03

                @aerona: They brought it for themselves, I merely carried it once or twice.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 03/02/2019 - 10:56
      +2

      Agree, great on smooth ground, hopeless on rough… My experience anyway.

    • bargainhunter87 on 01/02/2019 - 19:59
      +5

      Read the entire thread "is there any main reason why people steer clear of soft luggage"

        • HighAndDry on 01/02/2019 - 20:27
          +3

          There are objective differences though unrelated to preferences? I like hardshell luggage just because if I'm bringing stuff back from my holidays, it gives the stuff better protection when thrown around.

          • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2019 - 20:45
            +4

            @HighAndDry: I use a leather duffel bag, never had anything break in it.
            I frequently check in duty free liquor, and it has survived every single time.

            For reference, I fly about 150 times a year and in the half a decade I've never had a bottle (or anything) break.

            Edit: Here is my leather good boi that's done 500+ flights https://imgur.com/B4nNfZs

            • HighAndDry on 01/02/2019 - 21:09

              @[Deactivated]: Not for checked luggage surely?! Though that's one classy looking bag.

              • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2019 - 21:13

                @HighAndDry: Checked in luggage. It was around $400 when I got it, money well spent I think as it's now less than $1 per flight it's been on.

                Can cram about 18kg of stuff into it. Usually comes in at around 12kg for a normal 1-2 week work trip.

                • HighAndDry on 01/02/2019 - 21:20

                  @[Deactivated]: Okay, either my perspective is really off or you have massive thumbs haha - no way that fits 12-18kgs of stuff, unless it's all powerbanks and eneloops. I can barely fit 7kgs into my usual go-away duffel bag and I swear your bag looks smaller.

                  I need to buy some decent leather stuff - I can never bring myself to put down the crazy upfront costs, even knowing that it'll last basically forever and pay for itself many times over, but, and I'm repeating myself, damned if that doesn't just scream class.

                  • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2019 - 21:22
                    +2

                    @HighAndDry: Perspective, it's a pretty big bag.

                    • HighAndDry on 01/02/2019 - 21:26

                      @[Deactivated]: Cheers haha. Well, if I go broke in the near future buying expensive leather goods, you'll know whose fault it is =P.

                      • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2019 - 22:42
                        +1

                        @HighAndDry: It's worth the investment.

                        Think about how much a cheap-ish bag would cost, and how long it would last.
                        If you're a frequent traveller, then it is totally worth it.
                        If you're someone that flies are few times a year, it's not worth it.

                        My first bag was from IKEA, similar to this https://www.amazon.co.uk/UPPTACKA-Suitcase-wheels-Collapsibl…
                        It lasted five flights. For some people this is 3 years worth of travel, for me now that is a week.

            • lovepub on 02/02/2019 - 08:17
              +5

              @[Deactivated]: You a smuggler??
              150 flights a year…..wtf

              • aussieolfaction on 04/02/2019 - 14:45

                @lovepub:

                150 flights a year…..wtf

                They could be a pilot or cabin crew staff, in which case it's just the number of working days.

            • chriise on 02/02/2019 - 19:01
              +1

              @[Deactivated]: Damnn that is a nice bag. Definitely not OzBargain style.

  • gooddealmate on 01/02/2019 - 19:31
    +2

    I do remember some folk going through Dubai airport a few years ago with their luggage tied up in a ball in what looked like a quilt cover. Attach that to some kind of lightweight dolly trolley and your on to a winner. Expandable, lightweight and flexible and most importantly, very cheap.

  • p1 ama on 01/02/2019 - 19:34
    +1

    After a quick search on the internet, it appears that choosing suitable luggage is not as easy as it may initially appear.

    It's literally just buying things to store your stuff in. Like buying clothes, it's as easy or as hard as you make it. When I was a young (i.e. cheapo) traveler, I even used a reinforced wrapped cardboard box as luggage.

    Will be doing heaps of shopping.

    Not going to lie, just pack your shopping in a large cardboard box and wrap it up with packing tape if you care about saving weight. Sure, you'll have to lift it, but you have carts at the airport anyway.

    • 91rs on 04/02/2019 - 09:25
      +1

      This is a sure way to get stopped and have to open the box and empty the stuff in it when you get back in to Australia, anyone with boxes seem to get stopped and checked from what I see at airports.

  • deveshwar0 on 01/02/2019 - 19:35
    +5

    I would say go with the soft ones.
    I'd always used soft cases until 2 samsonite hard cases were given to me as a gift.
    They lasted 4 trips in total. Both were damaged flying from Perth to Melbourne on Qantas.
    Once they crack, they can't be repaired.

    • drfuzzy on 02/02/2019 - 23:55
      +5

      Samsonite will likely replace them if you have the receipt.
      Samsonite were great and replaced a very well worn backpack that was outside of warranty - no questions asked.

    • dtwtl92 on 22/02/2019 - 19:56

      Samonite has a 10 year warranty! You just gotta get in contact with them (probably ask for the receipt from the person who gifted you the suitcases) and provide info.

      p.s. I've done this before and they replaced my 55cm Firelite hard suitcase.

  • Wallyt99 on 01/02/2019 - 19:39
    +2

    I would just buy whatever is on special. This is ozbargain after all.

    Soft isn’t necessarily lighter at all. It depends on the brand and case etc.

  • bobbieb on 01/02/2019 - 19:48
    +14

    The main difference that I found is flexibility…

    Hard cases… most basically have two largish internal compartments. There's some minor variation between makes & models, but there's not a lot of internal structure to help you organize stuff. This may be great if you need the flexibility to accommodate larger and/or odd-shaped shopping items on the way home, but means that if you don't full the compartment, your stuff is tumbling about the void for the entire journey.

    Soft cases. Usually come in a more practical, small top section, bigger bottom section configuration, with occasionally some smaller compartments thrown in. I find this more ideal to the two equally sized compartments found on hard cases. The other benefit of hard cases, is the usually have a bunch of compartments. I have an old (20+ year old) mid-sized Tosca soft-case that still going strong. It has two sizable, lockable external compartments which are great. I put my non-essential gadgets & electronics in the smaller of the two. Saves space in my carry on, but I can get to them without having to crack open the main compartment.

    On a slightly controversial note, I personally feel soft-shell are more durable. The two sets of materials age very differently, but hard shell tend to accumulate unsightly dents, scratches, and scuffs quite quickly, whereas a good soft case tends to age "gracefully".

    • bargainhunter87 on 01/02/2019 - 20:06

      This. Thanks mate!

    • Loopholio on 02/02/2019 - 10:34
      +1

      I like the scratch and dent weathered look of my lary purple hard case. I only travel once a year.

    • mrhugo on 02/02/2019 - 21:24
      +4

      This, but I will add some of my findings from experience:

      As someone that travels OS with a young family multiple times a year I would add the following.

      With soft cases, they are probably more practical, especially when loading them into small European car boots (i.e. they bend and flex better)

      With hard cares, I would ONLY recommend Curv, e.g (Samsonite Cosmolite). Other materials are too heavy and aren't nowhere near as durable as Curv.

      See if a Samsonite Curv works for you, if not try a soft case, American Tourister Applite is a pretty good start/choice.

      Other then this, approach luggage from a practical point of view. For example the largest Cosmolite have a dividing zip inside which limits placing any large boxes inside your suitcase. They also zip from the middle. So think about what you are taking, what you intend to buy.

      Also avoid any suitcase which are too front heavy. Most spinners have the wheels on each corner, some have the two front wheels set back from the zip. This creates a situation whereby the suitcase is front heavy and pretty much falls over by itself, or with a very small tap. The bigger the offset the more likely it will fall over. This situation is often appears when the expanding zip is opened. It's difficult to see this in store when there is no weight, but believe me, it will happen. I guess this is why I really love the stability and manoeuvring of the Cosmolite, but it opens from the middle which may/may-not be an issue.

      TBH: We probably have about 4 Cosmolite and 8 soft and depending on our travels we pick and choose what luggage is appropriate for each trip.

      Regarding cobblestones etc, spinners don't move on anything other then smooth floor. The two wheelers while a bit better on bumps, are very hard to find these days. 9 times out of 10 I just pick them up and carry them. Even in the airport it's on trolleys. As we are all allowed 2 suitcases each plus carry-on, we run out of hands.

      Finally, my wife likes hard Curv cases and I prefer soft. She carries clothes and I carry everything else. So sometimes it comes down to preference. But my soft's are in worst condition then hers (rips from the belts and small tears) My wifes are just small scratches, barely notable.

  • FoxJump on 01/02/2019 - 20:36
    +1

    I have had a soft American Tourister for a while.
    I liked it because of lightweightness.

    However, my tripod keeps on making a hole in it. So I patch up the hole with tape.. And on the next trip I forget about padding the tripod and makes a hole again.

    Also, the softshell ones expand in a way that they are then easy to topple forward.
    My softshell American tourister after about … 30 flights, has:
    - Rolls uneven (like when a dog runs, a bit sideways)
    - A recurring hole
    - The extending handle is hard to take out and put back in, and has no sign of dents or bends.
    - When I load it up with stuff (~15kg) and lift it from the top handle there is a lot of flex where the handle attaches to.

    My new hardshell American Tourister - Technum is:
    - Exactly 140cm across all dimensions (ie: AU domestic) and expands by 5cm.
    - Heavyish- 4kg
    - Polycarbonate - so I expect it to be indestructible.
    - Has had zero flights so far.

    • resisting the urge on 01/02/2019 - 23:49

      Not sure about the AT you bought, but a lot of hard shell ones are brittle enough to crack- or when they encounter the sharp edge of something else, crack.

      You can tape the cracks up successfully from the inside with gaffer tape as the linings can be unzipped now.

      But around here, people still seem to throw them to the hungry landfill monster at the same rate as the softies- eg 2 or 3 trips

      • bryans on 20/02/2019 - 21:42

        If it's not 100% polycarbonate, it probably has ABS plastic and these are more brittle and will crack. Polycarbonate can still bend and flex.

        • resisting the urge on 20/02/2019 - 22:31

          Indeed, but no matter what plastic it's made out of, it gets hit by the same point loads. When hard enough on a formed edge, they dent- and crack at greater extremes. The corners are the weak points and are exposed to more impacts.

  • hasselbladsnapper on 01/02/2019 - 22:47
    +1

    Soft any time, best way to go. 4/2 wheel, again 2 …..these tackle rough terrain well, and stairs in Euro train stations (not all have lifts, or are overcrowded!) Look for well integrated 2 wheel arrangements, and larger & wider the better.
    Was told by sales staff often the 4 wheel ones break off - too small, too long or exposed.

    Problem now, the market is dominated with 4 wheelers, and 2 are hard to find!! grrr!. Have made lots of trips OS, and soft/2wheel has been the best outcome. Good luck.

  • tassieeagle on 02/02/2019 - 00:40
    +9

    Having worked in an airport for a long time, I'd go hard case Every time. The way those cases are thrown around….

    • tassieeagle on 02/02/2019 - 00:43
      +2

      No to mention if it rains on them (in airports where it's not entirely undercover…Hobart….etc)

      • lgacb08 on 06/02/2019 - 06:51
        +1

        Wouldn't worry about rain in any of the Australian airports except for Cairns and Townsville. You gotta leave your suitcase lying on Hobart airport tarmac for a year to get any water inside lol

    • savage bargain on 02/02/2019 - 11:10
      +4

      We switched to a hard case for this reason - had both damage inside and to the soft case outer in the past. Oh and another case where the handle was bent.

      A light cheapie hard case from Kmart has done a lot of trips for us.

  • madreece on 02/02/2019 - 00:52
    +1

    I find soft for carry on for the convenience of having pockets on the outside so you don't have to open the whole thing up to get your charger/paperwork etc. I like hard shell for check in just for the protection. Make sure you get an expandable one.

  • Bourb on 02/02/2019 - 05:10
    +3

    Definitely Hard Case. I agree with tassieeagle, these things are not treated gently, and if it is raining heavily they will get wet during loading.

    It hasn't happened to me, but a friend had a soft case ruined when it arrived at the other end stained and smelling of perfume, obviously something in an adjacent piece of soft luggage had broken and soaked through to his bag.

  • flavable on 02/02/2019 - 08:32
    +2

    Depends on what you're buying from your shopping.

    Anything potentially breakable, I'd go with a hard case (and then still surround the item with padding), and particularly because luggage gets thrown about pretty roughly by the baggage handlers!

  • Takeonme on 02/02/2019 - 08:36

    Ive had too many wheels snap off hard cases to go another one. They stick out almost asking to be snapped off whereas the 2 on softcases tend to be more concealed and protected. Its horrible rolling a 4 wheeler with 3 wheels.

  • kiitos on 02/02/2019 - 09:29
    +1

    We use 2 wheel duffle bags, like this https://www.traveluniverse.com.au/High-Sierra-Composite-V3-8…. Flexible, lots of storage compartments, can wear them like a backpack, though never done that so far. The good thing is they can fit into car boots easier than hard shell out rectangular soft shell bags. One drawback was when on trains in Europe, they didn't stack well.

  • Starlight8 on 02/02/2019 - 10:32
    +3

    I carry both hard and soft.

    Hard are for the breakables
    Soft is for food/clothing

    I use Atler, American Tourister and Delsey :)

  • Nicoletta on 02/02/2019 - 11:17
    +4

    Definitely hard case for me. Lots of them are similar in weight to soft cases. Keeps out water, protected more from impacts during baggage handling at the airport. I used Antler Juno cases for my most recent trip and they were great (just don’t drag them down stairs while running for a train - you’ll bend the handles and they will no longer retract. I can’t tell you how i know this…). The Juno range is now expandable so even better for your shopping!

  • driver33b on 02/02/2019 - 11:35
    +3

    I've had both…hard shell first..both hers and mine ended up with damaged wheels pushed into the case, no flexibility there for absorbing an impact…we have now gone soft, 5 international flights and 7 cruises and all is looking OK…Flylite 80cm, $140ish Strand Bags on special…only a few kilos in weight…plain colours, you see a few the same at the airport/ports…don't buy black…too many of them🙃😁

    • bargainhunter87 on 02/02/2019 - 18:52

      Cheers!

    • Musing Outloud on 03/02/2019 - 18:52
      +1

      Having travelled a lot for work, all driver33b's advice is true. Right down to making your bags unique. Mine have been accidentally taken - I ended up with theirs left on the baggage carousel.

      I now stick with 2 wheelers that sit mostly within the bag frame. But there are more than just robust wheels to consider. Bag weight, zipper robustness and handle style all count.

      Weight:
      As you are only allowed 23 kg (and these days you do get checked), there is no point buying heavy bags. Some weigh up to 5kg. So buy a $10 to $15 luggage scale and use that to test the empty weight of your shortlisted bags before purchase. saving 2kg a bag is 4kg of holiday shopping - if that is your thing. Saving one $100 excess baggage charge would enable you to justify spending an extra $50 a bag if that gets you very light weight ones.

      Carry On (With Luggage in the Hold):
      Take everything important to you in a carry on (Tablet, Camera, chargers etc), including enough clothes, medicines, etc to get you by until you get your luggage back. Your carry on bag should be a size compliant soft back pack not a shoulder bag (especially if you have back, neck or shoulder issues like I do). Soft means it fits under the seat in front, or around others' rigid bags overhead.

      Carry On Handle (No Hold Luggage):
      This is the way I mostly travel. Two options for the telescopic handle to ponder. A double bar (making a large U shape) is great for loosely supporting a laptop bag or briefcase (Work bag). This means I can put 100% of the load on my carry on with no load on my shoulders. When on holidays I have a different carry on with a single telescoping bar with a rotating handle that makes it easy on my arm hand & wrist & take/use a back pack for day trips.

      23kg Bags - Handles (Hold Luggage):
      If you have 2 x 23kg bags, 4 wheels sounds great until one is broken off. Get bags with twin telescoping handles (making a large U shape) so you can pull both behind you separated (test how this works in the store before you buy). Single telescoping handles make them run close together so they bump and fall over, or you kick them with your heel and they fall over.The U handle enables you to pull them behind you separated from one another.

      Travel Light Tips:
      Finally, look up how to travel light so you can maximise holiday purchases. This website has lots of tips: https://www.onebag.com/

  • maiuspala on 02/02/2019 - 11:53
    -5

    Just get a slightly broken, but modern looking luggage from opshop or roadside. After your flight tell the airport staff that your luggage got damaged during the flight and your airline will pay for your new one.

  • par3000 on 02/02/2019 - 12:25

    You can sit on a hard one as you wait in the inevitable long, slow, tedious line at immigration.

    • ChickenTalon on 02/02/2019 - 19:38
      +6

      Except that immigration is always after check-in and before luggage collection on the other side…..

  • HardlyCharly on 02/02/2019 - 14:00
    +1

    My husband and his mother, both of whom have travelled around the world, and the mother who frequently travelled internationally for work started with hard but now swear by soft. And I only say this for context, his mother is a wealthy woman, these were not cheap hard cases, and yet they always failed, including cracking.

  • twww on 02/02/2019 - 17:41
    +1

    For me, I do a combo of both hardcase and duffle bag for check-in.

    I choose the lightest 74cm hard case on the market offered by samsonite. For me, shaving as much dead kgs is important.

    Pack the duffel bag into the case to your destination. The 100/140 ltre duffel bags, I have, on it's own is less than 1kg.

    Upon return, throw all your clothes into a durable plastic bag, then into the duffel. This way, if your bags get wet, the contents will not. Had this happen last wk in Cairns!

    Now you have more room in your hardcase for the return journey.

    Don't kid yourself, bag's are handled poorly at times by ground staff and can get beat up going through the baggage handling system.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/02/2019 - 18:46

    Soft; hard cases crack on impact, soft cases bend and the load is distributed more evenly across the outer surface also. I've been using an older model of this:
    https://theluggageprofessionals.com.au/high-sierra-at-8-rang…
    … for years for travel between Australia and the EU, and have never had anything broken plus the bag is still in good shape.

  • greater mimic on 03/02/2019 - 00:36

    I like soft cases. Also get some packing cells, they're fantastic

  • LoftyAu on 03/02/2019 - 02:10
    +2

    We flew recently with a mixture of hard and soft cases; the soft cases being 2 wheeled, the hard cases being 4 wheeled.

    Hard case pros:
    - More protection for stuff inside perhaps
    - More durable surface (nothing to 'tear')
    - Usually split in the middle so you can pack and access each 'half' easier (one side has a zippered divider)

    Hard case cons:
    - Heavier
    - No 'give'
    - Get scratched and marked more easily

    Soft case pros:
    - Lighter
    - Bit of 'give' for squeezing into things (we travelled in Japan, and the soft case squeezed better into lockers and racks in trains)

    Soft case cons:
    - Can get damaged if external zips etc catch on stuff
    - Not all soft case materials are the same - some are quite thin
    - Opening is on one side, so you have to 'dig' through stuff more (vs the split/middle opening of hard cases) though you can address this with packing cells

    Also thoughts on 4 wheel vs 2 wheel
    - 4 wheel spinners can vary in their 'smoothness'. One of our 4 wheel cases just wouldn't 'roll' nicely when loaded or on carpet. 4 wheel 'wheels' are usually smaller than the 2 wheel wheels.
    - 4 wheel spinners can roll away on some surfaces
    - Continually worried about one of the wheels breaking off 4 wheel cases as they are so unprotected (2 wheel case wheels are usually tucked in the side and protected).
    - 4 wheel a pain on escalators - the flat base of 2 wheel cases 'sits' on the escalator step better
    - While you can 'tilt' a 4 wheel bag over and drag it like a 2 wheel, most 4 wheel bags don't have a long enough handle to make this comfortable if you're slightly tall.

    IMHO the best case would be a quality 2 wheel soft case with no exterior pockets. Sadly, we couldn't find many in our recent research, and we weren't sold on the roller duffle bag concept (which are often 2 wheel cases).

    BTW, if you want an extra bag for shopping, and you need to buy a bag, consider buying at your destination. One of our bags got damaged on our recent trip (hard case) so we bought a cheap bag in Hong Kong (hard case, 4 wheeler) for $50AUD. It is similar to the $80 hard cases that Target sells.

  • This Guy on 03/02/2019 - 04:53
    +1

    I prefer hard shell as I can jam stuff like sporting equipment in without distorting the case as much.

  • Flying Ace on 03/02/2019 - 08:48

    Travel several times a year and swear by my hard-sided Antler cases. Never had one crack or get damaged and the main one is always near its 30kg limit.

  • sabby32 on 03/02/2019 - 09:29

    I personally would go soft, and if you can get your hands on ex-military or military grade duffle bags (blue or green), from an Aussie Disposal or someone selling secondhand, you're on a winner. They will outlast all the throwing around baggage handlers do, they have nice big durable chunky zips, thick material, and you can stuff them to the brim.
    Down side, no wheels, but you can always throw them over your shoulder and start walking.
    We have a couple of these duffle bags, over 20yrs old now, have used them on countless trips overseas, from Europe to Asia and kids now use them on school camps. Not a single sign of wear and tear on them. And if you're concerned about the waterproof factor, put a garbage bag at the bottom as a liner, which we usually do. Make sure you get one that has 2 zips that you can put a lock on. Happy travels!!!

  • DiscoJango on 03/02/2019 - 09:43
    +1

    100% get one with 4 wheels on the base, so you can both drag it behind you, but also walk it upright next to you when at the airport. dont get an el cheapo where the wheels go all mentallly retarted and dont cooperate with you. thats the last thing you need in a busy stressfull airport scenario. the cheaper solid bags are heavy, however you get what you pay for, with the more expensive solid bags often being very light. also the el cheapos can break their handles easily. once again, not something you want to deal with. do it once, do it right. spend a little bit upfront, get a bad ass suitcase that will last you forever, and you wont regret it.

  • ardon on 03/02/2019 - 09:51

    I've been through this dilemma and chose soft. Did almost 2 years abroad with no issues. I mainly went for the lightest suitcase I could get (I think it was antler aire). Originally I had a large but half way through the trip I ditched it for the medium. I found that I could fit only 16kg of gear in a 71cm suitcase and 25kg of gear in an 82cm suitcase (not including case weight).
    When it comes to not damaging your goods, it's about getting the right sized suitcase and packing it well. Any suitcase that is only 70% full will allow things to move around. Not only can this damage things but it's a pain when your folded clothes end up being messed up.
    When it comes to fragile items it's about packing them well. Have a bottom layer of clothes then the item, then more clothes. I generally use thick plastic bags for the clothes as it keeps them together and helps keep them folded (i.e. there's a plastic bag of folded shirts, one for pants, one for sweaters, etc.).
    Soft suitcases are suprisingly durable. Their flexibility makes them very easy to pack too.

    TLDR: I like soft. No issues with Antler Aire.

  • djmm on 03/02/2019 - 10:24

    Hard luggage much easier to wipe clean

  • Brianqpr on 03/02/2019 - 11:02

    American Tourister I have found to be good for hard cases and a decent trade off between price and durability. About $180 for a good size large hard case. For hard cases avoid ones with shiny smooth surfaces as they will show up every scuff and scratch and rest assured they will be scratched when being hurled around in baggage handling. Suitcases with rougher outer casing are more resistant to this and retain their looks longer. I have both types and this is becoming very clear!

    Also avoid white. Those Samsonite white ones look lovely in the shops, less so after they have been on a flight or two.

  • peterw1 on 03/02/2019 - 11:32
    +1

    I use a combo of soft and hard (the lightest possible samsonite).
    As you are going OS, watch for sales of these bags within 60 days of travel. Buy a couple together so you exceed the TRS threshold of $300 and then get the gst back when you depart. At the international airport you will need to take your bags to the Australian Border Force Client Services Office for oversized goods which cannot be taken as hand luggage onto the plane. There the customs officer will view your bags, stamp the receipt and then you go to check in and drop off your bags. After clearing immigration go to the TRS refund counter and get your refund. Happy Days.

  • abuch47 on 03/02/2019 - 12:04

    Depends what sortof travller you are as well.

    I dont get around all that often but when I do its a big trip with largish half empty suitcases that are bursting at the seams on the way back.

    hard shell is good but with the rough luggage system is prone to brittleness while also having good rigidness and structural integrity. have used it as a seat on public transport and in airports many times. that said we bought an $500 samsonite and it lasted from LA to SIN to MEL then we watched the handlers ditching it onto the cart and when we arrived in ADL the brand new case heavy duty hard case had a corner missing and luggage exposed. Qantus did not replace but repaired twice to an acceptable level.

    their is also really rigid hard cases and softer more reboundable ones which I would choose i think.

  • maximum on 03/02/2019 - 13:29

    I prefer soft case but thank goodness one trip I packed a hard inside a soft (had heaps of luggage allowance and was going to USA when the dollar was better) . My bag got dripped on by a shipment of fish. The soft case was a goner (even after to was washed) the fish juices had gone in side the hard case slightly due to the zipper being fabric but it saved me having to get all new clothes

  • kaleidoscope on 03/02/2019 - 13:35

    i noticed that when I use the full sized ones i tend to overload them leading to heavier luggage (obvious) and thus high chance to break handles and wheels etc… Since then have started to use 3/4 sized ones and noticed they’ve lasted longer and no broken parts comparatively. at the moment I use two of 3/4 size soft hush puppies one and hard shell AT. Both are good.
    Hardshell ofcourse weighs more than soft one (most), something to keep in mind

  • shadowangel on 03/02/2019 - 13:58

    Just take a backpack if going to Asia, save your money. If you need more storage take. Two backpacks.

    Much more portable on the train, motorbikes and walking down crowded streets.

  • jjayoen on 03/02/2019 - 14:09

    Another vote for hard cases. Used one all across South America including some regional towns and never had an issue with pulling my luggage up on 2 of the 4 wheels even on rough terrain - and noting that a 2 wheeler soft luggage wouldn’t have helped.

    Also for your case, going shopping in Asia, one of the biggest advantages for me is that hard cases provide protection for more fragile items. Use mine on many shopping trips and nothings ever broken and you get the extra piece of mind that the impact from baggage handling doesn’t all get transferred to the items inside

  • nickj on 03/02/2019 - 14:30

    It's a bit over the $200 budget, but a few weeks ago bought a "Samsonite 72Hrs Deluxe Softside Spinner Case Large:Black:78cm 2.8kg" from Myer for $269 by price matching them against the cheapest retailer at that time (was catch.com.au I think), which they were happy to do. Wife did the research, but had a good Choice review. https://www.myer.com.au/p/samsonite-72hrs-deluxe-softside-sp…
    Also had a 10 year warranty, which is good as the previous soft case, a Courier, had to be repaired 5 times (various zips, wheels, etc broke after separate trips, and it had a 5 year warranty).
    Have only done one trip with the new Samsonite, but it went fine. But unless you get a total lemon, then luggage is in the same category as whitegoods or major electrical appliances - you'll only really know for sure if it was a good buy or not 5 or 10 years after you buy it.
    Ps getting the GST back is good idea. In 20/20 hindsight we could have bought some other things to get the total above $300,and then gotten 1/11th back from TRS.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 03/02/2019 - 15:07

    I've been using an Antler Juno for the past 5 years, it's an affordable hard case that has a little bit of a softer shell with a bit more flex than others. It's been to 5 countries on 3 international trips and countless trips back and forth between Melbourne and Brisbane in that time (I'm a transplant) and I've had no damage to it apart from a few scuffs. It's lighter than Samsonite style hardcases, has spinner wheels that can also be pulled on two wheels, and it also fits your price range - I've got the medium which has always done me well but a large will only run you $179.

    EDIT: Just a friendly reminder that you can brute force one of those 3 digit luggage locks in about ten minutes so some sort of security bag with a keyed padlock is not a bad idea if you plan on travelling with many valuable items.

  • Taita on 03/02/2019 - 15:37

    Why not both? You are looking at buying two. Might as well go for one of each.
    I have a polycarbonate Delsey Helium Aero on spinner wheels (from Catch) which is very lightweight and a soft Lipault Plume spinner . Very happy with them.

  • Caped Baldy on 03/02/2019 - 16:41

    I've only skimmed through some of the comments OP. But if you want the suitcase to be a bit more pristine consider getting a "wrap" to prevent scuff marks.

  • RiseAndRuin on 03/02/2019 - 17:08

    I've been carrying this one around the world for 10 years and it's still pretty much new, easily holds 30Kgs

    https://www.decathlon.it/sacca-trasporto-trekking-120-l-id_8…

    As usual in Australia, unfortunately Decathlon doesn't seem to sell this locally, so the best they sell here seems to be this one

    https://www.decathlon.com.au/p/8383302_voyage-extend-80-to-1…

  • [Deactivated] on 03/02/2019 - 17:10

    Carry on all the way. Love my osprey porter 46

  • Excelsior on 03/02/2019 - 18:07
    +1

    Carry on: Soft, for maximum efficiency and ease of use due to being small and light. Also unlikely to be damaged by anyone else.
    Check in: Hard, because of the way baggage handlers are. With that being said, clam shell bags require double the space to unload since you need both sides to be flat.

  • Butt Scratcher on 03/02/2019 - 20:30

    Carry on: with your more delicate stuff go for hard to protect them from impact

    Check in: definitely soft imo. Hard could get damaged much more easily if you dont fill it up. Especially true for larger casrs. No issues with durability if you do fill it up.

    Soft you dont need to worry about filling it up

  • Cunning Linguist on 03/02/2019 - 20:31

    A tough and high quality duffel style soft case with wheels and a pull handle is my preference. You can seemingly always find more room to fit more stuff in yet remains somewhat malleable for fitting into tight spaces like small car boots and lockers. Great for travelling multiples legs over a decent amount of time when you are going to accumulate a bunch of stuff.

  • 91rs on 04/02/2019 - 09:17

    Hard cases.
    I travel a lot (1.4m+ kms flown in 6 years) and use only hard cases which are always checked in, Samsonite Lite Cube bags, a smaller one (that's cabin carry on sized) and a large one for longer trips. Those aren't in the same budget as you've set however.
    They both have had their fare share of scratches and marks and what not but have stood up to large amounts of travel I do.
    They also do not weigh very much meaning you can make better use of the provided luggage allowance and its also less for you to drag about.
    4 wheels in an upright config is much better than having 2 wheels and having to drag stuff around.
    I Have had some soft cases but they seemed to wear worse (the material used) and also weigh more.
    You're better off spending a bit more $$ and getting something decent, I'd gone the cheaper route and soft cases to start with and had to spend the money again on better bags.
    Peters of Kensington often have some good deals for bags, either one off or packs of 2-3 sizes.

  • djprima on 04/02/2019 - 11:25
    1. Hard case
    2. No zipper
    3. Not black

    Zipper on hard case makes it useless as it could be easily opened with just a pen. I have a bright green Lojel suitcase, makes it easier to spot in baggage carousel, less chance mistakenly taken by someone

  • alee112 on 04/02/2019 - 12:48

    I think primarily it comes down to these two reasons. Hard shells are usually designed as clam shells, and they usually take more time to pack (to neatly put everything in to ensure it closes). However, if you have more fragile items, they are more shock absorbent than soft shell cases so they might be better.
    I prefer soft shells since they normally open at the top, meaning you can chuck everything in without worrying about it too much (kinda a bin), and if you can't manage to close it, you can always sit on it to force it to close. To get around the lack of shock protection, I've always put clothes on the bottom, top and sides, and the more fragile items go near the middle.

  • TerryJustTerry on 04/02/2019 - 14:13

    I recommend soft typically, but if you are doing a lot of shopping as stated above I reckon hard would probably be better for you.

  • CharityCase on 04/02/2019 - 14:37

    I work at the airport, I'd say go with the soft one, I've seen way more cracked/ damaged hard cases than torn up soft cases

  • aussieolfaction on 04/02/2019 - 14:50

    I prefer hard shell luggage for smaller, carry on luggage. However, soft luggage works best for me where I need to check stuff in.

    I find that soft luggage with one large compartment and an zip-expandable lid works perfect. Lets me cram in lots of stuff. Softer luggage also usually weigh less, allowing you to carry more stuff.

  • SuperGeek on 04/02/2019 - 14:52
    +1

    Take an old suitcase with you on your way out as you and buy new ones in Asia. They are much cheaper there.

    Also some old clothes that you can wear and discard. It will save you the laundry bill and there will be space in your new luggage for new clothes.

  • MITM on 04/02/2019 - 16:53

    Do a "luggage" search on www.oo.com.au
    3 sizes nest into each other, so you can pack a small suitcase into a larger suitcase, and then fill it up with shopping.
    I prefer hard cases so when they are stacked in the hold, they don't get crushed.
    You'd hope they stack the soft luggage on the top.
    But a soft case for carry on is much lighter and easier to deal with enroute. (I have a backpack with heaps of pockets.)

  • AustriaBargain on 04/02/2019 - 17:01

    I bought my luggage from Cheap as Chips. I was lucky it didn't tear open in Hong Kong or something under the plane, would not recommend doing that. lasted for years, but still I shouldn't have done it.

  • JungliChilli on 04/02/2019 - 17:45

    Why not both? (mexian music)

  • [Deactivated] on 04/02/2019 - 18:34
    +1

    We need a poll.

  • zjz on 10/02/2019 - 12:44

    You can get soft cases with a sturdy quality outer for all of the benefits and flexibility of a soft case noted above. E.g. lighter, easy to keep clean, etc. Just get a plastic outer and not fabric.
    You only need a hard case when you're planning on transporting something fragile e.g. glass bottles.
    Otherwise soft case should be suitable for 99% of your travel needs.

  • sal78 on 11/02/2019 - 23:29

    invest in really good cabin bag. 4 wheels hard case. we have both 4 wherls soft and hard med bags. we have ine large that we never use. too heavy. im a huge believer of travelking light.

    for a family of 5 we took 3 x cabin bags and 2 back packs on a 12 day winters holiday inc skiing. no check in luggage.

    great thing abt hard case med n cabin is that it almost has 2 suitcases as you can pack both sides. the side with a zipped cover is like a packing cell. i can roll up ski jackets n pants for 3 ppl in there. u can compress so much.

    we 99% use our hard cases over soft. invest in packable compressable down jackets for cold weather that folds into pocket or carry bag, summer is easy.

    We only use Antler. Great technology, lasted many yrs. even full service flights, we dont check in luggages. so much easier and can get out of airport quicker. if we do shopping then just buy a cheap bag there!

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