New to hard side luggage. So far I like it better than soft side. My soft side served me well for at least 16 years. Can’t say anything bad about either yet. Need a trip with my new solite luggage, that has been ordered but not yet delivered. Then I’ll know more.
I was soft side because of squishability (which routinely allowed me to get my garish flocked tiger-striped duffel I picked up in NOLA to bring home beads shoved into the ‘must be this size’ bin, despite carrying a week’s worth of clothing).
Then I got hard-sided in an IRK (twice!) and, while initially skeptical, the very light weight and excellent maneuverability has won me over. And so far the zipper and shell have held up to my packing approach: shove everything in, then sit on it until it closes.
The reduced weight is especially handy when I’m smuggling produce (bonus! no bruising!) Definitely not the grandparents’ hardsided.
Hard-sided. We got Briggs & Riley more than a decade ago and they are still going strong! Also got a Delsey expandable hard-sided, so it’s like a combo.
Hard. As a prior baggage handler for a large airline, I can tell you the baggage can be severely abused, thrown across the pit of an airplane, fall from a very large height (747 tail luggage area) and get broken into (there are a few rotten apples everywhere).
A soft sided bag would do better in a fall and not pop open like a hard shell can do. Both types can be broken into. Both types get thrown far away across the empty pit cargo area.
Hell. Now I don’t know WHICH one to recommend, I guess as Napkin Eater said an hour ago, hard for checked, soft for carry on works well enough.
@widijaz IMLE, what’s in the bag may have a bearing on the choice - but that same experience tells me not to even attempt to bring anything fragile on a trip, because it is likely to arrive broken. OTOH, buried deep inside a large soft-sider, three bottles of wine survived the flight home from NZ unscathed.
Hard sided. I almost always check my bag because I hate dragging it behind me around airports. With hard sided, I feel like my liquids are safer from damage when being thrown around or having other bags thrown on top of it.
Soft side only for me. But I have expensive-ass, ultra-durable luggage, so it’s worth it. Plus, I’m not down with the halfsies situation most hard-sided luggage forces you into.
I am really dissatisfied with my luggage but It doesn’t have anything to do with whether it’s hard sided or soft-sided. I actually like the soft-sided that I have, except for the wheels. It’s not spinner luggage, it only has wheels on one side and it’s always falling over but the soft side it allows me to shove a bunch of things in there and I kind of like that. I am planning on buying some spinner luggage before we take a trip to Japan next year. But I don’t want three big pieces, we’re going to get two carry-ons and that’s it.
For those that have to trowel a box into a conveyor belt, why is soft even a choice? Get a box with either a metal roll bar or a box that at least has interlocking shells that create a steady structure.
As someone who has been flying for more than 50 years, and a former airline employee, I can say that it doesn’t matter. I have had both kinds broken into, and both kinds broken. Basically, don’t pack anything valuable, and pack only clothing if you are going to check your bag. Anything of value goes into the carry-on. (or ship it home)
Hard-sided checked luggage, soft-sided carry on.
Never owned hard shell luggage, but I assume it’s prone to cracks unless you can spend way more than what decent soft luggage costs.
@tonylegrone I bought a hard sided suitcase on meh a lifetime ago. It lasted 5 years before it arrived cracked on one of my trips.
I have a Simi Hard side luggage, Large wheels & a pull out handle to roll it around!
New to hard side luggage. So far I like it better than soft side. My soft side served me well for at least 16 years. Can’t say anything bad about either yet. Need a trip with my new solite luggage, that has been ordered but not yet delivered. Then I’ll know more.
@milstarr You’ll have to update us!
@brainmist I absolutely will!
I was soft side because of squishability (which routinely allowed me to get my garish flocked tiger-striped duffel I picked up in NOLA to bring home beads shoved into the ‘must be this size’ bin, despite carrying a week’s worth of clothing).
Then I got hard-sided in an IRK (twice!) and, while initially skeptical, the very light weight and excellent maneuverability has won me over. And so far the zipper and shell have held up to my packing approach: shove everything in, then sit on it until it closes.
The reduced weight is especially handy when I’m smuggling produce (bonus! no bruising!) Definitely not the grandparents’ hardsided.
@brainmist
You’ve got luggage twice, lucky you.
@brainmist Are you also smuggling evil insect vermin? I don’t care as long as it’s not coming into my state.
Hard-sided. We got Briggs & Riley more than a decade ago and they are still going strong! Also got a Delsey expandable hard-sided, so it’s like a combo.
I’ve had both. Only soft sided has traveled internationally and it did just fine.
Hard. As a prior baggage handler for a large airline, I can tell you the baggage can be severely abused, thrown across the pit of an airplane, fall from a very large height (747 tail luggage area) and get broken into (there are a few rotten apples everywhere).
A soft sided bag would do better in a fall and not pop open like a hard shell can do. Both types can be broken into. Both types get thrown far away across the empty pit cargo area.
Hell. Now I don’t know WHICH one to recommend, I guess as Napkin Eater said an hour ago, hard for checked, soft for carry on works well enough.
@widijaz IMLE, what’s in the bag may have a bearing on the choice - but that same experience tells me not to even attempt to bring anything fragile on a trip, because it is likely to arrive broken. OTOH, buried deep inside a large soft-sider, three bottles of wine survived the flight home from NZ unscathed.
@werehatrack Agreed. Contents do matter.
Hard sided. I almost always check my bag because I hate dragging it behind me around airports. With hard sided, I feel like my liquids are safer from damage when being thrown around or having other bags thrown on top of it.
If I used suitcases I might go with hard-sided, but I usually just pack a backpack, and I’ve never used a hard-sided backpack.
Hard sided for me. I often “smuggle” beer in my suitcase when traveling between the US and Europe and hard sided luggage protects it better.
Soft side only for me. But I have expensive-ass, ultra-durable luggage, so it’s worth it. Plus, I’m not down with the halfsies situation most hard-sided luggage forces you into.
Soft sided bc that’s what I own, mehs never sent me hard sided. Anything really fragil I try and pack in my carryon.
I am really dissatisfied with my luggage but It doesn’t have anything to do with whether it’s hard sided or soft-sided. I actually like the soft-sided that I have, except for the wheels. It’s not spinner luggage, it only has wheels on one side and it’s always falling over but the soft side it allows me to shove a bunch of things in there and I kind of like that. I am planning on buying some spinner luggage before we take a trip to Japan next year. But I don’t want three big pieces, we’re going to get two carry-ons and that’s it.
For those that have to trowel a box into a conveyor belt, why is soft even a choice? Get a box with either a metal roll bar or a box that at least has interlocking shells that create a steady structure.
As someone who has been flying for more than 50 years, and a former airline employee, I can say that it doesn’t matter. I have had both kinds broken into, and both kinds broken. Basically, don’t pack anything valuable, and pack only clothing if you are going to check your bag. Anything of value goes into the carry-on. (or ship it home)