Hard sided luggage

[wvjules]

My suitcase died on our last trip so I needed to get a new one. (Luggage shopping is as difficult as purse shopping, btw.) Anyway, I ended up with a hard-sided spinner 29" expandable suitcase. I was talking luggage with a friend and she said she didn't like hard side luggage because the top and the bottom both held clothes/items and it made it hard to open/close/etc when in smaller rooms because both sides have to be fully laid out. I hadn't thought of that. Now I'm questioning my purchase. A spinner is a must but I'm wondering if I should go back to soft-sided luggage for that reason. We will be traveling in France for 2 weeks and if it's anything like the rest of Europe, hotel rooms tend to run smaller which would make the suitcase an issue.

Do you have hard sided luggage and do you like it or find the issue above to be a problem?

 

[NotUrsula]

I've never seen a suitcase so large that it couldn't be fully opened on a twin-sized bed -- I think your friend has some odd perceptions.

Personally, I have three issues to look out for with hardsiders:

1) They don't squash to get past the hinge of the overhead bin. This isn't an issue with checked bags, but for a carryon-sized rollaboard it can be a problem on some aircraft. If you want a carry-on hardsider, don't exceed 20 inches, and 18" is a better choice.

2) If the surface is shiny, it WILL get scratched up and look pathetic very quickly, so I would only go with matte-finish.

3) They can be heavy even when empty -- it is crucial to make sure that the shell is made out of a material that is both very strong AND lightweight.

 

[ILUVALASKA]

I have a very light-weight hard luggage spinner. I just spent a month in Africa and dragged it all over the place, including thru deep sand in campsites. It came home surprisingly in good shape. No scratches, and the dirt wiped right off. It is true about having to be open on both sides, a little tough in a tent, but otherwise no problems. I love my case.

 

[wvjules]

I've never seen a suitcase so large that it couldn't be fully opened on a twin-sized bed -- I think your friend has some odd perceptions.

Personally, I have three issues to look out for with hardsiders:

1) They don't squash to get past the hinge of the overhead bin. This isn't an issue with checked bags, but for a carryon-sized rollaboard it can be a problem on some aircraft. If you want a carry-on hardsider, don't exceed 20 inches, and 18" is a better choice.

2) If the surface is shiny, it WILL get scratched up and look pathetic very quickly, so I would only go with matte-finish.

3) They can be heavy even when empty -- it is crucial to make sure that the shell is made out of a material that is both very strong AND lightweight.

The problem wasn't that it couldn't be opened on any bed. It was a pain to open and luggage racks cant be used with them. I think she sees it as bulkier and more difficult to manage than a soft sided one. It will be checked and not a carryon so that won't be an issue. I weighed every suitcase. It was pretty light. THe weight was a priority. The less the suitcase weighs the more clothes I can bring. lol

LUVALASKA, thanks for your insight too.

I'll probably keep it because I won't know if I like it until I actually use it and I'm too lazy to go back to Macy's to return it. lol

 

[lizabu]

I only have soft sided and my sister in law has hard sided and we've travelled together a lot. It always seems like her luggage is easier to manage. Next time I think I will buy the hard sided too.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Some of the advantages of hard side (of course it depends on the piece):
It's waterproof
it's significantly easier to clean
it is sturdier

soft side:
expands when you need more capacity
usually has outside pockets
Doesn't usually show wear as easily whereas with hard, its prone to scratches etc.

I have a friend who retrieved her luggage at the airport and noticed a crack/hole in it. I think a hard luggage is prone to more breaking/cracking than soft luggage. But again, it all depends on the brand and how its handled.

 

[elaine amj]

I have several heys hardsided luggage and have gradually converted all our luggage to hardsided.

Yes, it takes more room when open. On the plus side, less worry about bed bugs. I even take my hardsided cases tent camping because I don't have to worry about moisture seaping up tthrough the bag. Hardsided are also typically lighter than softsided.

I love love love my spinner wheels

 

[SandrA9810]

If you only fill half, the you only need to open half. Even when I do fill both sides of my hardside, I unpack the top half and stack it in the bottom. Then you can leave the top half propped up along the wall to use the luggage rack in the room. When you go to pack up, place it on the bed to have both sides open. I don't find it takes up any more room than my soft sided. I do miss the outside pocket for last minute stuffing of stuff.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don;t know what kind of travelling you will be doing in Europe--but we much prefer hard sided for taking trains and subways here.

Why?

If it is raining, the contents stay dry

It is much more stable on subways/trains (and platforms)--and harder for someone to get into to take things out when you are not looking.

If you will be in Paris, the hotel is likely to be smaller than anything else you have stayed in in Europe, but you'll still manage with the hard sided (we have done it) and you'll be glad that is what you had on the subway.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I love my hard luggage. It keeps my stuff dry and protected.

 

[crz4mm2]

LOVE my hard side luggage.
It holds up very well.
xoxoxo

 

[scdak]

I love my hardsided luggage set and don't think I could ever go back to soft sided luggage. They are lighter than any of the soft sides that I have had - 8/9/10 lbs (small rollaboard, medium, large), they keep things dry, items are better contained, easier to pack, they do expand with a zipper but I rarely have ever needed to do that. The wheels are awesome to roll it upright or tilted on the back wheels to go up inclines. Any marks that I have had on mine were easy to wipe off but now I don't bother since I know that they are just going to get marked up again. ON the other hand, I had tears, stains, broken plastic, broken spines and a broken wheel on my last set of soft sided luggage and that was by the time I had taken 2 trips, and it was not cheap luggage by any means!

The only thing that I miss would be the pockets on the front to put last minute items in such as when they announce boarding for my flights, that just means I pack up anything I have taken out a few minutes early and I carry a small backpack to put my book, kindle etc in as I get up to board.

The only problem that I have encountered is those GREAT wheels love to let the luggage run away if there is any type of slope! So hold on to them or put something down in front of it when you stop to do something This old, Pooh sized body is not meant to run after luggage!

 

[eliza61]

Hey WV, I went to Paris/London this past May. I had a single in France and never once had a problem. I used the luggage rack to sit my hard side on and simply lifted the other side. I had the 24 inch ssamsonite cityscape. loved it

 

[nowellsl]

I like my hardside luggage, but like others have said, I really miss those outside pockets. I also miss being able to expand it if needed.

 

[disneylovin24]

I see where your friend is coming from, but I don't think its a major problem. I traveled to France, Spain and Italy with a hard side suitcase and never had a problem even with the rooms being a little smaller than here on average.

I normally like to keep my suitcase opened throughout, but I don't see a problem with opening it on a bed then keeping it closed (actually in Europe I would keep it closed and locked during the day just because). Also, even though it is a bit more of a pain you can open the suitcase than hold one side up.

I have a large hard side suitcase and a large rolling duffle bag as luggage. I honestly don't know which one I like more. Have taken both on trips to Europe and Florida and both have positives.

 

[Tozzie]

I recently bought 2 hard sided pieces and took them on my DCL MEd cruise. I HAd a hotel stay 1 pre and 1 post I absolutley loved the hard cases especially bringing back the wine and olive oil even though I wrapped it very well in bubble wrap and ziplocs, I still felt it was safer getting it home in one piece with the hardside.

The other thing I loved about the 2 side to pack , put the shoes in the smaller compartment going didn't have to worry they would mess my clothes, and comming home I could separate the dirty clothes from the few pieces that were clean. I have both soft and the new hardside luggage, I don't see myself using the softside very often anymore.

 

[tvguy]

I bought hard sided luggage because I am cheap and I want my luggage to last a lifetime. My hard sided Delsey bags are now 31 years old.
Just following my parents lead, they bought hard sided luggage in 1950, and it is still in serviceable condition today.

 

[elaine amj]

I'm weird...I don't want my luggage to last a lifetime. About 10-15 yrs then I'm craving the latest styles in luggage. That said, my cheap soft sided lasted me 15 years. My new Heys hard sided is very sturdy and should last a good long time. I also have a cheaper hard side and it's good but the frame is not as strong as the Heys.

 

[pumba]

we have had hard sided samsonite for many many many years..(we are old) ..and only one time did Delta kill it...but they replaced our samsonite with another one...only newer model...so we bought a second one ...we wouldnt have any others...Our daughter had a soft sided one on a trip to Disney and it was split open...they managed to put all her baby clothes and diapers into a pop up suitcase so we could continue our trip...and Delta again managed to purchase another soft sided one for her...she would of preferred a hard sided samsonite ..