Luggage - hard sided or soft?

[Jerseymomof2]

I have always had the soft luggage but I am curious about the hard sided cases.
Are they better or worse?

What does everyone have/ prefer?

Thanks

 

[eliza61]

We've been doing a bit of European travel which means I can usually check a bag for free so I love my hard side bag.
LOL, this reason is so stupid but I love the design and pretty colors hard sides come in now.
I also think they protect my clothes a little better. by that I mean my clothes seem to come out less wrinkled and smashed. It maybe my imagination or the hard sides make me pack better.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Hard sides get scratched up but you can pack breakables in and know they will be safe. I use my hard side to bring back oranges and wine from recent trips. In a few weeks during my WDW I plan to buy some picture for my walls and will use the hardside for the trip.

 

[redrosesix]

I used to work in an airport and I've seen what airlines can do to even the most expensive bags. But it's the wheels and handles that take the most abuse. Since hard-sided is generally more expensive, it's going to cost you more to get luggage with great wheels and handles than if you went with soft-sided. We use soft-sided luggage, mid price point for checked bags. With carry ons you can buy any kind at any price level, since you're generally the only one handling them and they're not stacked on trolleys and in the cargo hold.

 

[Kogo Shuko]

I much prefer my hard case luggage.

I tend to buy pretty things that are breakable when I travel, and even WITH a hard case suitcase, sometimes a few things break, which makes me wonder what would have happened with just a soft case.

As well, the hard case suitcases DO come in more patterns. I ended up purchasing these gaudy zebra-striped cases (a medium and a large), not because I like animal print (I normally don't), but because it's very easy to spot my suitcase. And I've only ever seen one other zebra print during my travels, and it was a soft case, so it makes it difficult for someone to confuse my case with theirs.

 

[tvguy]

DW and I bought our Delsey hard sided luggage in 1983, don't anticipate ever having to replace them.

A few trips seeing underwear hanging out of other people's luggage on the luggage return at the airport is all it took to convince me softsided luggage was a waste of money.

Although, looking at some of the new hard sided luggage with zippers has me wondering what people are thinking. Luggage should be hardsided, have latches, and have a luggage strap on it.

 

[Plumeria9]

All of my airplane travel suitcases are hardshell. I just bought a new one at Ross last week. It's a Samsonite; lightweight, 4 wheels, easy push, huge (29"?), zip around closure w/ locking zipper pulls. I decided on hot pink so I can spot it easily. I have a few black ones, and that is always a problem at the luggage carousel. For $90 I think its a good deal. I think I paid more for my last one, which I only bought maybe three years ago. That one was a hard side, w/ the latches that have to sort of buckle down. TSA opened my case for something (I carry weird stuff, it was probably protein bars wrapped in mylar or something) and didn't shut it correctly, latched it, and it's permanently damaged. So I like the zip around hard side suitcases. They are very lightweight now, and protect things inside way better than soft luggage. Good luck!

 

[Lewisc]

The old Samsonite hard sided bags were virtually indestructible. They are also heavy. 15-20 lbs empty. They were sold when we were allowed to check 70 lb bags without paying for an overweight bag.

For the most part the hard sided bags currently being sold are made of polycarbonate. The bags tend to be lightweight. That's their biggest advantage. The sides can "flex" a fair amount without breaking.

Current (quality) soft sided luggage has a solid frame. It protects the contents about as well as polycarbonate. Main advantage are the pockets. Can access reading material, iPads, confirmations etc without having to open the bag.

GOOD LUGGAGE IS GOOD LUGGAGE. BAD LUGGAGE IS BAD LUGGAGE. Do you need the pockets or are you looking for light weight.

Cheap soft sided luggage. The stuff you get at places like Walmart. That stuff is basically cardboard wrapped in fabric. Reviews suggest such luggage isn't likely to last even one flight.

Cheap polycarbonate. Could get crushed. Zipper may break. Wheels come off.

One way to judge is to look at the warranty. A short warranty suggest the luggage is garbage.

 

[wiigirl]

I loke our soft sided lugage, we have had it for years!

 

[markster]

I always go for hard sided luggage as generally they're lighter and more durable.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you like hardside, it's better to get it with a textured surface.

 

[melissalee]

I love my hard side. Each weighs 10-12lb. We have 2-28" and 2-24". We often travel with breakables and bottles of wine. With the hard side luggage and wine diapers haven't had any troubles yet.
Look on luggagepros.com. They often have great deals!

 

[Moniqu17]

We got the new light weight hard side luggage and at only 6 lbs we only have to check one bag for the two of us with 40 lb restriction! Plus our old cloth ones always liked like it got in a fight with a cat after travel.

 

[Disneefun]

Hard side without zippers for us for one reason: A hard side case with latches is more bed bug resistant than soft side, or a hard side with a zipper. Since I don't want any "friends" coming home with us, this gives me the most peace of mind.

 

[JanaDee]

We always use soft sided luggage.

 

[burnurcomputer]

DH and I have each hard sided large bags and carry ons because we found really great prices on them. Mine was $30 My four sons have soft sided luggage. It is a 3 piece set with full size bag, carry on, and small duffle. They will egt changes out as needed.

 

[derekleigh]

Up until this past January, I would have said soft sided. However during our most recent trip to WDW, my FIL and SIL's check baggage WERE destroyed from the handling of two airports. As a luck would have it, the airlines gave them very nice looking hard sided luggage to replace the damaged ones. My FIL in turn gave it to me because it wasn't the colors of our favorite NFL team.

So my wife, kids, and myself all now have hard sided luggage. My wife had hard sided for a while and nothing damaged it. A mean a few scratches but nothing major like destroyed wheels or ripped material.

 

[jenniy122]

Grew up with parent's soft sided sets, that's what they prefer. As an adult I bought hard sided. I feel like I can fit more in it for whatever reason? Entire week at Disney in a carry-on, week long cruise in one normal checked size while my parents had 2 soft sided each. Soft ones have also been damaged over time, whereas mine never have been.

 

[JandJ]

DH and I travel a lot - not just the trips in my siggy, but before we were married we'd both been to Europe a couple of times and he literally took a trip around the world one year. I had hard-sided luggage for my first European adventure. Never again! That thing was so heavy when it was empty, I could barely get it moving when it was full (and it had wheels). It was good quality, Delsey, but still got chewed up and was covered in scratches, dents, and dings. I won't get hard sided again. I bought cheap Target soft side years ago and they fell apart after a few trips. We have mid-grade soft side now and they're good. We've flown with them a few times and taken them on cruises.

For DH's around the world trip, all of our overseas flights, and a few domestic flights in the last few years we took high quality Osprey backpacks - that is the way to go!! You have your hands free and don't have to worry about carrying or pulling a bag around cobblestone or uneven streets. A lot of people think a backpack is too heavy/hard to deal with. I have scoliosis, a bad hip, a bad back, and I'm a small person - if I can handle a backpack anyone can! They are sturdy and lightweight. They hold a TON! No problems with breakables - just wrap your things well inside. Love, love, love my Osprey Waypoint backpack!!

 

[amomma23]

We always used soft luggage until our last WDW trip. Our flight one was delayed b/c of major thunderstorms. Our gate was changed 3 times. As we waited our luggage was carted through the pouring rain. Back home, everyone's bags came down to the carousel soaking wet. We bought hard luggage on sale the following week. I realize it's not waterproof, but it has to be better.