What is the problem with hard shell luggage?

A hardshell suitcase is typically better than a softside bag for protection (as long as your items are packed safely inside, too). However, all hardshell materials are prone to getting scuffed, scratched, or possibly cracked more so than with fabric suitcases.

Disadvantages of a hard shell suitcase

Soft Versus Hard Shell

Hard shell suitcases can crack, which causes them to fall apart more rapidly than soft luggage. To avoid this concern choose a suitcase made from polycarbonate ABS that stands up to the rigors of travel. The FERGE brand makes a TSA-lockable suitcase on wheels using polycarbonate ABS.

Consider hard-shell luggage if you want durable, easy-to-maneuver luggage with a robust exterior to protect your valuables. Soft-shell luggage can be for you if you're seeking versatility, ease of packing, and a big interior.

Polycarbonate has high tensile strength and is extremely long-lasting. Of all hardside, plastic suitcase materials, it is by far the most durable.

You may want to buy hard-shell luggage if you'll be packing breakable items. It could offer better security than soft-sided baggage because it can't be ripped open as easily and usually has integrated locks. Aluminum luggage can be even more secure. It often has metal drawbolt latches instead of zippers.

Because softshell luggage has more give, a hard shell suitcase can be better at protecting fragile contents, assuming you cushion it well inside. On the other hand, that rigid exterior makes hardshell bags unable to be compressed to squeeze into tight spaces like softsided bags are more apt to allow.

Hard-sided bags are the most unforgiving; you can't squeeze them into a storage space. Soft-sided, structured bags have a little forgiveness on the front and back. If you have no place to store a stand-up suitcase, you may want to limit yourself to duffels. What Size Luggage Do You Need?

Soft-sided luggage gives you more packing flexibility, but hard shells protect your belongings better. Also, hard shells tend to be heavier, but soft-sided ones can damage more easily. There are good and bad features for both and, in the end, it really comes down to personal preference.

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Weight. While polypropylene is the lightest weight material in the hardside suitcase category, other hardshell suitcases will likely still be heavier than softside bags.

The main selling point for the soft option is its superior flexibility. Built from a malleable material, this pliable fabric-encased bag can be contorted to squeeze into small spaces, be it an overhead compartment or the gap underneath your bed.

“I prefer soft-sided luggage as it's less heavy. My boyfriend loves his hard-sided luggage,” Madeleine Schneider-Weiffenbach, a licensed pilot from Munich, Germany, told Reader's Digest.

Travelpro hardshell luggage, in addition to being damage-resistance, has a textured surface to reduce the visibility of scratches and scuff marks. Some people wrap their luggage in TSA-approved bag protectors made from PVC, which secure onto suitcases with velcro, but if you buy well-made bags these are not necessary.

To clean your hard-sided luggage, rub it down with either an alcohol wipe or a rag with a mix of dish soap and water. Avoid anything abrasive that might cause scratches. That's it. If you want to restore polycarbonate to something close to its original luster, try buffing it with a wax-based furniture polish.

A white luggage suitcase exudes elegance and style, but it's no secret that it can easily show dirt and scuff marks.

They can also help you avoid bringing bed bugs home. Use hard-cased luggage if possible. It is more difficult for bed bugs to attach to rigid materials than to fabric. Pack your clothing in re-sealable plastic bags.

Hard-sided luggage is dented: Most hard-sided luggage that has a dent is made of ABS and can be repaired. Manufacturers like Samsonite commonly use ABS in manufacturing luggage. Use a 1600w or higher hair dryer to heat up the area where the dent is.

I travel professionally but not frequently and I generally check one bag and throw my laptop in a backpack as a carry on since my trips tend to be longer and a carry on doesn't cut it. So my experience doesn't match their need. I recommended travel pro. It's what I see most with flight attendants.

1. It's Incredibly Durable. Back in the day, hardside luggage was known to crack and deteriorate more quickly than soft-sided luggage, but luckily, companies like Briggs & Riley have changed all that. Our hard shell luggage is made out of 3-layer, 100% virgin Makrolon® polycarbonate material.

Often considered the most durable type of luggage, a hard shell suitcase has a rigid exterior that is usually made from moulded polypropylene, polycarbonate or ABS plastic, with some using aluminium. They're less flexible than soft-sided suitcases, making them a better option for protecting delicate items.

Hard-sided luggage is designed to handle clothing first and everything else after. That means you should arrange your clothes in the suitcase first and then find all the nooks and crannies to tuck in other items, like a dopp kit, shoes, belts, and a book.

You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes through the checkpoint. These are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. This is also known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule.

Dengler approaches it from a different perspective: “The key is to set your luggage apart from the rest.” The travel pro recommends opting for colors like beige, light blue, light red, light pink, light green, and white, which will instantly catch the eye.

Just note that while luxury hardside cases are usually made of polycarbonate, American Tourister typically uses ABS plastic, which is more affordable but more prone to scratches. Still, it gets high ratings from online reviewers who note that the bags are surprisingly spacious.

American Tourister is a brand of luggage owned by Samsonite. Brothers Sol and Irving Koffler founded American Luggage Works in Providence, Rhode Island, United States in 1933. In 1993, American Tourister was acquired by Astrum International, which also owns Samsonite.