Hard or soft luggage

[cab1948]

Looking to buy new luggage. Ours are old and heavy. Really like all the light-weight ones they sell now. I see they offer the usually soft-sided but now they have the hard sided ones. Just wondering do they dent, etc...any opinions?

[JourneyOfLife]

I don't know about the newer lightweight hard shell luggage.

As far as the soft-sided luggage goes.... The airlines seem to be able to damage them within two or three flights. Zippers and corners of the luggage seems to be the first casualties of those conveyors. The pull tabs of zippers get broken off and corners become frayed and ripped... even if the corners have external rubber reinforcement around the corners.

We don't buy high cost soft-sided luggage because our experience has been that it gets ruined too quickly. But I do make it a point to find luggage that appears to be durable and reinforced.

[CFrance]

We buy soft-sided low-priced luggage, like what you would get at Bell's or JCP. Our experience is like JourneyOfLife's... the airlines can wreck anything you have in two or three flights. We don't want to spend $300 on a suitcase that will probably get wrecked anyway, when we can buy a $99 one (usually 50% off and some deal on top of that, which brought the last suitcase down to $37 at Bell's).

I have seen the "hard sided" ones come off the luggage carousel, and they seem to do fine. They are very flexible. We haven't tried one because we don't care for the free-spinning wheels.

[TrudyM]

Looking to buy new luggage. Ours are old and heavy. Really like all the light-weight ones they sell now. I see they offer the usually soft-sided but now they have the hard sided ones. Just wondering do they dent, etc...any opinions?

I use to manage a luggage store so I will give what little info I have.

Like all things the quality varies. Some hard sided are made of a polymer that pops back out if dented others are a resin that can crack. Then there is the aircraft aluminum type more expensive but my favorite when it comes to hard side and yes they dent. The two major issues with all luggage is the wheels and the closure. In soft sided the zipper coil can pull off from the tape and in hard side the latches can let go and the hinges can spring. What I am seeing in a lot of newer styles is the wheels stick out a lot more. This makes it easier to repair but makes it more likely they will get caught on the machinery that handles the luggage in the first place. Also in a carryon the wheels are include in the measure so if they stick out three inches you have lost packing space - So instead of 9x14x21(22" allowed but the wheels always take up 1") you have 9x14x18 or you are risking not being able to fit the bag in the bin.
Now I sold high end luggage but if you are not a business or every month traveler you can get by with less expensive brands if you follow these two tips.
1.You can help avoid damage by using the tie down straps that are in the luggage to cinch down the contents to reduce the strain on the closure. Place a piece of cardboard cut to the size of the suitcase or a pack it folder over the contents and then pull the straps tight over the cardboard
Also if you use compressor bags (the plastic kind you roll to get the air out) and packing folders (eagle creek makes a good style) the contents stays put and it reduces the chance of stress damage. I am a big fan of pack it folders as I can get more in and can tell if someone has been going through the bag. I mean the airport guys now have the keys.
2 . NEVER LIFT THE BAG BY THE TOW HANDLE. The pull up handle is held in place with two little pins and springs they are not designed to carry the weight of lifting the bag that is why there is also a handle on the top. 90% of all customer repairs I got in the shop were do to this and it is not covered by the warranty.



JUST MY OPINION"

[swimdawg]

I do a fair amount of traveling zipping back and forth from Buffalo to TV once a month. I have soft-sided luggage.

I like a color that stands out. I have bright purple and bright teal. You can't miss them when you're anxiously awaiting for your luggage at Baggage Claim.

My recommendation for new luggage: Get 4-wheeled as opposed to the 2-wheeled. It makes a world of difference!

Happy Trails to you!

:) Karen

[CFrance]

Do not like the four-wheeled at all. They remind me of Ikea shopping carts. They want to go in any/every direction. And like TrudyM said, they stick out too much, making them more susceptible to damage and taking up too much outside space for a carry-on.

[swimdawg]

Do not like the four-wheeled at all. They remind me of Ikea shopping carts. They want to go in any/every direction. And like TrudyM said, they stick out too much, making them more susceptible to damage and taking up too much outside space for a carry-on.

Different strokes for different folks. I love the 4-wheeled.

I would say if you're thinking of buying, try both kinds in the store.

[cab1948]

Thanks everyone, now I'll know some specific things to look for when I'm out shopping. But, does anyone currently use the hard sided luggage?

[swimdawg]

Do not like the four-wheeled at all. They remind me of Ikea shopping carts. They want to go in any/every direction. And like TrudyM said, they stick out too much, making them more susceptible to damage and taking up too much outside space for a carry-on.

CF....I was talking to some friends about luggage and everyone was raving about the 4-wheeled type of luggage. In my post, I was not talking about a carry-on. However, it is important to realize that when you are pulling the luggage for any distance, you use the 2 front wheels....but if you are in line waiting for the ticketing...or whatever, you use 4 wheels and it makes it so much easier. If you have a carry-on, it is easy to stack it on top. Just wanted to clarify. :)

[jojo]

I'm a frequent traveler and agree with Swimdawg. I like the 4-wheelers, especially for carry-on which for me is 90% of the time. CFrance said the 4-wheeled go in every direction. I have not had that experience. My Brookstone bag is easy to control. I prefer soft sides. Most of my luggage woes have been broken wheels.

[boomerbaby]

I want to try a hard shell carryon and I saw some in Beals outlet really great price, it does not say carryon I would really appreciate it if you can tell me what the size is for carryon? I appreciate any help here as the workers in the store did not know if it was a carryon if it does not say it. Thank you

[CFrance]

I want to try a hard shell carryon and I saw some in Beals outlet really great price, it does not say carryon I would really appreciate it if you can tell me what the size is for carryon? I appreciate any help here as the workers in the store did not know if it was a carryon if it does not say it. Thank you

I think you could go to an airline's web site and see what the carry-on size is. Most luggage tags in the store tell you what size the luggage is. 25" is too big.