If you’re in the market for luggage, you’ll need to make a pivotal choice right out of the gate: soft-sided or hard-shell? Let’s look at how these styles stack up.
Soft-sided bags make up the bulk of the U.S. market. You can get them in a wide variety of styles, from standard suitcase shapes in various sizes to garment bags, wheeled backpacks, and massive rolling duffels.
Hard-shell luggage, on the other hand, is typically limited to a standard suitcase shape in both carry-on and checked-bag sizes. Yet consumers have shown a growing interest in the category, thanks in part to new materials that are lightweight and strong.
Each type of luggage has its merits and drawbacks. Here’s what to consider when deciding which type of bag will be your new travel companion.
Soft-Sided Luggage
Soft-sided luggage is made of fabrics that move and yield, usually woven nylon, such as cordura, ballistic, or ripstop. Cordura is more textured than ballistic, a little softer, and more abrasion-resistant. Ballistic is the smoother and shinier of the two. Over time, ballistic can abrade, but that won’t compromise the fabric’s strength. Ripstop nylon is the very lightweight fabric commonly known as “parachute material,” often used in unstructured or semi-structured bags.
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All three come in a variety of denier counts, which denote the weight—not the quality or strength—of the fabric. When it comes to ripstop nylon, however, a higher denier will ensure that even this lightweight fabric will be heavy enough to hold your belongings.
Many soft-sided pieces of luggage come with exterior pockets, and they often have two or more interior compartments. The closure is a zipper; newer bags may have an integrated lock.
You might opt for soft-sided luggage if you’re looking for lightweight pieces that can flex and compress to fit into tight spaces, such as the overhead bin in an airplane. It may also take up less room to store at home.
The downside, of course, is that it won’t provide as much protection as a hard-shell piece of luggage. It’s also vulnerable to ripping if it’s not high quality.
Check our luggage ratings and buying guide for shopping advice and details on the best luggage brands and stores. And see our evaluations of weekender bags and travel backpacks.
Hard-Shell Luggage
Today’s hard-shell luggage is made with high-tech plastics such as ABS and polycarbonate, which are lightweight and durable. ABS is the lightest, but polycarbonate is more durable. The most durable, but also the heaviest, is aluminum.
Hard-shell luggage often features a 50/50-split opening, allowing you to pack two sides equally and stabilize the contents with an interior strap or a middle divider. But the clamshell design requires double the surface space to spread it open. Most hard-shells are built this way, but there are some on the market that have a lid opening.
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. If you tend to overpack, a hard-shell piece will either rein you in or frustrate you: There’s no chance of overstuffing it. For a carry-on, as long as you buy the right size, you’re guaranteed a no-bulge fit in your airline’s luggage sizer. Hard-shell luggage also stacks easily, making it ideal for cruise ships, where bags are stacked in the belly of the ship before departure.
That said, hard-shell luggage scuffs and scratches easily. It’s also rigid, so you can’t squeeze in extras if the need arises. You’ll need a fixed storage space, which can be a challenge for apartment and small-house dwellers.
