Hard suitcase guide

When deciding on your choice of suitcase, one of your first decisions, before questions of color and brand come into play, will be between a hard sided suitcase and one with soft sides.  As most brands offer both hard and soft styles, it probably won't come down to brand preference.   Whether or not the suitcase has wheels, a telescopic handle and organizer pockets are also unlikely to be deciding factors as these features practically come as standard in most of the latest models.

In this article we consider the pros and cons of soft and hard suitcases to help you make your decision.  We're assuming that you'll be using the suitcase for airline travel as well as for overland journeys, and that you won’t always have a porter on hand to carry your luggage for you.  We've framed the guide as a series of questions that you should answer, before you make your final purchasing decision.

Although some hard suitcase designs are more lightweight than certain soft suitcase styles, as a rule general soft suitcases tend to be a little lighter. But bear in mind that the very lightest soft suitcase will be constructed out of thin synthetic fibers (perhaps only 600 denier nylon or polyester strands) and may not offer very much protection for the contents (see the notes below on carrying fragile items).

Recent years have seen a great deal of innovation in hard suitcase material design and some super-lightweight options are now available; see Samsonite hard suitcases for example. Hard suitcases are made from ABS, polycarbonate or polypropylene with ABS offering the lightest weight construction. So check to see if your favorite brand has an ABS range of lightweight suitcases.

Check for models with four 360 degree turning wheels as these will enable you to maneuver the suitcase in any direction, whether tilted or not.  A hard sided suitcase will be slightly easier to move and steer than soft models, given the rigidity, there’s really not much in it.   But remember that rigidity can be a negative if you need to squeeze your suitcase into a small space such as the trunk of a small taxi.

Hard suitcases provide more protection.  This is especially important if you travel airline routes that require you to pack your liquids and creams in your checked luggage.   Hard suitcases may become more scratched and dented than soft suitcases, and show wear and tear sooner, but you can feel secure that your contents are protected.   Some hard suitcase brands even claim that they are hard enough to sit on, even when empty, without buckling.

So you’ve decided on a pink suitcase but you still can’t decide between a hard shell or a soft sided model?  Perhaps your best bet is to choose a ‘middle model.’  These have sides that are strengthened with EVA panels for extra strength and rigidity.  They can’t really be classified as a ‘hard suitcase’ in the strictest sense of the word (don’t try sitting on one when empty for example) but aren’t really soft or highly pliable either.  And remember to check for weight.

One or two hard suitcase brands (see Hayes models for example) offer expansion zips. These can add 20% to the suitcase capacity, which can come in useful if you’ve done some shopping on your trip.   If expandable zips are a requirement, stick to soft suitcases.  But check luggage weight and size requirements.  They seem to be becoming increasingly restrictive, with the result that you may never use the extra capacity.

Of course a suitcase is the primary travel accessory to consider.  But frequent fliers also have a number of other accessories that they will not leave home without.  Some of these include:

• A comfortable travel pillow that provides good support to the head and neck.  With this memory foam travel pillow or even a good inflatable neck pillow you should be able to rest while on the go.
• A pair of thick comfortable 'airplane socks.'  Feet can swell during long haul travel so removing tight fitting shoes is a must.
• Noise canceling headphones will make watching the in-flight entertainment a far more involving and enjoyable experience. 
  
• Ear plugs and an eye mask.