How to Pick the BEST Luggage for Your Travels: Hardshell vs Softside

Soft-side 2 wheels for me. Invested in the Briggs & Riley Baseline Global carry-on 2 months ago. Very pleased with my investment. Slightly more volume compared to equally priced global spinner.

Hi Nora! I bought the day lite 40l duffel on Amazon- the zippers are quite difficult for me to get around the bag. Also, I attached the backpack straps and the little carabeener is sooooo hard I cannot get the clip to open because I can’t get the leverage! Lol I was wondering if you had that problem of if I got a bad bag or I am just a weakling

Thanks Nora...will be traveling frequently...and your channel is exactly what I needed in terms of the how-too's, thanks for your efforts.

Ok, that settles it. I was looking at getting a carry-on bag for an upcoming Australia trip and I was almost about to get a Monos. But I think sticking to my gut and your analysis, soft sided is the way to go. Now i just have to decide between the 500 options of soft models. Haha. I am notoriously bad for thinking about these things way too much.

Soft luggage 100% . You put on your back, or your front, if you dont want anyone thinking to rob you, you bring everything with you everywhere you go. Cannot bring trolley on a trek.

Most soft-sided cases have spinner wheels as well

Interesting concepts. I have a hard-shell zipper-less (latches) checked suitcase for international travel, which I bought in 2010, and still going strong, in spite of 30+ long international flights. Poly-carbonate is DIY easy to repair. My carry-on is a two-wheeled, soft-side top with rigid sides, same age as the other one, although a different brand.
Nevertheless, they are showing their age, and specially the checked bag may be going into retirement this or next year.

My soft sided luggage has 4 wheels. When i use my hard one, I'm always opening it in my trunk to look for something and i dislike how hard it is to find something in that situation.

I like soft shell

Team Hardside Luggage. Don't have to worry about your bag getting wet when it rains. Spinner wheels are life. I don't like pulling anything behind me. I haven't had an issue with my hardshell set. I have used soft shell in the past. I feel the hardshell is more durable and protective of your things. My hardshell has expansion. I can expand it if need be. Still was able to fit in the overhead bin.

There is more to it than just hardshell or softshell. There is aluminium, polycarbonate, polypropylene, ABS. For me, polypropylene is best.

I love the look of the hardshell but after traveling with both, soft-sided all the way. I have a wonderful set that I got from Eddie Bauer over a decade ago, a soft-sided carry-on with a matching backpack, still my favorite luggage ever.

I pack in a trunk hard side two pops and it’s open. I also have a Topo Design roller/soft and hard as well that’s great in between. Which bag I use depends on the trip. Once that hard side is packed (I hate zippers on hard side bags with a passion) unless I get extra screening at TSA it’s not opening till the hotel-my underseat has stone cold everything I need.
You have in my opinion have to really know who you are as a person. I wanted hard sided with NO expansion-yes I realize that you can use the expansion like compression but I felt that it just encourages me to take way more than I should-no bueno.
I don’t pay to check bags- also not a factor in why I pack carry on only. It’s because when I get off the aircraft I can walk right on out!
For years I used an LL Bean rolling back pack on skate wheels and while it was smaller than most soft sided rollers and awkward to pack the main compartment-it was stone cold the best to manage on any roads and great on two wheels at airports. Still dragged out for a trip of less than 4/5 days.
Since 2001 I have checked bags less than a dozen times planned and that was when my now 22 year old was little.

This review is SPOT ON! I just don't understand the current trend of trendy cases.

I was a commercial pilot for 33 years. People are always asking me what luggage do I use. My 4-day trip bag since it first came out maybe 20 -25 years ago was an absolute tank made by "Luggage Works". I beat the hell out of it, showed it no mercy whatsoever, used it roughly 182.5 days a year, and I replaced it twice, mostly just because it looked dirty from too many coffee spills.

It has a rugged aluminum frame with a ballistic nylon cover, 2 ball bearing roller blade wheels that never break, and a stainless steel retractable handle that will carry the suitcase fully loaded banging up a flight of concrete stairs. You can't kill it. On the other hand, it weighs 13 lbs and costs $370 so not fun to lift into an overhead bin or what I take on vacation. I also think their quality control has slipped a bit recently, However if that's all you need for a trip, it will pay for itself eventually. They also have a hook as well as clip fasteners for attaching their other modular bags. I used the combination laptop/insulated cooler bag a lot to pack my own food (slides over the extended handle).

For personal travel I am totally underwhelmed by what's popular today. A few years ago I bought a 3-piece soft-sided set - 21" spinner, 30" spinner, and a satchel, made by "Leisure" on sale at Kohls for maybe $150 in a loud blue color that no one else owns (think "Meet The Parents"). Ever heard of that brand? Me neither. No one is going to steal that off the luggage carousel. I figured it would break after a while and I'd just replace it on the cheap. I'm still waiting.

Do you want luggage that is tough (hard) or resilient (soft)? I've yet to see a hard shell that can take the abuse my cheap soft sides can. Go ahead baggage dudes, drop it from 10 feet up. Toss it so it lands on the corner or edge.

Also, the weather argument against soft side is weak because in most instances it will be protected from all but incidental exposure to the elements. The soft sides are also light as a feather which helps if you're up against the 50 lb weight limit.

Great job pointing out the footprint. I can place the 30" inch bag on a chair, flip open the very lightweight lid piece, and leave it open. A hard clamshell case needs twice the room. I also love the cavernous space of softside. You can organize it with packing cubes as well as transport bulky items. I travelled for surgery once and crammed a huge wedge pillow in the 29" using the expandable zipper feature.

Do you want luggage that is pretty (at least when it's brand new before the baggage smashers get hold of it) that you'll only get to admire for a few minutes of use? I have to admit, it does look great in those Mediterranean background ads.

Spinners are great for people with strength issues, but personally (as pointed out in the video), I find myself using just two of the 4 wheels like on a roller bag just because it's more controllable. Also as pointed out, a spinner's wheels stick way out from the frame - that's 4 failure points just begging to break. A roller bag will have much more robust and protected wheel construction with much less of the wheel protruding from the frame. And good luck pushing a spinner through a carpeted concourse. The company "MVST" just came out with a line of aluminum spinners that have removable wheels you can take off before you check them at the ticket counter so that's good.

The built-in TSA locks are a definite no-go IMO. For one thing, if the lock breaks on a hard shell case, you're screwed. At least a soft shell could accommodate a separate lock for the zipper pulls. But even the built-in TSA locks I've seen on soft cases have incredibly cheap thin zipper pulls locking into the mechanism. I just use a separate TSA lock to attach the two zipper pulls together and can move that union to a less-vulnerable position on the case (by the top handle). Yes zippers are vulnerable, but in a typical checked baggage chain of custody, the likelihood of that being a problem is very slim.

Softside for the win! Unless you go to the French Riviera and can afford to replace it after every trip.

I've always used soft-sided luggage. The bags have suffered some tears here and there, but I have heard that hard-shell luggage can crack to the point that your belongings end up all over the conveyor belt! Embedded wheels are important, and many hard-shell cases do not have these. To protect belongings in a downpour, keep a large garbage bag with you and put your stuff inside it for an extra layer of protection. Is it true that if these TSA locks that are embedded in the case get broken, you can't get into your suitcase without breaking the zippers? Thanks for the video!

I use both - a small carry-on size spinner and a 35L backpack. My backpack is a Gregory Border 35 - a very nice travel backpack.

Literally just bought a 29" soft luggage for an international trip. I had the same thought about the 50/50 split in having to pack and open and close. The soft I liked the box type storage with a lid to open and close. Maybe I'm being partial to what I'm used to but let's see. I really was torn between the two types but went with what I know especially in terms of having to open the luggage last minute for something and the floor space it may take up in room etc.

80% of the time I'm a 35L Aer Travel Pack 3 person. Kicks butt over both the options.

That said... When I need more room I've found that a Monos Hybrid (zipperless hardshell) combined with an AER City Pack Pro Backpack as my personal item solved nearly all the downsides you've listed for the Hardshell. Security definitely shift to Hard. Accessibility is a personal problem if you're not putting all the stuff you need in the backpack.

One thing that you didn't cover is that hardshell forces limits. So...while you list flexibility as a pro for soft. I think that that disregards that it begs people to overstuff right past airline limits. This just doesn't happen with hard and I like KNOWING that I'm within spec. :)

As a senior petite woman I struggled with my soft sided luggage. I recently purchased a level 8 21”.
🤞this works better for me. I typically don’t do carryon often, just can’t get it into the overhead bin anymore. There isn’t always someone willing to help if needed.

Fyi. Hanke is now making a hard sided checked size suitcase 26 inch that opens like a soft sided case. i just purchased it for 3 week trip next month. We'll see how it works.😊

I have a soft shell carry on with spinners...best of both worlds...

I would consider a hardshell if it had more durable wheels.. When I go back home I like to check-in my carry on.. I don't know how long would a hard shell spinner last if you check it in regularly

I appreciate the time you took to do this, but it is clear it is a biased analysis. You prefer soft-sided luggage. That is clear. Just be honest. Don't try to pretend you are trying to provide an honest analysis.

Thank you for the help

You brought up so many things that no other reviewer has - thank you! I was leaning to changing from soft side roller to hardshell spinner, but now I know it's not the right choice for me and I'll stick with what I have.

Note that you can get soft shell spinners. Also, for carry on luggage of the same size, (enclosed) 2 wheel luggage has more interior volume than 4-wheel spinners. This is the big deal breaker for me.

Thank you for the time stamps!

Excellent video! Informative. Your delivery is on target, too.

My soft shell unfortunately was incredibly damaged during my return home from a trip. They are trickier to stack and un stack for the airport luggage handlers.
All the things I placed inside the outside pockets (usb sticks with photos and sky dive, snorkel experiences etc.) were lost. 🥺❤️‍🩹
I’m team hard shell now!

Most soft shell luggage is not suitable for storage either. The one she has in this video has that.

I'm so glad somebody thinks like me!! I am on 'team soft shell' for sure! :)

Durability. Many claim that hard-shell wins - I mean that's the point right? - but then amazon is full of reviews of the plastic cracking which is essentially impossible for a softshell. Until someone actually tests it, I'm very sceptical that soft shell is actually more durable.

E.g. imagine throwing (filled) large soft and hard shell suitcases respectively off a 30ft drop. You would expect all the hard materials to crack whereas the soft would simply absorb the impact.

More video of you wheeling luggage please❤😊

lol you’re funny. Yeah i can’t with hard sided, takes up wayyy too much space to open. Dealbreaker for me.

I wish someone would invent hard luggage with side open (not middle) yay! ❤

Use giant Ziploc bags instead of packing cubes, or use the bags as covers for your packing cubes and anything else you don't want to get soaked. This has worked great for me. Your suitcase should dry out overnight, or you could treat yourself to a new one at your destination. 😉

I think one thing you forgot to mention was that if you have a personal item bag, you should be putting important items in that, so the point of pockets on the outside might be unnecessary for some. Especially if the airline is making you check your carry-on due to limited space in the overhead bins.

I liked your realistic comparisons!! ❤ A total must … Carry on has to be under five lbs 😊 so that means i’m on team soft-side. I add art or stencil in acrylics to the outside so it is easy to identify anywhere - esp these days when sometimes grrrr! it can get checked!! I spray it with lots of fabric protector (like i spray my bag, shoes, hat etc) so it’s easy to wipe clean and ok in the rain! 🎉 Truly - lately i do the same thing to a cloth small underseater with 2 wheels ❤ so i don’t have store luggage above and far away from my seat… Porter —- 😅

I used to roll 2 wheel and 4 wheel TP luggage which I think is great
But now I just use a 35 l backpack

Much easier to maneuver through the airport and across cobblestone streets and going up and down stairs in Europe

The thing is, one doesn’t know if the airline will demand you check your carry-on, zips and outside pockets are tempting to thieves then (locks don't really stop them). Sigh.

I came to your conclusion back in 2018 when I traveled for 8 weeks in Europe with only my Osprey Ozone 42L bag. I have a CPAP machine, which all fits inside along with all my clothes (a few pieces of which I never wore…) and literally everything I needed for the trip. I did also have a small personal bag, as you also recommend. The biggest thing I’m glad you mention is THE WHEELS. The Ozone has even better wheels than the Daylite one you have- they absolutely gobble cobblestones and stairs and in the airport I can pull it alone effortlessly with only my pinkie due to the excellent ball bearings within the wheels. Oh- and before I left on that particular European trip, I asked Osprey if I could purchase an extra wheel just in case of a problem (I’ve had multiple problems with spinner wheels!!) Osprey sent me, no charge, an extra set of both wheels. I haven’t needed either one, and use that bag for every trip I take, checked or not. One thing I prefer about the Ozone is that it does not include backpack straps, giving me more room for my stuff. I like the strong single center expandable handle. There are several lines of Osprey luggage in various sizes, carry on or not. Oh- and the bag only weighs 4 1/2 pounds! The company’s 100% guarantee, design, fit and finish and general quality make it well worth the cost IMHO, and I am grateful for it every time I travel. Thanks for verifying my own experiences (and those of my wife, who also uses one).

Nice and detailed

We’ve had bad luck with one of those roller wheels on the hard shell getting damaged. I like both but then again I rarely use them in any kind of bad weather

I’ve travelled extensively over 40 years for business and pleasure with both hard and soft sided. The only 2 catastrophic failures I have suffered were both hard sided cases (a Samsonite and a Delsey).
My preference nowadays is softsided (Travelpro) with spinners on the large checked bags but 2 wheel pull along on the carryon. That for me is the optimum blend of ruggedness, flexibility and mobility. For shorter trips sometimes I’ll take a travel backpack that’ll fit under the seat and avoid the need to battle for overhead space.

I Noticed that airlines give more problems for checking soft shell luggage. As if it's now considered "special care" luggage, like huge backpacks [like they can get stuck in the tunnels which take your suitcase to the belly of the plane. This may become annoying....

Have had B&R Global two wheel for years. Love it. Lifetime warranty, roomy, bullet-proof. I hate clamshell cases. Have backpack for certain trips, but use BR along with small shoulder bag for up to 6 month trips.

Good points. I'm more a nomad traveler. City to city, a lot of outside usage. Soft side with pockets is great, and the wheels you said are better for outside. The badside is rain.. 😢

YOUR WORKOUT IS WORKING!!!

This video was very helpful. Thank you.

Hard side luggage that is NOT clam but top load is awesome. ;)