For many years, luggage has been available in in two main forms: hard (also known as hardside, hard case or hard shell) and soft (also known by the name softside, soft case or soft shell). Some people say that softside luggage is better while others are of the opinion that no softside can beat a high quality hardside luggage. The truth is that both types of luggage have certain advantages and disadvantages over each other.
The Advantages of Softside Luggage over Hardside Luggage
1. Weight Advantage (in most cases)
Most airlines in the US and Europe impose a limit of 50 pounds (23 kg) for checked luggage. Having said this, some airlines in Europe have a baggage allowance of 20 kg (44 pounds). However, when using the services of Ryanair, the popular European airline, as well as some other airlines, it is necessary to pay for checking in luggage.
Checking in a 15 kg (33 pounds) suitcase on a Ryanair flight can be as expensive as a single seat ticket and it can be more expensive to check in a 20 kg (44 pounds) than the actual airline ticket.
Having said this, Ryanair allows one piece of carry on luggage that is up to 55cm x 40cm x 20cm (13.8” x 15.7” x 7.9”) large and weighs up to 10kg (22 pounds). Ryanair passengers can also carry one small bag measuring up to 35cm x 20cm x 20 cm (13.8” x 7.9” x 7.9”).
Thus one has to take the above information into consideration before forking any money on any new piece of luggage. For people who like travelling light with just one piece of carry on baggage, it makes sense to invest in a light weight piece of cabin approved suitcase. Unless one is carrying jewels or gold, it does not make a lot of sense to buy the most robust of carry on suitcases if the suitcase weighs as much as 5kg (11 pounds).
Coming back to the comparison between hardside versus softside luggage, the thing is that in the majority of cases, soft luggage is lighter than hard luggage. In such cases, a soft shell suitcase may be more suitable to be used as carry on luggage than a hard shell one.
The lighter the suitcase, the easier it is to lift it up to avoid obstacles, to carry it up and down pavements and to transport it up and down stairways. At the same time, lighter suitcases can be more easily placed in overhead compartments, in trains and airplanes or in luggage racks in buses and trains.
Having said this, I am not implying that any hard case luggage is heavier than any soft case luggage. Suitcases made from aluminum and most types of plastic are indeed heavier than any kind of soft suitcases. However some of today’s hardside suitcases are manufactured from polycarbonate, which is known for being light and robust at the same time.
As a matter of fact, a soft case that is made from real leather may be heavier that a hard case made from light polycarbonate. Having said this, no two suitcases are the same and in fact not all hard cases are made from polycarbonate
In fact most of the cheap hardside luggage is made from plastic, given that it is less expensive than polycarbonate. Hardside cases that are made from aluminum or aluminum alloys also exist, but they are normally pretty heavy. Such cases are not are very practical for the average tourist and are more suitable for people carrying money or other high value items.
2. Flexible and Compressible
The fact that soft luggage is usually made from materials such as nylon or leather means that they can be easily compressed. This has several advantages over rigid luggage that does not move an inch. Given that nylon and leather can be stretched and expanded, a softside suitcase case can usually accommodate more items when compared to an identically sized hardside suitcase.
The fact that a softside suitcase can store more items makes it better suited for use as cabin baggage. At the same time a soft suitcase can be more easily compressed which means that it can fit in the overhead compartment of an airplane, train or bus more easily.
When it comes to checked baggage, the same advantages hold. In fact people who like to carry half their wardrobe with them when they are travelling may also prefer a soft suitcase given that it can accommodate a few more garments than a hard shell one. So do people who like to go shopping for clothes while they are travelling.
The fact that softside luggage can be easily compressed is an advantage over some cheap hard case luggage which can crack when undue pressure is made on them. Most soft case luggage can also withstand lower temperatures than some low quality hard case luggage which can crack in freezing temperatures. This does not hold for the better quality hard cases as we shall see later on.
3. More Easily Repaired
In general soft case luggage is not as robust as hard case luggage. However when it gets damaged it is usually easier to repair. A small hole in a soft luggage can be patched but a hole in a hardside luggage is not easily repairable. Also any scratches or any other damage are usually more noticeable on hardside luggage than on soft luggage.
4. Addition of Pockets
Nearly any softside luggage include one to three small pockets on the front. Such pockets are very handy as they can be used for keeping any boarding passes, passports, documents, books or maps.
5. Not Destroyed by Security Inspectors
Some hard suitcases include a security lock. While this is definitely an advantage, in some cases it does also have its drawbacks. Any security inspectors who may wish to open a hard suitcase may need to destroy the lock, making the suitcase useless in the process. While this is more on a problem in the US, it may also happen in Europe and other continents.
In the case of a soft suitcase using an external lock this is not really an issue as destroying the lock does not cause any damage to the suitcase itself. Having said this, it is known that TSA approved locks can be opened by security inspectors without breaking them but the thing is that not all locks are TSA approved.
6. Generally Cheaper
Most softside luggage is less expensive than hardside luggage. Definitely this is only the case if one compares like with like, in other words the luggage has to be of the same volume, has to be manufactured by the same company and must not be sold at a sale price. High quality soft shell suitcases from big brand name manufacturers can cost several times more than some cheap hard shell suitcases from relatively unknown manufacturers.
The Advantages of Hard Shell Luggage over Soft Shell Luggage
1. More Secure
Most soft shell luggage can be ripped open by a blade or sharp knife. This is definitely not the case when it comes to hard luggage. A hard luggage may still be opened but this will usually entail breaking the lock, which is a more difficult task for someone who has never done that before. Having said this, some PVC coated oxford fabric that is used in some soft bags is fairly strong and cannot be ripped very easily.
2. Better Suited for Carrying Delicate Items
Hard shell suitcases are definitely better suited for carrying souvenirs, fragile objects or any other valuables. The fact that soft shell suitcases can be easily compressed makes them somewhat unsuitable for carrying any kind of brittle objects.
While any fragile objects may be wrapped in newspapers or bubble wrap before being inserted in the luggage, any mishandling of the luggage while it is loaded or unloaded onto an aircraft may still cause damage to any fragile objects inside. While mishandling of a hard case luggage may also cause damage to any delicate objects inside the luggage, this is less likely to happen as the luggage itself takes much of the impact when it is mishandled or dropped.
3. More Robust and Usually Last Longer
Most hardside luggage is expected to last longer than most soft luggage. As a matter of fact, some high quality hard luggage cases are virtually indestructible, especially ones made from polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is known to be hard and flexible, which allows it to bend itself when impacted with force.
Nevertheless not all hard case luggage is built the same and the price is not always a correct indication of the robustness of the luggage. If the hard case is made from inflexible material, then it may crack when exposed to undue pressure.
Any suitcase that is made from plastic may eventually crack, especially if the plastic used is low quality one. Thus in the end it all depends on the material used. As a matter of fact a high quality soft luggage can last more than some low quality hard luggage.
Being more robust also makes hard shell luggage more difficult to scratch and damage than soft shell luggage. However, as mentioned previously, once a hard shell luggage is damaged it will not look very nice and it is not easily repairable.
4. Waterproof
Any hard shell luggage is usually water proof or at least water resistant. If exposed for the rain for an extended period of time, some water might eventually penetrate from the edges, hinges or lock, but this is not likely to occur unless the luggage is a low quality one.
In the case of soft shell suitcases this is a different story. While some high end soft suitcases might be water proof, low to medium cost ones are usually just water resistant. While a light drizzle may not be an issue, high intensity rain may cause water to pass through the zippers, the seams and even penetrate the material of the suitcases.
For the above reasons, hard case luggage is normally more suitable for use in countries where it rains a lot. However, as mentioned before, some hard case luggage might crack if exposed to extremely low temperatures. Therefore anyone who intends to use a suitcase in polar temperatures should always check with the manufacturer if the suitcase if capable of withstanding such extreme temperatures.
5. Easier to Maneuver
Most hardside suitcases have four wheels that can move in any direction. While some softside suitcases also include this feature, this is more of an exception rather than the norm.
When four wheels are used, the suitcase is usually more maneuverable as it can be rotated easily and moved along sideways. A suitcase that can be moved sideways can pass through narrow corridors, making it more suitable to be used in trains and coaches.
6. More Easily Cleaned
Most hard case luggage is easier to clean than soft case luggage. While leather suitcases can be easily cleaned, this is usually not the case for suitcases that are made from nylon. Dirt particles easily penetrate the nylon fibres making the cleaning process somewhat difficult.
As time passes and more dirt accumulates, soft luggage may eventually change colour and may also look dirty in the process. It is also not uncommon for soft luggage to start smelling oddly over the course of a few years. On the other hand, cleaning a hard shell luggage is usually a question of wiping the luggage with a piece of damp cloth.
7. More Colours
Hardside luggage is usually available in more colours than most softside luggage. Some hard luggage models also include designs or shapes on the outer shell. I have recently seen a suitcase with the shape of a skull embossed in the luggage. This makes hard luggage more unique and easier to distinguish at the baggage reclaim when compared to soft luggage.
Hybrid Luggage and the Advantages over Hard and Soft Luggage
Hybrid luggage combines the advantages of both hard and softside luggage. Some hybrid luggage looks like any normal soft luggage. However the external fabric is reinforced internally by means of moulded internal hard shell. The internal hard shell is placed in certain key points such as corners and other typically weak areas.
Other hybrid luggage consists of pieces of hard shell on the outside that is held together by means of soft fabric. Both designs work well and enable most hybrid luggage to be lighter and much more flexible than most hard shell luggage. At the same time, hybrid luggage is usually more robust than most soft luggage and is expected to last longer.
So Which Luggage Type is best?
So which is the best type of luggage, a softcase luggage, a hardcase luggage or a hybrid one? The truth is that every luggage has certain advantages and disadvantages and stating explicitly that one type is better than the other is pretty a matter of subjectivity and self-opinion.
Basically before one decides which type of luggage to buy, the person should first consider the circumstances under which he or she intends to use the luggage. For example, if one likes to buy a lot of souvenirs and travel regularly in trains and buses, then a hardside suitcase is perhaps the best choice. On the other hand, a softside or hybrid suitcase might be more suitable for someone who travels a lot with carry on luggage and likes to buy clothes while travelling.
The budget is also something to take into consideration. Some people prefer to go for cheap luggage with the idea that any type of luggage will eventually wear out and will need to be replaced. This may be true to a certain extent, however very cheap luggage does not normally last long and it may turn out to be more expensive to keep buying cheap luggage every year or two instead of investing in some quality luggage that will last for many years.
Having said this one, paying too much for a piece of luggage is also an issue. It is not always necessary to go for the big brand names and designer luggage. After all, one must not forget that any type of luggage will get a significant type of abuse from baggage handling staff, irrespective of the fact that it is cheap or designer luggage. Apart from that, it is more likely for designer luggage to get stolen when compared to any other kind of luggage.
According to one reviewer, one of the advantages of the Coyote 80 over other backpacks is the addition of a number of pockets. The guy also states that the addition of two small mesh pockets on the waist band is a great addition, a feature that is normally missing in many other large backpacks. Small objects that are used often can be placed in these pockets thus saving one the hassle of having to remove the backpack from the back.
