Hard-sided luggage pieces are now more popular than ever. This is has been attributed to their massive improvement in overall durability and quality. In the past, hard shell luggage pieces were known to crack, scratch and fall apart – a far cry from the soft-sided types of luggage.
Fortunately, this is no longer the case as these modern hard-shelled travel suitcases are made of polycarbonate – a super flexible and scratch resistive material used in manufacturing products such as contact lenses. This material is not only flexible but also very tough. Mostly, they can absorb the impact of drops and rough handling characterizing current travels.
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Why Should You Choose A Hard Sided Carry On Suitcase?
- Durability: Hard-sided bags are more durable than soft-sided bags. However, a lot depends on the quality. A quality soft side will be more durable than a cheaply made hard side. However, if you buy a top-notch hard side, you should expect durability.
- Protection: Another reason more and more people are choosing hard-sided bags is based on the protection it offers to the items inside. In the past, most people did not travel with electronics as they feared they could get smashed in the process.Nowadays, most travelers have a laptop, an iPad, and many other smart devices and a drop can easily damage them. A hard case will ensure these fragile yet essential items are well protected. Hard shells also perform better against the elements and other accidents.
- Easy To Clean: Keeping luggage clean can be tough especially if you have to carry your bag through dirty streets, or the countryside. A muddy and smelly suitcase is neither appealing nor easy to carry especially if you have to move from city to city. Because soft-sided bags absorb water quickly, they are susceptible to attracting smells and stains.With a hard shell suitcase, on the other hand, you can just wipe off any stain without much fuss. This allows you the flexibility of traveling to any location without much worrying. Weather is also a non-issue with this carry-on.
Upsides and Downsides of a Hard Case Travel Bags
Advantages
- Offers more protection against breakages and damages. This means that the items inside are better protected even when the bag is dropped, jostled, thrown or knocked over. The trauma or force experienced is not transferred to the items inside the bag.
- They are lightweight. This is surprising to many people as to just how something can be so hard and yet so tough?
- They are durable. Durability is outstanding in a travel bag since it is going to be exposed to a lot of stress and usage on trips. It is, therefore, necessary that the bag you have is rugged.
- They are easy to clean. This is another significant factor to look at when choosing a bag.
Disadvantages
- They are not as flexible as soft-sided bags. Regardless of how flexible modern hard-shelled bags are, soft-sided bags typically made of canvas are more flexible. Flexibility comes into play when you have to force your bag into tight overhead bins or under your seat.
- They are still heavier than soft sides. Although some soft sides are heavy, in general, a hard case will be heavier than a soft case even if the difference is minuscule.
How Do You Choose The Best Hard Sided Carry On Luggage?
There are many options available. This may make choosing a new bag look like an impossible task. However, it is not so. Here are some features to look for when selecting.
- Materials and Quality: The workmanship and materials used in the construction are essential when determining the durability of the bag. Those made of polycarbonate ABS are very durable and will give you years of service.
- Dimensions: Choosing a carry-on means you want a bag that can fit into an overhead bin, and at the same time afford you some ample packing space. With this in mind, it is essential that your bag meets the carryon restrictions imposed by your carrier. Contact the airline and inquire about their carry-on limits. The most common dimensional limit for most is 22 x 14 x 9 inches.
- The weight of the Bag: The weight of the bag directly affects its mobility, and as such, you should ensure that the bag is light. Also, some international airlines have strident carry-on weight limits. If the bag is heavy, you will have less leeway. A good starting point is 7 pounds or less.
- Compartments and Features: The bag should have several compartments that make packing easy. Some have wetpacks for liquids and wet clothes – and this is great. Others have laptop compartments, suiters and much more for the business class. Other features such as expandability allow you to be more flexible.
- Spinners or Rollers: Hardshell bags usually have wheels for easier maneuverability. A bag can have four wheels known as spinners, or it can have two wheels known as rollers. A spinner bag allows you to drag the bag right by your side, and do 360-degree turns. They are harder to flip or fall. However, they have less storage space.Roller bags need to be dragged behind you. Although they offer more space, they are more difficult to move. Spinner bags are still preferable since they are easy to move.
Polycarbonate Hard Shells
One great thing about polycarbonate hard shell cases is that they are scratch resistant. This solves another problem many people have with hard shells. Not long ago, hard-sided bags had a reputation for scratching easily hugely affecting its aesthetic value.
Polycarbonate is also lighter than plastic, and aluminum. This means they are both light and super durable. Weight is significant when it comes to ensuring your bag meets carry on restrictions. Let’s have a look at the best hard sided carry-ons below.
#1: Travelpro Maxlite 4 Hardshell
This bag comes in many different sizes and models and is seen by many as one of the best carry-on suitcases around. Whether you are on a business trip abroad or a short domestic flight, this bag works great.
The hard-sided version of the Travelpro Maxlite 4 is made of ChromaShift, which ensure the bag is not only durable but also very attractive. Made of polycarbonate ABS, it is visually appealing and super light. It measures 21″ x 14″ x 9″, and thus qualify as a carry-on. It weighs just 6.7 pounds.
Pros
- Has eight spinner wheels allowing easy maneuverability in all directions
- Very durable bag
- The bag can be expanded by 2 inches, just in case you need extra storage
- Lightweight
Cons
- No cons we could immediately identify.
#2: HAUPTSTADTKOFFER Hardside Spinner Luggage Set
This suitcase set comes with three different hard case sizes. Although, the larger of the bags will not qualify as a carry-on, the smallest will. This German luggage set is made of polycarbonate ABS and has four silent multi-directional spinner wheels. The TSA combination locks on these bags ensure that United States airport security has no trouble inspecting its contents.
The sizes include a cabin luggage – 21.5 x 13.5 x 7.5 inches, which qualifies as a carry-on, a 25.6 x 16.1 x 10.2 inches suitcase; and a 29.5 x 19.7 x 11.8 inches. Since we are looking at carry-on luggage in this review, we will focus on the cabin luggage.
Pros
- The excellent ergonomic design of this bag allows you to pack more items
- The bag’s polycarbonate ABS construction makes it a very durable and firm bag
- The bags are attractive
Cons
- These hard case luggage bags are heavy
#3: Samsonite Omni PC Hardside 20-Inch Spinner
This is another excellent Samsonite bag designed for the business traveler. This 100% polycarbonate bag is scratch resistant and very eye-catching. It has TSA locks, so security personnel can quickly inspect the content of the bag. It has excellent spinner wheels allowing for effortless 360-degree movement. Also, it can be expanded if you need more space. Measuring 19 x 14.5 x 9.8 inches, this bag weighs just 6.8 pounds.
Pros
- Easy to move
- Has scratch resistant micro-diamond texture
- Can be expanded for more space
- Lightweight
Cons
- According to some customers, Samsonite does not have readily available replacement parts for this luggage.
#4: Samsonite Winfield 2 Fashion HS Spinner 20
The Samsonite is synonymous with quality when it comes to hard-sided luggage pieces, and this bag is no different. It carries a beautiful design and is made of durable 100% polycarbonate spinner suitcase. This model comes in many colors and sizes, but we are focusing on the 20 x 13.5 x 9.5 inches size that qualifies as a carry-on.
It has a beautiful slider design that features ten large zippers and an interior divider. Its multidirectional spinner wheels roll smoothly, and the telescoping handle is lightweight.
Pros
- This bag comes with a soft cover
- Very durable bag
- Has smooth and durable spinner wheels
- Offers great organization
Cons
- The lock mechanism is not the best and looks to be made of cheap plastic
#5: Merax Travelhouse 2 Piece ABS Luggage Set Vintage Suitcase
This is an excellent 2-piece ABS luggage made of a 20-inch bag, which qualifies as a carry-on and 24-inch luggage that may not be eligible with many airlines.
Made of polycarbonate ABS, these bags have multi-directional spinner wheels for easy movement, and ergonomic aluminum telescopic handles. The 20-inch bag measures 20 x 13 x 9 inches and weighs just 7 pounds qualifying it as a carry-on.
Pros
- Has a fantastic two-color vintage design.
- Very durable
- Has smooth and durable spinner wheels
Cons
- Although these travel bags may suffer from dark scuffing, this can be cleaned easily
Final Thoughts
Choosing a great hard side travel luggage may not be as difficult as it may seem. All the bags reviewed here are excellent, and you would not go wrong with any one of them. However, the Travelpro Maxlite 4 is our favorite because of several reasons.
First, the workmanship and materials used in construction are excellent. Second, it is the right size for a carry-on. If the size reviewed is still too large for you, the international version may be what you are looking for. The Travelpro Maxlite 4 is also visually appealing and lightweight. Rolling this bag is easy, and it can be expanded for additional convenience.
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