If you’re in the market for hardside luggage, you’ve probably found yourself a little bit confused by the sheer number of options (and wondered what actually makes all these plastic cubes different from one another). In the end, you’re probably looking for a balance between style and functionality, but also one that won’t show up at the baggage claim cracked or dented.
There are so many great luggage brands making hard sided luggage these days, but not every bag is perfect for every person. Depending on whether you prefer having more packing space, style, organization or even technological features, you might end up choosing a different hard shell suitcase than the person next you.
After more than a decade of travel, I’ve tested (and beaten up) dozens upon dozens of hardside suitcases. You could say I’ve had my fair share of experience with hard shell luggage—yep, both good and bad.
While every bag essentially serves the same purpose (getting your stuff from point A to point B), the finer details are what will make or break it. At the end of the day, the best hardside luggage for you is the one you feel the most confident and comfortable with.
These are my top 15 picks for the best hardside luggage on the market today!
What To Look For In Hardside Luggage
There are some intricacies to look out for when it comes to picking hardshell luggage, but, once you understand the various details that make a piece of luggage high-quality, picking one for yourself becomes a lot easier.
There are a few main aspects to look out for.
Size and Capacity
There are two categories of luggage: carry-on luggage, and check-ins. Carry-ons usually stand between 18 and 22 inches in size while checked luggage can range anywhere between 24 and 30 inches.
Since hardshell luggage provides little to no flexibility and stretch compared to soft shell luggage, it’s important to choose the right size for you. Nobody wants to end up having to exclude their favorite items because they lack space.
Nowadays, some hardshell luggage options come with an expandable option, allowing you to increase its capacity when needed. Also be sure to note that airlines have different dimension standards for carry-ons, so it’s important to get a carry-on that fits most airlines!
Materials
With luggage being thrown around at the airport, material plays an important role in ensuring that your bag can endure the typical wear and tear of air travel.
Hardside suitcases come in various materials. 100 percent virgin polycarbonate is my go-to pick. It provides durability while remaining affordable and lightweight—there is a reason why it remains the industry standard.
Even the thickness of the material used plays an important role. Thicker cases offer more durability, but at the cost of weight.
Functionality
This is often overlooked, but you must test the movable parts of your luggage—namely, the handle, wheels, and zippers. Being non-stationary parts, they are subjected to wear and tear the most.
Ensure that the wheels are durable as well as quiet. I recommend looking for brands that utilize double spinner wheels by manufacturer Hinomoto—they are considered to be the industry standard when it comes to quality.
Zippers that aren’t smooth and frequently get stuck are annoying to use. Checking for quality zippers that are smooth as well as secure is important. There are a plethora of quality zipper types out there, with different advantages. Some provide expandability while others may be completely waterproof or even puncture-proof.
The telescopic handles are an important area to take note of as well. Material makes or breaks a handle—low-quality materials will quite literally cause broken handles somewhere down the line, while materials such as aluminum offer more durability and sturdiness. Even the design plays a part, with some companies offering innovative differences that provide more stability and comfort.
How to Choose a Hard Shell Suitcase
When it comes to luggage, there is no better way to find out what would best suit your preferences than to have hands-on experience. If you are shopping in-store there are plenty of things to look out for.
Test out the handles and wheels
Comfort is often an overlooked aspect when it comes to purchasing luggage. Over long distances, the pains of a handle that is too hard, or four spinner wheels that don’t roll smoothly become much more prominent.
Feeling first-hand what is right for you is an important step in picking the wheels and handle.
Check the interior
Despite luggage usually coming in standard sizes, the interior of each bag may differ a lot. Luggage of the same size may vary in interior capacity due to differences in material thickness and other design features.
A good rule of thumb is to check the packing capacity of a bag, like we listed in L in our charts!
Some stand-out features to look for inside of a bag are built in packing cubes, interior pockets, elastic straps, and hidden compartment or bag for laundry.
Read reviews
While it’s not always possible to have a hands-on experience with a bag before making the purchase, checking for reviews may help in your decision-making process. Reading other users’ honest opinions about a product can help you decide what bag is best for your needs.
Videos are another great way to see the full functionality of a bag. They can help you to take a closer look at the intricacies of a piece of luggage when it is in use.
Budget
Last but not least, take into account how much you are willing to spend. Without a set budget, picking the right piece of luggage will only get harder!
As you discover more and more features, your expectations will only get higher, leading to a saturated range of products with varying price points. Staying within your budget will help you zero in on features that you really can’t do without, keeping your selection pool as small as possible.