Hard or soft-sided suitcase?

There are typically two types of suitcases: hard-sided luggage has a rigid exterior, while soft-sided luggage is made of fabric and has a flexible exterior.

There's often a perception that hard-sided suitcases are more durable than soft-sided suitcases. However, our lab testing of suitcases over a number of years has proven that the most durable suitcases can be either hard or soft.

There are pros and cons of each suitcase type, so choosing between the two is a personal choice and will depend on your needs.

Hard-sided luggage

Pros

• Can offer greater protection to fragile items
• Tends to be more water resistant
• Increasing number of lightweight options available
• Perceived to be more stylish by some travellers

Cons

• Glossy finish of some suitcases may scratch
• Fewer expandable cases
• Non-flexible exterior can make them trickier to store
• Typically more expensive than soft-sided cases

Soft-sided luggage

Pros

• Flexible fabric makes them comparatively easy to store
• Many are expandable to increase suitcase capacity
• Generally lighter than hard-sided suitcases
• Often cheaper than like-for-like hard-sided suitcases

Cons

• Fabric can be less water resistant compared with hard suitcases
• Fragile items may have less protection
• Can be perceived by some travellers as less stylish