Hard vs. Soft Luggage—Which Reigns Supreme? Two Dinogo Editors Go Head to Head

Welcome to Dinogoguments, a series where our editors clash over contentious travel topics.

Purchasing a new suitcase can be a significant expense, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Before you settle on a specific luggage brand, you must first decide: Are you team hard-shell or soft-sided luggage? Dinogo's editors have passionate opinions on both. Editor-at-large Laura Dannen Redman and senior commerce editor Lyndsey Matthews engaged in a lively debate on the merits of each in a heated Google Docs discussion. Here’s a glimpse of their conversation.

Lyndsey Matthews: Just to clarify, we're focusing on hard-shell versus soft-sided roller luggage, right?

Laura Dannen Redman: Correct, that's fair. Duffels and backpacks deserve their own... conversation. Womp womp.

LM: Now that we've settled that, whenever I'm traveling with wheels, I’m all about hard-shell luggage. I've been devoted to my Away Bigger Carry-On for six years and recently upgraded to the latest model the brand launched this summer.

LDR: Hold on, how banged up was your suitcase after six years of travel as a travel editor? My biggest OCD concern with hard-shell is the scratches. The wear and tear.

LM: After six years of heavy use, my white Away Bigger Carry-On had a few black scuffs that a Magic Eraser could easily remove in seconds. I also love the worn-in vibe. My luggage dream is an aluminum Rimowa plastered with stickers from my journeys.

Structurally, though? After piling five other suitcases on top during the car ride to the airport, a three-inch crack formed in the hard-shell's top corner. (I’d estimate there were about 200 pounds resting on my bag for that hour-long trip.) However, I found Away’s customer service and lifetime warranty so effective and user-friendly that I’m still pleased I invested in this product.

LDR: I mean, who wouldn't love an aluminum Rimowa? They’re stunning! And pricey. I’ll admit that soft-shell luggage often gets a bad reputation these days—the clichéd basic black bag that's impossible to spot on the baggage carousel. But I had a reliable Delsey featherweight carry-on for ten years that circled the globe with me multiple times, and it never showed a single mark. The zippers and wheels never broke, even when I stuffed it full (actually, I moved to Australia with it, so a week’s worth is an understatement). Plus, it was incredibly lightweight, just as advertised. Basic? Sure. But I truly miss that bag. It finally gave out a couple of years ago when the handles broke off and couldn't be fixed.

LM: Sure, it didn’t show any wear on the black nylon, but aren’t you concerned about all the dirt lurking in there that you can't see?

LDR: Ha! What dirt? I didn’t drag it through a construction zone or a tar pit.

LM: But I’m sure you’ve rolled it through plenty of airport bathrooms, and when you check it, you never know where it ends up—you can’t really wash a soft-shell suitcase, which is why I prefer hard-shell. You can easily wipe that thing down every time you return home and not stress about all the germs it carries. Am I being overly cautious here?

LDR: Absolutely. :)

LM: I’ve been known to be a bit of a germaphobe. However, a white suitcase has really shown me how filthy luggage can get, even when you think you're avoiding dirty places. Water resistance is crucial too. But these days, most soft-side luggage is crafted from nylon, which is water-resistant, so that point is less relevant.

LDR: I was probably less worried about germs and grime and more focused on how much I could cram into my suitcase while still being able to lift it. [Full disclosure: I’m not a tall person.] Soft-shell luggage has one major advantage that hard-shell lacks: it expands. Back when we didn't have to pay for carry-on luggage (thanks a lot, basic economy, grumble grumble), I could nearly always fit it into an overhead bin.

LM: That’s one of my biggest travel annoyances—people with overstuffed carry-ons on planes. When it’s fully expanded, it looks absurd! Hard-shell luggage eliminates any uncertainty about whether it’ll fit in the overhead bin. Sure, you can shove your sweater into the front pocket of an expandable bag, but then it bulges, and I’ve had to help people cram that in. Hard shell? Just slides right in without a fuss.

LDR: They really need to stop charging so much for checked bags and losing our stuff on nonstop domestic flights!

LM: Let’s discuss weight. I always thought soft-sided luggage would be lighter, but I was shocked to find that the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21-Inch Carry-On Spinner—one of the leading soft-shell suitcases—has nearly the same weight as the hard-shell version from Away. The hard-shell Away Bigger Carry-On weighs 7.9 pounds, while TravelPro’s is 7.8 pounds, and the Away offers almost two liters more packing space compared to the soft side when not expanded.

LDR: As someone who regularly carries a 26-pound toddler, a few ounces here and there don’t concern me. What’s the price difference, and how much does the bag grow when it expands? Are you effectively buying a carry-on that doubles as a checked bag?

LM: Since I love crunching numbers, I just checked. The Away Bigger Carry-On currently starts at $295, while the TravelPro is priced at $370 (but it’s on sale for $314 right now). Although the TravelPro carry-on expands an additional two inches, it comes with a warning: “This carry-on bag has been sizer bin tested to fit overhead bin space on most major U.S. airlines. Fully expanded carry-on may not comply with airline restrictions.”

Hard shell luggage is fantastic because I’ve actually used mine as a seat. Last summer, while waiting for several hours at the New Orleans airport due to a thunderstorm, the gate area was packed, leaving no place to sit. My hard shell, nearly 10 inches wide at the top, was sturdy enough to support my weight while I waited out the delay.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference. Do you appreciate how hard-sided luggage opens like a clamshell, allowing for easy access to everything at once? Or do you prefer the single large compartment that most soft-sided luggage offers instead of two smaller ones?

LDR: In my final argument: I owned a soft shell when budget was tighter, and I wasn’t alone in that experience. Soft-sided suitcases represented the democratization of travel. By the 1970s and ’80s, flying became accessible to many—passenger numbers surged tenfold—and suitcase manufacturers had to adapt. It’s worth noting that soft shell was actually an innovation—crafted from nylon for durability, with wheels added because porters didn’t always handle your bags gently. Soft shell offered freedom and travel flexibility—perfect for both weekends and longer trips—and lots of pockets! These bags were made lighter to comply with airline weight restrictions. It’s only recently that hard shell options have become more accessible as well. What took so long for hard shell to catch on?

I have to confess: I currently use an Away hard-shell suitcase. It’s from the Dwyane Wade line, and I couldn’t resist the two-tone blue and his charm. (We promise this isn’t a promotion for Away! This is just a testament to how ubiquitous and relevant the brand has become. Plus, the color “variety” of soft shells is pretty much a range from Tumi “anthracite” to TravelPro “metallic sand”.)

LM: Ha, did I just take the win?

In summary: Hard luggage is superior.

In this round of Dinogoguments, hard-shell luggage takes the lead—for now. Back in 2019, when this article first appeared, a staff poll indicated that twice as many members of Team Dinogo favored hard luggage over soft-sided when it came to roller suitcases. Fast forward to October 2023, and the numbers are almost even, with hard-shell luggage narrowly leading by just one vote.

This article was initially published in 2019 and updated on October 11, 2023, to reflect the latest information.