Soft-Sided vs. Hard-Sided Suitcases: The Final Showdown

A row of soft sided and hard sided suitcases, in front of a pink background.

It’s a debate that has torn families apart.

Okay, not really. But people go surprisingly hard defending their position in the hard-sided versus soft-sided luggage debate.

The truth is, any quality soft-sided suitcase is better than a cheap hard-sided suitcase, and vice versa. So if you aren’t that picky, close this tab, buy the luggage that calls to you (from a reputable brand), and don’t look back.

But if you are picky, we get it. We’re picky, too. Over the course of a decade, we have journeyed hundreds of thousands of miles to test nearly 100 hard- and soft-sided suitcases from more than three dozen brands. On top of that, our luggage expert, staff writer Kit Dillon, has interviewed flight attendants, luggage designers, and travelers from all walks of life. He’s also rigorously tested our top picks and torn them apart to get a look at the guts. (Spoiler alert: While he’s found some great hard-sides, he’s on team soft-side.)

With all this knowledge and experience in hand, we can confidently say that in certain areas, one luggage type generally performs better than the other. But personal preference is a big factor, too.

That’s why we’ve asked our travel experts where each luggage type stands out and why they (and our luggage testers) like the suitcases they do. Below, we’ve broken it down by common features so you can find the right luggage for you.



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