Choosing LuggageWhich is better, hard or soft airline luggage?
Whether you should choose hard or soft airline luggage is first and foremost a question of personal preference. There are enough pros and cons to each that either airline luggage choice is valid, as long as you select a good quality bag. To aid you in making the decision, here are the basic advantages and disadvantages to hard versus soft airline luggage.
Hard Airline Luggage
Modern day hard airline luggage tends to be made of ABS plastics or polypropylene, and the most important thing to look for when choosing this type of travel gear is a thick outer structure which can take all of the rough treatment it may be subjected to on the airline.
The major advantages of hard luggage are two-fold. First, as hinted at above, hard airline luggage is made to be very tough and durable, able to withstand quite a lot of ill treatment and the test of time. In addition, if you're someone who loves to bring back breakable souvenirs from your travels, hard airline luggage will better protect those souvenirs (provided you pack them carefully!).
On the downside, hard airline luggage is heavier. Even empty bags can feel heavy. This con is somewhat offset by the fact that airline luggage is wheeled for much of its travels, but from time to time you will still have to pick it up. And also, hard travel gear doesn't have the same amount of give and flexibility as soft airline luggage. With softer bags, you can manage to fit that one last sweater in the bag!
Soft Airline Luggage
Soft airline luggage tends to be made of leather, nylon or microfiber, and its weave thickness is often measured by "denier." The higher the denier, the thicker the material. "Soft" airline luggage is not as soft as as it used to be; it can be quite durable. And it's just as easy nowadays to find wheelable soft luggage too.
The best thing about soft airline luggage is that, for one, it's very lightweight while still durable. And its flexible nature allows soft travel gear to take beatings in a way that harder materials can't. Soft airline luggage also allows those of us that try to pack too much to manipulate soft bags to fit just a bit more!
If you're looking to transport breakables, however, soft airline luggage is less able to do the job. If you're a fiend for breakable Christmas ornaments or glass figurines, hard airline luggage may be a better choice for you.
