Before setting off on vacation, one of the most important purchases you’ll make is your suitcase. A decent piece of luggage will help you compartmentalize your belongings, protect your items from careless baggage handlers and be durable enough to last for years to come.
If you're looking for hard-shell luggage, the Samsonite Winfield 2 is hard to beat. Its polycarbonate shell provides a sturdy exterior. Internal pockets keep your possessions organized, and its robust spinner wheels glide effortlessly in any direction.
What to know before you buy hard-shell luggage
Benefits of hard-shell luggage
Hard-shell suitcases are typically made of ABS or polycarbonate plastic, providing them with a solid exterior. This sturdy surrounding offers better protection to your belongings than the fabric of a soft-shell case. In addition to safeguarding your property from external forces, hard-sided luggage usually offers internal compartments and restraints. This prevents objects from shifting and damaging other items during transit. Plus, due to its rigid outer walls, hard cases won't bulge like their soft counterparts. This ensures you always stay within the airlines' size restrictions, provided you've bought the correct-size suitcase to begin with.
Sizes
Although exact dimensions vary with each manufacturer, suitcases are generally measured in three sizes: carry-on 20-inch, medium 24-inch and large 28-inch suitcases. These measurements often refer to the internal dimensions, as such the overall size is usually a few inches larger.
The smallest of these cases is designed as carry-on luggage, meaning you can take it into the cabin on an aircraft. Medium-sized bags cannot usually be taken in the cabin, but they should easily adhere to airline restrictions for checked luggage. However, large suitcases can sometimes incur additional fees depending on the airline you travel with. For this reason, it’s imperative that you check your carrier’s size restrictions.
How to pack a hard-shell suitcase
Hard-shell luggage typically has internal features to help you organize your belongings. This is often in the form of a zippered mesh on one side of the bag and restraint straps on the other. The side of the case with restraints is ideal for clothing. Lay your garments flat in this half of the case and pull the straps closed to secure them in position. Using packing cubes for your clothing makes this process even easier. Loose items, such as shoes, hairdryers and toiletries, can be arranged in the mesh compartment, which will stop them from spilling out when you open your luggage. In both halves of the suitcase try to pack heavier items near the wheels — this makes the case more stable when it's upright.
Hard-shell luggage features
Wheels
All hard-shell luggage has wheels to help you transport your belongings effortlessly. Two-wheeled luggage is adequate for getting to and fro, however, it’s less stable and not as easy to control as those on four wheels. For the best maneuverability, look for suitcases with four multi-directional spinner wheels. These provide the strongest base from which to guide your luggage and allow you to steer through tight spots without difficulty.
Handles
Suitcases are rather bulky items, so you need decent handles to pick them up and move them around. Ideally, you want to have three handles on your suitcase. There should be two grab handles, one at the top and one on the side. These are necessary for loading your case in and out of the car, onto the luggage belt or into the overhead lockers on a plane. The third handle is a telescopic one. This is used for dragging your suitcase on its wheels. The best telescopic handles can be locked at multiple positions. This allows you to choose the most comfortable length for your height.
Expandable
Some hard-shell luggage can be expanded in the middle to provide a few extra inches of depth. This kind of luggage has a zippered centerpiece that when opened allows the two halves of the shell to separate while remaining connected by a fabric layer. Expandable luggage is perfect for those who occasionally need some extra space in their suitcase.
Hard-shell luggage cost
The cost of hard-shell luggage varies with both size and quality. For a carry-on suitcase, it’s reasonable to pay $70-$150. Those at the top end of the price range will typically be more durable and thus have better longevity.
Hard-shell luggage FAQ
What are airline weight restrictions for luggage?
A. Weight restrictions vary between carriers, but most will allow a checked bag to weigh up to 50 pounds before requiring passengers to pay additional fees. Luggage scales are ideal for checking the weight of your suitcase before you head off to the airport.
How do airlines measure luggage?
A. Airlines measure luggage as height by width by depth, for example, 20 by 14 by 10 inches. Some carriers prefer to work with linear measurements, which is a total of all the dimensions. In this example, the linear measurement is 44 linear inches.
Which hard-shell luggage should I get?
Best of the best hard-shell luggage
Our take: A solid hard-shell suitcase that should stand the test of time.
What we like: Its durable polycarbonate shell features a brushed pattern to hide potential scuffs and scratches and keep the suitcase looking new. Plus, the entire case is expandable by up to 1.5 inches.
What we dislike: At 11.5 pounds, it's slightly heavier than other similarly sized luggage.
Best bang for your buck hard-shell luggage
AmazonBasics 21-Inch Hardside Spinner: available at Amazon
Our take: This is a decent selection that comes in at a reasonable price.
What we like: The zippers move smoothly on the internal pockets and the spinner wheels glide effortlessly in any direction. What's more, the telescopic handle locks in two positions to suit travelers of various heights.
What we dislike: It doesn't have an integrated lock.
Honorable mention hard-shell luggage
Coolife Luggage 3-Piece Set: available at Amazon
Our take: This fantastic luggage set is great for small families.
What we like: The three suitcases come in various sizes and nest inside each other for storage. The ABS plastic shell is durable yet lightweight and all three cases have TSA-approved locks.
What we dislike: The wheels don't have the best longevity.
Catherine Bushen is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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