5 Reasons Why Hard Case Luggage is Better Than a Soft Case

With up to almost 8 bags per 1000 mishandled and damaged every year by airlines, choosing luggage has never been more important. You need to ensure that it can withstand travel, protecting the belongings you keep inside.

You have two main options when it comes to a suitcase: a soft case, made of fabric, or a hard case which is made of more sturdy materials like aluminum.

So how exactly do you make your decision? The truth is, where possible, you should always go for a hard case. If you’re wondering why, let’s explore the reasons that a hard case is better.

1. There’s Plenty of Space

The main complaint about a hard suitcase is that even with cases as big as 32-inch luggage, some people don’t have enough space. If you have a lot of belongings and pick a particular inflexible case, that might be true.

However, there are cases that have features on the inside that means you can fit all your belongings and keep them safe. Hard cases with interior compression packing space can make sure you’re utilizing all the room available. While some soft case luggage expands, it doesn’t keep your belongings in place and means that they can end up squashed and wrinkled. 

The key to this is making sure you look through the luggage options and pick the one that will give you what you need.

2. It’ll Protect Your Belongings 

If you decide against hard case luggage and go for a soft case instead, your belongings are in for a rough ride — especially if they’re going through baggage handling at the airport. Baggage handlers work in a fast-paced environment and move through a lot of luggage at any given moment, so they often don’t have time to take the proper care when it comes to different suitcases.

That means a lot of throwing and landing hard on the ground or carousels.

For a sturdy hard luggage case, this doesn’t matter as much. They’re designed to protect what’s inside so as long as no one is deliberately mishandling your bags, they’ll survive everything that’s thrown at them.

If you have soft case luggage, however, this might not be ideal. Not only will your belongings be at risk, but the case itself is likely to get damaged. Fabric can tear and rip and, worst-case scenario, you might lose some of the things that are inside.

3. It Lasts a Long Time

Buying luggage can be expensive, especially if you’re into luxury travel. You also often get what you pay for so if you buy cheap suitcases, you may have to replace them year after year and the cost can add up.

Aluminum luggage costs more than your average soft case luggage, that’s for sure — but it also lasts for a much longer time and you don’t have to keep replacing it. While you do need to take the cost into account and make sure it’s within your budget, factor in the time it will last and the money you might actually save in the long run.

This is especially important for people who travel a lot, as their suitcases will wear down much faster. Still, it’s always good to know that you have a reliable option even if you make infrequent trips.

4. It’s Easy to Clean

Whether you’re putting your bag on a plane or dragging it across the country in a car, your suitcase is going to get dirty over time. For a suitcase made of fabric, this can be a real issue — it’s not like you can just throw it in the washer. Stains can set into fabric quickly and by the time you get home and reach your cleaning supplies, it may be too far gone.

There’s also the issue of odors setting into such materials.

With a hard case, however, you’ll have a much easier time cleaning it. The smooth surfaces mean you can wipe it down on the go and even a more thorough clean is easy to manage once you get home.

The material also means that odors won’t set in.

5. They’re More Secure

Because they’re easier to attach and fit into the suitcase, hard case luggage is more likely to have TSA-approved locks.

While you can stick a padlock on any suitcase, TSA will break it if they ever have to look inside for any reason. When the lock is TSA-approved, it means TSA that can access the suitcase and lock it back up when they’ve seen what they needed to — but no other staff or passengers can access the suitcase, giving you the best of both worlds.

For those who’ve had TSA break into their suitcase because there was an odd image on an x-ray or something inside of their bag that needed to be looked at, they’ll know how invaluable it is to have a lock that only you and they can access.

A Hard Case Is Your Best Option

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler who’s constantly jetting off or someone who takes the occasional trip, a hard case is your best option. They’re secure, sturdy, and easy to clean and even though they might cost more than a soft case, that will pay for itself over time when you don’t have to replace it for many years to come.

If you’re looking for a hard case, why not check out our aluminum selection? We have various sizes and our cases have secure locks, high-density wheels, and double-reinforced corners to ensure you’re getting the most durable luggage possible.