I have never owned the hard shell, but I ended up looking a ton of places and went with soft side because I could get a very light weight product. I have enough trouble staying under 50 lbs in my largest suitcase, I don't need a heavy suitcase to start.
I think my final purchase was from T.J. Maxx. They had some great prices.
Hard side is also good if you worry about any liquids spilling onto your luggage. If your luggage is left out in the rain, which sometimes happens, it is less likely everything you own will be soaked. If someone packs a bunch of water in their checked bag and some bottles break, with hard side luggage it is less likely your stuff will get wet.
I have soft side that I love (hello Mickey American Tourister!) but my sister loves her hard side.
Depends on the "hard sided" style though. The old fashioned clamshell type uses a metal frame hinge and latches. That may not specifically be waterproof, but it's going to resist rain to some degree. Some people go crazy and get Pelican luggage complete with watertight rubber seals. Kind of extreme and I think heavy, but some people have valuable items that just can't get wet.
http://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/luggage/carry-on/elite/ba22
The new thin style polycarbonate with zippers can still leak through the fabric part of the zipper, although it's going to be less vulnerable than fabric panels. I think it depends on how it's oriented - such as the zipper facing the rain.
We went with hardside for this same reason about 10 years ago. We're now on our 3rd set for purely cosmetic reasons - OP be aware that luggage takes a beating when you're flying and the beautiful, shiny surface may come back to you looking appalling after even the first trip. (I'm thinking specifically of @Soldier's*Sweeties Lilly Taylor.) My sweet DH bought me this set last year before our trip to Europe and DLP - Air France slapped a big, old "Gate Check" sticker right in the middle of Mickey's face on the carry-on and I haven't been able to get it all off.Our hardside luggage is much more lightweight than our fabric luggage. We are slowly replacing all the fabric with hardside. Costco has the best deals and their return policy is great if the suitcase breaks sooner than it should. I also like how the hardside luggage is broken up into compartments and usually has more built in zipper pouches and pockets. I don't like my suitcase to just be one big rectangular space, because it is harder to organize.
As mentioned, the hardside luggage is impermeable to spills or rain, which is a huge plus.
That is lousy to hear about the sticker. Love the luggage though!!!We went with hardside for this same reason about 10 years ago. We're now on our 3rd set for purely cosmetic reasons - OP be aware that luggage takes a beating when you're flying and the beautiful, shiny surface may come back to you looking appalling after even the first trip. (I'm thinking specifically of @Soldier's*Sweeties Lilly Taylor.) My sweet DH bought me this set last year before our trip to Europe and DLP - Air France slapped a big, old "Gate Check" sticker right in the middle of Mickey's face on the carry-on and I haven't been able to get it all off.
My husband bought a three piece set of hard sided luggage and I pretty much hate the luggage for this reason. There aren't any exterior compartments and you have to lay it out flat to get something out of it. Every single trip has had me laying the suitcase flat on the floor of the airport to put jackets, etc in or take something out, And the two clam shell sides are heavy. I worry about the strength of the zipper since that zipper receives a lot of stress when traveling.The only problem I have with my hard-sided luggage is that it has to be laid flat. It's not like a soft side where you just up zip and leave the top propped open. It needs more room than a soft sided. But it is lighter than my soft sided and holds more so it's what I use.
This is why I don't think I'll ever own a hard case...like you I have trouble staying under 50 with a soft case.I have never owned the hard shell, but I ended up looking a ton of places and went with soft side because I could get a very light weight product. I have enough trouble staying under 50 lbs in my largest suitcase, I don't need a heavy suitcase to start.
I think my final purchase was from T.J. Maxx. They had some great prices.
This is why I don't think I'll ever own a hard case...like you I have trouble staying under 50 with a soft case.
I suppose if it was a really small suitcase I could, but otherwise no.
This is why I don't think I'll ever own a hard case...like you I have trouble staying under 50 with a soft case.
I suppose if it was a really small suitcase I could, but otherwise no.