What's the best carry-on hard-shell luggage?

at your price point it won't make a difference. Buy a name brand and don't over think it.

Monos- I have three of the pieces and they are excellent quality.

Hard-sided luggage is bullshit. It takes up twice as much space to keep open in your hotel room, and it scuffs and scratches easily, and it doesn’t have any “give” when squeezing it into an overhead compartment.

It also tends to scream “tacky American with money” when seen in Europe. Get yourself a simple handheld power pack for the urgent charging you think you’ll need, and leave the hard case on the shelf where it belongs.

Please don’t talk about “the best” when you have a “good enough” budget. It confuses the help.

R4, $500 is more than a good enough budget for a carry-on bag. $1,500 is stupid.

R3, I see your point about the inflexibility of hard shell, but I don't really plan on having to cram it in the overhead. Also, I don't know what you mean when you say it takes up twice as much space to keep open in the hotel room.

But that brings up a good question: do people travel with a hard-shell carry-on or a soft one?

R3 Agree. The key to easy travel is traveling light. May as well be carrying a ball and chain if you're lugging a hardshell around.

R6—- The original question mentioned a carry-on, so if you’re not going to cram it in the overhead, where will you cram it ( so to speak)? I’ve had god luck with Travelpro, a brand used by many crew members.

OP I know that you specified “carry on” but if I’m travelling for more than ten hours or more than a week (both unavoidable in my neck of the woods) then I’m checking everything.

Benefits? I can swan onto the plane last without overhead bin anxiety and I can take as many outfit options as I choose.

Worth it to me when my bags come off through customs as the carry on queens are still dealing with immigration.

Another vote for Travelpro. Be aware that some airlines don't allow power banks.

To your question, OP, I have had a Victorinox hard-shell carry-on 55cm/21-inches) for 10 years now and love it. It's super lightweight, well constructed, glides beautifully, the wheels are sturdy enough and soft enough not to make an awful racket on irregular paving, and it has withstood a lot of abuse without any but some minor surface scuffmarks. They are in the price range you state. For all luggage, shop around as prices vary widely. Mine is a dark grey-green, not a unique color but its stands out enough to locate it easily, the style of the bag while obviously similar to all the rest has enough features to help catch your eye in a sea of black bags.

I don't know that Victorinox offer a phone charger or charger port. Tokyoto brand has similar, slightly heavier models with good ratings more at the lower end of the price range. They often do include a port. They don't have a built in charger, rather you attach your own inside the bag and charge your phone outside via a port -- an easy way to avoid airline regulations against built-in chargers if that's important to you (I would just carry a small charger.)

[quote]Hard-sided luggage is bullshit... It also tends to scream “tacky American with money” when seen in Europe.

What? Large bags, maybe. Carry-on size? They are anything but an oddity among European travellers.

[quote]The key to easy travel is traveling light. May as well be carrying a ball and chain if you're lugging a hardshell around.

Again, most carry-on bags are sized to be just within airline size regulations. The size is very similar one to another, an empty soft carry-on is the same size as an empty hard-shell carry-on; and hard-shell doesn't mean heavy-weight. Outside of student age travellers with backpacks or the super-light travellers with a single, bail-handled overnighter bag, what are the alternatives for a carry-on bag? A cotton tote bag from your favorite museum?

R6 It takes up twice as much space because of the way the shell is constructed, and the location of the zipper. When you unzip it, it opens into two inflexible, equal halves (like a book, if you will). If you want to keep it open, you need a flat space large enough to hold both halves. A conventional soft-sided suitcase has its zipper flap closer to the front/top of the bag. When you want to open it, you lay it on its side/back and unzip it. The "lid" portion can rest vertically against a wall if needed. It can be opened to 90 degrees, like a laptop. A hardshell suitcase has to be opened to 180 degrees, like a big heavy book.

I absolutely hate all the new suitcases. I do not like zippers!

[quote] Worth it to me when my bags come off through customs as the carry on queens are still dealing with immigration.

Lol. And while you're waiting half the day for your luggage to come down the baggage ramp (if it's not lost or banged up) we carry on queens breeze on past you and are out the door.

and there is no fucking reason why they have to be so fucking expensive, it's fucking plastic! it doesn't cost that much to make!

Just get something from Samsonite OP. Easy, good quality and in your price range - particularly on sale.

R12, why would you keep your luggage open in your room? Wouldn't you open it to unpack, then close it up and put it in the corner or in the closet during the duration of your hotel stay?

R17 That depends on the person and the nature/duration of the hotel stay. Some people like to unpack into drawers and the closet, but not me. I tend to stay in hotel rooms for only a few nights at a time, and travel with clothes that don't easily wrinkle, so it's easier for me to just keep it all in one place. This also helps to prevent things being left behind when I leave.

I travel more than most people I know, so I have a system that works for me. But people should develop methods that work for them. I use the Mother Lode from eBags as my main suitcase. It's as big as a carryon pilot bag, but it has straps to be worn like a backpack. You'd be amazed how much crap you can compress into this "backpack."

Why get hard sided? It weighs more and there are weight restrictions if you ever want to go on safari or travel by helicopter.

Hard shell is complete shit.

I just bought new luggage. I looked for zipperless bags. They can be found, and they are all hardshell. The point about taking up 2x the space is true, because when you open them, they are twice as big. But in hotel, you should keep your suitcase closed. BEDBUGS. Also, a hardshell is less bedbug friendly than a fabric covered bag, with zipper to boot.

R19--safari? Helicopter?

Why, R20?

Look. The way they treat luggage at airports, do not spend a lot of money. Samsonite, Travelpro, etc are good enough.

I travelled two decades decades with those hardshell Samonsite cases. Yeah they were heavier but not a one ever dented and it was the only kind of luggage where you could store semi-fragile things and have it arrive intact.

Because, r23, they take up loads of space, your stuff bangs around inside them and they are less convenient to open.

Sam is only a cash cow if he is willing to admit that and play that role. Somehow I don't think he is ready.

R24, we're talking about carry-on luggage. Airport personnel won't be handling that.

Oops for R27

I am looking too, OP. The current issue of Consumer Reports recommends 4 brands that get favorable feedback. The brand closest to your price point would be Away.

If OP Is dead-set on getting hard, then he'll have a good time going Away.

It even comes with a battery pack that'll keep you fully charged up, and you can pop it out when you're all done.

Is OP getting hard?

For luggage.

I think the weight difference between a soft sided and hard shell suitcase is negligible. I've actually had soft sided set of cases that had steel bars as a frame to create the support and they were heavy as hell.

I definitely prefer hard sided because I feel a lot more comfortable putting electronics like laptops and projectors (that I've had to lug to conferences) in them and not worried they would get smashed.

Plus, one time as I was waiting for a piece of soft sided luggage at the carousel, I saw my dop kit come down the conveyor and thought "that's odd". Picked it up and a few seconds later a clear plastic bag with my UNDERWEAR and t-shirts came down the conveyor. I grabbed them and then slowly all my clothes, unpacked started coming out piece by piece followed finally by my suitcase which had totally been ripped open and was empty.

I much prefer a hard shell suitcase.

This brand is spendy, but good quality. I bought my bag at Harrod’s about 25 years ago. Still use it.

R35, the carry-ons are priced between $2,000 and $2,600. I guess you didn't see the memo about not spending stupidly on a piece of carry-on luggage.

But yes, they're very pretty.

There's always an asshole such as R35 in these product recommendation threads.

I've had an Away for a couple years now, and it has been great.

Brics, Mandarina Duck, Briggs & Riley. The rest is too corporate, too bling, or too touristy.

I've read good things about Arlo Skye as well. Anyone familiar with that brand?

I like Tumi a lot.

If it's for carry-on, you don't need hard-sided luggage.

One of my family members has worked many years for an airlines, luggage department (loading / unloading stuff on / off the airplanes). He said to get hard-sided for checked luggage, due to the way luggage is handled (thrown around). He also said not to overpack luggage b/c it might "explode" if someone drops it or throws it.

That said, I have a soft-sided, Travel Pro underseat suitcase. Yes, I travel light. Almost too light, as it gets stressful, sometimes.

[quote] Benefits? I can swan onto the plane last without overhead bin anxiety and I can take as many outfit options as I choose.

Mary! What about after landing? You're standing around a carousel. Meanwhile, the carry-on people are headed out of the airport already.

R14 and R43 you can Mary me and LOL all you want - I travel international first, where the bags come out first and there’s a priority customs and immigration lane for premium classes and CIPs.

Of course I don’t travel on US airlines…

[quote]Mary! What about after landing? You're standing around a carousel. Meanwhile, the carry-on people are headed out of the airport already.

THIS. I hate waiting for checked luggage. And I especially have come to despise international travel where you have to exit customs and THEN pick up your luggage, recheck it, and go though security again. I've missed several connections and ended up on overnight layovers because of that BS. I don't know if that's how it works with all airports but I don't understand why if I've gone through security that is strict enough to allow me BACK into the US, I have to go though it again all at the same airport.

One day I'm gonna take a round the world trip and I'm only bringing a single backpack with one change of underwear and one extra tee. Fuck the rest.

[quote]I travel international first, where the bags come out first and there’s a priority customs and immigration lane for premium classes and CIPs.

="I flew to Toronto on Air Canada once in Coach Plus. Six extra inches of legroom!"

R45, I don't know where you're going but when I travel international and transit thru another country, my baggage is checked thru, I don't have to collect it and then re-check it etc. I get it at the end of the flight.

What the hell is R45 talking about? You collect your baggage before customs on every international flight I've ever taken.

Who pays for luggage?

Hilarious R46! That may be your experience in the USA but it’s certainly not mine. You need to get out more.

Patagonia’s Black Hole line of luggage is excellent if you don’t want hard shell. And as a bonus, Patagonia now gives their profits to environmental causes.

I don't think I would buy a hard shell bag to use as my carry-on.

You don't want to be that schmuck trying to jam a hard shell that just WON'T fit in the overhead, clogging up the boarding process.

Look into TUMI or Travel Pro.

hard shell are designed to fit international size requirements. Theoretically they should fit but I suppose if you board late there's an issue.

Hard-shell-case carry-on luggage has (for the most part) been made with dimesnions specifically meant to fit overhead, and some of these "Best of" articles list the exact measurements of the carry-ons they review as they correspond with over a dozen airlines. I guess, yeah, don't overstuff it, but the hard-shells are as easily stowable as soft-shell.

And if you board late or there's any issue, they just store your luggage by the door of the plane.

[quote] And if you board late or there's any issue, they just store your luggage by the door of the plane.

If you're lucky, but not necessarily. They could stick a tag on it and have it checked.

Okay, thanks, R55. I just thought once you made it through to the gate they would accommodate any late passengers and/or those with no carry-on space above.

R54 Definitely doesn't happen that way.

They run out of overhead space before the plane is two-thirds full, and valet-check everything after that point. As to the little cubbies up front that planes used to have: Most of those have since been cannibalized into additional seat space, and what's left is contractually reserved for cabin crew luggage and first class coat stowage, in that order.

Honestly R35! OP specifically said he had a budget of $200 - $500. Not $3000.

Check out what the flight attendants use themselves.

OP, the alleged advantage of hard-shell luggage is for bags you check, to protect what's inside from rough baggage handling. Otherwise hard-sided carry-on bags are too inflexible to fit into various overhead bins.

And keep in kind that there are two standards for carry-on bags - one size for domestic flights and another, slightly larger international standard.

R35, what you bought in 1998 for probably a few hundred pounds has gone up in 25 years.

I like samsonite. I've had a hardshell from them for over 10 years and it's still good! big one to check in, not for hand carry.

I also have Rimowa suitcases from 30 years ago. They were the heavy aluminum ones when they were still made in germany or before the company was sold off and now offer cheaper inferior products. they are expected to last a life time.

OP uses "price point" for a $200-$500 purchase.

Poor people shouldn't use fancy financial cliches.

Thanks, R60. I didn't know that the ones that are called "larger" carry-ons were specifically meant for international flights. Good to know.

As for R63, I didn't say I couldn't spend a thousand or even two thousand on a carry-on case. I can. I choose not to because it's a piece of luggage, not an art investment. Now do cunt off, there's a good girl.

[quote]What the hell is [R45] talking about? You collect your baggage before customs on every international flight I've ever taken.

That's NEVER happened to me. I've always gone through customs with my carry on, then to baggage claim, then usually to another terminal where I had to re-check and go through TSA. Some airports have had baggage drops before you exit the international terminal where you could drop off your bag for your next fight and then exit the terminal. But I've never been given my bags before customs.

I can't honestly remember the last time I didn't travel with just a carry-on, so don't ask me.

Buy cheap stuff. It will get destroyed in a couple of flights anyways. I've seen private aircraft clients show up with cardboard moving boxes and/or shopping bags. What the fuck do they care what you think about them?

yes, I agree, there is no need to waste money on these suitcases. esp if you're not even gonna check it in. Just wait for President's day holiday sales coming up.

enjoy your trip OP!

I've never had a problem with luggage from TJMaxx/Marshall's or sale stuff at places like Macy's. Don't overthink it. And unless you travel constantly or simply want to spend the money, don't go "big" on expensive luggage. Not the cheapest, sure. But average, mid range.

Am I the only one who thinks R65 is posting from another planet? rechecking luggage AFTER it comes off the turnstile? THE FUCK? And going through customs twice? What locations please.

The lists aren't "real." Well some may be, but most are just marketing.

R71, the only thing I can think of is the guy bought tickets for the trips separately. too poor. Like travel from NYC to Spain. he will buy ticket from NYC to london. and another ticket from London to Spain.

But he writes the description as if he goes through customs 2 times to get out of the airport.

The only time I use hard-shell is when I'm traveling with a turtle.

I appreciate the feedback. It makes sense that a soft-shell carry-on might be the way to go after all, and a hard-shell for checked luggage. Even though I'm going to be traveling longer than a week, I wanted to avoid checking luggage, so I'm going to try to find a larger carry-on size. And charging at charging areas in the airports might be all that's necessary.

Another vote for Away. It also has a USB charger, which may be convenient while waiting at a terminal. It's a good value for the price.

DON'T get hard shell luggage for anything but carry-on. I made a mistake of buying a large, check-in size hard shell suitcase and, after the first trip, it looked like shit, with huge dents in it, as if a herd of buffalos had trampled all over it. And it was with a reputable airline (KLM), which agreed to refund me for it. The thing is, when the luggage gets unloaded at various airports you really don't know how it's going to be handled.

During Covid lockdown, I got a three-piece, hard body, lightweight luggage set in black with a color stripe around the body (for easier identification) from Amazon for $250 (on sale). It also came with Goodyear tires on the wheels for rougher terrain. Way better than plastic wheels. Forgot the brand name. I've since taken it to many different countries with no issues. If you don't want Samsonite Brinton to seal your luggage, best to get something unassuming. Don't spend a bunch of money on something that will get banged around or stolen by French Algerians.

*steal not seal. Damn typo. Sorry, DL grammar gawds.

[quote] huge dents in it, as if a herd of buffalos had trampled all over it.

If all you have in your checked luggage is clothing (stuff that can't really be damaged), then go with soft-sided for checked.

But if you have something that's a bit fragile, then hard-sided would still be better.

R10, I'm not clear what you mean, There's ths, according to the FAA website:

Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. When a carry-on bag is checked at the gate or at planeside, all spare lithium batteries and power banks must be removed from the bag and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin. The battery terminals must be protected from short circuit.

Whichever one can hold your corpse, OP. Such an effete faggot thing to 1) not know travel basics, 2) specify the need for a charging bank, 3) also be on a budget.

R82 gets the award for Triggered Cunt of the thread.

I know more than the basics of traveling, having been doing it for decades. A charging bank is merely a handy feature, not a deal breaker, and $500, which I ended up spending, is hardly a budget bag. You want to know what's faggoty and effete? Insinuating if one doesn't choose to spend $2,000 on a carry-on, then one is "on a budget."

Wash that sand out of your crusty vadge, you gash. No one asked you to participate.

If you know so much, solve your own problem, OP.

As I said, you illiterate prolapsed asshole R84, I already have.

Keep it up, OP, and no one will want to play on your thread. Humorless killjoys aren't welcum at DL

R83 what'd you get?

On the contrary, R86. Seventy or more people weighed in with a lot of helpful advice and options, which were great. Bitches like R82 come by just to vent their bile. This has been a very helpful thread, otherwise, and thanks to all who offered their thoughts and experiences.

R87, I went with a soft shell Travel Pro carry-on meant for international travel with a lot of nice features--and I got it on sale.

Thanks, again!

And R82, get thee to the nearest grease fire.

R88 link???? sounds good

P.S. I will also buy a hard shell for checking but won't be using it on this trip. Maybe an Away suitcase.

FFS a thread about luggage choice devolves into this!? I’m all for pointless bitchery or whatever but some of you are way too invested in the topics at hand.

ETA or is it just that it’s cocktail hour on the east coast?

R91 honestly sometimes its fun to see a thread go extremely sideways (especially when its not one of the usual DL tangents)

A travelpro carry on is 100-200 bucks so what the fuck are you going on about it having spent 500 for your everyday crap.

R94 isn't showing up for me. I wonder why. Is she a bitch I blocked ages ago?

R94...this is $340, rom $390.

Thats not a softshell, R96. OP said he bought a soft-shell and it was 500 bucks. Unless I can no longer follow the posts in this stupid thread, which is certainly possible.

R97, here's a soft shell TravelPro for $450.

Okidokey. Well if you bought it on sale from 450, than it was even cheaper. Which is still not 500 bucks.

I think this thread is based on a lie. Nobody bought anything. I should have bowed out when that cunt - the jetsetting experienced international traveller - claims he has to go through customs twice at every arrival. This thread is apparently 93.5% trailer living eldergays on fixed incomes.

Seriously, R99? That's a $50 difference.

Steamline has some nice stuff

The TRAVELPRO Platinum Elite Business Plus pictured at full retail at Selfridges for 450 is 300 bucks online in my country, so tell me again how you paid 500 bucks for a soft sided bag by Travelpro. You learned nothing from your own fucking thread.

R103, I never said I paid $500. I didn't.

R103, the price range was always $200 to $500--what are you banging on about?

R83 is supposed to be op.

I know more than the basics of traveling, having been doing it for decades. A charging bank is merely a handy feature, not a deal breaker, and $500, which I ended up spending, is hardly a budget bag.

—OP

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

and $500, which I ended up spending

Call Bellevue for R106.

Call George Santos for the lying sack of garbage OP. Bedfellows.

OP is awful. Close this thread, already.

R108 wins the Triggered Cunt Award twice in one thread! What a pathetic honor for such a deserving loser. Congrats, gash! And bye--you're blocked.

I wasn't the first triggered cunt. I'm the second.

OP now panicking to distract and displace, from the fact he's been outed as a sad fake, a liiar.

I love the block button. It's so peaceful when you shut those desperate to be heard here because no one listens to them in real life. Ahhhh...

OP is a neurotic, deranged idiot who will die single clutching his luggage.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Vera Bradley is highly sought after.

Thanks, R115.

Trolldar reveals OP to have only 1 post, total. Something super fishy about this cunt.

There are many posts signed OP.

precisely. garbage thread.

Our LV luggage always survives.

"Matched Luggage?!?! What does she think this is - A Princess cruise?"

R119, you said there was only 1 post from OP, though.

Only 1 post id'd in Trolldar. So I can't figure out how we have all these "OP" posts in the same thread.

Lol, [115]. Of course OP didn't understand. He's such a dry, useless dolt.

R83 claimed to be OP, but when blocking OP, r83 remains. So this thread is basically a mess of many trolls.

This thread was going fine to me. Some good luggage advice on it.

I still stand by the Mother Lode (bad name, but great bag) from eBags. Don't get the knockoff from Amazon Basics. It's fucking atrocious, no matter how cheap it seems.

Luggage should suit the trip first, and the traveler second. Part of the allure/hassle of traveling is adjusting your everyday life to something different but still tolerable. If you can pack every element of your ordinary life into a bag, then why the hell did you leave home in the first place? Live a little. Try new things. Fuck a bellhop. Life is short, and you're not that interesting or young anymore. Get a bag that works, book the trip, and get to steppin'!

Hear hear, R127!

Whoever said anything about Amazon Basics? There's a difference in getting something off Amazon & getting the obviously shitty items that have flooded the marketplace, including their brand. This looks good.

Looks similar to a lot of other luggage, frankly, R129.

All luggage is the same: hard or soft, a mix of plastic, cloth, nylon, leather, and metal. The rest is capitalism at work. Pick one you can afford that isn't too nice so as to catch the eye of thieves, but isn't so bland you can't distinguish it from others, and move on.

This was all solved a while ago, if I can recall that far up the thread. Zero Halliburton is nice, I hear.

They created the original aluminum case that is featured in many films (usually in espionage plots). Their items are expensive, but fabulous.