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Con - it cracks if it's checked and not handled nicely.
Con - no pockets. Gotta open it to pull out that bag of liquids when you go thru TSA.
We just replaced one of our carry ons (rarely ever check bags anymore), and after research, decided to stay with soft sided. The no pocket thing was intolerable if you do carry on,
BTW, recognize that luggage is a disposable commodity these days, Get something well made, but cheap. Some great stuff at TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall's.
I guess that you wouldn't really have to worry about fabric fraying or tearing. I never liked the aesthetic of hardshell luggages, but recently saw a nice one that made me think twice. I would never check-in a bag though so it's not important to me.
Pro's:
- Doesn't get soaked when being loaded and unloaded like its softer counterpart. As someone living in a rainy state it's a bummer to see your luggage sopping wet on the go round.
- As another poster mentioned, fragile items stand a better chance of arriving safely.
Cons:
- like another poster mentioned, no pockets
I currently have a soft carry on size luggage. It's a unique color which helps when bags have to be checked because of capacity. Plus it was only $40 at Ross.
Not the new ones. That was the ONLY reason we even considered them. But we found a Samsonite soft side that is only 1.5 lbs heavier than most ofthe newer hard cases. $69 bucks at TJ Maxx.
$8 bucks for two big hot pink luggage tags that nearly glow in the dark as the luggage hits the conveyor belt. Easy to spot, and embarrasses DH for extra fun.
Something large and delicate should not be sent in either soft-sided or hard-sided luggage. Have you seen the way luggage is handled? Find a shipping company that can safely pack and send it.
BTW, recognize that luggage is a disposable commodity these days, Get something well made, but cheap. Some great stuff at TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall's.
It never occurred to me that they are lighter. Good observation that luggage is disposable items nowadays. I'm all for luggage being cheap, for another reason: less thieves would want to steal it at luggage claims .
My mother had the airlines put a forklift tine all the way through her expensive hard sided suitcase. After that, I realized that the airlines can destroy anything you throw at them, so I travel with a oversized canvas gym bag (duffel bag, but it has a long zipper) that I paid about $16 for at Costco 20 years ago.
If the airlines destroys it, I am not out much. Plus, if someone is going to steal luggage off the carousel, they aren't going to pick that one to steal.
Negatives with mine: it has to be carried because it doesn't have wheels.
The only reason I can think of to have an expensive set of luggage is if you only stay at the most costly resorts and have an image to maintain.
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