Buying

Hardside vs softside: which should you buy

The choice comes down to what's being protected and how the case needs to fit into tight spaces, not which material is generically "better".

By Jean-Benoit Buisson

A hardside shell protects fragile items better and resists denting, but it cannot compress to fit a tight overhead bin or an overstuffed car boot the way a softside case can flex to do. Softside cases also typically offer external pockets a hard shell structurally cannot.

Neither construction is universally better. Fragile items and a preference for a wipeable, scuff-resistant surface point towards hardside; frequent need for quick-access external pockets and flexibility in tight spaces point towards softside.

Last reviewed 26 August 2026

What it assumes you travel with

Everything above works with what you already own. These are the products we would reach for, and each links to the full review rather than straight to a shop.

Best all-rounder Hardside cabin luggage

Samsonite S'Cure Spinner 55 hardside cabin case

55 cm (21.7 in) · 34 L · 4 wheels

A polypropylene cabin case built around four double spinner wheels and an integrated TSA lock, sized to clear most airline cabin sizers at 55 cm (21.7 in).

Best for: Buyers who want one dependable cabin case and are not chasing the lightest weight on the market.

8.6/10

≈ $310

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Best all-rounder Softside luggage

American Tourister Holiday Heat Spinner L softside case

108 L · softside · 4 wheels

A large fabric spinner case with genuine external pockets that a hardside shell cannot offer, at 108 liters.

7.7/10

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What it assumes you travel with

Samsonite S'Cure Spinner 55 hardside cabin case

American Tourister Holiday Heat Spinner L softside case