Choosing the right material for your suitcase is not always easy. Many factors will have to be taken into account so that you are not disappointed when you travel with this new luggage.
Small or large, intended to be put in a hold of bus or plane, only reserved for the journeys in train, in car or planned to be kept in cabin, the suitcase answers precise needs. If you want to bring fragile objects with you, you will obviously prefer a rigid material. If, on the other hand, you simply want to take your clothes and toiletries with you, a soft suitcase will be perfect for you.
Soft suitcases and hard suitcases have their advantages and disadvantages. We will try here to make the turn of it.
Think about the use of your future suitcase
A suitcase is bought for a single trip or for regular trips from your home to your place of work. You cannot decide on a whim to buy a particular model. It is important to read the different characteristics of this suitcase on its detailed description and to imagine what you will have to carry to be comfortable during your stay.
The main points to take into account are :
- The material which will determine the rigidity and the resistance to wear of the suitcase
- The shape and dimensions
- The number of pockets and storage space
- The ease of transport (without or with driving wheels: 2 or 4)
- Lightness
- The integrated security systems
- Aesthetics and refinement: color, style details, etc.
It is by carefully reading the labels of the different brands that the traveler will find the best equipment for the transport of his belongings.
A rigid case: for whom?
The hard case has a very strong shell, ideal to create a protection around fragile objects and avoid breakage in case of shock. If you travel a lot by air, this is the case for you!
2 Luggage Bundle Medium 65cm Cabin 55cm Utah
The most popular materials for rigid cases are polycarbonate, polypropylene, ABS, but also more innovative materials like Curv® or particularly aesthetic ones like aluminum. All these solutions, except ABS, are extremely scratch resistant. The quality is there. For those who wish to keep a well-made suitcase for a long time without any traces of shocks or scratches, the choice should be made in priority on polycarbonate, Curv® or polypropylene, lighter without being fragile.
If you opt for a large suitcase, remember to check if compression straps are integrated and prefer a suitcase with multidirectional wheels for greater comfort. Most of these suitcases have security systems such as a cylinder lock or a TSA code lock. Well-designed, they open and close easily to keep your most precious items safe.
A soft suitcase: for which travels?
Soft suitcases are often lighter and easier to fit into luggage racks on trains and planes. However, these cases are not designed to carry accessories, jewelry and fragile objects. They are also not recommended for travel in the snow or in tropical countries as they are not waterproof.
Underseat Luggage 57cm ARUM-E
Opt for a flexible model for a weekend trip by car or train, to keep some things with you in the cabin on the plane... Well padded, the soft suitcase does not fear small shocks. Most of its particularly designed luggage is made of textile: synthetic fabric, nylon, etc. Available in many colors, they adapt to the most diverse styles.
The real drawback of these cases, which are particularly pleasant to pull or carry, is their difficulty of maintenance. Stained by tar or other greasy substances, they are no longer usable in good conditions. Only a dry cleaning on these soft cases can be effective on some fabrics and it is not always easy to have this operation done, especially abroad.
