If you’ve been following my travels, you know I’m a light packer and I hardly ever check a bag. Not because I’m cheap, but because I’m extremely impatient. I hate waiting around baggage claim while everybody crowds the conveyor belt waiting for their checked bag. Not to mention the room for luggage getting lost if you have a delay or layover.
I’ve been traveling for over four years now with my trusty TravelPro MaxLite spinner bag. Until the folks at Chester Luggage reached out and asked me to review one of their new carry-on bags, the Chester Minima Carry-On suitcase. I have never used a hardsided suitcase, but I see a lot of them in the airports, so I thought I’d give it a try. Knowing I love my soft suitcase, here is my full and honest review of hard vs. soft luggage.
This post contains affiliate links. Buying through these links will not cost you extra, but I will earn a small commission.
Hard Luggage: Chester Minima
The Chester comes in several stylish colors, from black to pink, and grays and blues in between. I was a bit nervous using it on my first flight because it seemed so roomy. Of course, it fit in the overhead compartment with plenty of room and met all the size requirements so there was no reason to worry. It weighs about the same as the TravelPro (7 pounds) but feels super lightweight to me. Having the weight evenly distributed between both sides and all four spinner wheels probably helps with that.
Pros of Hardside Luggage
- Lightweight
- Stylish
- Durable – I’ve been using this hardshell suitcase for five years now!
- Weight evenly distributed, won’t tip over
- Built-in combination lock
- Tons of pockets inside to keep all your items organized
Cons of Hard Shell Luggage
- No “wiggle” room
- Hard to use on a luggage rack as it needs to lay flat to access both sides
- No exterior pockets for easy access
Shop Chester Luggage at Amazon
Soft Luggage: TravelPro MaxLite 3 International Carry-On
Granted, I have many more trips under my belt with this suitcase and it’s still going strong. It’s also several years older than the Chester, and luggage design evolves a bit every year. That said, even though I love my new Chester suitcase, there’s still a steady spot in my travel rotation for the TravelPro. It’s definitely the suitcase I’ll use for my upcoming fall trip to Rome or any future winter weekend getaways.
Pros of Softside Luggage
- Lightweight
- Expandable to account for overpacking
- External pockets great for easy access
- Easy to use on hotel luggage racks with the lid open
Cons of Soft Sided Luggage
- Expanding this suitcase may make it too big for the overhead bins. I’ve been close a few times.
- Easily tips over with too much weight in the lid/external pockets
- Fabric shows wear and tear more quickly
Shop TravelPro Luggage at Amazon
Hard Vs. Soft Shell Suitcases
After a few trips with the Chester, I’m pretty keen on it and will probably use it more often going forward simply because it’s more stylish and modern-looking than the TravelPro. This carry-on suitcase is perfect for quick weekend trips, or beach trips where I just need a few swimsuits and sundresses. For a longer trip or cooler weather with heavier clothes, or if I really anticipate overpacking on a trip and needing some stretch room, I will switch back to the TravelPro as I know I can get away with a bit of overstuffing.
Checked Luggage Preference
Recently, I had a few trips where decided to check luggage rather than my usual personal preference of carry-on only. I opted for hard-sided luggage, mostly for the light weight and the durability I have experienced with my carryon hard luggage. I went with a Monos suitcase from Nordstrom with a fun terrazzo pattern. I thought it was so unique, but I’ve seen a ton of people with the same pattern. My niece also has a hard-sided suitcase, in a cute ballerina print.
And then there’s my leather weekender duffel bag which costs more than the other two suitcases combined and is totally impractical but I love it anyway!
Do you prefer hard vs. soft luggage when you travel? What are your favorite luggage brands?
Disclosure: Chester supplied a complimentary suitcase for review. I did not receive any compensation for this post, and the opinions expressed here are my own.
I think I’m in the hard-sided camp. Except the “pull stick” (yeah, I’m sure that’s the proper luggage term) on my hard-sided carry-on broke when I was in Seattle last week and that really sucked.