Buying guide for best hard-sided luggage
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When shopping for luggage, the first thing to decide is whether you want a softside bag or a hardside one. Softside luggage has its proponents and plenty of benefits, but the best hardside luggage offers structure, protection, sleekness and tons of style that many find irresistible.
And if you think hardside means heavy — think again. Innovations in plastics, making them lighter and stronger, have transformed the hard-sided luggage market, allowing brands to market hardsides that are lightweight, strong and available in a rainbow of Instagrammable colors.
The BestReviews Testing Lab checked out some of the best luggage available, including several hard-sided models, rating them on capacity, packing ease, organization, durability and mobility. The following are our top picks, led by our testers’ hands-down favorite, the Travelpro Platinum Elite Medium Check-In Hardside Spinner.
Editors’ picks for 2025
Travelpro Platinum Elite Medium Check-In Hardside Spinner
Editors’ Favorite
Type: Checked | Dimensions: 27.25” L x 18” W x 13” H | Weight: 11.1 lb | Material: Polycarbonate, aluminum | Expandable: Yes (2”)
Travelpro is one of the best luggage brands in the industry, and we’ve loved their bags for a while. One of the reasons why is the Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside line of hard-shell suitcases, which includes the Travelpro Platinum Elite Medium Check-In Hardside Spinner. Stylish, durable and well-appointed, this 25-inch suitcase scored highly in multiple categories during our user testing.
This sleek suitcase boasts a shell of textured polycarbonate with four upper corners reinforced with aluminum guards for extra protection. The two compartments of this 104-liter bag each comes with its own zippered divider panel and adjustable Y-straps. The dividers feature zip pockets for extra organization and, in our testing, allowed us to open the suitcase vertically without the contents falling out, a rarity among hardsides. Plus, an extra 2 inches of zippered expansion is sure to appeal to travelers who love picking up souvenirs.
The Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside rolls on Travelpro’s PrecisionGlide double-spinner wheels with magnetic alignment for smoother maneuvering, and its trolley handle seemed solid in our tests. We also appreciate that the textured surface nicely reduces the appearance of scuffs and scratches. Said our tester, "After dropping the bag down a flight of stairs, there were no dents but it did get scratched. However, you can’t tell because of the textured finish. Overall, it held up just fine."
Samsonite Omni PC 20-Inch Carry-On
Great Value
Type: Carry-On | Dimensions: 22” L x 15” W x 9.75” H | Weight: 6.81 lb | Material: Polycarbonate | Expandable: Yes
Speaking of well-known names, there are few more well-known in the world of luggage than Samsonite. Its Omni PC Hardside line is one of the most popular among shoppers, providing style, function and Samsonite durability at an approachable price point. The Samsonite Omni PC 20-Inch Carry-On is a quality choice for an affordable carry-on.
The dimensions of the Omni PC Hardside carry-on should get you onboard all but the strictest airlines. It measures 22 inches tall, 15 inches wide and 9.75 inches thick, including wheels and handles. Its polycarbonate case features a scratch-reducing diamond-shape texture and allows it to weigh less than 7 pounds, lighter than some soft-sided bags.
The interior is fully-lined, although you’ll have to be satisfied with a simple mesh divider and elastic cross-straps for organization. It offers a TSA lock, additional zippered expansion, rolls on four single spinner wheels and can be steered with a push-button trolley handle. It also comes in more than a dozen different colors.
Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Business Plus Hardside Spinner
Best Hardside Carry-On Luggage
Type: Carry-On | Dimensions: 23” L x 14.5” W x 9.5” H | Weight: 9 lb | Material: Polycarbonate, aluminum | Expandable: Yes (2”)
The Travelpro Platinum Elite line includes multiple checked and carry-on sizes. The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Business Plus Hardside Spinner stands out for its style, build quality, impressive interior organization and handy exterior pocket.
Like other bags in the series, the 48-liter Carry-On Business Plus features a light, tough polycarbonate shell texturized to reduce the appearance of scratch and wear. Each top corner comes with a corner guard made of aluminum to protect against crushing as well. The Carry-On Business Plus glides on double spinner wheels with magnetic alignment and can be steered with a comfort-grip trolley handle.
The interior compartments each have their own zippered divider panels with integrated pockets, helping keep items in place, as well as tie-down straps for a touch of compression. The Carry-On Business Plus also comes with a laptop compartment in the front for flat items and offers padded protection for laptops up to 15.6 inches big. It offers exterior USB-A and USB-C passthrough ports if you want to keep your own rechargeable power bank inside.
Travelpro Maxlite Air V2 Carry-On Hardside Spinner
Best Budget Hardside Carry-On Luggage
Type: Carry-On | Dimensions: 23” L x 14.5” W x 9.5” H | Weight: 6.7 lb | Material: Polycarbonate | Expandable: Yes (2”)
Hard-sided luggage has been getting lighter and lighter over time, thanks to the lighter, stronger materials now being used. The Travelpro Maxlite Air V2 Carry-On Hardside Spinner is among the lightest we’ve seen, weighing in at 6.7 pounds. For a Travelpro suitcase, it’s comfortably priced as well.
The Maxlite Air V2 Carry-On should fit into the guidelines of most airlines and offers 46 liters of capacity. Its impact-absorbing polycarbonate shell is textured to minimize scratches and increase strength. It rolls on double spinner wheels and offers a comfortable contoured grip on its trolley handle with low-profile grab handles to fit into tight overhead compartments.
Inside, the Maxlite Air V2 Carry-On comes with full-length dividers to keep the contents of each compartment in place, with zip pockets built in for organization. The upper corners offer internal guards as well to resist crushing and denting. If you overpack or get some souvenirs, it’s also expandable by 2 inches, although that will likely mean a trip to the cargo hold.
Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner
Best Medium-Sized Luggage
Type: Checked | Dimensions: 27” L x 18.5” W x 12” H | Weight: 8.5 lb | Material: Polypropylene | Expandable: Yes (1.5”)
One of Samsonite’s top hard-sided collections is the Freeform series. The Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner delivers a sleek and subtle exterior design with a nice amount of capacity and welcome features for trips of a week or more.
The Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner has a linear dimension of 57.5 inches, well under the size limit for checked luggage on most airlines. It has a lightweight, flexible polypropylene shell with subtle segmentation and contouring for a sleek appearance. It expands by 1.5 inches for packing items for the return trip, and it rolls on large double spinner wheels guided by a three-stop trolley handle with a slim, modern profile.
The Freeform Medium Spinner’s interior compartments feature a zippered divider on one side and elastic cross-straps on the other. Two zip pockets on the divider and along the spine add extra organization. The Freeform’s lock is TSA-friendly, and it also comes with an discreet, integrated ID tag on the back.
How we analyzed
We surveyed the market for the best hard-sided luggage, selecting models from the top brands with the best reputations, guided by professional and customer reviews. We also tested several hard-sided models in our Testing Lab, grading them on capacity, packing convenience, durability, impact resistance, water resistance and mobility as well as style. We used our experience with testing, combined with hours of research on the background and construction of hard-sided luggage, to inform our choices, descriptions and tips on how to choose hard-sided luggage.
Key features to consider
Size and weight
Dimensions and capacity
Regardless of how you’re actually traveling, today’s luggage is sized and sold according to categories determined by airline travel.
- Carry-on luggage is sized to fit inside an airplane cabin, either beneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins above.
- Checked luggage is larger than carry-on luggage and can’t fit in an overhead bin. It’s meant to go into the plane’s cargo hold.
There are two common sizes for carry-on luggage: domestic and international. Domestic or standard carry-on needs to measure around 22 by 14 by 9 inches (40 to 45 liters capacity) and is common among U.S.-based airlines, while international carry-on is 21.5 by 15.5 by 9 inches (35 to 45 liters capacity) and follows European and Asian airlines, among others.
Wheels and handles are technically included, although that may not be strictly enforced, at least on domestic flights. The exact allowed dimensions for carry-on luggage differs from airline to airline, so check the website of your flight’s carrier if you need to. The final determination of whether or not a bag or suitcase can fit in the cabin depends on the flight crew.
Checked luggage can be of various sizes and shapes, but generally should have a total linear dimension of no more than 62 inches, length plus width plus depth. Hard-sided checked luggage are often sold as medium (less than 25 inches tall, 80 to 100 liters capacity) or large (28 inches tall or more, 100 liters or more in capacity).
Weight
Hard-sided luggage used to always weigh more than soft-sided luggage, but hardsides today feature extremely light plastics that allow them to match if not undercut the weight of similarly sized softsides.
If you’re flying with checked luggage, there is a common maximum weight limit of 50 pounds per bag, though some international flights allow up to 70 pounds per bag. Carry-on weight isn’t normally regulated for domestic flights, but international flights can impose a weight limit and weigh carry-ons at the gate. If you exceed your flight’s weight limit, you’ll have to pay extra, so picking a lighter bag can help.
Our top picks: Size and weight
- Travelpro Platinum Elite Medium Check-In Hardside Spinner: This suitcase offers a generous 104 liters of capacity for a medium checked bag while weighing a reasonable 11 pounds.
- Samsonite Omni PC 20-Inch Carry-On: It’s lighter than many softside carry-ons at 6.8 pounds; however, its 9.5-inch thickness slightly exceeds the minimum.
- Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Business Plus Hardside Spinner: Weighing 9 pounds, it’s a little heavy for a modern carry-on and has 45 liters of capacity.
- Travelpro Maxlite Air V2 Carry-On Hardside Spinner: Noticeably light at 6.7 pounds, it has a 46-liter capacity.
- Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner: It weighs less than the Travelpro Platinum Elite carry-on thanks to its light plastic shell and fits under the 62-inch checked bag linear measure limit.
Durable materials
Shell
Hard-sided luggage used to be made of leather or wood applied over a wooden or metal frame. Later on, thick coated cardboard became a popular material.
Today’s hardsides typically feature shells made of injection-molded plastic. These shells are both light and thin and hold their shape without need of a frame. The most commonly found plastics used in hard-sided luggage today are polycarbonate, polypropylene and ABS.
- Polycarbonate (PC): The toughest current plastic available. It’s lightweight and flexible yet strong and resists cracking, impacts and scratches. It’s the most expensive plastic shell material as well.
- Polypropylene (PP): This material was introduced in the late 1960s among the first wave of injection-molded suitcases. The lightest hardside material, it’s more flexible than polycarbonate and costs less, but is less rigid and can be damaged by repeated UV exposure, such as to sunlight.
- Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS): The cheapest hardside material, it’s typically found on low-cost luggage. It’s less durable than either PC or PP and is a budget choice for occasional travel.
You can also find aluminum luggage, especially from premium and luxury brands. Aluminum is a light and strong metal with an appealing sheen, but it can suffer dents and conducts heat and electricity. Aluminum luggage is typically expensive.
Zippers and latches
You’ll find that most, but not all, hard-sided luggage today use zippers to close. The most popular zipper type used in luggage are nylon or polyester coil zippers, with the teeth in a continuous spiral attached to sturdy fabric zipper tape. Coil zippers are more forgiving of errors and mistakes in zipping. Chain zippers, with individual metal or plastic teeth, are becoming less and less common.
Naming the zipper manufacturer has become a frequent selling point for luggage. The most respected zipper manufacturer is Japan-based YKK, known for being strong, high-quality and well-made.
Latches are still available on some hard-sided models. A benefit of latches over zippers is that they can’t rip open the way zippers might, at the teeth or the tape seams. Latches are heavier, however, and inflexible, and may still bust open under stress.
Wheels
Luggage wheels help you move efficiently through airports, terminals, hotels and even on city sidewalks. Most luggage today comes with two, four or eight wheels made of materials like polyurethane, rubber or nylon.
- Roller luggage has two wheels. Rollers are designed to be dragged behind you and are good for speed and compactness. Their wheels are usually somewhat large and recessed into the body of the suitcase. This makes them less vulnerable to damage but takes up interior space.
- Spinner luggage has four or eight wheels arranged at the bottom corners of the suitcase. You can push, pull, or walk spinners beside you, and they can rotate 360 degrees in any direction. Each wheel or pair of wheels are mounted on a strut that may be recessed or fully extended from the body of the suitcase.
Double spinner wheels have two wheels per strut and are more stable and durable than single spinner wheels.
Materials include:
- Polyurethane: This is generally accepted as the strongest, most durable, and quietest wheel material.
- Thermoplastic rubber (TPU): A popular material, it offers plenty of shock absorption and bounce. It’s lower cost but more prone to damage and chemicals than polyurethane.
- Nylon: Strong and durable, nylon is suited to heavy loads, but it’s not as smooth or silent as polyurethane or TPU.
Name-brand wheels known for quality and performance have, like name-brand zippers, become a selling point among luggage manufacturers. Hinamoto from Japan are a noted brand of high-quality luggage wheels.
Our top picks: Durable materials
- Travelpro Platinum Elite Medium Check-In Hardside Spinner: Tough polycarbonate shell with aluminum corner guards resisted damage in testing. It glides on double, magnetic, polyurethane spinner wheels.
- Samsonite Omni PC 20-Inch Carry-On: The polycarbonate shell keeps things strong and light; however, the single-spinner wheels seem to be a weak point based on customer experience.
- Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Business Plus Hardside Spinner: This bag features a durable polycarbonate and aluminum shell and double polyurethane spinner wheels.
- Travelpro Maxlite Air V2 Carry-On Hardside Spinner: This bag is made of polycarbonate with plastic interior reinforcement and has an impact-resisting design. It rolls on double spinner (non-magnetic) wheels.
- Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner: The flexible polypropylene shell is lightweight, and it rolls nicely on double-spinner wheels.
Additional features
Compartments, pockets and dividers
Hard-sided luggage generally opens like a book or clamshell into two mostly equal halves, giving you two compartments. The back compartment typically has elastic or tie-down straps for loose items, while the front compartment has a divider to keep things in place when you swing it open. Interior organization typically includes at least one large zip pocket in the divider panel and commonly a smaller zip pouch along the side or top.
For most people, the more pockets, the better. It’s not common to find exterior pockets on hard-sided luggage, one major distinction they have from softsides.
Handles
Hard-sided luggage should have at least three handles.
- Trolley handle: It extends telescopically out the top and lets you pull, push and maneuver the bag. Look for one made of metal that doesn’t rattle or wiggle, with multiple height stops (hip-height and waist-height are the minimum) with a handle that’s contoured or padded for extended periods of comfortable use.
- Grab handles: These should be on the top and long side. They’re meant for picking up and lifting the bag, such as from the car, into an overhead bin, or from the baggage carousel. These don’t need to be padded since you won’t use them much with wheeled luggage, but should be strong and flexible and ideally somewhat flat or recessed so they don’t count against your luggage’s size limits.
- A bottom grab handle between the wheels can be a welcome extra when picking up and grabbing a bag, especially when in a hurry.
- Straps for pulling and carrying are not common on today’s hard-sided luggage, but can feature in kids’ pull-along rollers or as soft, spacious versions of grab handles.
Locks
A good hard-sided piece of luggage should come with a built-in lock. Locks may be keyed or combination locks.
- Keyed locks are generally more secure than combination locks but require you to keep a physical key with you.
- Combination locks are more common and require you to set and remember a combination code.
Both kinds of locks should be TSA-friendly or TSA-safe. This means that an agent of the United States’ Transportation Security Agency or its international counterparts should be able to use their special key to open the lock for security inspection without needing to know its combination or having its main key.
Expandability
Hard-sided luggage isn’t by nature as expandable as soft-sided luggage, although the modern plastics used in hardside shells are engineered to provide a small amount of flex. Expansion gussets controlled by zippers are popular features on almost all sizes of hard-sided luggage and can provide 1 to 2 inches of extra depth.
It’s important to keep in mind that expansion can affect the dimensions of your luggage, especially for carry-on luggage where size is restricted. You don’t want to get to the gate only to find your extra outfit or airport souvenirs have made your carry-on so thick that the gate attendant makes you check it at a steep fee.
Colors and patterns
While basic black remains one of the most common colors for hard-sided luggage, many travelers want to express their personalities with their bags, especially with carry-ons that will accompany them through long walks and gate stays at airports or through hotel lobbies.
- Colors and patterns help distinguish a piece of luggage from a distance or, particularly, at baggage claim. The plastics used in most hardsides today are capable of a wide variety of colors and patterns, from the bright to the subtle, glossy or matte.
- Texture can help you tell hard shells apart but also serve a practical purpose. Many hardside shells have textures that help minimize or resist cosmetic damage, like scratches and scuffing, and some designs add strength and impact resistance to the plastic.
Our top picks: Additional features
- Travelpro Platinum Elite Medium Check-In Hardside Spinner: Unlike other hardsides, this bag offers full-zip dividers on both compartments. Plus, it features a padded trolley handle, bottom grab handle, and 2 inches of expansion.
- Samsonite Omni PC 20-Inch Carry-On: This bag’s diamond-shaped texture helps resist scuffs and scratches, and it comes in bright colors.
- Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Business Plus Hardside Spinner: Includes a convenient laptop pocket on the bag’s exterior, which is rarely seen on hard-sided carry-ons.
- Travelpro Maxlite Air V2 Carry-On Hardside Spinner: Full-zip panels on both compartments keep everything organized.
- Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner: Its distinctive rough and glossy textures and grooves help it stand out. The handle isn’t padded, but it’s contoured and comfortable.
Tips
- Keep your luggage clean. Hard-sided luggage is easy to clean. Simply wipe down the shell, wheels and handle with a rag dampened with warm water and mild dish soap.
- Use an eraser sponge to remove scuffs. Avoid using any substances that contain bleach or ammonia on your luggage; they can cause permanent stains.
- Confirm the airline’s baggage fees. Before traveling, check your airline’s website to make sure you won’t have to pay extra when you check in.
- Consider packing cubes. These items help organize the space inside luggage and can increase the number of articles of clothing you can fit.
- Replace the wheels. Got a broken wheel? Don’t throw out the whole suitcase. Wheels may not be covered by a limited warranty, but you can find replacement wheels online.
FAQ
Q. How much does hard-sided luggage cost?
Hard-sided luggage varies widely in price, depending on size, brand and materials. Budget pieces with ABS shells can cost as little as $30 individually or $100 for a set. Midpriced models with polypropylene or polycarbonate shells and single-spinner wheels can be found for $100 to $250, while popular and viral carry-ons with colorful polycarbonate shells retail for $250 for a carry-on to $500 for a large checked piece. Aluminum luggage can go for $700 to $2,000 per piece.
Q. Which lasts longer: hard or soft luggage?
It can seem counter-intuitive, but today’s hard-sided luggage can have a shorter lifespan than modern soft-sided luggage. The molded plastic shells of hard-sided luggage are thinner and can be damaged in more ways than the tough fabric and metal shells of softsides, and the best softsides can last for more than a decade.
However, materials and workmanship and, therefore, brand reputation and warranty, counts for a lot. A good hard-sided suitcase from a reputable brand, with a polycarbonate shell and polyurethane wheels, can last as long as a good soft-sided piece.
Our expertise
Jmar Gambol is a writer for BestReviews. He has authored or contributed to more than a hundred articles since 2021, with specialties in kitchenware, travel and personal technology. Other luggage pieces he’s written include the best soft-sided luggage, the best carry-ons, the best spinners and the best suitcases. He has been traveling internationally for decades yet has only owned six suitcases in his life, probably because he looks for the best and most durable models he can afford. In the continuing debate between hard-sided and soft-sided luggage, he leans heavily hardside.
