Travelling is a great source of joy and relaxation. Hence you need to do everything well planned. Have all the essential travel items and enjoy a little less stressful and pleasant journey. Choosing a piece of luggage according to the type of journey is a great way to do so.
You may look for the best hard shell luggage to make your trip a memorable one. Picking the best one can be tricky because there are so many options. Hardshell luggage serves the users fabulously.
They provide protection to your belongings when your traveling is with fragile goods and you have to hand over them to the airline authority or taxi driver. Not only that their packing configuration including a sleek look seems to be incredibly attractive.
The punchy article will be a great help for you to get appropriate hardshell luggage including its features, pros and cons, buying guidelines, specifying the one as best overall, best in the budget, set, carry-on, lightweight etc.
Why Do You Need a Hard Shell Luggage?
The choice of the best hard shell luggage might benefit you in many ways. The alternative terms for ‘hard shell’ luggage are ‘hard side or ‘hard case’ luggage or carry-on. The reasons for why you should look for hard shell luggage as carrying-on may be as follows:
Easy Maintenance
The hard shell luggage can easily be well maintained. They are easy to clean. And you have no need to tolerate any dirty luggage having stains and bad smells. You can’t wash your soft-sided luggage when required or can’t use wet luggage.
They produce an uncomfortable odor. But you can remove the dirt using a piece of a dry or damp cloth from hard shell luggage.
Durability
Hardshell luggage is durable. The quality is remarkably improved in recent years. Unlike previous hard shell luggage, they are not prone to crack or break down because now the producers use softer material. Such material is flexible as well as indestructible.
You can comfortably carry portable items like iPods, laptops, cameras, and other electronics that are fragile.
Security
Hardshell luggage is more secure, as they offer integrated locks. The thieves cannot gain from such luggage. It becomes difficult for them to cut them with sharp blades or something like that. A hardshell case won’t surprise you on a carousel by being slashed.
Versatility
The best hard shell luggage offers versatile use. The feature of its equal split opening helps keep your belongings on the two sides. The interior strap or a middle divider of the spacious luggage helps it remain stable along with its contents. Being colorful, you can easily trace it on the belt.
Transportability
Portability is another advantage of hard-shell luggage. They are easier to handle. You get 4 wheels with 360° in the best hard shell luggage helping you pull the luggage. The stylish luggage won’t be flipped, or imbalanced.
Our Pick For the Best Hard Shell Luggage Of 2021-22
It is high time to draw an ending line to the debate regarding soft-side and hard-side luggage. If you are still looking for the best hard shell luggage, that is not managed yet, you may go shopping from the pile of selected suitcases for 2021-22 as stated below:
Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Brushed Anthracite, Carry-On 20-Inch
The Carry-On keeps pace with the size restrictions, as the airlines impose. The luggage is spacious and contains most of your belongings. Being lightweight The lightweight luggage is good for any domestic travel. Its smooth mobility and functionality are eye-catching.
Preventing stealing helps you enjoy a hassle-free journey. TSA-approved locks protect you from illegal acts of smuggling without your acknowledgment. The brushed pattern custom design of the luggage on both sides of the hard shell helps you hide any kind of odd-looking scratches that you got on your journey.
There are interior dividers and 10 zippers along with some organizational pockets. Two hard-side luggage produced by Samsonite meets standard quality. They offer 10 years of limited warranty against defective materials and faulty craftsmanship.
Multidirectional four-spinner wheels enable easy handling. A full-zip interior divider and cross straps, allow users to keep the items well organized. Lightweight locking telescopic has a stylish handle.
Pros:
- Lightweight, weighing 6.7 lbs.
- Easy to pull.
- Having a built-in TSA-compatible combination lock ensures security.
- Easy to clean.
Cons:
- Limited warranty of 10 years only.
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Lightweight Expandable Upright Luggage, Dusty Rose, Carry-On 20-Inch
If you look for luggage meeting international airlines standards, Travelpro Maxlite is okay for you in every way. The 20″ expandable Rollaboard suitcases help maximize product packing. Its polyester fabric is stain-resistant and water-repellant. They are long-lasting with high-tensile-strength zipper pulls.
It’s high-performance luggage for its inline skate wheels. They are lightweight but very strong. The handle allows you to roll the luggage smoothly, and easily. You can expand the handle up to 2″ for extending packing capacity.
They offer two exterior compartments, including a full-length interior lid pocket, a side accessory pocket. In addition, the adjustable hold-down straps provided in the luggage help you complete packing with convenience and flexibility. The warranty coverage adds to the repair cost of any damage from airlines or another commonly used carrier. But it is for only one year.
The case dimensions: 20 x 15×7.7, and the overall dimensions: 21.75×15.75×7.75 ;
Pros
- Ultra-lightweight, 5.4 lbs only
- Water-repellant
- Spacious, having a volume of 45 L
- PowerScope Lite handle at 42.5″ and 38″
- Ultra-durable
Cons
- Low-profile top, side, and bottom carry handles, making the luggage less attractive.
- Limited Lifetime Coverage
Rockland London Hardside Spinner Wheel Luggage, Pink, 3-Piece Set (20/24/28)
The luggage is a 3-piece set, made of ABS. You can use them with great comfort for the material used by Rockland. Being lightweight, they are portable. The durable luggage protects the belongings as contained in it.
The luggage set includes multi-directional double-spinner wheels that rotate 360 degrees. And you gain the ability to move your luggage as you wish. You need not get tense about the space inside the luggage. You pack more according to your requirements.
Besides, a push-button pls handle. Its interior design is well-planned. The zip pocket and elastic pocket of the luggage are of great use. They are available in different colors.
The luggage sets are found in 3 varied dimensions but all are with wheels. Their weight is also different from each other. They are named as –
Carry-on Upright: 22″x13. 5″x9″ weighing 6 lbs,
24-inch Upright: 24″ x15″x10″ weighing 8 lbs,
28-inch Upright: 28″x17″x12″ weighing 10 lbs.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Durable
- 3 combination locks
- Keeps luggage contents secured.
- Easy to handle for 360 degrees wheel rotation.
Cons
- Chemical smell
- Warranty not honored in some cases
Kenneth Cole Reaction Out Of Bounds 28-Inch Check-Size Lightweight Durable Hardshell 4-Wheel Spinner Upright Luggage
The Kenneth Cole Reaction is made of a hard exterior. Its corners protect the shock. You can pack on both sides of the luggage. The main compartment inside the luggage is completely lined with a lining that is tear-resistant. An organization pocket, heaving zipper, and straps help you keep your items well organized and in place.
You will be happy to know that the luggage meets the requirement of the airlines’ weight limitation. No more extra airport fees are there for you. The lightweight luggage has a user-friendly and strong push button connected with the trolley handle system.
You can keep the luggage upright on one side due to the molded side. The exterior part of the luggage – the top and the side grabbing handle, helps the convenient movement.
Its overall dimension is 29.5” H x 20.5” W x 11.75” including the handle and the wheels. It is easy to carry because of its being lightweight – 9.6 lbs only.
The manufacturers offer a warranty that covers craftsmanship and manufacturing defects. You cannot but fall in love with this luggage because of its stylish presentation and functionality.
Pros
- Smooth and effortless movement.
- Durable,
- Lightweight
- Top and side handles
- Stylish
Cons
- Sometimes having faulty manufacturing.
- A limited warranty covers almost nothing.
Kenneth Cole Reaction Renegade 20” Carry-On Luggage Lightweight Hardside Expandable 8-Wheel Spinner Travel Cabin Suitcase, Rose Gold, inch
The carry-on luggage is offering enough space to manage all the travel essentials. The Kenneth Cole Reaction ‘Renegade’ Collection 20-inch allows the user to do the task with great ease. It is lightweight but has a hard side. You must like it for its expandable quality.
It’s a piece of carry-on luggage, fully lined, and tear-resistant. For a good organization of your belongings, you will get many interior zippers and mesh pockets. The straps help keep your clothes in place. Don’t worry about your luggage weight and extra airport fees as they follow Airlines’ restrictions.
They are comfortably expandable up to additional 2-inches allowing you to carry extra essentials if needed. Its four molded corners are impact-resistant and good protectors of your bag. Self-repairing coil zippers ensure the safety and security of your belongings. They are durable.
You can handle them smoothly over any kind of surface. The overall dimension of it is 22” x 14” x 9” – 11”. But the packing dimensions: 20” x 13.5” x 8.5” – 10.5″ . And it weighs only 7.35 lbs.
Pros
- Protective hard shell
- Expandable
- Top and side handles
- Telescopic retractable trolley handle
- Having straps
Cons
- 10-year limited guarantee covering defects only
- Seems to be a bit of a traditional carry-on suitcase.
Amazon Basics 21-Inch Hardside Spinner, Navy Blue
You need not worry about your ensuing weekend enjoyment, work travel, or any sort of international trip when you are in possession of an AmazonBasics 21-Inch Hardside Spinner. You can easily organise all your essentials from the smaller one to the larger one in the luggage.
The luggage is made of a thick ABS hardshell with a navy blue finish. It will favour you hiding the scratch on its cover from others eyes. It is fully lined. The interior organiser is of 150D-polyester. There is a divider too.
You can easily accommodate your smaller items in the zippered pockets. They are three in number. As the luggage is expandable you will enjoy an extra 15% packing space. It won’t bother you regarding the wheels’ smooth rolling in any direction. A strong Telescopic handle helps you ease the movement of the luggage.
Products’ overall dimensions: 10 inches x 14.9 inches x 22 inches and
the packing dimensions: 13.3 inches x 9.6 inches x 18.5 inches
Pros
- Scratch-resistant
- Easy and smooth-rolling mobility in any direction
- Having both a sturdy telescoping handle and a short handle.
- Affordable price
Cons
- The overall dimensions seem to be not in line with the carry-on requirements of domestic Airlines.
- Use of cheap material, prone to be dented.
DELSEY Paris Chatelet Hardside Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Chocolate Brown, Carry-on 21 Inch, with Brake
The elegant luggage is easily portable for its lightweight. The shell of the luggage is 100% polycarbonate. Hence they are durable and you need not be afraid of any cracking or breaking on the luggage. It has leather-like accents.
The spinner wheels attached to the luggage are multidirectional. They offer a stable base and help you roll the luggage feeling no weight at all on your hand. A unique brake system is there in the front wheels to prevent the luggage from rolling away.
The handle is a one-button system that allows you to move the luggage as you want. You can choose this luggage for any short trip or your weekend refreshment. Inside the luggage, you will get a planned organisation. There are two separate compartments including web straps keeping all the goods you are carrying in place. As a result, you won’t get any unwanted folding in your clothes.
To ensure security there is a TSA approved combination lock. It has a three-dial system. Most interestingly, you will get a tracking device that is built-in. So it will be helpful for you to track the luggage if there is any lost incident. You will enjoy a 10 years limited warranty on the product.
Product dimensions : 20.25 x 9 x 14 inches
And weight: 9.3 pounds
Pros
- impact resistant
- Includes brake locks
- Better fitted
- Lightweight
- Environment friendly
Cons
- Get scratched easily.
- Having material quality issues
Rockland London Hardside Spinner Wheel Luggage, Mint, Carry-On 20-Inch
It is a three-piece luggage set. They are made up of durable ABS products. They include 8 wheels. They can easily rotate at 360 degrees. And it’s not a tiresome job for you to move the luggage.
The push-button handle along with the telescopic handle gives the luggage a stylish vibe. Extending the telescopic handle you can enjoy easy manoeuvring. You can expand them and can get an additional 2 inches. You can easily avoid extra expenses in the airport for extra weight as the luggage allows you to pack more things.
They are available with 3 combination locks. The other features of the luggage
are elastic pocket, zip pocket, interior mesh, etc. The luggage is ideal for any quick trip or vacation. China produces the Rockland London Hardside Spinner Wheel Luggage. They are available in mint colour.
Overall dimensions of luggage: 22″X13. 5″x10″ including the wheels
And weight: 7.5 pounds
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Lightweight and expandable
- Protects the inside contents of the luggage
- Having enough space
- Easy and smooth movement
Cons
- Dissatisfaction about color combination
American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Marble, Carry-On 21-Inch
Opening the case you will get a mesh divider and straps Along with a zipped pocket. They enable you to organise your products in a good manner. The lightweight luggage is easily movable for the oversized spinner wheels. They are four in number and multidirectional.
As the handle comes with a push-button locking system, you can move the luggage with ease by extending the handle. And In the same way, you can store the luggage by pressing the button to get the handle inside. Thus you can maintain the luggage neatness when you are not using it.
You are getting a 10-year limited warranty against defective material and production. You’ll be happy to know that they are produced maintaining standard quality. Not only that you are getting the advantage of expanding the luggage up to 1.5 inches. The volume of the luggage is 44 litres.
The American Tourister Carry-On 21-Inch accelerates the packing capability. They meet the size and weight requirement as imposed by the Airlines.
Packing dimensions of the luggage: 20″ x 14″ x 9″.
Its overall dimensions: 22” x 15”x 9.5”, weighing: 8.2 pounds.
Pros
- High quality and stylish
- Can be expanded
- Easy to handle and move
- Having a multi-stage, light pull handle
- Help keep clothes neatly packed
Cons
- Chemical smell
- Get scratches
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Hardside Spinner Wheel Luggage, Azure Blue, Checked-Large 29-Inch
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Hardside Spinner Wheel Luggage, is the best choice for you if you are looking for larger luggage with lightweight. The hard shell of the luggage is 100% polycarbonate. The luggage must amaze the users with the combination of lightweight design and impact absorbing flexibility.
The power scoop handle added to the luggage is also lightweight. It locks at 42.5 inches and 38 inches. This feature of the handle allows the users to use the handle according to the heights convenient for them. For your comfort, there is a rubberized touchpoint on the contoured grip.
You will enjoy packing flexibility for the scraps. Rotation of the four wheels at 360 degrees helps you move the luggage effortlessly in the direction you want. It has TSA approved integrated locks, enabling the concerned authority to lock and unlock the luggage if any inspection is required.
You will get a limited lifetime warranty covering the repair cost against any damage caused by an airline or other carriers for 1 year.
Weight: 9.6 lbs
Packing Dimensions: 29×18.75×12.5;
Overall Dimensions including wheels: 31×19.75×12.5;
Pros
- Ultra-durable
- Lightweight
- Expansion option
- Maximum space for packing
Cons
- Low-profile top handle.
- Malfunctioning of “factory default” code 0-0-0.
For your convenience, the list of luggage that is found best in different respects Stated below:
Overall Best: Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Luggage, the top-rated set, is found as the best overall. Because the materials’ quality, functionality, and design have been able to satisfy the users.
Best In Budget: Kenneth Cole Reaction is found to be the most budget-friendly. Facilities received from the luggage are exactly matching the cost. It is affordable for the users.
Best Set: Rockland London Hardside Spinner Wheel can be the best choice as a luggage set. You may rely on the set for any kind of trip short or long near or at a distance. The set’s outcome is really satisfactory.
Best Carry On: Kenneth Cole Reaction allows you to carry your belongings for many days. You will receive service from the bag as expected from $500 luggage. Considering the size, wheels, hardshell, etc. this is the best carry on.
Best Lightweight: According to the manufacturer, Travelpro Maxlite is up to ½ lbs lighter than available lightweight luggage. It is only 5.4 lbs but very user friendly.
Best Hard Shell Luggage Buying Guide
So many bags are available in the market with different styles, costs, sizes, etc. It is not always easy for everybody to pick the best one to serve the purpose. You are to focus on the following factors when you are opting to buy the best hard shell luggage.
Interior Capacity
Only the lucrative look cannot meet your need as a traveller. Its capacity to hold the travel essentials is so important. You may know about it, by learning about the features that help maximize the interior space.
Size and Weight
You must have knowledge of the size and weight restrictions imposed by the airlines, while buying luggage. Have an appropriate measurement of the size and weight of the hardshell luggage.
Warranty
It is a great issue for buying hard shell luggage. Go through the description so that you know the warranty coverage. The best option is a lifetime warranty including repairing or replacing the bag.
Wheels
The wheels require smooth rolling and stability. Check whether the wheels are firmly attached or not to the luggage.
Handle
For easy handling of the luggage, the luggage handle plays a key role. It must be comfortable. Make sure that they are attached to the luggage strongly, they are lightweight, and there is no rattling while pulling the bag.
Conclusion
As a modern traveler, you can derive so many benefits from the best hard shell luggage. If you have to travel frequently you may use such luggage as your carry on. For fast movement, they are excellent. Not only that, they keep your valuables well-protected, preventing knocks and jostles.
Most of the hardshell luggage is produced, maintaining the size and weight limit restriction. You may enjoy a relaxed journey as it is guaranteed that and will have excess to your belongings.
You must be comfortable with the Ultra-lightweight models. You can easily accommodate your needs in the hard shell luggage. They are not only attractive with their distinctive style but also incredibly practical.
Enjoy your journey to the fullest with hard shell luggage combining the functionality, strength, style, etc.