Choose the right suitcase for a smooth trip abroad

When traveling abroad, nothing is more troublesome than packing your luggage. Do you know how to choose a suitcase that suits you? What’s the difference between soft-shell and hard-shell suitcases? With sizes ranging from large to small, which one best meets your needs? While picking the right destination is important, the right suitcase can make your life much easier, helping you pack effortlessly. Why not listen to experts teach you how to choose a suitcase and pack smartly, so you won’t be in a flurry when preparing for your trip, but can pack elegantly and calmly, then head abroad happily and stress-free!

Suitcase choices are actually quite personal—from colors to styles, it really comes down to individual preference. However, material and capacity should still be selected based on your needs. Is a soft suitcase better, or a hard one? Is portability more important, or expandability?

Lightweight materials are quite popular with consumers

The commonly mentioned hard suitcase is typically made of PP material, or PC, or aluminum alloy. Soft suitcases are made of nylon, denim, polyester fiber, etc. Lin Shujuan, deputy marketing manager at Samsonite, said that hard shells are generally divided into four types of materials: 1. Curve, 2. PC, 3. ABS, 4. PP. The newest Curve material launched recently is a patented technology from Germany, first applied to suitcases. It’s very lightweight, with a surface that has a wavy texture, and because it's extremely light, it’s very popular with consumers. Another type of hard suitcase—ABS mixed with PC—is very sturdy yet lightweight, and also a favorite among many!

 

As for soft suitcases, they are made of a blend of nylon or polyester fiber, and their biggest advantage is expandability. For many business travelers, the expandable pockets of a suitcase are very convenient for storing documents or notebooks, making them easy to access.

When comparing the biggest differences between hard and soft suitcases, aside from material, it’s expandability and capacity. Hard suitcases have poorer expandability because of their design—there are hardly any outer pockets. But soft suitcases not only have pockets but can also be expanded, and they were indeed very popular with consumers in the past. However, hard suitcases come in a wide range of colors now—from the most common gray, blue, and silver, to eye-catching orange, pink, green, and bright red. Especially in recent years, more and more people are using brightly colored suitcases. It’s speculated that this may be related to the growing emphasis on fashion and brand awareness, and the usage ratio between soft and hard suitcases is getting closer, with colors also moving away from the traditional black and dark blue tones.

Additionally, the way soft and hard suitcases open and close is slightly different. Hard suitcases open at the middle, while soft ones open from the top. So, for the same volume, a soft suitcase usually has a larger capacity, but it can be more troublesome to find things inside—it depends on your personal needs. But similarly, although soft suitcases have high expandability, remember not to overstuff them, because they are made as one piece, so if the zipper breaks, it’s very difficult to repair.

 

For items like wine bottles that you’re worried about being crushed, you can choose a PP material suitcase—it’s the same material used in car bumpers, is waterproof, and is very durable.

 

Trip destination determines suitcase size

As for suitcase size, you can choose the appropriate dimensions based on the number of days you’ll be traveling. Generally speaking, for a two- or three-day trip, you can go with 24–35 liters (under 55 cm / 20-inch), for four to five days, 35–70 liters (61–66 cm / 22–24-inch), and for trips over a week, it’s recommended to choose sizes over 90 liters (70–85 cm / 26–32-inch). Lin Shujuan also suggests buying a set of suitcases in the same series in small, medium, and large sizes. If you’re really concerned, you can use a modular suitcase setup—like bringing a medium plus a small, or a large plus a medium—and soft suitcases offer even more flexibility in packing.

 

Two wheels or four?

The trip destination and style not only affect your choice of suitcase size, but also whether to go with four wheels or two. Four-wheel suitcases are easier to push and save effort, while two-wheel suitcases are better for independent travel. Many people pull four-wheel suitcases diagonally, thinking it’s effortless, but it’s actually quite damaging to the wheels. Traditional two-wheel suitcases can be pulled diagonally and are better suited for cobblestone roads in Europe. So, if you plan to travel independently, two-wheel suitcases that can be pulled diagonally are more suitable for various terrains, while four-wheel suitcases that you can push are easier on smooth surfaces.