4-wheelers: hard or soft better?

bundly

Got to replace my suitcase as the pull-out handle broke whilst I was abroad (grrr!) Mine was the soft type with an expansion gusset and external pockets. Browsing online I see that many are of the hard shell type (And I saw a lot of these being wheeled through airports, too.)

Now I can't decide whether to do for another fabric one, or a hard shell.

Wondered if anyone had experience of both types and can advise on the pros/cons.

Thanks

trolleyrun

If you're only planning on using it as hand luggage I'd choose soft every time. Then you can squash more into it if needed. If you're planning on putting it the hold at some point I'd go with the hard case

DomRavioli

I have an Antler Revelation spinner, its a soft case, and has been around the world (literally) and back; on some nice and not so nice airlines and through airports with bad bag handlers (Manchester included!) - it cost £40 from ebay around 3 years ago and still looks brand new. It has an expansion pocket to the front, and its pretty lightweight.

My hardshell one broke after 3 uses, it was a Samsonite one (never again!); I've just replaced the OH's one and got another Antler revelation spinner for around £45 delivered from ebay again (brand new with 48 hour courier delivery) a couple of weeks back, and will be going off to Zante (bad airport handlers!) in 2 weeks - mine has survived Zante airport before

I find the hard cases crack so easily (even the expensive ones) very quickly, especially in US airports - my samsonite was damaged at either La Guardia or at Heathrow.

jackieblack

One thing I don't like about the hard cases is that they all seem to fasten in the middle so you have to open them right out to pack into both halves and this takes up double the amount of floor space.
I prefer a case where you can open the 'flat' top up (against a wall etc)and pack everything into the bottom part.

Hobsons_Choice

Another vote for Antler Revelation - it also has a zip pocket for the handle to go in, saving the risk of the handle being broken en route.

ferf1223

I've never really understood hard sided cases...just back from Vegas and no way we could have gotten all 3 cases in the boot if they were hardsided as there was some squishing required...having them all in the boot meant we could head off for lunch and a bit of a wander before moving to the next hotel...without that we would have had to check the cases with the bell desk somewhere and had that extra faff. We also had more opportunities with the outer pockets to keep certain things a bit more separated if we wanted to.

I just genuinely don't understand the hard sided case thing and would be curious to hear why those who do prefer them prefer them.

stephb34

I have a lovely hard case I only use it in this country since I got pulled over by a very butch lady customs officer at Gatwick and it and I were given a thorough going over. It may not have been entirely the cases fault as I was early 40's, on my own at that point in the airport, in a rush to catch my national express bus and just landed in from Jamaica, apparently the typical description of a drugs mule. So now I have a lovely 4 wheel antler soft sided case and would sooner wait 4 hours for the next bus than rush threw customs.

bundly

Many thanks for all the replies.

The consensus is for the soft one, with a recommendation of Antler Revelation.

I'll go look on eBay!

Cheers!

trolleyrun

I can recommend the Tripp 4 wheelers

photome

I prefer soft cases and can also reccomend Tripp cases, their gtees are very good.

Have always had 2 wheelers though so cant comment on 4 wheelers

Contessa

My preference is for hard suitcases. I think they are more secure and rain proof. A few years ago my hard case was damaged on a long haul flight - one side was badly pushed in and the seal had a 2cm gap in places.

During the 4 hour train journey from the airport the damage completely disappeared and the case looks as good as ever. I was worried because I'd been given three jars of local chutney and expected them to be broken-but none of the contents of the case was damaged.

A soft case may have bounced back instantly but it may not have protected the glass jars.

Anyway, I prefer hard cases-and 4 wheel spinners are by far the easiest to use.