As a longtime luggage reviewer, I have a somewhat unconscious habit of casually surveying crowded airports to note the kinds of bags people are using as they travel. And over the past decade, the rising preference for hard-sided luggage is undeniable.Hard-sided luggage looks good. It’s sleek and modern, with a reassuringly minimal exterior (the so-called shell) that, in both name and style, evokes a kind of armor against the world.But hard-sided luggage is not always the best tool for the job.Unlike soft-sided bags, hard-shell suitcases won’t squeeze into tight spaces or flex around last-minute souvenirs. They can crack under pressure (literally) and show scratches like a badge of honor (or shame).Still, when it’s done well, hard-sided luggage does offer real advantages to certain people who find these bags easier to maneuver (due to their rigidity), and they’re also a snap to clean. Over the past several years, we’ve tested more than 40 pieces of hard-sided luggage. We’ve rolled them through terminals, scraped them on subway turnstiles, and checked them on long-haul, multi-leg flights (which often involve mysterious luggage mishaps).The models we recommend strike the best balance of durability, design, maneuverability, and price. They’re not perfect for every traveler or for every trip, but when you need a suitcase that retains its shape and keeps your stuff safe, these are the bags we trust: a classic all-around pick, an upgraded pick with some refined styling, a good lower-priced option, a carry-on with locking wheels, and a carry-on reinforced by aluminum framing.Top pickThis good-looking, resilient hard-sided luggage comes in a classic size, for both domestic and international plane travel.This bigger model offers more internal space than most carry-ons, along with top-tier components and an easy-to-redeem lifetime warranty.If you prefer the structure and styling of a hard-sided case, Away’s The Carry-On and The Bigger Carry-On are the best we’ve tested. The shells are made from strong, flexible polycarbonate. And while this material will show scratches (as it does on all luggage made from it), after years of using this luggage, we’ve found it tends to wear well. The wheels are among the smoothest we’ve rolled, the YKK zippers are sturdy, and overall these bags are terrific all-around travel companions.The Bigger Carry-On has about eight more liters of capacity than The Carry-On, and that extra space makes it easier to pack for slightly longer trips. The Bigger model still fits in the overhead bins of most major US airlines, though you may be asked to gate-check it on smaller planes (or when you’re flying with some international carriers).Away backs its luggage with a limited lifetime warranty covering damage that tends to matter — broken wheels, cracked shells, and bent handle rails.Top pickThis luggage combines a polycarbonate exterior with the structure and security of an aluminum frame, so it has a premium feel.This bag is virtually the same as the regular-size Hybrid Carry-On. But due to its size, it can accommodate the maximum legal carry-on limits for domestic airlines.The Monos Hybrid Carry-On and Monos Hybrid Carry-On Plus both offer a slightly more-structured, secure-feeling alternative to traditional zippered luggage. And they are similar in feel and design to our pricier upgrade pick, from Carl Friedrik (though the Monos bags are missing some of that line’s luxe details, like leather accents). Instead of a zipper, the Monos luggage closes with two aluminum latch locks and a rigid center hinge. The wheels are smooth, the 100% polycarbonate shell is flexible but strong, and the internal layout is straightforward and easy to pack within.With the added aluminum, hybrid carry-ons are heavier than our other picks, but they’re built to take a little extra abuse than more-casual luggage. Mono’s warranty, however, requires you to purchase a separate add-on for full travel-damage coverage, and this may give some travelers pause. But if you want something that looks sharp, skips the zipper, and doesn’t cost quite as much as a luxury or upgrade pick, this is the bag to get.Budget pickWith durable materials, smooth wheels, and a clean design, this suitcase offers many of the features we like in pricier luggage — for half the price. But it lacks some of the refinement of our other picks.Although it’s practically identical to the original, this carry-on is a bit smaller. So it’s ideal for lighter packers and those flying with stricter international carriers.The Quince Carry-On Suitcase and Quince Small Carry-On Suitcase are the best budget hard-sided suitcases we’ve tested. They’re made from 100% polycarbonate — not the cheaper, ABS blend most sub-$150 bags are made from. This luggage features solid-feeling wheels, a simple clamshell layout, and a limited lifetime warranty, covering hardware failures.In both look and layout, this luggage mimics more-expensive brands, and it handles surprisingly well for the price. That said, the interior is basic, and the trim lacks the polish found on higher-priced picks. But if you want a hard-sided carry-on for occasional travel, and you don’t want to overspend, this luggage is where we’d start.Upgrade pickThis hard-sided suitcase is made with premium materials, provides smart organization, and has the best wheel-lock system we’ve encountered.This is the same suitcase, but it’s slightly larger for domestic travel.AER’s first piece of wheeled luggage brings the same design restraint and quality construction as the brand’s popular backpacks. The Aer Carry-On and the Aer Carry-On Max are traditional clamshell suitcases made from 100% polycarbonate.Unlike any other spinner luggage we’ve tested, AER’s carry-ons come with a built-in wheel-locking mechanism, to keep the bags from drifting on sloped sidewalks or perfectly smooth airport floors. This is a small feature, but in testing, the wheel-locking mechanism provided real peace of mind in situations where a free-rolling bag could have quickly become a liability.We thought the compression panel in the bag’s interior left something to be desired. But this is a small quibble, and most people (who haven’t looked at hundreds of pieces of luggage) might not even notice it.Upgrade pickThis stylish, well-balanced carry-on combines an aluminum frame with a flexible polycarbonate shell, as well as premium hardware, without tipping into ostentatious luxury.For travelers who want something more structured — and more polished — than a typical clamshell bag, Carl Friedrik’s The Carry-On is the best upgrade pick we’ve found. It trades a standard zipper closure for an aluminum frame and two TSA-approved latch locks (which give the luggage a secure and satisfyingly rigid structure). The polycarbonate shell flexes where it needs to, yet the carry-on still holds its shape better than any other model we tested.The mature features include leather handles and Hinomoto wheels, which roll as smoothly as any we’ve tried. Although this case is slightly heavier and more expensive than our other picks, it feels built to last.Carl Friedrik offers a robust lifetime warranty, including damage caused by the airline (if the airline won’t cover it). That kind of coverage is rare for a bag this stylish. If you’re willing to spend more for better materials, this is the carry-on to get.If you prefer soft-sidedThe Best Carry-On LuggageAfter 10 years of airport dashes and overhead-compartment stashes, the Travelpro Platinum Elite is still the suitcase we want to carry.
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