undoubtedbest Reviews of the best Hardshell Luggages for traveling in 2019
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Reviews of the best Hardshell Luggages for traveling in 2019

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If you travel a lot, you need to have a safe and reliable way of a carrying your stuff, and a hardshell luggage is a great option.

Here we review 5 of the best ones and also show you how to choose one.

Best Hard Shell Luggages

Comparison

 

For those that are well-traveled or adventurous and are always crisscrossing the globe, keeping luggage organized is always one of the essentials of the journey.

Nothing is more annoying than losing some of your stuff in the airport or always ending up with a dented or mauled suitcase.

And so as much as keeping your stuff organized is important, you need to have a good suitcase to help out, and a hard shell suitcase is always one of the best options.

These travel suitcases are made with a hardshell designed to remain rigid under pressure and to be more resistant to denting.

However, there are many types and models of these handy travel suitcases in the market, and so picking the ideal one for you can be a little hectic.

But, this is only so if you do not know what to look for when shopping.

In this piece, we explain the factors to consider when shopping and also review some top quality ones to help make shopping for one a less tedious process.

01

AmazonBasics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner by AmazonBasics

Our Pick

Pros

  • Appealing and scratch-resistant finish
  • Expandable for additional packing space
  • Extra thick ABS shell for extra strength and durability
  • Includes 3 zippered pockets for extra storage
  • Telescoping handle for easy and comfortable maneuverability
  • Smooth rolling wheels

Cons

Handle does not feel sturdy enough.
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This AmazonBasics hardside spinner makes our top pick thanks to the relatively more affordable price tag when compared to others and the solid and extra thick ABS construction that makes it strong and highly durable.

It also has an expandable design that will provide up to 15% more storage space, and it includes 3 zippered pockets that will also provide more storage space.

The luggage has an appealing and scratch-resistant finish and is available in several color options.

There are two handles on the suitcase which include a telescoping one for easy maneuverability and a securely mounted short handle.

And this should be an easy suitcase to move around thanks to the four smooth-rolling wheels.

This suitcase is a relatively affordable, tough and smooth rolling hardside spinner that is highly convenient to use.

For more about AmazonBasics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner, check out customer reviews on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

02

Kenneth Cole Reaction “Out of Bounds” 20-Inch 4-Wheel Spinner by Kenneth Cole REACTION

Impact Resistant

Pros

  • Smooth rolling multidirectional wheels
  • Lightweight construction
  • Highly durable ABS shell
  • Fully lined interior with garment restraint straps
  • Large zippered pocket included for accessories
  • Reinforced guards for maximum impact resistance

Cons

Top handle is a little short.
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A tough suitcase with high-impact resistance like this one is designed to withstand all the pressure that comes with regular travel.

The high shock resistance comes from the molded corner guards and you can be confident that this suitcase can handle anything that comes its way.

Overall it is also quite a lightweight travel case but with a highly durable ABS outer shell. The interior is quite spacious and it has full lining and some handy restraint straps to make it easy to organize.

Also, there is a large zippered pocket for your accessories and convenient side and top handles that make the travel case easy to maneuver.

Tough and highly impact resistant luggage designed to absorb and deflect a lot of the shock.

For more about Kenneth Cole Reaction “Out of Bounds” 20-Inch 4-Wheel Spinner, check out customer reviews on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

03

Samsonite Winfield 2 28-Inch Hardside by Samsonite

Lockable

Pros

  • Multidirectional spinner wheels for easy mobility
  • Lightweight and convenient telescoping handle
  • Side-mounted locks for security
  • Expandable for extra storage capacity
  • Interior divider and cross straps for easy luggage organization
  • 100% polycarbonate construction
  • Designed to flex under pressure to absorb impact

Cons

Weak volume output when using via Bluetooth.
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If you are looking for something tougher and with a higher capacity, this is it.

The 28-inch hardside is designed to accommodate a lot of stuff as it is also expandable by 1.5 inches.

Its toughness comes from the 100% polycarbonate construction designed to withstand a lot of abuse. Also, this travel suitcase will flex to absorb impact and pop straight back.

This luggage also has side-mounted locks for extra security, and it is also quite easy to organize thanks to the full zip interior divider and cross straps.

And you can also maneuver it easily as it has a telescoping handle and comes with 4 multi-directional spinner wheels for easy mobility.

Relatively larger and more spacious hard shell luggage with side mounted locks for increased security.

You know what’s the most important feature of Samsonite Winfield 2 28-Inch Hardside? One customer wrote details about this on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

04

Samsonite Omni PC 20-Inch Hardside Spinner by Samsonite

Polycarbonate

Pros

  • Secure side mount TSA lock
  • Retractable handle for convenient mobility
  • Lightweight spinner wheels
  • Extremely scratch-resistant finish
  • Full divider and cross straps for easy organization
  • Durable and lightweight polycarbonate construction

Cons

Absence of side and bottom handles can make lifting it a little hard
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Here is another top-notch quality hardside spinner from Samsonite and what makes it stand out is that it is not only lightweight but also highly durable thanks to the polycarbonate construction.

It is also an easy suitcase to organize thanks to the full-zip divider and cross straps, and you can also be confident that it will keep your stuff safe as it has a secure side mount TSA lock.

Also, mobility is a lot easy thanks to the lightweight spinner wheels and the retractable handle. And it is an extremely scratch resistant suitcase to ensure that it maintains its elegant look for a long time.

Well-built and highly durable polycarbonate that is lightweight enough and easy to pack and organize.

If you’re interested in reading customer reviews of Samsonite Omni PC 20-Inch Hardside Spinner, you should check from Amazon Now. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

05

Rockland Melbourne 20-inch Expandable Carry-On by Rockland

Budget

Pros

  • Lightweight and easy to pull around
  • Durable ABS shell
  • Expandable to provide extra storage space
  • Smooth rolling multi-directional spinners
  • Ergonomic and sturdy aluminum telescoping handle

Cons

Few color options.
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While this is a relatively cheaper carry-on travel luggage when compared to many other options in the market, it is still well-built, convenient and also highly durable.

It is a lightweight travel suitcase made with a highly durable ABS shell that will withstand the pressure and abuse that comes with traveling.

Also, it is designed to be expandable to ensure that you get some extra storage space and it is also easy to use thanks to the sturdy and ergonomic telescoping handle and the smooth multi-directional spinner wheels.

Highly affordable but tough and lightweight travel hard shell luggage.

If you’re interested in reading customer reviews of Rockland Melbourne 20-inch Expandable Carry-On, you should check from Amazon Now. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

Important key factors to consider before buying

For many people, a good hardshell suitcase is one that looks attractive and will make them look amazing as they pull it along in the airport or subway.

However, there is more to these suitcases than the appearance, and so before you buy one it is important to consider the following factors.

Material

The fact that these travel bags come with a hard shell does not mean that they are all made from the same materials.

Different brands will use different materials to make their suitcases, and this means that their quality will also differ.

The most common materials are polycarbonate and ABS. Polycarbonate is the hardest and offers the most impact resistance while ABS is the cheapest and lightest.

Also, some will combine the two materials to ensure that users get the benefits of both.

Capacity

Size always matters when buying any type of travel suitcase, but here it is all a matter of personal preferences and the amount of luggage you intend to carry often.

However, you will always be better off ending up with a larger suitcase that leaves a little extra space than a small one.

Also, look at how the interior is made to determine whether it will make it easy to organize your luggage or not.

Wheels

Hardshell luggage bags will use wheels for mobility, but there are also different options here.

Some will have two wheels which are the types referred to as rollers while others will have four wheels and are referred to as spinners. Both rollers and spinners are easy and convenient to

use, but each type has some merits and demerits. For example, spinners are easier to maneuver in tight spaces but the external mounting of the wheels makes them more prone to snapping off.

Handles

Handles are what links the suitcase to your hands and what you use to move or maneuver it, and so they are an important component of the bag that you cannot afford to overlook.

A good handle should be ergonomic, sturdy and with an adjustable length.

See also: 5 of the best Duffel Bags for International Travel

Conclusion

A good hardshell luggage will always make traveling much easier for you as you can easily organize everything that you will need for the journey.

Even with the myriad options out there, picking the ideal one for you should now be an effortless task as our reviews and guide above will provide all the information you need for this.

As for recommendations, go for Rockland Melbourne 20-inch Expandable Carry-On if you are looking for something more affordable while the AmazonBasics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner is our top overall recommendation.

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01 AmazonBasics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner image large AmazonBasics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner
by AmazonBasics
This suitcase is a relatively affordable, **tough and smooth rolling** hardside spinner that is highly convenient to use. Buy now on Amazon
02 Kenneth Cole Reaction “Out of Bounds” 20-Inch 4-Wheel Spinner image large Kenneth Cole Reaction “Out of Bounds” 20-Inch 4-Wheel Spinner
by Kenneth Cole REACTION
**Tough and highly impact resistant luggage** designed to absorb and deflect a lot of the shock. Buy now on Amazon
03 Samsonite Winfield 2 28-Inch Hardside image large Samsonite Winfield 2 28-Inch Hardside
by Samsonite
Relatively larger and more spacious hard shell luggage with side mounted locks for increased security. Buy now on Amazon
04 Samsonite Omni PC 20-Inch Hardside Spinner image large Samsonite Omni PC 20-Inch Hardside Spinner
by Samsonite
Well-built and **highly durable polycarbonate** that is lightweight enough and easy to pack and organize. Buy now on Amazon
05 Rockland Melbourne 20-inch Expandable Carry-On image large Rockland Melbourne 20-inch Expandable Carry-On
by Rockland
Highly affordable but tough and lightweight travel hard shell luggage. Buy now on Amazon

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