Types Of Materials For Luggage Sets

It's no secret that your luggage set might undergo some rough treatment on its way to your destination. In between the conveyer belt, the cargo hold, possible inspections, and all of the transportation risks your luggage must endure, it's reasonable to expect some bumps along the way. Although hard-sided luggage may not be as common of a sight in airports, it definitely offers some benefits over its soft-sided and semi-soft counterparts. If you frequently travel with delicate or breakable items (or for that matter, if you're just generally very protective of your luggage), hard-sided sets offer perks to make your travels more convenient.

Hard-sided luggage, much as its name suggests, features a tough plastic frame that offers extra protection for its contents, but typically adds extra weight. A quality brand can survive being dropped, poked, smashed, or otherwise abused and still come out with its contents intact. As an added practical bonus, they are stain-resistant and easy to clean. Common materials for hard-sided luggage include polypropylene and polycarbonate, rigid thermoplastics known for their durability and toughness.

As with any decision, however, there are also drawbacks. Hard-sided luggage, although far from un-maneuverable, tends to be traditionally heavier than soft-sided or semi-soft sided (lightweight thermoplastic materials, such as polycarbonate and polypropylene, have made headway in providing protection without excessive pounds.) Heavy packers should note that this type of luggage does not expand. They also run at more expensive prices, so research and consider your needs carefully before purchasing a set.

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Semi-hardsided Luggage Sets

Some luggage sets provide a middle ground between a full solid hardside set. These luggage sets we define as semi-hardsided might come in a few varieties. The luggage maker might start with a semi-soft fabric set and coat the fabric with a harder material or they might use a semi-hard material to make the outer casing for the luggage.

Luggage sets in the full solid hardsided category provided complete rigidity, where the sets we call semi-hardsided generally flex under pressure while retaining the ability to bounce back to their original form except in cases of major compression.

Semi-hardsided luggage offers the traveler an option at less weight than a full hardsided set, more fashion choices and sometimes less cost at the expense of losing some protection only a solid hardsided luggage set may allow.

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Semi soft-sided Luggage Sets

Perhaps the most popular and frequently seen type of luggage set, semi soft-sided pieces offer the protection of a durable frame, but the expandability of a soft outside covering (usually polyester or nylon.) Look for the frame running up the back made of something more rigid, like metal and a semihard plastic lining the circumference.

Some of these softsided framed luggage sets even come with bonus material behind an additional zipper constructed so that when the traveler needs a little larger suitcase rather than just that little extra stretch a softsided piece of luggage might provide, the packer merely unzips to access the expansion area and suddenly they gain 1 to 3 inches of new packing room. Luggage manufacturer's title these luggage sets as “expandable” and most tout several to select from.

Semi softsided luggage sets weight falls in between soft-sided and semi-hardsided luggage sets, as does the amount of protection they offer your personal items. This type of luggage is a great compromise that allows travelers to avoid the bulk and weight of a hard plastic shell, and still experience the benefits of flexibility and expandability with extra protection. With a wide variety of colors and sizes, it's easy to find a style that perfectly suits your traveling personality. For those who occasionally transport fragile items or who need durability without weight for frequent travel, semi soft-sided luggage is the perfect happy medium.

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Soft-sided Luggage Sets

A popular choice for many types of travelers, this luggage is the lightest of the bunch, allowing for quick and easy travel through airports. Soft-sided luggage includes pieces with no internal frame, such as duffel bags, garment bags, and totes, which offer definite benefits over more structured pieces – many models even come with wheels for added convenience. Not only is soft-sided luggage light, its sides allow for expandability (great for heavy packers), and carry-on's offer flexibility by easily molding into crowded overhead compartments or beneath airplane seats. With a range of prices and wide selection of colors, fabrics, and designs, the only limitations in finding a quality bag are trying to narrow down your choices. Common fabrics include polyester or nylon of different thickness, measured in denier.

Completely softsided luggage comes with the bonus advantage in these days of <luggage fees from the airlines> that the luggage itself may fold to become luggage. Imagine you need to transport many items to a location, but you plan to leave most things at your destination. The travelers might fly out with four full pieces of luggage, but for the return trip they gain the chance to fold and pack 3 of the softsided bags inside one of the others and come home with only one checked bag to pay for and handle in the airports.

On the downside, soft shells don't provide the same durability as hard-sided or semi soft-sided luggage, so try and keep in mind what items you'll be transporting. If you're carrying fragile items over long distances, for example, you may want to consider a luggage set that offers more protection. Generally, though, any type of traveler can benefit from the versatility of soft-sided luggage, so long as you aren't transporting anything extremely delicate.

Many luggage sets offer a few semi-softsided pieces to carry the bulk of your clothes plus one or two softsided bags as accessory items. For some these allow for a true matching set of luggage including everything you might need to pack for a trip.

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