By Jordan Galloway

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While it may seem like the only choice you need to make about luggage while traveling is whether to check a bag or carry-on, the question of hard versus softsided suitcases is also worth considering as there are pros and cons to both—and packing the right can help ensure you reach your final destination with fewer headaches. At a minimum, softside suitcases offer you a little extra wiggle room.
And don’t let the word “soft” fool you—these bags are anything but delicate. Modern softsided suitcases are built from advanced materials that resist wear and tear, combining durability with the versatility to navigate unpredictable travel conditions, of which I’ve definitely experienced. Here, I’ve curated a selection of top-performing softsided suitcases, from sleek nylon standups to rugged roller duffels, perfect for every traveler, whether you’re packing light or gearing up for a long-haul adventure.

The Away Outdoor Rolling Duffle is a great choice for travelers seeking a versatile alternative to traditional suitcases. With its spacious 85-liter capacity, this duffle offers ample room for extended trips or those who prefer to pack a bit extra. The durable, water-resistant fabric and oversized wheels ensure smooth rolling, whether you’re navigating through airports or rolling down city streets.
Inside, the main compartment is roomy and features compression straps to help you store more stuff, as do the interior flap compartments. The extendable handle and sleek design add to its practicality. Plus, its collapsable frame design means you can store it completely flat when it’s not being used. There’s a lot to love here, though it’s worth noting that its larger size can make it cumbersome in tight spaces or crowded areas. Overall, the Rolling Duffle provides a flexible and efficient packing solution for those who value space and easy maneuverability.
The Lipault Foldable Plume Long Trip Case is designed for travelers who prioritize space efficiency and versatility. Its innovative foldable system allows you to easily collapse the suitcase with just a press of two buttons on the wheels, making it simple to store in tight spaces like closets or under beds when it’s not in use. Bonus: It comes with its own storage bag.
Inside, you’ll find a well-organized layout with a main compartment that includes compression straps to secure your clothing, plus zippered pockets around the perimeter, all perfect for keeping your belongings neatly arranged. This bag is deceptively roomy, which you may not realize looking at it. I was able to pack everything I wanted for a two-week trip to Europe (including three coats, a half-dozen sweaters and four pairs of shoes) and still had a little room to spare in case I pick up anything along the way.
An exterior zipped front pocket provides quick access to essentials, while the PVC cover and lining help keep your suitcase and its contents protected from the elements and overzealous baggage agents tossing it around.
However, one potential drawback is that the wheels are not 360-degree, meaning they only roll in a straight line, plus it only has two wheels instead of four, making it more difficult to standalone than a traditional spinner. Neither of these were dealbreakers when I took this bag on a trial trip to London, but something worth noting. I also liked that it was lighter than my Rimowa, which is typically what I grab for an extended trip.
The Luka Soft Sided Carry-On Luggage combines durability with comfort, designed to handle the demands of frequent travel. Made from the signature puffy Luka material, this suitcase is lightweight yet resilient, making it perfect for business trips or quick getaways. Its 360-degree spinner wheels ensure smooth, effortless maneuvering through airports, allowing you to glide seamlessly to your gate or baggage claim.
The suitcase offers practical organization with two front pockets, including a dedicated padded compartment that fits laptops up to 17 inches. This feature helps keep your tech secure and easily accessible.
Some reviews have noted that the soft shell, while durable—and easy to identify should you wind up needing to check yours at the gate—can be more susceptible to scuffs and marks compared to hard-shell options. Additionally, the lack of expansion capability might be a limitation for those who need extra space.
If you’re the type of person who loves to say yes to last-minute long weekend getaways without even asking where you’re going, this is the suitcase for you. The Cotopaxi Allpa Roller Bag is a versatile and durable choice for travelers who need a carry-on that can handle various terrains. This bag transforms Cotopaxi’s popular Allpa pack into a tough, four-wheeled roller, designed to excel on cobbled streets, dirt roads, and stairs. Crafted from durable, ripstop nylon (exterior shell) and polyester (interior lining) that are lightweight yet strong, it offers both resilience and practicality.
The split-case design allows for efficient organization, making it easy to access your gear. It also features a molded EVA back panel for added structure, and multiple grab handles enhance maneuverability. A top zip accessory pocket adds extra convenience for quick-access items. And the extendable handle is secure enough to support a pass-through strap in case you want to stack your travel backpack on top without worrying about the whole thing falling over.
My one caveat about this suitcase is the lack of interior organization. One thing Cotopaxi is known for is making bags with genius pockets to help compartmentalize your belongings in ways you didn’t even know you needed, so the absence of such design elements in this roller bag would’ve been a nice touch. It’s nothing investing in a few packing cubes can’t fix, however.
Ideal for extended trips, the Carryall Spinner was recently redesigned with travel-tough fabric and a sleek look. This extra-large suitcase is part of L.L.Bean’s lightest luggage collection, and it features a large main compartment with mesh-covered storage for organizing lighter items. Two deep side pockets provide extra storage options—one designed to separate shoes or laundry, and the other equipped with an organizer panel and key fob to keep smaller essentials secure and accessible. The locking telescoping handle ensures comfortable handling, no matter how full the bag is packed.
While the Carryall Spinner lives up to its name, it’s worth pointing at that, due to its construction, it doesn’t offer much room to expand, so don’t overpack if you know you plan on shopping while you’re away.
For explorers whose ideal escape involves getting as far off the beaten path as possible, off-roading and setting up camp somewhere your only neighbor for miles is Mother Nature, meet your new fav travel buddy. Made from recycled materials, including a 100-percent recycled polyester body fabric and a recycled TPU laminate, this duffel is designed to withstand rough handling and diverse weather conditions. Its durable, water-resistant exterior protects your stuff, while the large 100-liter capacity offers plenty of space for extended trips or gear-heavy excursions.
This wheeled duffel is equipped with sturdy, oversized wheels that make it easy to roll over uneven terrain, from airport terminals to dirt paths. The main compartment features a U-shaped zipper opening for easy access, with internal mesh pockets on the flap to help keep your items organized. Multiple reinforced grab handles make it easy to lift and carry, while the bag’s flexible construction allows it to fit into tight spaces when needed.
There’s a lot to love about this duffel, but its lack of rigid structure can make it harder to pack neatly or keep upright when not completely full. It’s like the Uber XL of luggage—you only want to order it if you know you need the extra room. That said, it’s these exact design elements that make it a great choice when you know you need to bring items that don’t typically fit into suitcases with more structured interiors like yoga mats, sleeping bags, collapsible fishing rods, or other camping gear.
One of the most trusted names in travel gear, Antler, a British brand with over a century of experience in designing and crafting luggage, is known for three things: quality, innovation, and designs that never look dated—all things you want when investing in a set of suitcases.
This set is made from the Goldilocks of fabrics, meaning it’s not too soft, and not too rigid, offering just the right amount of give to provide some flexibility while packing, while still protecting your stuff. The smooth 360-degree spinner wheels provide effortless mobility, and the bags fit into one another like Russian dolls making them easier to store when you’re not using them.
The expander zippers on these bags are an overpacker’s best friend, and when buying a set, the brand lets you mix and match designs and colors so you can customize yours to your needs.
The only real downside here is the lack of interior pockets for organization purposes, but that’s common in both soft and hard-side suitcases of this style.
The Rains Texel Cabin Bag combines Scandinavian minimalism with practical design, offering a sleek and modern option for travelers who want style and functionality in a compact size. Known for its high-quality all-weather gear, this carry-on bag is made from the brand’s signature water-repelling PU-coated fabric. The material not only protects your belongings from the elements but also gives the bag a distinctive, matte finish that stands out in a crowd.
Designed to fit in overhead compartments, the Texel Cabin Bag is ideal for short trips or weekend getaways. It features two large, mesh-zippered main compartments to keep your items securely stowed. The bag’s exterior includes side clips so you can compress and make it smaller (ideal for flying through airports with tight restrictions on carry-on sizes), plus it features multiple handles for versatile carrying options and noise-free wheels.
The bag’s design, however, while aesthetically pleasing, is not what you could describe as capacious by any means, which is why it’s best for travelers who align with the brand’s minimalist aesthetics.

We put the bags through the ringer, testing these bags on far-flung trips and wheeling them down cobble stones. We got our hands on as many as possible and those we didn’t, we perused reviews to ensure that we’d stand by the quality of each bag that’s on the list. We took into consideration things like the bags’ weight, storage capacity, features and usefulness on the road.