Every time someone lifts the hard shell suitcases above passengers head and try to squeeze it into the overhead bin, i feel it might just hit someone and it will hurt. And yes, I've seen it happened. A soft shell bag is easier to squeeze into the bin but not the hardhshell.

Anonymous wrote:So funny how this thread seems to pivot down the hard sides which seemed to have been popular in last 10 years and the PP abandons wheels entirely while everyone else has a spinner. What if you have a backpack personal item??

I'm the pp that recommended the Nargear backpack.
I just don't use a backpack personal item. I'm able to put pretty much everything in the Nargear bag, and then I wear a small cross body bag
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PPCYCE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
to hold things I want to keep close-wallet, passport, phone, my kindle, and small hygiene items like chapstick/tissues. I also bring a Patagonia black hole 27L, but that stays in my main bag until I'm at my destination, where I use it as a day bag (for carrying a jacket, water bottle, etc. if I'm out all day.) I could use it as a personal item and just carry it like a tote bag, along with the Nargear on my back, but I've never needed to carry that much.

The Nargear also comes with a shoulder strap, if I wanted to wear a backpack I could, and then carry the Nargear on my shoulder-but again, I've never carried that much stuff.

I prefer soft sides. They open from the top versus splitting in two which is better for my packing style. I like only 2 wheels which is easier to maneuver on various surfaces like sidewalks and escalators imo, plus it takes less length away from the bag capacity. And they have a bit of expansion if needed.

Yes. 22” is biggest I’d go with.

Anonymous wrote:for a carryon, note that the sizes differ for different airlines (e.g. southwest is up to 24 in, united is 22), and different for domestic vs. international

NP here. I've been looking for a carryon and wondering about this. Is 22 inches a good "universal" size for a carry on that most airlines accept?

Anonymous wrote:After Xmas Costco has hard shells for like $80 usually

DP, thanks for this!

for a carryon, note that the sizes differ for different airlines (e.g. southwest is up to 24 in, united is 22), and different for domestic vs. international

So funny how this thread seems to pivot down the hard sides which seemed to have been popular in last 10 years and the PP abandons wheels entirely while everyone else has a spinner. What if you have a backpack personal item??