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The Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardside Luggage Materials


Category: Lugage

Hardside luggage, as its name suggests, is made from solid materials, from aluminum to various types of plastics, polycarbonate, ABS and polypropylene included.
Hardside luggage is famous for its great durability and superb protection for the possessions inside. However, every coin has two sides, and every material has its merits and shortcomings, so that when considering what kind of hardside luggage to purchase, you need to consider both advantages and disadvantages of the materials.

Aluminum
  • Advantages. As the oldest material for hardside luggage, aluminum is virtually the most durable one that provides the most imaginable protection to the valuable and fragile things inside. Hardside luggage made of aluminum can withstand impacts and squeeze excellently without getting punctured or bent and can survive the infamous rough handling on the part of airline and train station workers, which means that your luggage can be used for a long time before being discarded and that your stuff inside will be safe and sound under the most severe circumstances.

  • Disadvantages.
    Metal is generally very heavy, so that the luggage made of aluminum might be several times heavier than fabric luggage. It will be heavier if you need a large briefcase, which makes things particularly difficult for females. Besides, heavy luggage will take up much of the weight allowance of many airlines, causing extra pay for the weight surpasses the weight limit. Authentic aluminum hardside luggage is also very expensive and rare to find.
Polycarbonate
  • Advantages. As a more recent entry in the luggage market, polycarbonate opens up a wider variety of colors and patterns for hardside luggage than aluminum does. This molded type of thermoplastic is durable and impact-resistant. Its surface will flex upon impact and squeeze, instead of crack or puncture. Good polycarbonate can bear a temperature level of 125 degrees. Being cheap also helps spread its popularity. Disadvantages. Polycarbonate luggage is not as durable as metal and can't protect valuable items from fire and severe traveling conditions. As one of the highest level of hardside luggage materials, it is also heavier than other plastic materials and more expensive too, though not as expensive as metal.
ABS
  • Advantages. As the lowest level of luggage material, ABS (short for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is also the cheapest and lightest, making it perfect choice for frequent airline takers. It is very flexible and can be easily molded into hardside luggage. Disadvantages. ABS is not as durable as other plastic materials and has to be combined with other materials, such as polycarbonate, to make it strong and durable enough to protect the contents inside the luggage. As to impact-resistance, it tops only PVC and is subject to cracks and punctures.

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