After nearly a decade of hard-sided luggage dominating the travel scene, a stylish new crop of soft-sided suitcase is making its way to the market.
For as long as human beings have been roaming the Earth , ourbaggagehas been comparatively rudimentary — at its burden , just sacking or boxwood tohold our hooey . It was n’t until the 1970s that the trilled grip became more mainstream . Before then , a wheeled purpose was deal exclusive to fair sex ’s luggage — and its invention only date back to 1928 , when artist Anita Willets - Burnham decided to put rack on her automobile trunk .
In 2000 , Rimowa became the first baggage brand name to make a suitcase with a polycarbonate shell . The hard shell was a major divergence from the nylon or polyester bags offered by pop brand like Samsonite and TravelPro . But still , it would be a 10 or so before hard - sided baggage became truly popular ; the patsy of baggage ’s next major modification would come in 2016 , whenAwaylaunched its sleek , minimalist hard - sided suitcases .
“ When off found in 2016 , we were the first to create a suitcase that go beyond its useful purposes , one that serves as a path to show personal style in addition to making a traveller ’s journeying more seamless , ” Luigi Auricchio , Vice President of Design at Away , told Thrillist in an audience .
Design by Manali Doshi for Thrillist
Over the last eight age , the hard - sided suitcase has become a mo of an airport ( and Instagram ) status symbolization . voguish brand name like Beís , Monos , and Calpak inscribe the market place with colourful options and celebrity indorsement . Pricey make like Tumi and Rimowa enlisted the help of TikTok influencers to become relevant and desirable to a young audience . Before retentive , hard - sided luggage had become top executive — now wide considered the more perdurable , stylish , and even functional option .
And while the baggage claim has — by 2024 — long been fill up with hardshell luggage in colour like rose crystal and blue haze , one notable group of traveler has yet to swap their baggage excerpt to hardshell : the flight crew . alternatively of cherry tree red or granite Gy Away suitcases , escape concomitant and pilot can still be see using sturdy mild - sided bags , often industriousness favorite TravelPro , which focuses less on the course and more on service the type of individual who is in the air as often as they ’re on the basis .
" work party consistently privilege our balmy - sided baggage for its contrivance , dependability , and relief of utilization — it ’s light , more compromising , and expands when packing , put up comparable tribute to hardshell alternatives , " Valerie Batrice , Vice President of Consumer Marketing at Travelpro , tell Thrillist . " For over 30 years , we ’ve been the brand of choice among pilots and flight attendant , providing them with professional - mark , extremist - long-lived soft - sided luggage designed to endure one C of trip-up and thousands of miles . "
And while TikTok might indicate otherwise , flight attendants are n’t the only unity who have stayed true to easygoing - sided bags . Auricchio says that over 50 % of luggage sales agreement in the US are soft - sided luggage , and that over 90 million travelers utilise diffuse - sided baggage exclusively . There ’s a reason for that . The bags are long-lasting to tire and tear , easy to bone up into overhead ABA transit number , less likely to break open when they are overpacked , and do n’t scuff or mark as easy as hard - sided bags . Case in point : On my very first flight with my pricey hard - sided checked bag , it come in down the conveyor belt looking like it had been on the lose side of a long combat with the paving .
But as pop as piano - sided bags are , no one has really been offering customers an option to the classic , tried - and - true soft - sided suitcases — implausibly reliable , but not abysmally exciting . “ In the nearly 10 age since Away launched , there have been a long ton of competition and imitators who ’ve come forth in the food market with their version of a heavily - sided suitcase , but the soft - sided market remain relatively unswayed by conception , ” Auricchio explains . “ That ’s a massive dower of the market that ’s been patiently expect for an upgrade . ”
So , view an untapped market , out travel about make its very own line of piano - sided baggage . The new line launched on July 8 , and features carry - on and check soft - sided baggage options with mid - range price stop between $ 225 and $ 325 . The launch got a bit of buzz : The luggage brand that made heavily - sided luggage a elan statement for the average consumer was quite literally going soft .
Courtesy of Dagne Dover
But while the by flabby - sided bag is a game changer , off is n’t the first sword to throw a trendy balmy suitcase this summer . Dagne Dover , a women - founded brand that plunge in 2013 , has never released a grip before . The stigma has long been get laid for neoprene bags with an intense direction on functionality ; its first NYC subway advertizement depict a tantalizing organized employment bag that could fit a laptop computer , sneakers , pee bottle , notebooks , and a lunch . When Dagne Dover dropped its own baggage line in June 2024 , it was a release from the first baggage tone ending by other voguish brands : It skip over the polycarbonate shell and go directly to something a bit more pliable .
“ Polycarbonate outside are not very lasting due to the rigidity of the design , although they are really beautiful , ” Jessy Dover , Chief Creative Officer and Co - Founder at Dagne Dover , told Thrillist . “ We picked our recycled 900D Poly material not only because it ’s recycled and durable , but because it also has a beautiful lustre to it similar to what you see in knockout shell luggage , and because it ’s semi - soft , you’re able to really wedge this grip into tight spaces . ”
That ’s something important to direct out about both of these new diffused - sided traveling bag from Away and Dagne : They are very , very pretty . I am not rap a Samsonite , because those suitcases could probablywithstand the Armageddon , but when I see one , my first thought is never “ Ooh , stunning . ” I know I could fox some of these traditional cushy - sided bags down five flights of step and they ’d be totally fine , but I would n’t be as inclined to post it on Instagram or in aTikTok packing video .
Courtesy of Away
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This new waving of lenient - sided baggage is signify for those with an heart for aesthetics . “ It is design for the person who is organizationally - given and who wants to carry a high - calibre , beautiful part of luggage , ” Dover says of the brand ’s suitcases .
Away designed its new melody for a similar customer . “ We expect to see pastime from those ready to raise their hackneyed , paw - me - down flaccid - side travelling bag , ” Auricchio from Away tell .
And while it seems like voiced - sided baggage is dead everywhere , this revitalization has been years in the making . Away has been trialing design and examination product for two year . Dagne Dover has been doing it for three . Of course , these are n’t the only two brands that offer a soft - sided product — they are n’t even the only brand that make trendy soft traveling bag . Gallic brand Lipault makes a beautiful soft bag in a few colorways , as does Calpak . And as we ’ve already note , TravelPro , Swiss , and Samsonite are trusted providers of easy - sided luggage , albeit a more traditional ( read : less pretty ) variety .
Courtesy of Amazon
But for two trendy travelling bag brands to found their own soft baggage within a month of each other could sign that today ’s “ nerveless ” luggage does n’t have to be hard - shell . you may now have the diffused suitcase that gather all of your functional requirements and is stylish enough to become a photographable accessory .
… Today ’s “ cool ” luggage does n’t have to be hard - shelled .
For someone looking to make a purchase , each of the trendy new drops has something radical - likeable . The Away grip ( $ 225 to $ 245 for a carry - on and $ 295 to $ 325 for a checked bag ) sits at a lower price point than the Dagne Dover bag , which sells for between $ 595 to $ 625 for a carry - on and $ 675 to $ 725 for a agree udder . The Away travelling bag has a water resistant exterior , which is styled with a similar aesthetic to the blade ’s hard sided luggage , and feel more like a traditional soft sided suitcase to the touch . The Dagne grip has a slew of very clever pocket designs made for easy packing and approach , and its easygoing cuticle is , well , harder , with each turning point reinforced with hard charge plate . Both old bag have 360 - degree spinning wheels and reserve up nicely ( without scuff or open up zippers ) when I tried toss away them down the stairs — I would n’t backpack unwrapped glassful in either traveling bag , but I ’d find comfortable traveling home with delicate souvenirs twine up in a few tonne - shirt .
Courtesy of Amazon
If you are looking to bring together the Soft Side , Thrillist has assembled six picks with an centre towards impertinent design : The Classic , The Industry Pro , The Newcomer , The Celebrity , The Stylish , and The Puffer .
Dagne Dover might be young to luggage , but its first attempt sure as shooting has the specs to make the brand seem like an old professional . The small crack bag still has ton of distance , with cleverly placed zippers , 360 - level spinning wheel , and a shell made from long-lasting recycled material .
You ’ve hear about the arduous two - year excogitation process that sound into micturate this soft - sided bag . With famous person endorsements fromSuccessionstar Alan Ruck andHacksstar Megan Stalter , it ’s already established itself as an " it " bagful — and its roomy interior and classic Away stain feature make it the perfect choice for someone switching over to the subdued side .
Courtesy of Lipault
TravelPro make its very own line of baggage specifically for flight gang — but it also has luggage for the regular consumer looking for something very stalwart and reliable . The Travelpro Maxlite 5 is lightweight and come in multiple pretty colors like violet , orchid pink , azure blue , and slate green . commentator on Amazon say it is a well - build suitcase with strong handgrip , and we ’ve chance Travelpro baggage to hold up over the years during our own examination as well .
Samsonite is a classic for long - fourth dimension traveller . It ’s the suitcase you borrowed from your aunt or grandmother for your first trip , and that has been in use for 15 year . This suitcase is the Samsonite Ascella 3.0 Softside Expandable Luggage , and is radical - lightweight . Reviewers on Amazon say it is very tough and a good value .
Paris - base brand Lipault make coloured flaccid - sided grip with a nylon and polyester shell . The brand says its bags are intended for the " fashion concious " traveler , and with the silklike design and color options like Magnetic Blue and Guava Juice , customer will by all odds have the most colourful baggage at luggage claim .
Courtesy of Calpak
This cute carry - on cue me of my favored winter jacket , with it ’s puffed - up , insulated appearance . Calpak ’s Luka carry - on has plenty of air hole , and includes a Transportation Security Administration lock and multiple interior and exterior pockets . There ’s also cushioned handles and a front pocket for storing your laptop . Its lower terms point make it a great option for someone looking to advance their existing soft - baggage .
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