I've found that Away bags show wear and tear more readily than soft-sided bags like the Travelpro we recommend above. However, the bag is guaranteed for life and has a 100-day trial period.

According to Consumer Reports, soft-sided luggage is often made from woven nylon, but each nylon style has its pros and cons. Cordura has more texture and can hide scuff marks and abrasions better.

It's exactly those advantages that draw so many travelers to the soft side. Even so, in recent years, hard-shell luggage has seemingly been the travel companion of choice.

Today, soft-sided luggage comprises the bulk of the market, but hard-sided luggage is making a comeback—thanks to new materials that are both rigid and lightweight. In a recent survey of our ...