This Cult Luggage Brand Just Changed My Mind on the Hard vs Soft Suitcase Debate

Soft-sided luggage is having a moment. Away recently announced its Softside collection, which followed Herschel’s Softshell series earlier this summer.

But with a new collection called the VersaPack+, Travelpro — the highly recommend cult luggage brand started by a commercial airline pilot in the 1990s — might be the one to convince me to trade-in my hardshell suitcase for something, well, softer.

Travelpro

Travelpro VersaPack+ Soft Side Luggage

• Starts at $297

The hard truth of hardshells

For the last 10 years, I have traveled almost exclusively with hardshells. Away. Monos. Even the new Aer Carry-On. I have tried them all — and, admittedly, they are good bags. They’re protective. Reasonably priced. And they stack easily in a closet, making them easy to store in-between trips.

But I just can’t get over how scuffed they get — and not in a “nice patina, bro” kind of way like a vintage Rimowa (which has its own issues with weight).

Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

What’s more, hardshells often lack exterior pockets and don’t have as much “give” as a soft-sided suitcase, making them harder to pack, let alone access things mid-transit.

I’ve toyed around with the idea of picking up a soft-sided suitcase over the years but have never quite loved the look enough of one to get over the finish line. That is, until I came across Travelpro’s new VersaPack+ bags.

Checking all the boxes

Available in four different sizes, the VersaPack+ suitcases are crafted with a sleek ballistic nylon fabric. Their tapered expansion design looks somewhat streamlined, while providing an additional two inches of packing capacity. And leather accents on the handle and zipper pulls give the bags a general elegance you don’t often see in soft-sided luggage.

Travelpro

Inside, Travelpro added a water-repellant lining made from recycled plastic bottles, as well as packing cubes that differ on the specific bag. The Compact Carry-On Spinner comes with a pocketed sleeve that attaches to compression straps, for example, while the Large Check-In Spinner boasts two independent cubes.

To top it all off, the collection launches in four understated colors — including a navy-like Estate Blue and Desert Sage Green. Each bag comes equipped with four color-matching spinner wheels and an ergonomic extension handle that adjusts to four different heights.

Travelpro

Availability and pricing

Travelpro priced the VersaPack+ collection in-between its premium Platinum Elite and budget-oriented Maxlite collections.

The VersaPack+ line starts at $297 for both the Compact and classic Carry-On Spinner. The Medium Check-In Spinner goes for $340, while the biggest bag, the Large Check-In Spinner, costs $382.

All told, that’s a slight premium over Away’s new Softside suitcases but close enough to still consider giving one of these Travelpros a spin.

Travelpro

Travelpro VersaPack+ Soft Side Luggage

• Starts at $297

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