What Are Hard Cabin Suitcases Made Of?
Updated: LW Lena WernerA WINGS brand expert in travel luggage, specializing in selecting suitcases, accessories, and practical solutions for travelers. She combines industry knowledge with a practical approach to travelers’ needs, focusing on durability, functionality, and comfort of use.Share
What are hard-shell carry-on suitcases made of?
A carry-on suitcase is one of the most convenient and commonly used pieces of luggage for travel. Its construction affects not only its appearance but also its weight, resistance to damage, and resistance to deformation. What are hard-shell carry-on suitcases most commonly made of? We’ll find out in today’s post!
When deciding to buy a carry-on suitcase, it’s worth paying attention not only to its appearance, color, shape, and features, but also to the material it’s made of.
Materials used to make hard-shell carry-on suitcases
ABS suitcases
Hard-shell carry-on suitcases made of ABS are durable and scratch-resistant. ABS is a non-toxic material that is safe for humans.
The abbreviation ABS stands for acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. These are the names of the three materials that make ABS suitcases rigid, resistant to high temperatures, and more resilient. Changing the proportions of these components affects the suitcase’s properties, which is why different ABS suitcase models vary from one another. Examples of carry-on suitcases made of ABS Plus include WINGS MACAW 18" and WINGS CAMARO 20".
It’s worth noting that ABS is a material we encounter every day. Not everyone knows that it’s used in the production of toys, household appliances, car interiors, and refrigerators. It’s a very popular material—hard, scratch-resistant, and relatively inexpensive. The downside of this material is its low flexibility, which, under heavy pressure, can cause suitcases to crack. With this in mind, it’s best not to overpack your suitcase, as applying strong pressure with your hands when closing it can cause damage. However, modifications to ABS plastic ensure that it is more flexible and, as a result, more resistant to pressure.
Polypropylene suitcases
Polypropylene is one of the most commonly used materials in the production of high-quality suitcases. It is highly flexible, making it exceptionally impact-resistant. Like ABS, polypropylene is a plastic with a wide range of applications; for example, in construction it is used to manufacture pipes and air conditioning systems, in the automotive industry—for the production of body parts, and in medicine—for syringes and medication packaging.
When it comes to suitcases made of polypropylene, they are certainly lighter and more durable than those made of ABS. Often, a blend of polypropylene and polycarbonate is used in suitcase manufacturing, which allows for even greater control over the product’s weight. And this is one of the biggest advantages of this type of solution—a polypropylene suitcase is one of the lightest available on the market!
Examples of polypropylene carry-on suitcases include WINGS SPARROW and WINGS MALLARD
Polycarbonate suitcases
Polycarbonate is currently one of the most popular and durable materials used to make suitcases. It has been used in suitcase manufacturing since around the year 2000. It’s worth noting that it is very durable and resistant to all kinds of damage. Polycarbonate is most commonly used to make shatter-resistant glass, but it can also be found in CDs.
Cabin suitcases made of polycarbonate are the most resistant to all kinds of mechanical damage. Such a suitcase will certainly survive even the toughest moments at the airport or in the aircraft’s cargo hold. Examples of suitcases made of polycarbonate include WINGS PC IMPERIAL EAGLE and our entire collection of children’s suitcases.