Polycarbonate, Polypropylene, Fabric: Which Material Should You Choose?

Hardside suitcases

At Airtex, our hardside suitcases are made from one of two thermoplastics.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is the most resistant material in our range. Its structure lets it absorb impact by flexing slightly before returning to its original shape — a real advantage against the sometimes rough handling of air travel. Light despite its strength, it's the material we use on our premium range, backed by a 5-year warranty.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is an even lighter thermoplastic, offering an excellent strength-to-weight ratio at a more accessible price. It handles everyday knocks well, with one notable difference: it's slightly less likely to spring back to its original shape after a significant impact compared to polycarbonate. A smart choice for regular use, without sacrificing durability.

Softside suitcases

Our softside models are made from technical fabric rather than a hard shell. Lighter when empty, they also offer more packing flexibility thanks to external pockets and expansion capacity. In exchange, they offer somewhat less protection against direct impact — better suited to trips where storage capacity matters more than maximum protection for the contents.

How to choose

• You fly often and carry fragile items → go with polycarbonate.
• You want a good balance of durability and price for everyday use → polypropylene is for you.
• You need flexibility and adjustable storage space → choose a softside suitcase.

All our hardside suitcases come with a 5-year warranty. Need help choosing? Our customer service team is happy to advise you.