ABS vs Polycarbonate Luggage
By Brandon Schultz Published
Hardside suitcases are made from one of three things: ABS, polycarbonate (PC), or a blend of the two. Coolife sells all three, so the material line on a product page is worth reading before you choose. Here's what each one means in use.
The three shells
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| ABS | PC+ABS blend | 100% polycarbonate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it behaves | Stiff, holds its shape | Between the two | Flexes under a hit, then springs back |
| Under a hard knock | More likely to crack or crease | Better than ABS alone | Least likely to crack |
| Scuffs | Shows marks | Coolife's textured version is described as scratch-resistant | Glossy finishes show fine scratches |
| Typical use | Value sets, lighter-use trips | Everyday sets that get checked | Bags that get checked a lot |
ABS is a rigid plastic. It's what most budget hard luggage uses. It keeps its shape well and protects what's inside from crushing, but under a sharp hit, a stiff shell has nowhere to go, so it's more likely to crack than bend.
Polycarbonate is more flexible. Squeeze a PC shell and it gives. Hit it hard and it tends to dent inward and pop back. That's why PC is the usual choice for luggage that goes through baggage handling often.
PC+ABS blends sit in between. Adding PC to ABS gives a shell some of the flex of polycarbonate while keeping the cost and stiffness closer to ABS.
Which Coolife bags use which
ABS: - ABS 3-Piece Set, Spinner + TSA, with a skirted divider and compression straps inside - 4-Piece ABS Set, Apricot Black, 16, 20, 24 and 28 in - 3-Piece ABS Set, Apple Green
PC+ABS: - PC+ABS 3-Piece Set, 20/24/28, a textured shell Coolife states as scratch-resistant, with YKK zippers and silent 360° spinners - 24" ABS+PC Hardshell in Apricot Black and Apricot White, sold as single cases
100% polycarbonate: - Expandable 100% PC Carry-On, GlideSpring, a 20 in carry-on with a zip-out panel that adds about 15% - 3-Piece PC Set, Pink 20/24/28 - The Caramel Black 3-piece PC set, covered in our Caramel Black set review
How to choose
Mostly carry-on, rarely checked? ABS is fine. A cabin bag gets less rough handling, and the material matters less.
Checking bags several times a year? Go PC or PC+ABS. The flex is what saves a shell when it's dropped off a belt.
Hate visible scratches? Look for a textured finish. A glossy shell in any material shows fine marks, and textured shells hide them better. Our guide to removing scuff marks covers what to do once they appear.
Want the lightest bag? Shell material is only part of empty weight. Wheels, handle and lining add the rest. Our hard vs soft shell guide goes into weight.
What material doesn't change
All of the Coolife hard sets above nest the smaller cases inside the larger ones for storage, and every case here has a TSA lock. Whichever shell you choose, the expansion zipper (on the 28 in case of the three-piece sets) is where the bag gives first under strain, so don't force it shut on an overstuffed case.
For a full rundown by size, see Luggage Sets, or read How to Choose Coolife Luggage.