Hard-shell suitcases are made from hard-wearing materials such as polycarbonate, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or polypropylene. These suitcases offer excellent impact resistance and protection for your luggage. Polycarbonate is lightweight yet robust, while ABS suitcases strike a good balance between durability and price. Polypropylene is particularly resistant to scratches and abrasion. Hard-shell suitcases are ideal for air travel, as they can protect your luggage from rough handling at the airport.

Soft luggage is usually made from hard-wearing nylon, polyester or Cordura fabric. These suitcases are flexible and offer good expansion options to accommodate extra luggage. They are lighter than hard-shell suitcases and are easier to stow in tight luggage racks. Soft luggage is ideal for car or train journeys where flexibility and easy handling are important.

Aluminium suitcases are robust, lightweight and highly resistant to impacts and scratches. They are ideal for travellers carrying fragile or valuable items. Aluminium suitcases are also waterproof and protect your luggage from rain and other external influences. However, they are usually more expensive than other materials, and scratches and dents can be more visible.

Hybrid suitcases combine the advantages of hard-shell and soft-shell suitcases. They consist of a rigid frame structure with a soft outer layer. These suitcases offer a good balance between protection and flexibility. Hybrid suitcases are ideal for travellers who want to combine the advantages of both materials in one suitcase.

When choosing a suitcase, it's important to consider your individual needs and travel preferences!

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is the full name of this thermoplastic. Besides being used in vehicle manufacturing and the electrical industry, for example, ABS is a popular material for making suitcase shells. Its properties include high impact strength, stability and a scratch-resistant surface. At the same time, ABS remains lightweight.

Aluminium luggage is virtually indestructible. This material stands out for its high stability, corrosion resistance and durability. Aluminium is often used in vehicle construction or the packaging industry, but it is also a classic material for luggage. In these suitcases, the contents are optimally protected. However, aluminium trolleys are heavier than those made from other materials.

Ballistic nylon was originally developed for the military in the 1940s to make protective vests. The very thick nylon fabric is extremely hard-wearing and resilient. This makes ballistic nylon perfect for bags and luggage. Today, the fabric is also used for clothing and as a skin for kayaks, among other things.

This densely woven yarn is also known as sailcloth and is made from linen, hemp or cotton. Today, synthetic fibres such as polyester are also woven in. Depending on the application, the fabric is woven and can be coated and impregnated. In addition to being used for boat sails and painting canvases, canvas is also a popular material for bags and luggage. Canvas is hard-wearing and tear-resistant and, when impregnated, can be water-repellent. Stains can usually be removed with a brush or a damp sponge and mild soap.

Thanks to its many positive properties, hemp is becoming increasingly popular. Hemp is an extremely robust and fast-growing plant that uses few resources. Growing hemp requires little water and no pesticides or fertilisers. In addition to its antibacterial effect, hemp regulates temperature and absorbs moisture. The fibres are extremely tear-resistant and hard-wearing and are used in textile production for clothing and bags.

In most cases, synthetic leather has a textile back and a plastic-coated front. Its appearance and grain are hardly distinguishable from genuine leather. Unlike genuine leather, however, the surface is uniform throughout. If you prefer to avoid animal leather, this is a good alternative.

Leather is a natural product with many properties and has become an indispensable part of everyday life. Hard-wearing, flexible and insulating are just some of the properties that make leather indispensable – whether for furniture, clothing, or luggage and bags. Hides from cattle, calves, goats or lambs are made usable and durable through chemical tanning (e.g. chrome tanning) or vegetable tanning. In vegetable tanning, the tanning agent is obtained, for example, from oak, spruce or chestnut. Rhubarb root can also be used for tanning. For its Florenz wallet collection, Golden Head relies on rhubarb-tanned leather. Different grains and properties of the hides and their further processing create a unique, individual product. Whichever leather you choose, it is always a high-quality, fine natural product that you will enjoy for a long time.

If your bag gets dirty, please follow the manufacturer's care instructions. Depending on the type of leather, a suitable waterproofing spray or leather grease will keep the bag supple and protect the material from moisture. If the bag gets wet, pat it dry and leave it to dry at room temperature. Direct sunlight should also be avoided, as it can make the material brittle.

Linen is a centuries-old natural product that is mainly used for clothing. The typical crumpled look gives linen its characteristic appearance. Obtained from flax, linen is tear-resistant and robust and, thanks to its cooling effect, very popular in warmer countries in particular. Linen is also antibacterial and antistatic. Linen should be washed gently and only at low temperatures.

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber that was developed in the 1930s. Neoprene is particularly notable for its stretchability and its water-repellent and insulating properties. Neoprene is also resistant to external influences. It has become indispensable in water sports in particular.

Nylon was the first fully synthetic fabric and belongs to the polyamide family. Nylon is characterised by high tear strength, elasticity and resistance. Low weight and a glossy, smooth surface are typical of nylon. The thread thickness is given in denier (e.g. 600D).

ODSL™ polypropylene is an advanced composite material made from fine, woven polypropylene fibres. In a specialised thermoplastic process, these fibres are compressed under high pressure and intense heat into an extremely stable structure. This innovative material is characterised by two key properties: exceptional lightness combined with outstanding impact resistance. Luggage made from ODSL™ polypropylene is among the lightest suitcases in the world. It offers excellent resistance to cracks, breakage and mechanical deformation. What's more, the material remains dimensionally stable even under extreme temperature fluctuations. Thanks to this consistently high material toughness, it is ideal for demanding transport – even in regions with extreme sub-zero temperatures.

Polyamide is a versatile material that is found not only in bags and luggage but also in medicine and in outdoor and performance clothing. Polyamide is often blended with other materials such as cotton or polyester. This elastic, stretchy synthetic fibre is tear- and abrasion-resistant as well as waterproof and quick-drying. The best-known examples are undoubtedly nylon, Perlon and Kevlar. However, polyamide is not very heat-resistant and should not be ironed or tumble-dried. Stains can be removed with lukewarm water and a mild detergent for delicates.

Polyester is a synthetic microfibre with high abrasion resistance and tear resistance. Polyester is a lightweight material, absorbs hardly any moisture, repels dirt and keeps its shape. The yarn thickness is given in denier (e.g. 600D). Minor soiling can be removed with a damp cloth. Polyester should only be cleaned with warm water up to 30 degrees and a mild detergent for delicates.

Polycarbonate, also known as PC, is a thermoplastic material. Its properties include high impact and scratch resistance, low weight and weather resistance. Polycarbonate trolleys are true lightweights. Even under heavy stress, polycarbonate does not crack; it simply dents and springs back into its original shape. Polycarbonate also keeps its shape at high temperatures. This makes it a perfect material for luggage. In its raw state, polycarbonate is transparent and colourless and can easily be coloured.

Clean it only with water and a soft cloth. Do not use aggressive cleaning agents such as acetone or benzene. Minor scratches can be removed with special polishing pastes.

Polypropylene – or PP – is an impact- and break-resistant material that does not fatigue quickly and is also kind to the skin. Thanks to its low density, polypropylene is also very light. This makes polypropylene a popular material for luggage. Besides hard-shell trolleys, polypropylene is also found in medicine, textile processing and electrical engineering. Because of its robustness and water-repellent properties, polypropylene is even used in banknotes in more humid countries such as Australia.

Polyurethane (PU) is a plastic with water-repellent properties that is also flexible and robust. Polyurethane is often used as a coating. A PU coating can make textiles water-repellent, more hard-wearing and longer-lasting. Dirt can usually be wiped off with a damp cloth.

Tweed is a coarsely woven, dirt-resistant woollen fabric. The checked fabrics are particularly well known as weather-resistant clothing. Thanks to the way it is made, tweed is very robust, flexible and pleasantly soft. Today, synthetic fibres are also used alongside various types of wool. Tweed is best cleaned gently by hand in cold water.