Why do “best luggage set” suggestions vary so much? What’s your pick?

I’ve noticed that every time someone asks for the “best luggage set,” the answers are all over the place. One person swears by a brand, the next says it fell apart after one trip.

For context, luggage sets are usually bundles of suitcases (carry-on + medium + large) meant for travel. People use them for everything from quick weekend trips to long international travel, and they’re usually looking for something durable, easy to maneuver, and worth the price—since it’s one of those purchases you don’t want to keep replacing.

I’ve been digging into this pretty deeply to put together a genuinely useful guide, not just repeat whatever brands show up the most. I’ve gone through reviews, comparisons, and store listings, but there’s a noticeable gap between what’s recommended and what people actually experience after a few trips. That’s why I wanted to ask here—real usage tends to tell a very different story.

A few things I’m trying to understand better:

• What luggage set have you used for a while, and how has it actually held up (wheels, zippers, shell, etc.)?
• Have you had any that seemed great at first but didn’t last? What failed?
• Are the popular “premium” brands actually worth it, or do mid-range options perform just as well?
• What’s something you didn’t think would matter but ended up being a big deal (weight, wheel type, handle, etc.)?
• Have you found sets to be better value than buying pieces individually?
• Any brands or types you’d actively avoid after using them?

From what I’ve gathered so far, there seem to be two main camps: hard-shell (polycarbonate/ABS) and soft-shell (fabric). Hard-shell looks more modern and protects contents better, but people complain about cracking or scuffing. Soft-shell tends to be more forgiving and expandable, but sometimes wears down faster or feels less protective. What seems to matter most isn’t the brand name but things like wheel quality (spinner vs inline), zipper durability, and how sturdy the handle system is. A lot of “top rated” sets seem driven by aesthetics and marketing rather than long-term durability. I’ve also noticed people often overpay for big sets when they really only use one or two pieces, or they go too cheap and end up replacing everything after a couple trips.

Trying to put together something that’s actually useful and doesn’t point people toward disappointing options.

Would love to hear real experiences before I finalize anything—what’s actually held up for you, and what wasn’t worth it?