Definitely get the hard side luggage if you're carrying a bunch of stuff that you don't want crushed or spilled on (i.e. clothes, luxury items, etc.).
I would also add a few tips and things:
1. Like I said earlier, a good carry on will go a LONG way. Don't go cheap on these. There will be times where you will need all 4 wheels on those suitcases and it's a fucking hassle when one of them breaks.
2. I would also invest in a really good backpack. All my shit is Swiss gear and it's for a really good reason. Your backpack should carry your chargers and other essentials that will go handy. A good backpack that has many spaces and pockets will save you a significant amount of weight in your carry on. I know it looks small but those little items add the fuck up.
3. Roll up your clothes. I know they will get wrinkled when you unroll them, but rolling them up will save you a BOATLOAD of space in comparison to folding them. Trust me. I've made this mistake so many times.
4. Whatever you use every day, go to Amazon and find the travel sized version of it. Keeping notes of that will make sure you won't forget in the future, and also saves you a lot of money and time since you won't need to buy any of that overpriced shit at the airport stores.
