I use wire for home, soft for travel.

I prefer the wire for their home crate because it is well ventilated, I can see him and he can see me, and it's so cute to see those tootsies sticking out the side of the crate when he has room enough in there for 5 more dogs his size lol. He's very husky like, and prefers the small sizes as well. We have two #400s (vari kennel sizing) wire crates at my dad's that both dogs stay in, and Rien "settles" faster in that one, rather than digging about a bit.

The soft crate is great for travel. It folds up easy and folds down easier. He stays in it when we're on road trips. Learned this summer in Portland that he can stay in it while we're NOT in the hotel room without freaking out and tearing it apart.

I'm going to have to get a plastic one for air travel, as I have come to the conclusion that I am NOT driving him out with me to Portland if Reed accepts me. I think I'll spend either a semester or a year in the dorms first, which has been recommended at me left and right for years. He's going to have to fly "cargo" on a flight or back with me after a holiday. How do you people who fly do that? The regulations look pretty intense -- what do they mean about the food/water dishes? How is it going to be accessable without them opening the door???