Pelican Cases

[Jasoncassanova]

The only models I've seen here in my country are the small briefcase types. I'm planning to order one abroad so I want to make sure I get the right size for my gear. Maybe you could help me out. So here's what I got:

DSS BP/W
Regualtor
Jet Fins
Mask
Booties
Wetsuit
SMB
Spool
Camband with Lead Weight

[Randy43068]

Cases4Less.com - Pelican and Storm Cases, Leatherman, Maglite, Surefire, Camelback, Brunton GPS, Buck and Gerber all at the Best Price (http://www.cases4less.com/)

If they don't have it, you don't need it. :D

Check eBay, too. I've gotten brand new ones there for a whole lot less money.

[Damselfish]

What do you plan to do with it? Pelican cases have their place, but hard to think of why you'd want to put all your dive gear in one. It's overkill for storage or local diving, and way too heavy and unnecessary for air travel.

[RoatanMan]

What do you plan to do with it? Pelican cases have their place, but hard to think of why you'd want to put all your dive gear in one. It's overkill for storage or local diving, and way too heavy and unnecessary for air travel.

But the cool factor over-rides any and all common sense.

[Doubler]

I travel with large Pelican Cases for work. They are heavy, very high baggage fees, TSA LOVES to riffle through them and screw up my perfect packing job, basically a big pain in the butt. For dive gear that you describe just get a regular wheeled none dive related duffle. Leave the weights at home as they are not worth the additional fees. They ain't that cool.

[DevonDiver]

Excess baggage charges make them impossible for air travel, unless you are travelling with business and they don't check your expenses. lol

For travelling around the Philippines, it would have some advantage for providing security (lockable) when travelling by car, bus or ferry.

Pelican really would be about 'fashion'. I am sure that you could pick up a decent enough nylon bag from Divisoria...

[Jasoncassanova]

thank you for your quick reply guys, i didn't know they were that heavy. anyway i'm getting these for my underwater camera set-up, is this better or should i just get a back pack for everything?

what i have in mind is the kata hb-207

[Valaika]

I travel with Pelicans year round, I use 1650's for my gear, have never had an issue with damage can just throw everything in wet and deal with it when you get home. I have a couple of smaller roll-aboards for my camera systems, again, whether I check them or carry them on have never had a problem.

And even better, we sell them cheaper than Cases....check out ScubaGearPlus (http://www.scubagearplus.com)

[DevonDiver]

Putting camera, housing, computer etc etc into a smaller pelican...and using for cabin baggage is a solution. :)

[Damselfish]

Camera stuff in a smaller pelican, if you need to check it, may be worth it for the protection. Though they do scream "valuable stuff inside." If you're always carrying it on, you may not need the protection, and you have to make sure you're within carryon size and weight limits. Maybe not a problem in the US (but who knows next week?) - but I know some carriers in other parts of the world have much more restrictive limits on cabin baggage, and actually enforce them. So you should get familiar with the rules of the airlines you are likely to travel on.

My husband used to use a generic hardsided roller carryon with foam for his camera stuff, but has changed to one of the specialty camera backpacks, a LowePro. Works well for him and holds an amazing amount, though he tucks a few pieces like arms into some other bag.

[RoatanMan]

And this, then, is the question.

Should you use a Pelican for camera carry-on only for the reason that you might have to check it before boarding? That might kinda' make sense. Maybe not.

A good backpack with cameras nicely padded... why would that personal item be taken away?

Pelicans are great for going into battle. They suck if you are in the midst of battle. They might be great for use on a day-boat where the boat is not set up with a "safe place" for cameras, but still present a storage issue. If you can find a safe place to open it to keep from getting wave splash inside, likely you now have found a safe zone for your camera gear if it were in a backpack.

Pelicans, for their exterior size, have very little internal room. This can be enhanced by not using the pluck-fit foam and just reverting to wrapping the gear inside with small bubble wrap. Understand the distinction between external compression damage versus vibration/impact damage. I would be a lot more concerned about vibration in the long view.

Why does the TSA focus on such cases? Pelicans, and similar atmospheric resistant cases, are now considered by airline security (per-se) as a suspicious object. They are an immediate RED FLAG. Why? They are well known to provide absolute resistance to sniffer devices allowing the clandestine importation of prohibited explosives.

They do look cool and you can decorate them with SCUBA stickers, so there is that.

[craracer]

Do not, and I repeat, do not leave your wet gear inside the case for an extended period of time. It will stank to high heaven. Just ask me how I know:shakehead:

If storing your gear within the case (when at home) I would also suggest periodically cracking the case open for a quick moisture check. I put my computers in one, which I thought were dry, and popped the case open about a month later. The screens on both computers had moisture on them.

[kanonfodr]

Pelican cases are a PITA to travel with. I used one for my Alienware computer, it would hold everything and was freakin' bomb-proof but heavy and bulky as heck. It also got LOTS of attention in it's Biohazard Yellow color.

It's hard to say if your equipment requires that kind of protection, only you can judge that. But be prepared to pay for that protection in up-front costs, dirty looks, a bad back, and the occasional luggage fee.

Peace,
Greg

[RoatanMan]

....this better or should i just get a back pack for everything? what i have in mind is the kata hb-207

Kata HB-207 . Backpacks Rolling bags (Kata Bags) (http://www.kata-bags.com/product.asp?Version=video&p_Id=273)

For the $300 they get for that... just buy insurance and toss your gear in a plastic bag :rofl3:

Seriously- buy a simple but good backpack, wrap your cameras and strobes in small style bubble wrap.

Look at Blackhawk! http://www.blackhawk.com/catalog/Packs,28.htm or Maxpedition http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/Backpacks-c12.htm for the high-end, last forever stuff.

Here's one that is tailored to airline max sizes: http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/FLIEGERDUFFEL-Adventure-Bag-12p920.htm and it retails for $156, find it cheaper.


Get the bubble wrap from the dumpster~
I've even seen it being thrown away in the Philippines.

[Jasoncassanova]

Kata HB-207 . Backpacks Rolling bags (Kata Bags) (http://www.kata-bags.com/product.asp?Version=video&p_Id=273)

For the $300 they get for that... just buy insurance and toss your gear in a plastic bag :rofl3:

Seriously- buy a simple but good backpack, wrap your cameras and strobes in small style bubble wrap.

Look at Blackhawk! Tactical Backpacks & Hydration Packs | Military, ACU, & Patrol Backpack - BLACKHAWK! (http://www.blackhawk.com/catalog/Packs,28.htm) or Maxpedition Tactical Nylon Gear Backpacks, Military Assault Packs for Bug Out, Survival, Outdoor (http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/Backpacks-c12.htm) for the high-end, last forever stuff.

Here's one that is tailored to airline max sizes: Fliegerduffel Adventure Bag Travel Convertible Backpack Duffle - MAXPEDITION HARD-USE GEAR Tactical Nylon Gear for Military, Law Enforcement, Tactical Concealed Carry; Tailored to Perform Tactical (http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/FLIEGERDUFFEL-Adventure-Bag-12p920.htm) and it retails for $156, find it cheaper.


Get the bubble wrap from the dumpster~
I've even seen it being thrown away in the Philippines.

these are really nice bags and i'm sure that what they are used for would make them good quality bags but doesn't wrapping all your camera equipments with bubble wrap and placing them on top of each other pose a threat to your equipments as there is a possibility of them moving around the bag? looking at the kata bag, it has movable padded dividers to secure the equipments inside.

besides, the bag is on sale here and its 50% off :D

[vladimir]

They do look cool and you can decorate them with SCUBA stickers, so there is that.:rofl3:


My solution to the camera problem has evolved in the past year or so in the ongoing effort to streamline. The camera, housing, lenses, and two ports go in a Cosmolite carry-on (http://www.amazon.com/Samsonite-Cosmolite-Spinner-Luggage-Silver/dp/B003NZ24ZS) (4.3 pounds empty). The strobes, in cushioned bags, and the dome port, wrapped in neoprene, go in checked baggage along with my dive gear and clothing. It all fits in one 25kg bag (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GCUO5U/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?ie=UTF8&cloe_id=0eaac90f-b67d-4524-bf19-68cdc729bf89&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B003NZ24ZS&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0BN6C5K9YHDYYJD9NNF4) (7.3 pounds empty), and the checked gear, including the $1,000 glass dome port, always arrives unscathed. Add a white Brooks Brothers oxford for the flight and you'll be stylin'. ;)

[ozziworld]

Check out AO coolers. They make several lines of very rugged softs sided coolers. They will hold water and can serve as a rinse bucket as well. You can just add padding as you deem necessary.

AO Coolers: (http://www.aocoolers.com/)

[fjpatrum]

I'm with Vladamir on this one. Don't buy special bags, and certainly don't spend more than about $40 on a backpack of any kind unless you're using it to live out of while camping for extended periods of time.

I haven't bought the expensive camera housings yet for my DSLR, but I never carry it in anything but the "case" it came with that is just a wraparound for the camera body. That goes inside a backpack when I travel. I've been carrying cameras this way for 25 years. My lenses all have their own bags, but those are usually just a simple cloth string tie bag with a semi-rigid bottom.

This stuff is expensive but it's also designed for normal use, which includes travel. If you must check your camera equipment, wrap it inside some of your clothing and put it in the center of your bag. It will be protected as well as most custom cases can protect it anyway.