colorcase This makes it much easier to tell which case is which, either when arriving at the airport carousel, or out in the field.
Given that these are authentic Pelican cases, the products sold through ColorCase are of the same quality and exceptional as any other case bearing the Pelican name. Of course, this includes Pelican’s lifetime warranty.
ColorCase provided me with two cases for testing. ColorCase had no input on this article, and ColorCase was not provided with an advance copy of this article.
I tested the large Pelican 1595 Air ColorCase in tracking green with orange handles and latches.
I also tested the carry-on-sized Pelican 1535 Air ColorCase in the deep Pacific with the teal handle and latch.
weight
The new 1595 Air is a great case. Nestled between carry-on size and the largest checked luggage size, the 1595 was big enough for me that I could load all of my electronic gear for a headshot shoot in a single case. Despite the fact that I filled the case with gear, I appreciate how lightweight the Air versions actually are. I can easily transport it from one place to another or check it in with an airline. If I’m traveling by air, the case protects my gear, while its light weight means I can pack more options for each shoot without incurring extra weight charges. Considering how much I travel with my gear, this gives me much needed flexibility.
The 1535 Air is designed to be the perfect carry-on. The original 1510s are quite heavy, weighing in at 12 pounds. The empty case alone takes up a large portion of my carry-on allowance. The 1535 Air, on the other hand, is only 8.7 pounds. This means I can get more information about my case. For my part, I’m fitting an extra Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 here. It seems like every check-in desk employee at every airline knows how heavy Pelicans can be. I have never managed to get a pelican without weighing it. Using the 1535 Air gives me confidence that I will be able to take my gear with me where I can treat it with care if necessary.
Quality and Safety for My Gear
Pelican is proud of their super-light proprietary HPX polymer which makes their cases lightweight and crush-resistant. Pelican is known for its robust cases throughout the industry. I work in a very difficult environment. Some days I’m shooting in the Canadian sub-Arctic, other days I’m somewhere below the Antarctic Circle, while other days find me in the middle of the African rainforest. Flying around the world with your gear for work just got a whole lot easier with the Pelican Air Case. I can rely on their strength while taking advantage of the lightweight construction to pack more gear.
The new Air cases also come with a “press and pull” latch. I rarely use the locks on my checked bags; If someone wants to come in, he will come in. I put zip ties on my cases as a small barrier. That said, the two-step process required to release the latch and then open the case means there’s less chance of accidental leakage. The 1595 comes with five of these multi-step latches. With this type of protection, there is little chance that the case will be accidentally opened by baggage handling staff at the airport.
As I mentioned before, I work in a wet and very demanding environment. These pelicans are definitely rain resistant. Pelican Air cases are built with O-rings that meet the IP67 rating, sealing the contents of your case for up to 30 minutes while submerged in just over 3 feet of water. Related to water resistance, there is also a pressure equalization valve on each of these Pelican cases. I didn’t realize the importance of this feature until we were out shooting and the temperature and associated pressure changed significantly. I heard my case. This hissing equalization protects the waterproof value of the case. So, you can dip me and my case at 90 degrees, and you can also dip me at around 30 degrees with polar bears in the Churchill River. If I wanted, I could even jump into a freezing sub-Antarctic polar plunge with my case on. If I want.
The IP67 rating also means the cases will protect your gear from dust, making them ideal for both transportation and storage in dirty environments.
Colour
Offering a variety of colors and the ability to mix and match your case with different colored latches and handles makes picking out my case from the lineup fast and efficient. Of course, a fluorescent orange case is going to attract the wrong attention at airports around the world. So, ColorCase offers a variety of muted but still distinguishable colors.
You can also choose the exclusive Pelican Black and accent your case with a unique handle and latch set. It’s easier to see the unique than the ubiquitous black.
I guess this also gives me a little extra security, as I can recognize my cases in a pile of other pelicans from a distance. This means I can tell if someone is emphasizing my now-unique case rather than theirs.
That being said, if you’re using your case for storage or for local shooting, there are some pretty fun colors to choose from. Oxblood strikes a particular aesthetic chord that reminds me of my teenage years and Doc Martens.
A little nitpick
I really liked the three handles on the larger 1595. I can pick up my case from almost any direction and easily place it in the back of my car using three different touch points. The three handles allowed me to get a better grip and secure my case more securely than a typical one- or two-handled oversized case.
The 1535 has two handles. As a small case, it doesn’t really need three handles. The handle of the main suitcase is sturdy and allows a good ergonomic grip. However, the vertical handle is too narrow and it bites into my hand when I’m packing heavy items. I understand that this handle is narrower than the traditional 1510’s vertical handle to save weight, but I’d rather have a few extra grams and a more sturdy and ergonomic handle.
A clear conclusion and a possible solution
These are not cheap matters. But it brings to mind the oft-repeated advice: buy something cheap and buy it twice. Given how strong these cases are, this is a buy it once type of investment. These are obviously expensive, but they will last.
Maybe you’re not ready to buy a whole new line of cases. Thankfully, ColorCase has a huge selection of colored handles and latches to personalize your case. You can easily install these on a regular black Pelican and make your case easy to identify.
As mentioned, all images provided by ColorCase or are my own.
