Pelican Case Alternatives: 7 Affordable & Durable Options

Nanuk 935: Overview

I hadn’t heard much about Nanuk’s hard cases prior to updating this roundup. As far as I know, they are relatively unknown. That being said, the company has received tons of raving reviews online and is a serious contender to Pelican cases.

The 935 isn’t the biggest case in the lot, but is the most unique and customizable of the bunch. Nanuk’s case comes in six different colors; it’s rare for case manufacturers to offer so many options. They offer protective cases for everything including video cameras, DSLR cameras, laptops, drones, outdoor gear, and more.

Compared to a Pelican 1510 case, the 935 actually has a few more inches of room for your gear.

Another great feature of the 935, and all Nanuk cases, is the latching hardware. The cases easily with a definitive snap, so you know it’s secure. Contrary to Pelican’s hardware latch, there’s definitely an improvement here.

You won’t have to worry about TSA opening and closing your case in the event that it may not latch correctly and stay closed on a flight.

Both Nanuk cases and Pelican cases feature wheels on some of their models for easy transport. Nanuk’s 935 case features wheels that are almost 1/4″ larger in size. This isn’t the biggest deal-breaker, though the case does seem to roll better.

The padlock integration on a Pelican case is lacking when compared to Nanuk. For starters, the 1510 case features what appears to be stainless steel crimp locked to the plastic. This is a huge security flaw.

Nanuk addresses this issue with the 935 case, featuring stainless steel flanges that your padlock shackle fits into—a definite plus in our book.

Seahorse 920: Overview

The Seahorse 920 Waterproof hard case is a fantastic alternative to a Pelican case. It features a retractable handle, wide track wheels, and a safety seal to protect against water, air, and dust.

Seahorse carries cases in sizes that range from micro, small, medium, and large. They also have specialty pre-made designs made exclusively for photographers.

The Micro case is offered in three variations: phone, tablet, and laptop. Some are without foam and some with. The two smaller cases feature a Carabiner loop for easily attaching to bags and backpacks.

The line of small cases from Seahorse isn’t too drastically different than the micro category. These cases are made for professionals, rather than your average consumer trying to protect their Macbook, in my opinion.

The lineup of large hard cases from Seahorse is just what you’d expect: simple. They offer the 830, 920, 1220, and 1530, all of which sport different uses. For all you budding filmmakers out there, Seahorse has you covered as well. They have a line of cases made exclusively for you! The 920 is our favorite of the bunch.

If there’s one company that gets the hard case treatment correct, it’s Seahorse. A buddy of mine is a lighting director from San Francisco who uses the 920 for all his tech gear on the road (gaff tape, clamps, electrical tape, tools, etc). When I saw what he was using, my first question was, “Hey Rob, that looks like a Pelican, but who makes it?”

This discovery would intrigue me to learn about all the different options available from different manufacturers. The Seahorse 920 has been great for housing my partial electronic drum set that compliments my drum set on stage. I no longer needed to worry about the components moving around in the trailer while moving down the highway. This case has far exceeded its value.

The wheel operation is extremely smooth and the case is very rugged. The retractable handle operates in a very similar fashion to the Pelican.

Eylar XXL: Overview

We didn’t take a sledgehammer to it, but think the Eylar case is still strong like Pelican cases. The plastic outer case is a little bit thinner than a traditional Pelican case but is absolutely sufficient for most applications.

This hard case comes equipped with pluck-able foam to fit any gear you might have. Be sure to map out your gear spaces BEFORE you start removing foam. The case is designed with IP67 waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof features, which adds a significant layer of protection for my drum or camera gear, depending what I'm transporting.

The four-layer foam system, which includes an egg-crate top liner, customizable pull & pluck layer, a solid layer, and a bottom pad layer, provides versatility in organizing equipment. However, I encountered a limitation: the solid bottom layer, while sturdy, required me to modify it for taller items, as it lacks the customizable foam that could have accommodated these pieces without alteration.

The dimensions are quite generous, with an inner space of 28.8" x 17.0" x 9.33", allowing for multiple layers of storage.

On the transportation front, the dual solid wheels and extendable drag handle make it easy to move the case even when fully loaded. Additional weight does make the case cumbersome to lift manually.

HUL Waterproof Hard Case: Overview

Here’s a new brand I recently stumbled on: HUL. Their case is crush-proof and can fit everything from GoPros to SLR cameras. The handles on the case are nice, but a little cheap in comparison to Pelican. Its hard plastic construction has a rubber gasket, which keeps the contents protected from external elements.

They are somewhat “hollowed out.” I’d guess this is to save money during production. HUL also includes a rubber ring that keeps the interior dust-free and resistant to harsh weather conditions. Also, the case is safe to fly with. The foam on the inside is similar to Pelican 1500 pluck-able foam. You can easily create your own spots for gear.

The hard plastic body feels sturdy, and I find that it holds up well against typical wear and tear. The dense foam provides a good cushion for expensive equipment. The size of the case may also not suit everyone's needs—it might be too small for larger or bulkier items.

Amazon Basics Hard Camera Case: Overview

Being that this case is from the e commerce giant, you know it’s going to be a decent product. It’s perfect for transporting microphones, SLR cameras, firearms, and anything else you can think of.

The case has a relatively simple design with no fancy branding. Just like a Pelican, the it has a convenient handle for carrying. With dimensions of 12"L x 11"W x 6"H, it's accommodates most camera equipment while remaining airline-approved for carry-on luggage.

You can also create a custom molding for all your gear with pre-cut foam squares. It’s super easy to customize the interior to fit whatever you need to keep safe. The case features both a fold-down side handle and an extendable top handle.

Now, on to the bad. The plastic of the Basics case is definitely inferior to that of a Pelican.

Depending on the size of the case, the plastic will depress a bit when pressure is applied to the center. That being said, it will still protect your gear well at a more affordable price. Also, while the latches are initially tight, they are expected to loosen with use.

Additionally, there’s an awkward angle the case sits at. It’s not exactly squared off and this results in the case sitting on the floor on an angle, easily knocked over if not placed down perfectly.

Monoprice Weatherproof Hard Case: Overview

Just like every other case we have mentioned, the Monoprice Weatherproof Hard Case also features a fully-customizable interior with pre-cut foam squares.

It is comparable to the Pelican iM2975 Storm Trak Case with similar interior dimensions. With an IP67 rating, this case is designed to withstand complete dust ingress and can endure submersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. The case also includes a pressure relief valve, designed to manage internal and external pressure changes.

One giant problem with the larger versions of the case is the positioning of the large handle. It is located opposite of the wheels making rolling this large of a case extremely awkward and straining depending on the weight of the contents you are carrying.

This may be a big deal-breaker for some.

Some other cases also face an issue of an inward flexing middle latch, often causing user inability to close the middle latch.

These tiny oversights make for poor user experience. When your company focuses on an area of the cheaper market, you should want to be the dominant force.

Maybe these issues will be addressed one day. For the most part, Monoprice makes great products. Despite the two major issues, the cases will still provide excellent protection.

I’ve used their XLR cables, instrument cables, adapters, and many others. These cases may be somewhere they have struck out, however.

The question now remains, are you willing to spend a good chunk of change on something inferior when there are other better options available?

Koah Weatherproof 32″ XXXL Roller Hard Case: Overview

My initial impression of the Koah weatherproof case was positive, particularly regarding its rugged exterior and customizable foam interior, which seemed ideal for securing my equipment. The case's dimensions (32"x20"x20" exterior, 28"x18"x16" interior) provide ample space for my gear, and the overall design appeared to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

The case features cubic foam inserts that allow you to customize the sizing of any of your delicate gear to your liking. One of my cases holds all my touring microphones and the other holds a MacBook, iPad, iPhone, as well as the necessary power cables for each.

I can personally attest that this exact case will hold up in heavy rain. It wasn’t exposed for too long outside, but it kept my MacBook perfectly safe.

The last place I want my computer to be is submerged in water inside a hard case marketed as waterproof. Thumbs up from us.