No Matter if you’re looking for a High Quality Affordable Case………..Or You want something that just gets the job done..

You’ll find great options here.

Every Case here is professionally tested and affordable.

Interested in how these cases are tested? Find out about the different grades of testing here.

>>Highest Quality at a great price.

1. Nanuk Cases –

I’m not sure what else you could want out of a case. This one has multiple quality ratings, more than almost every case you can find on the market.

It’s waterproof, dust resistant, and practically indestructible (it would take a lot).

It has a latching system that far outweighs the other ones (called the Powerclaw system)……………..and it’s super easy to roll around. (If you get the option with wheels and a handle) Roll it around just like a suitcase.

The case is extremely high quality, made with Nk-7 resin, and is used by many law enforcement agencies, and military around the world.

Many prefer it over all other brands, and I definitely understand the hype. They’re at a great price point and there’s really nothing you can say bad about them.

Specs:

(Testing & Certification) – IPx7 Ingress, IP6x Ingress, ATA Specification 300, ASTM D-4169 DC-18, MIL-STD-810F
Customizable Foam – Yes.
Dust Resistance – Yes.
Water Resistance – Yes.
Quality of materials Used – High Quality Lightweight NK-7 Resin.
Warranty – Limited Lifetime
Price – Extremely Reasonable
Weight – Light
Temperature Resistance – Yes.
Padded Divider Option – High Quality Options available.

Interested in the Nanuk Cases?

(More Details and pricing info on Amazon)

Also, check out this great review of their 935.

>> Best Value.

2. Seahorse –

I don’t want to say cheap, because this model is anything but cheap. It has very hard to achieve certification, however I do believe that they could charge quite a bit more than what they currently do.

You get absolutely everything you need from a case with the Seahorse. It’s Light, Temperature resistant, Dust and water Resistant and comes with a guarantee as well. The price is probably the best thing about this model for everything you’re getting.

Like the Nanuk case, you can also get a set with wheels and they have their own special locking system (twist locking) so that you don’t have to worry about it falling open as well.

Also, their models that come with dividers already built in are really cool. Not that it’s hard to pluck out the foam on other models, it’s just nice to have your case ready to go when it gets to you.

Specs:

(Testing & Certification) – Most look to be certified with Mil-STD-810F 512.4, IP67.
Customizable Foam – Many Models offer “accuform foam” which is customizable, some have segments already built in.
Dust Resistance – Most appear to be Dust Resistant.
Water Resistance – Most appear to be Water Resistant.
Quality of materials Used – High Quality Plastics.
Warranty – Lifetime Guarantee. (Better than many competitors).
Price – Very Inexpensive.
Weight – Light compared to other products.
Temperature Resistance – Yes.
Padded Divider Option – Not many options, but there are some.

Interested in the Seahorse Case?

(More Details and pricing info on Amazon)

Also, check out this great review of their SE920.

>> Great premade cases.

3. Casematix –

The Casematix just like all the other cases in this list, leaves nothing to be desired. This company is actually relatively new (started in 2014) and have really hit the ground running.

They stand out from many other case companies by having pre-set foam for tons of different items. Have a DSLR? They’ve got you covered. Specific type of Drone? Covered. Projector? Got it. Luxury Watch? Yep.

Honestly, the process of pick and pull can be slightly annoying. So this is a pretty cool feature. Just depends on if you want to custom design where your stuff will go or not.

Like I said before, everything you could want is on these models. They’re Water Resistant, Dust Resistant, Impact Resistant and High Quality. Not to mention very inexpensive.

Only issues I found, was that some of these the latching system doesn’t look as great as other models. Also, there’s a few that could definitely use wheels and a handle. If those aren’t issues for you these are probably perfect cases.

Specs:

(Testing & Certification) – Some cases are certified with MIL STD-810, A4a ATA Spec 300 and IP67.
Dust Resistance – Yes. IP67 Compliant. (Some Models)
Water Resistance – Yes. IP67 Compliant. (Some Models)
Quality of materials Used – High Quality Polypropylene.
Warranty – Limited Lifetime, will need proof of purchase.
Price – Very Inexpensive.
Weight – Light.
Temperature Resistance – Some Claim Temperature resistance.
Padded Divider Option – Many of these come with already divided options.

Interested in the Casematix?

(More Details and pricing info on Amazon)

Also, check out this great review for their DJI Pro Case.

>> Tons of Options.

4. Monoprice –

If you can’t find a good option for the right size case, Monoprice probably has you covered.

These are great cases, and are very reasonably priced. They’re Dust Resistant, Water Resistant, and have tons and tons of different options you can choose from.

If you can’t find the right size between these and all the other options, you might have to settle and get something a couple inches larger than what you’re looking for.

I wouldn’t recommend going smaller however, it’s almost always better to go larger than you think you’ll need to with these, lots of people underestimate the amount of room they’ll need.

Specs:

(Testing & Certification) – IP67
Customizable Foam – Easy and Simple to do.
Dust Resistance – Yes, compliant with IP67
Water Resistance – Yes, compliant with IP67
Quality of materials Used – Impact resistant Polypropylene
Warranty – Unclear if a Warranty comes with any of their cases.
Price – Not the cheapest option but very reasonable.
Weight – Light
Temperature Resistance – Some Temperature Resistance.
Padded Divider Option – Couldn’t find any, some claim online they could fit competitors dividers inside.

Interested in the Monoprice Case?

(More Details and pricing info on Amazon)

Also, check out this great review on Monoprice’s 12182.

Why Did I Choose these as the best Alternatives?

I wanted to be really thorough, and try to think of as many factors as I could that would make a good case versus a bad one. Unfortunately when I was researching I found many case companies that just weren’t that great. So I decided that I would make a list of criteria that I thought would be best for absolutely anyone that would read this review.

Not every bit of what I came up with is a big deal to everyone, as I found out in various forums online. Some people simply don’t care if a case is heavy or doesn’t have a great warranty as long as it’s cheap (not me). So I tried to include something that most everyone would want.

I found that most people online, wether they were looking for a case for a guitar, or an expensive watch, or a camera or whatever valuables they own want pretty close to the same things however.

There are basically three types of buyers that I’ve seen online who wanted alternatives to Pelican Cases.

The really savvy shopper, who knows there is probably something out there that is as good as a Pelican but probably doesn’t cost as much. They’re still willingly to spend a chunk of change on something if it is the best, but they’re going to do their research first. This Nannuk is definitely their best option. hands down no doubt about it, they’re simply the type to be cautious before buying. Which is also why I wrote another article specifically for them that compares the case to other cases. They’ll also probably enjoy the article about the different certifications as well.
The one who needs everything in a case, but just wants to save his money (since these can be expensive). I chose the Seahorse for this buyer, since it’s pretty inexpensive and has practically everything most people need in a case.
The buyer that wants everything ready to go when it gets to them. This was a simple choice, because the Casematix cases can come basically ready to go with no set up involved with the foam. Personally, I don’t find this to be a big deal….but everyone has their reasons for what they want.
Those that are having issues finding the right size case. Monoprice has them covered, and have certifications and are great case options.

Here’s the Main Criteria I came Up with for what was absolutely essential for the cases I thought would be good for most people:

What people were saying online
How effective these cases were in keeping your items safe
The price Each case had to have: A good price
Many options for different sizes
Be incredibly safe, and have credible testing done.
Some type of good warranty.
Reviews had to reflect the testing done.
Easily transportable (not to heavy or for heavier options have a way to roll them around)
Have a good support staff in case of needing assistance with case
Handles had to be extra secure so there would be no chance of the case opening and spilling out valuable items

I also had a small list of standards for things the cases couldn’t have. I had to rule out quite a few because of these:

No case could have Anything at all that showed significant problems such as water leaking in, or damage to valuables.
Certifications from unknown companies
Foam that wasn’t customizable
Warranties that didn’t cover much
Metal (since metal can rust)

Here’s a few tips to also consider about these cases. You might be surprised at some of these.

#1. These cases can be targeted for theft.

I was very surprised to learn this, but it does make sense that thieves do look for these since they are more likely to carry valuables inside. If you can, be sure to keep this luggage in your sight at all times, especially in busy areas. I read some odd stories even online of people putting their cases inside of other luggage and wrapped with clothes so people wouldn’t notice them. Does seem a bit overboard, but I guess you never know.

#2. You’ll Want to check the size to see if you can use one as a carry on.

Pretty straightforward, it’s a good idea in case you are deciding to take this on a plane to go ahead and check if you’re allowed to bring that particular size on the plane. A lot of people simply forget to check, or may not know that there is a size limit for carry on luggage.

I should also mention, that I have seen (video) of workers actually throwing luggage around with extremely expensive and rare guitars inside, this honestly makes me slightly sick to think about. Of course, these cases are made to withstand drops and being thrown around. But it might be best to keep your case with your valuables with you, just in case.

I have read online people have had their cases handled better when they put fragile stickers on them. Might be worth a shot.\

#3. Some of these cases that come with pre cut foam, don’t exactly make it clear that the foam will be pre cut on arrival. None of the cases I included in this article have this issue, but this does happen.

There are a few online that advertise they will work for specific types of cameras, and people will buy them thinking that the foam on the inside is still customizable, this isn’t always the case and the descriptions on some websites don’t make it very obvious. Just something to look out for. Again, not a problem I found with the cases in this article.

#4. You’re most likely going to need to do some research if you do decide to get a case not on this list.

All types of oversights, from hard cases from large well known brands that will actually depress when you just press on them to some cases not even being the same size happens with some of these cases. Make sure whatever you do, do some serious research on it.

#5. Use this Toothpick trick to figure out a layout for how you want your foam shaped.

I found this trick super useful, basically all you do is you figure out how you want your valuables laid out inside the case…..and then simply use toothpicks as markers so that way you can figure out exactly where to pull out foam. Pretty cool.

#6. If you want to cut any foam that’s not pick and pull, using a a electric carving knife and a sharpie works great.

There are some videos on YT that demonstrate how you can do this. It’s not very hard, you simply draw the outline with a sharpie and then cut away slowly.

#7. If you buy a case used, ask if the foam has already been cut.

I noticed some people having issues with receiving used cases that already had the customizable foam cut. Something to watch out for.

#8. Many cases only share the outside dimensions of the case, there can be a big difference between those measurements and the inside of the cases measurements.

This isn’t something I found very often, but every once in awhile I’d notice a case that was very thick, so there’d be a couple inch difference in size from the inside versus the outside.

#9. There’s a cool plastidip trick you can try to increase the durability of the foam as well.

Plastidip is a spray on, thin rubber coating. Many people after picking their foam, spray a thin layer on to the foam to keep it from losing shape and also to keep the foam from getting wet. Definitely check out videos on youtube if you’re interested in this.

#10. WARNING: Some of the Pressure Valves come defective.

This one was a huge shock to me, because I found this has happened many times actually with many different case manufacturers. Basically sometimes, the pressure valve actually will let in water. Maybe it’s best to test your case as soon as you get it to make sure this doesn’t happen.

#11. It’s a good idea to check the length of the pluck foam.

Not all pluck foam is created equal unfortunately, some pluck foams go almost all the way down to the bottom. It doesn’t leave very much foam to protect your valuables. Because of this, you’ll have to spend a lot more time cutting the foam to exactly the length you want it. This can be