Case Solution

[chris fawcett]

Hi Friends,

 

I fly a lot with my gear, and pay almost as much for the Thermodynes as for the kit. I found this super-lightweight aluminium luggage, supposedly indestructible.

 

RIMOWA

 

 

My idea is to customize two of these with the same foam protection offered in the original cases.

 

Any comments or suggestion would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

[Felix Forrest]

Hi Friends,

 

I fly a lot with my gear, and pay almost as much for the Thermodynes as for the kit. I found this super-lightweight aluminium luggage, supposedly indestructible.

 

RIMOWA

 

 

My idea is to customize two of these with the same foam protection offered in the original cases.

 

Any comments or suggestion would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

 

Hi Chris

 

I use Rimowa cases for my non steadicam gear. They're great cases with a good after sales support (they supplied and fitted new locks free of charge for me after the TSA broke in a few years back). The pictures of mine below where taken today in Boston and as you can see they're a little bumped and bashed but they are just under ten years old.

 

However, I'm not convinced they make the best case solution. Unlike a lot of flight cases where the aluminium is double skinned or wood backed, these have nothing other than the frame and lightweight aluminium skins. They dent very easily (although I use a rubber mallet to knock the big dents back out) and I reckon even with foam you could harm the contents. Also... I've lost a few of the rubber 'feet' over the last few years (see picture)... I guess I need to use a larger screw to secure the next one I fit!

 

If you go down the Rimowa route make sure you get the TSA approved locks. There are still a lot of these cases available new without them and mine pre date TSA locks and the outcome is that if they want in, they break the locks off!

 

Personally, I prefer Peli cases for my gear and I use 1610s and a 1620 for most of my kit. I may have a 1730 too but I'm not sure that's the correct number. I feel more confident you can stand on a Peli and do no harm to the contents - I wouldn't be as confident with the Rimowa. I reckon that my Peli cases are lower cost than the Rimowa cases too but this depends on where you source them and I found that innerspace cases do custom inserts (see my preston gear in a removable tray from one of my 1610s) which was 'off the shelf' and therefore lower cost than if I'd picked a non standard (i.e. Rimowa) size.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Best

[chris fawcett]

Bingo Felix!

 

That is exactly the helpful, informative post I was wishing for. I'll steer away from the Rimowa option.

 

Here's thanking you from the bottom of my wallet!

 

All the best,

 

Chris

[Robert Starling SOC]

Hi Chris, I re-cased most of my rental gear and camera packages three years ago with Storm cases rather than Pelicans as I found the Peli locks to be knuckle busters. The Storm cases have held up very very well and no complaints. We are using a higher grade TSA lock with metal construction and heavier hasp as well; the consumer grade versions just get torn off in shipping.

 

Robert

[chris fawcett]

Hi,

 

I'm happier to pay for my Thermodynes now that I properly consider the alternatives. Even going for the super-lightweight Rimowa, I'd only save a couple of kilos at most, and sacrifice protection.

 

Thanks both for your input. Case closed!

 

Chris