Digital Camera World Verdict
Peli has set the standard for rugged, protective cases for precious and expensive camera gear for a long time. Though other brands are snapping at its wheels, its hard-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside 1510 Protector Case exudes the confidence of a manufacturer that knows what it’s doing and what its core audience wants. It’s also unafraid to currently mix in a little playfulness via colour choices that dramatically deviate from boring black or grey. We’ll pay a premium for Peli, but arguably, peace of mind means it’s worth it.
Pros
- +
Hard polypropyene exterior, foam and padded divider interior, with further interior options available
- +
Of a size compatible with most airline carry-on allowances
- +
Watertight, crushproof and dustproof
Cons
- -
Heavier than already heavy competitors at 6.2Kg, with padded dividers but without any camera gear
- -
Pricey
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A second set of wheels so the case can be spun through 360-degrees would make for added comfort/flexibility
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Proving that even hard cases can have a soft side – figuratively, not literally – the Peli / Pelican 1510 Protector Case is available at the time of writing in bright yellow and shocking pink, alongside tan, orange and regular black. When my review sample landed, I found I’d been sent the pink option, which is very pink. We’re talking Legally Blonde or Barbie levels of pink. Safe to say there will be no danger of misplacing this rolling case among all the boring black and grey options at the airport!
Beauty is more than skin deep however, and, as well as a rugged hard plastic exterior designed to withstand the hard knocks that life throws at us, dimensions here are tailored so that the Peli case can circumnavigate most airline carry-on luggage restrictions. The inside of my sample featured a foam lid interior and soft, padded and adjustable Velcro-like dividers. These can be shaped to suit differing configurations of photo kit, with further interior options available for if I want even more of a snug fit, tightly tailored to existing gear.
Wacky colour schemes aside, so far, so much what we’d expect to find from and within a rolling camera case. So, what else helps the Peli / Pelican 1510 Protector Case stand out in a crowded marketplace and provide a decent return for our investment? Read on to find out…
Peli / Pelican 1510: Specifications
Peli / Pelican 1510: Price
With Peli being the Rolls Royce of protective camera cases, we’d expect to pay a premium for ownership of the Peli / Pelican 1510 Protector Case. The price can vary substantially, however, with the least expensive option being the case with no foam interior, the next least expensive being the case with a foam interior, then the alternative of a padded interior – which is the version we had – followed by the priciest option of having a TrekPak plus foam combination, the latter option featuring a cutting tool for trimming the plastic and foam layered material to precisely protect kit. Bear in mind too that going for the TrekPak option not only pushes up the price but the overall weight too, which increases from 5.4Kg when empty to 6.Kg.
Peli / Pelican 1510: Design & Handling
While the construction here, on the face of it, features a similar hard plastic exterior, snap shut latches and reinforced metal holes for threading through additional padlocks as on competing examples from Think Tank and Vanguard, the Peli 1510 is heavier than those already heavy examples at 6.2Kg, as opposed to 4-5Kg.
Its weight when empty is something to bear in mind, because if that already feels heavy to lift – which it does – imagine how much heavier it’s going to get when I start loading camera bodies and lenses.
However, what we are getting in return is peace of mind. The Peli 1510 Protector Case attempts to live up to its name by claiming to be watertight to IP67 level thanks to an O-ring seal, crushproof and dustproof.
In terms of portability, comfort and convenience, an extendable carry handle is provided at the back, while there is a pair of polyurethane wheels with stainless steel bearings at the base. Everything here feels well made, chunky and durable, just as we’d want when transporting gear that involves glass and cutting edge electronics, neither of which normally respond well to be bumped, dunked or generally chucked around.
Peli / Pelican 1510: Performance
The shocking pink exterior of my review sample injects something that would otherwise be simply performative with a little more personality. But, as ever, it’s the balance between the level of protection the hard case offers and the weight we must shift every time we take it out, that informs our purchase decision.
The soft, padded, endlessly reconfigurable interior of our review sample provides snug accommodation for more kit than its exterior might suggest. I found sufficient space for at least two or three mirrorless camera / consumer SLR-type bodies and a gaggle of lenses and accessories with space for more if truth be told.
I also found that the canary yellow dividers, as opposed to the more regular grey and black of rival hard cases, ensured that my kit stood out more at first glance, making it harder for me to misplace a lens cap or memory card. Practical as well as pretty; and yes, I’m still talking about the case.
Peli / Pelican 1510: Verdict
With a range of external colour and interior options available to potential purchasers the toughened Peli 1510 Protector Case adds a little flair to what would otherwise be a boringly practical and heavy case. At 6.2 kg before any kit has been placed into it, I’m thankful that it does provide wheels and a retractable trolley handle to make transportation a tad more practical and comfortable.
Further peace of mind is provided by its crushproof construction, meaning if we are instructed at the last minute to place what we’d intended as hand luggage in an airline hold, then we can enjoy the flight in the knowledge that our gear won’t be trashed when we collect it on the carousel.
The deep pink exterior of this particular review sample – which we believe to be a limited edition – will also mean that both ourselves and small children will be quick to point it out among all the other boring cases when it appears on the conveyor belt.
Design ★★★★☆ | Your standard utilitarian looking rugged case, this was meant to be practical rather than pretty, and watertight too, thanks to O-ring seal and snap locks plus the ability to add optional padlocks to its metal reinforced outer lugs. As the crushproof capability means this is a heavy case even when empty, I was thankful that it has a pair of wheels and trolley style handle to both speed and streamline transportation. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | If I’m considering buying a Peli case then I’m seeking the ultimate protection for my camera gear, and the Peli 1510 Protector Case certainly comes close. I was sent the option with padded adjustable interior and foam lid, which is what I would have personally chosen if seeking to buy one. |
Value ★★★★☆ | As arguably the Rolls Royce – or perhaps Sherman tank – of protective cases, inevitably this Peli option was never going to be ‘cheap’. That said, it’s not prohibitively expensive either. Plus, if you are choosing the top tier interior option, you may well consider yourself a professional anyway, who can set the investment against tax. |
✅ Buy it...
- If protecting your expensive camera gear is paramount – especially when in transit – and therefore any money spent doing so is money well spent.
❌ Don't buy it...
- If budget is tight and perhaps something slightly less indestructible, from Peli itself or a more budget priced rival like Vanguard, would do the job just as well. Or you’re uncomfortable showing your feminine side.
Alternatives
When it comes to rolling hard cases with wheels and handles, the most obvious alternative to the Peli / Pelican 1510 Protector Case here is Peli’s own identical-sized 1535 Air Case. The latter has the distinct advantage of weighing a lighter 3.95 kg, albeit that’s when empty. Still, while it’s not quite as outwardly tough, many might feel that’s better than weighing 6.2 kg, as this 1510 does. When it comes to Peli’s 1535, there are again various options available as regards the interior, plus whether we choose foam or adjustable padding.
If traveling light is indeed your bag and you’re after a comparable bargain with it, then the Vanguard Supreme 40F is a squarish alternative. This weighs 4.4 kg with its foam interior, but it’s a practical size for smaller camera kit configurations. It gets minus points from us, however, in that it doesn’t feature wheels, which could be a possible deal breaker, particularly if the gear you have is heavy. Still, it is sufficiently watertight to withstand being dunked to depths of five metres.
If we do want wheels and have a shedload of camera equipment, then a larger alternative to the above can be found in the bulky shape of the Vanguard Supreme 53D. The only issue is that because it is bigger, it is also heavier, at a back-breaking 11.2 kg with a padded divider insert. There’s also a 53F model that alternatively features a foam interior.
For more options, do visit our buyers’ guides to the best roller bags.
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