Pelican Air

[Cowboy777]

Several airports are requiring luggage that has at least one "hard" side, so the old school duffels and Navy sea bags can't be used. We have traveled (domestically) with a roller-duffel that worked OK, but you better not have anything fragile inside, because there is a good chance it could be damaged.

As for weight, my wife and I travel pretty light and even though we are using Pelican Protector 1560's (17 lbs empty), have never had a problem weighing less than 50 lbs. Another plus is that we've never had anything damaged. We also pack a travel luggage scale and keep our bags at least 5 lbs below the limit for those "airline calibrated" scales.

The last thing about Pelican luggage that I like is the fact that it's sealed. It always ends up in the back of a truck or bakkie and there is no thought given to our stuff getting wet or covered in dust. When we get home, we can hose them off and they are ready for the next one.

I think we've been traveling with Pelican Protector luggage for more than 10 years now and averaging a few airline trips per year with zero problems. I like the Protector cases for checked luggage because I've seen severe damage done to the Pelican Air cases by baggage handlers. Mostly at the corners or they have the wheels bashed in. If I had to change one thing, I'd switch out my Protector 1510 carry-on for a Pelican Air 1535 to save a little weight because we are usually the only ones handling it.

17lbs?!?! That’s over a third of allowed weight. After ammo you are already over half. Then what if you want to pack a bottle of wine or bourbon. I can pack most of my necessities in my carry on, but don’t. I split it so my checked bag is packed tightly with minimal chance of damage to loose items and in the event it’s lost or delayed I’m not without.

 

[BeeMaa]

17lbs?!?! That’s over a third of allowed weight. After ammo you are already over half. Then what if you want to pack a bottle of wine or bourbon. I can pack most of my necessities in my carry on, but don’t. I split it so my checked bag is packed tightly with minimal chance of damage to loose items and in the event it’s lost or delayed I’m not without.

We all have choices to make and I've chosen protection over weight savings.

The Pelican 1200 plus 40 rounds of 375H&H and two sizable locks is about 7 lbs. Plus the 17 lbs from the 1560 comes to 24 lbs. I'd be hard pressed to come up with 20+ lbs of gear I want to take...but that's me. I don't need much on a hunting trip.

My biggest bonus is my wife is usually traveling and hunting with me, which means we can move stuff around if one of us is close to the limit.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

17lbs?!?! That’s over a third of allowed weight.

This made me curious. I just weighed a full size suitcase at 10.9 lbs.
A Peilcan Air 1615 without foam weighs 14.06 lbs. I will sacrafice 3.03 lbs of gear for added protection and a "Buy once, cry once" purchase. Plus I can get it in orange color! Its always good that one's luggage doesn't look like everyone elses bags.

Also, one can use real padlocks in these cases compared to suitcases that a pocket knife or box cutter can open.

https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/cases/air/1615?sku=016150-0011-150

Thanks to BeeMaa, I put this along with a Pelican Protector 1700 for my double rifle on a draft order. Rats! the 1700 isn't available in any bright color...

I am also thinking hard about the Peilcan Protector 1510 carry on size case.

1535 Air Carry-On Case: Air Travel Carry On Suitcase | Pelican

For travel lifestyles, take the rugged Pelican 1535 carry-on. Perfect for air travel, an automatic purge valve protects against water, dust and air pressure.

www.pelican.com

Pelican gives a 15% Military and First Responder discount and free shipping over a certain order total price.

 

[Cowboy777]

This made me curious. I just weighed a full size suitcase at 10.9 lbs.
A Peilcan Air 1615 without foam weighs 14.06 lbs. I will sacrafice 3.03 lbs of gear for added protection and a "Buy once, cry once" purchase. Plus I can get it in orange color! Its always good that one's luggage doesn't look like everyone elses bags.
View attachment 692690
https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/cases/air/1615?sku=016150-0011-150

Thanks to BeeMaa, I put this along with a Pelican Protector 1700 for my double rifle on a draft order. Rats! the 1700 isn't available in any bright color...

I am also thinking hard about the Peilcan Protector 1510 carry on size case.

1535 Air Carry-On Case: Air Travel Carry On Suitcase | Pelican

For travel lifestyles, take the rugged Pelican 1535 carry-on. Perfect for air travel, an automatic purge valve protects against water, dust and air pressure.

www.pelican.com

Pelican gives a 15% Military and First Responder discount and free shipping over a certain order total price.

This made me curious. I just weighed a full size suitcase at 10.9 lbs.
A Peilcan Air 1615 without foam weighs 14.06 lbs. I will sacrafice 3.03 lbs of gear for added protection and a "Buy once, cry once" purchase. Plus I can get it in orange color! Its always good that one's luggage doesn't look like everyone elses bags.
View attachment 692690
https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/cases/air/1615?sku=016150-0011-150

Thanks to BeeMaa, I put this along with a Pelican Protector 1700 for my double rifle on a draft order. Rats! the 1700 isn't available in any bright color...

I am also thinking hard about the Peilcan Protector 1510 carry on size case.

1535 Air Carry-On Case: Air Travel Carry On Suitcase | Pelican

For travel lifestyles, take the rugged Pelican 1535 carry-on. Perfect for air travel, an automatic purge valve protects against water, dust and air pressure.

www.pelican.com

Pelican gives a 15% Military and First Responder discount and free shipping over a certain order total price.

That’s not bad at 3lb difference.

 

[Hyde]

I took a 1595 and 1615 on my recent trip to RSA. I didn't really need two suitcases, but since I wasn't taking a gun, I put my SLR camera in the other and piled my coats and other items around. I use the Amazon packing cubes, which are great. I can confirm that these cases will end up in the "Fragile Luggage" area at JNB. I believe this is also called the oversize area. When checking in for my return flight, I asked the ticket agent why they list them as fragile (Fragile stickers applied at counter). She said it is because they expect fragile contents with cases like this.

I added two TSA latches to each case, and I also had two TSA approved heavy duty Sure Lock locks on each case. When I arrived at JNB, I noticed that one lock had been cut off, and they tried to cut the other one off but weren't successful. The cases had not been opened. I will say that the lock that had been cut was a newer style that takes a non-standard TSA key.

I had to pay Airlink about $20.00 for over weight fees from JNB to and from East London.

 

[BeeMaa]

View attachment 693296

I took a 1595 and 1615 on my recent trip to RSA. I didn't really need two suitcases, but since I wasn't taking a gun, I put my SLR camera in the other and piled my coats and other items around. I use the Amazon packing cubes, which are great. I can confirm that these cases will end up in the "Fragile Luggage" area at JNB. I believe this is also called the oversize area. When checking in for my return flight, I asked the ticket agent why they list them as fragile (Fragile stickers applied at counter). She said it is because they expect fragile contents with cases like this.

I added two TSA latches to each case, and I also had two TSA approved heavy duty Sure Lock locks on each case. When I arrived at JNB, I noticed that one lock had been cut off, and they tried to cut the other one off but weren't successful. The cases had not been opened. I will say that the lock that had been cut was a newer style that takes a non-standard TSA key.

I had to pay Airlink about $20.00 for over weight fees from JNB to and from East London.

Which lock were they unable to cut? Pics?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Think I will order a 1615 for trip to Zim next year. B&H Photo seems have some good pricing and free shipping. Anyone ever bought from them? Most colors in stock.

 

[Hyde]

Which lock were they unable to cut? Pics?

I wouldn't say "unable", even though these are fairly heavy. A good bolt cutter would probably snap right through them. It almost looked to me like they tried to saw it off. The lock holes on the Pelican were both jacked up pretty good, and now one of the metal reinforcement pieces can easily be removed. The case with one lock missing had the yellow locks. The other one had the newer orange style.

 

[NDWoods]

Think I will order a 1615 for trip to Zim next year. B&H Photo seems have some good pricing and free shipping. Anyone ever bought from them? Most colors in stock.

Good to go. I bought a discounted display from them before I found Pelican had a Vet discount.