Pelican is the brand leader in waterproof protective cases for all camera gear. They managed to innovate on their current design in developing the Pelican Air series, as well as their new Trek divider system.
Through a combination of new plastic formulas and physical modifications, Pelican has managed to reduce the weight of their cases by around 40%. When an original case was 26 lbs and the new case is around 15, that is a significant weight difference, and that's just for their largest case. They mentioned that the cases survived the same stress tests as their bulkier predecessors, meaning that while they will still sell the old models, you'd be hard pressed to find a good reason to want the heavier cases.
They also showed off a new divider system that is sturdier than the typical velcro system and more modular than the self-pluck systems. Rigid, soft plastic dividers can be sliced with a special tool and then held together with metal brackets. The new cases will be able to ship with a starter set of these dividers.
Also mentioned is the smaller cases meeting size and weight restrictions for carry-ons.
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7 Comments
...But the big question for me is: Will these stack properly, so that the bottom section of the top case will nest into the top section of the case underneath. I own about 8 or 9 Pelican cases, but I do not understand why these dang cases can't nest into each other which makes it so much easier to transport a stack of cases. From these pictures it looks like these new cases will have exactly the SAME problem as the older cases.
April 24, 2016 at 12:42PM
I stopped by the booth to check these out. I love the old 1510 cases but I keep easily exceeding the weight limit for carry on for international flights, so I was hoping these Air cases would solve that. They may be just as strong but they felt cheap to me, maybe cause I really love and am used to the density of polycarbonate or whatever it is of the old ones.
April 24, 2016 at 5:42PM, Edited April 24, 5:43PM
Same; I am used to the feel of a heavy-duty pelican case and these felt too light!
Would have to see what stress tests Pelican ran, but I think the new cases would survive most of what the old ones could.
April 24, 2016 at 6:12PM
I hope they offer these with the STORM latches which are so much easier to use than the regular "knucklebuster" latches on Pelican cases.
April 24, 2016 at 9:48PM
Second that! I would love it if they extended this to the storm line as they have the best latches that peli do
April 26, 2016 at 8:08AM
Crap - I was hoping to read 40% cheaper too. :(
April 25, 2016 at 12:04AM
Is the TrekPak divider system included with these new cases? I like this idea so much more than the pluck foam.
April 29, 2016 at 8:41AM, Edited April 29, 8:41AM