Pelican Air 1535 Case No Foam (Black)

Few products are so time tested that they are nearly flawless. Pelican has been doing this for decades and this case is nice. I'd rate this 4.5 stars. Minor refinements could make it perfect. Expensive, but you get a case with lifetime warranty.The case is the typical waterproof, dust proof, floating, crush proof, etc. tank that Pelican is known for but a good bit lighter than previous versions. The main feature that makes this case worth it compared to competition like the Nanuk 935 is the light weight. 3 pounds is a big savings to start with in my book, at least for a carry on sized case when there is a weight limit on most airlines.The TrekPak inserts are quite pricey, but you get 10-20% of your case volume back with the provided set, and they look amazing if you are obsessed with cleanliness and organization in your cases like I am. With smart cutting, you will be able to reconfigure for multiple load outs similar to foam dividers.For cameras and lenses as is my main use, storing bodies and lenses vertically keeps items from moving and saves space. Even large DSLR bodies and medium lenses will fit this way. I see so many terrible layouts that are wastes of space that let gear bounce around by laying things down.What could be improved? These are mostly nitpicks, this case is meant to be light as possible hardened tank for gear storage.1) Latches are very loud. If I could change anything, this would be my first pick to change. They are so loud they will draw attention, and they require lots of force to operate. These should be improved after all these years!2) Obnoxious branding. I removed the branded stickers. These are for over proud people who want to be a theft target when traveling. I think Pelican should dial these down, we know the brand already. Could not remove the stupid red "Genuine Pelican Case" on the valve. Might cover it up or paint it after checking with to ensure it will not alter my warranty. I just want a black hard case that draws as little attention as possible.3) Wheels are basic, not good for much but hard floors or low carpet. Meh.4) Injection molding leaves a slight bulge on the lid. Wish they had a process that eliminated this. It is not very noticeable but still.5) I'm sure over time very slight improvements to weight and handles will be achieved but they are pretty solid.6) Hopefully materials, perhaps carbon reinforcing, could make this even stronger. The lid will compress slightly if you stand on it, but never in normal stacking. I doubt this will damage gear unless you pack too tightly regardless of how ridiculous it is.If competitors come out with a lighter case, the competition will be on again. The latches annoy me, but everything else is very close to as good as I can imagine.

It’s a Pelican case, and everything you would expect from that. This is the latest version of the Air Carry-On. Air is notably lighter, while seems slightly less sturdy, shows the same durability with less weight and a little more room. The revision from earlier Air Carry-On is a second handle on top, in addition to the one on the side. It maximizes space over the traditional Pelican case series, and deftly comes in tenths of an inch under the new maximum carry-on dimensional limits (fits in the cage), and the airlines don’t blink an eye at it. That being said, it does not hold as much as other bags with the same outer dimensions. You will have to pack lighter even. Get this for durability, Pelican, security; not for getting the maximum amount of stuff on an airplane.

This is my airport go-to case for travel. It fits in most planes overhead bins, except for the really dinky overhead bins.This "AIR" version from Pelican is noticeably lighter if you have the standard version case side-by-side to compare them. That is a total win for traveling.the wheel set is nice for rolling across an airport and the case is small enough that it will go on the escalator with you, no problem.It will work as an impromptu seat for yourself when you arrive at your gate and all the seats are already taken---close the handle down and take a seat on your case. Yes, I do this quite often. It is not the most comfortable seat you will ever experience, but it is awfully available.I buy my cases withOUT the foam because I constantly reconfigure what goes inside the case(s). But this one is for sure available with foam, or you can add it later.There are two different style latches for these Pelican cases. The case illustrated here has a little button in the center of the latch which makes it easier to open. PLEASE TAKE NOTE---only one in five TSA agents know how to use this latch---if they want to inspect your case, they will try to open the latch by flipping it open, you will need to show them the button that needs depressed to correctly open this style latch.If you have never owned a Pelican case, it is worth noting that pretty much everything on the cases can be replaced. On one of my larger cases, I have replaced the wheel sets multiple times.. not because they are made poorly, but because I abuse the heck out of them, rolling the cases for miles over various terrain and the case loaded down. I have replaced latches from when a TSA agent broke two of the four latches. You can replace the foam as I already mentioned. The handle assemblies can be replaced. The point it, these cases are designed to remain in your service for as long as you need them. I think that is a seriously great feature and should not be overlooked.If you are looking for a hard shell case to stow in the overhead bins of airplanes, this is the one you should be looking at.