Pelican, maker of exhausting circumstances aimed toward filmmakers and dealing professionals, now has a line of luggage and suitcases known as TRVL aimed on the wider touring public past purely “film-folk”. Full evaluate beneath.
Alright, you’ve clicked on CineD (the place we’re recognized for speaking about movie and TV know-how), and also you get hit with this evaluate of suitcases. Maybe off-topic? Let me let you know why it isn’t. For one, the Pelican TRVL line feels based mostly on (and certainly makes use of a number of the identical design concepts) present in Pelican’s basic movie and TV exhausting circumstances. Additionally, I journey on a regular basis for work and sometimes should take a number of tools with me, generally with restricted circumstances on account of weight limits.
I not too long ago filmed an episode of ‘Wild Kingdom‘ for NBC the place we have been closely restricted with our baggage due to the load limits on a small aircraft touring to an remoted sand runway in Mexico. I’ve additionally discovered myself flying into the center of the Alaskan wilderness on small planes. I’m fortunate that my job as a DP permits me to journey, however there’s a persistent diploma of stress, and that stress largely comes from the query: “Will our costly tools survive the journey?”. A visit to a location with restricted choices to accumulate replacements within the occasion of injury provides one other layer of concern.
On the airport shuttle. Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
Oh, and to high all of it off, I’ve damaged many suitcases, or somewhat, skilled suitcases falling aside after doubtful dealing with by varied world airways. Suitcases, particularly exhausting suitcases, are costly, and that’s true of the Pelican TRVL line as nicely, with its premium price ticket. However, I’d like suitcases to really feel extra like tripods within the sense that they’re a one-time funding that lasts for years, and possibly, simply possibly, the TRVL sequence could possibly be that for my work.
AEGIS 32″ on left and ATX 25″ on proper. Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
First impressions
For this evaluate, I frolicked touring with the $429 Pelican AEGIS Examine-In Rolling Hybrid Duffel (Charcoal, 32″), $599 Pelican ATX Hardsided Examine-In Curler Case (Sand, 25″), and $89 Pelican AEGIS Protecting Cross Physique Sling Bag (Black). Every of the luggage and the suitcase is a bit completely different, and I’ll break them down beneath, however Pelican’s long-time deal with defending the inside contents could be very clear within the design of every.
The AEGIS line makes use of a semi-rigid design that feels somewhat like the perimeters of an Aputure or Nanlite lighting case. The ATX line, alternatively, feels nearly precisely like my 1535 Air (maybe my favourite carry-on case up to now, and I cowl that case a bit on this CineD article).
Contained underneath the AEGIS branding are additionally nifty smaller luggage and even backpacks. The SXH5 AEGIS Protecting Sling with molle appropriate exterior webbing is a standout. The sling is principally the proper measurement for my Sony a7RV with one or two SIGMA modern E-mount lenses, and, for as soon as in my life, I’m not scared of minor bumps.
SXH5 AEGIS Protecting Sling. Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
All the pieces is branded prominently with the Pelican identify. I’ll admit that whereas the model carries a sure cachet, it’s not precisely delicate for those who’re attempting to go incognito or keep away from drawing consideration as a filmmaker or content material creator. I are inclined to cowl recognizable digicam model labels with gaff tape on circumstances simply out of behavior whereas touring to keep away from pesky thieves.
Alternatively, I used the protecting sling whereas filming a stand-up comedy present in LA, and practically each crew member on set (a crew of about 25) requested me what it was and the place I bought it.
Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
The Pelican TRVL AEGIS 32″ is large, very large (like may carry two weeks of clothes large for 2), and the ATX 25″ feels a bit extra manageable for every week journey, however each would should be checked on home airways in the USA based mostly on dimensions alone.
Let’s dive right into a bit extra element on every, beginning with the AEGIS 32″.
The Pelican TRVL AEGIS 32″
One of many many exterior straps on the charcoal-colored AEGIS 32″. Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
This can be a small factor for some, however one of many issues that I instantly beloved in regards to the AEGIS 32″ is the placement of the outside straps. When you are touring from the sidewalk to a experience share service or from an airline baggage belt, you could work together along with your luggage in numerous methods, and this bag has a conveniently positioned weight-bearing strap in all of the places you want one. Love that. No fumbling round for a helpful deal with!
I had a month-long multi-country Disney shoot a bit in the past, and we have been capable of do laundry often, however this bag would have been excellent for that venture particularly. The inside house is large. In actual fact, I’d have supported inside dividers of some sort with the AEGIS 32″ – it’s only a large inside house, and every thing tends to slip round throughout transit.
Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
This bag calls for a few packing cubes due to the untamed inside. Sadly, I wasn’t capable of check out a packing dice for this evaluate, however Pelican thoughtfully affords quite a lot of them in varied sizes. Pelican calls them “ModPacks”.
One of many issues I used to be nervous about with this bag is whether or not it might retain its form or not after having one thing heavy positioned on high of it, with a largely empty inside. The outside of the bag has the identical inflexible materials because the protecting sling, however it isn’t as bulletproof because the ATX exterior. Fortunately, after setting a number of weights on high of the AEGIS (complete weight about 30 lbs / 13.6 kg), every thing bounced again into place rapidly as soon as I eliminated the load.
Pelican ATX
Given my notion of Pelican as a pure filmmaking model, I’m undecided what I anticipated right here, however I used to be very impressed by the construct of the Polypropylene (thermoplastic polymer) ATX 25″. Pelican has primarily taken their core design concepts from their “Air” branded circumstances and introduced these over to the ATX line, whereas including some journey client pleasant concepts.
ATX 25″ in Sand Colour with 3-digit TSA lock. Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
In case you aren’t acquainted, the “Air” circumstances are usually about 30% lighter than their non-Air Pelican counterparts. That weight distinction is very significant whereas touring, and the Pelican 1535 Air is my go-to carry-on for lenses and digicam our bodies on plane, particularly. The road of Air circumstances is the proper tradeoff between weight and safety for me personally once I journey with costly/fragile cameras and lenses.
ATX 25″ at LAX in California. Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
The Pelican TRVL ATX 25″ isn’t precisely weightless, because the suitcase tops out at 18.5 lbs/ 8.3 kgs with an empty inside. However, in alternate for that weight tradeoff, you’re getting tons of safety.
For my Pelican 1535s, I at all times add a foam-padded or CRDBag lid along side a TrekPak inside, which I imagine is especially related to the ATX line, in my view. Extra on that in a second.
Smooth closing deal with! Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
There are small design concerns right here with the ATX which can be simply dealt with (pun meant) so darn nicely. For one, the deal with comfortable closes (which means it might probably’t be slammed down), and every of the latches clicks into place simply with out pinching or struggling. Lining up the highest lid with the underside throughout closing is straightforward, and every thing aligns rapidly with out effort.
The 4 wheels all spin simply and quietly 360 levels, and the deal with extends and retracts simply to the purpose the place it’s going to be exhausting for me to return to utilizing different non-Pelican suitcases.
I acquired the Pelican TRVL ATX 25″ ATX 25″ within the “sand” shade, and I really would recommend going with black or charcoal, regardless of the undeniably cool look of the sand shade, for a easy purpose: scuff marks do learn on the sand end (see the image beneath). Specifically, rubber scuffs from baggage belts or airport padding have a tendency to stay on this exterior. I attempted to buff off a couple of of those scuffs with a Mr. Clear Magic Eraser, and I didn’t have a lot luck, however maybe I ought to have used a special cleansing agent.
After a number of cross-country flights, the “sand” shade is beginning to take some hits, however the contents are nicely protected. Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
The inside of the Pelican TRVL ATX 25″ sports activities one zipping compartment with a flap on the opposite facet that is likely to be good to carry an additional pair of footwear in place. Notably, the inside has the identical concern for me that the TrekPak/Foam choices remedy within the Air sequence. There isn’t actually a protecting layer between your inside contents and the plastic exterior, which suggests your objects can knock instantly in opposition to the perimeters of the case.
In fact, you may get round this drawback by wrapping your objects or utilizing packing cubes, however I’d have beloved a skinny layer of inside foam between the plastic shell and your gear.
Look, the $599 price ticket goes to provide some pause and rightfully so, however for skilled vacationers who aren’t all in favour of having their objects arrive broken, they are going to discover a lot to like right here. For me, I achieve peace of thoughts with the ATX 25″ to the purpose the place I completely really feel comfy mixing in bits of digicam tools with my clothes on shoots the place house is a premium – I’m undecided I’d put any digicam package within the AEGIS (no less than not with out extra safety round every of the objects).
SXH5 AEGIS Protecting Sling
The 1.18 lbs SXH5 AEGIS Protecting Sling with molle webbing. Picture Credit score: Graham E Sheldon / CineD
I’ve so many luggage from different manufacturers on this explicit type issue, and Pelican’s AEGIS model of this sling is my favourite of the bunch. You’ve got the AEGIS semi-rigid protecting layer, nevertheless it isn’t on the facet that impacts your physique whereas climbing round, and there may be precisely sufficient inside room for a digicam physique/small lens or two, batteries, and reminiscence playing cards/reader.
There’s a little hidden zipper pocket on the rear of the SXH5 that’s an ideal spot for a passport, an AirTag, a pockets, and money. Pelican neatly put this pocket in a spot the place it may be simply accessed by the wearer and never by anybody who is likely to be seeking to seize your objects in a crowd.
Once more, this isn’t an enormous bag and I used it largely for my Sony a7RV or Sigma BF digicam with accompanying media and some batteries. This sling bag is meant for a day journey and never as a catch-all for a number of zoom lenses and primes. For that form of cell storage, take into account giving the backpack-style PX18 Aegis Journey Pack a glance.
The $79.95 SXH5 is available in black, blue, charcoal, and sand colours as of publishing, and together with the ATX 25″, I discover myself utilizing the SXH5 most frequently.
Closing ideas on the Pelican TRVL line
For my work, I’ll proceed utilizing the Pelican 1535 Air as my go-to carry-on for digicam our bodies and optics w/TSA mandated batteries, and the ATX 25″ shall be my go-to for every thing that may be checked beneath the aircraft. For longer jobs, the AEGIS 32″ is my catchall for clothes, however I’ll be investing in some Pelican journey cubes for that bag.
After receiving the Pelican TRVL objects for evaluate, I went into a neighborhood journey store in California with pricier suitcases to see the general state of journey luggage and suitcases nowadays. For one, Pelican is mostly priced increased, and that’s one thing I anticipated, however after strolling across the retailer, I couldn’t discover any luggage or suitcases that I felt provided the identical construct high quality.
So, the core query stays: are you going to spend $180 on a suitcase that can survive for 2 years of heavy journey (possibly), or would you spend $599 on a suitcase that might final for a decade or extra? I simply put 10,000 airline miles on the ATX 25″ and AEGIS 32″, and aside from the outside scuffs on the sand coloured ATX 25″, not one of the {hardware} parts present any flaws.
What’s your filmmaking suitcase of selection, and what do you consider the Pelican line? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
