Is This the Drone Transport Case You Need?

Four years and bunch of different protective cases later, I really learned the value of investing in a tough and water tight case. I travel a lot and enjoy the idea of knowing that my equipment will get to its destination in one piece very important if your client depends on your ability to show up with working tools.

I have recently added a Phantom 4 to my collection and since I sold my P3 along with its case, I started looking for a case that would serve well to protect my new “toy”. I decided to just use the original P4 foam case while waiting for more manufacturers to come out with more variety of cases to choose from. Nanuk must have been reading my mind because just last week they sent us their new 945 case for the P4.

BACKPACK OR HARD CASE?

You might say that a backpack may be a more suitable solution for a Phantom, but it really depends on what you do. If you’re looking to hike up the mountain for a few flights and the Phantom is the only thing you carry, a back- pack solution may be more appropriate.

However, if photography and video is your profession, you need to travel with multiple pieces of equipment and allow other people to handle your luggage, then the hard case is a perfect solution. Also, if you’re doing this for business, the client’s perception is very important. Everything communicates!

While it may not make any difference as far as the quality of your work is concerned, it may be difficult to convince your clients that they’re dealing with professional if you’re pulling different components of your equipment from a pile sitting in your trunk or the floor of your car.

EVALUATING THE NANUK 945

So, how does the Nanuk case I just received stack up?

The Nanuk case is very rigid, manufactured from NK-7 Resin, with thick walls, rounded corners and oversized details. The polyethylene foam inserts are custom cut to hold your Phantom, four extra batteries, the controller, charger, tablet and few extra slots for accessories.

I am planning to widen these extra slots to hold four more batteries. There is no need to remove the props to store your Phantom in this case, which is really helpful when quickly moving between multiple locations. Even with the quick-lock props on the P4, every second counts.

The case also includes a gimbal sleeve a block of foam that goes over your gimbal before placing the copter in the case, which replaces the plastic DJI gimbal locks.

The hinge pins in the lid, handle, latches, as well as the shoulder strap anchor points are steel. The four latches are solid and feature integrated slide locks to keep them locked in place.

The handle is rubber coated and feels good in your hand. The included neoprene shoulder strap with AirCells is a great accessory if you need to carry the case over longer distance it is extremely comfortable and easy to attach to the anchor points next to the handles.

The manufacturer also includes a nice TSA approved combination padlock and the case is available in 7 different colors. As much as I like black, I have discovered that black cases tend to get extremely hot when left in the sun which may damage the content, so I tend to pick lighter colors to prevent this.

COLOR ADVANTAGE

I like the orange as it is easy to spot, especially if you’re traveling with a pile of cases and need to quickly check if all of them are still with you. Nanuk also offers custom case printing, so you can have your company logo or case content description printed right on it.

SUMMARY

While backpacks may be a really good solution for hobbyists who only carry a single piece of equipment and prefer to travel light, they may not be the best solution for all.

An investment into hard protective case is a great idea for professionals who travel with multiple cases of equipment, have their luggage handled by other people (assistants, baggage handlers, cab drivers) and really depend on their equipment getting to their destination in working condition. Rest assured that your P4 will be well-protected during your travels in the Nanuk 945 from Plasticase.

LINK
ANUK nanuk.com