There are few companies that continue to dominate their entire industry — year after year — like Pelican. The company has exceeded expectations with the Pelican 1535 Air Wheeled Carry-On Case and recently I was able to get my hands on one. The Pelican 1535 case is the lightest professional hard carry-on case currently on the market. Its waterproof (up to two meters), shockproof, and comes with a lifetime warranty. Let’s take a look at the Pelican 1535 Air case’s features and what you can expect of the product.
Key Features of the Pelican 1535 Case:
- 27L load capacity
- Different options for interior organization
- Lifetime warranty
- 40% lighter than competitors
- TSA and airline-approved
- Waterproof
Overall Design Body
The big kicker about this case is that it is 40 percent lighter than any competitor on the market. Although, it doesn’t seem to sacrifice any durability. The main body is constructed from one piece of polymer and comes in an assortment of colors. On the side and top, you can find plastic business card holders so that others can identify who the case belongs to in the event that you lose it.
Like most Pelican cases, when the lid is able to firmly close over the body and the latches are secure, the seal ensures that this case is waterproof. These cases are said to be waterproof even if fully submerged in water for days at a time. The body also has an automatic purge valve to prevent air pressure from building up within the case — either causing it to blow up when opening it or sealing so tight that you can’t open it in the first place.
Handles
There was one major complaint about my old hard case — the trolly handle was too short. I’m 6’4 so I know that I’m not necessarily the average consumer, but I do think these cases should work for people of all shapes and sizes. The Pelican 1535 Air case actually blew me away as its trolly handle reached about two inches higher than my other hard case. This makes it much easier for me to maneuver through airports. It maintains that super simple design, and is easy to extend. If anything does happen to go wrong with it, it can be detached and serviced with a screwdriver.
The main handle on the side is much beefier than anything I’ve seen, but also has a rubber lining that makes it easier to grip. Pelican also added an extra top handle — apart from the trolly handle — which I love. I’m always afraid that the trolly handle might randomly extend while I pull it from a plane’s overhead bin. Therefore, having that extra handle ensures that won’t ever happen. This handle is much smaller and is also lined with a rubber coating.
Wheels
The best part about hard cases like this is being able to wheel it wherever you please. The Pelican 1535 Air case is no different. Two wheels on the bottom are pretty tucked to prevent them from taking up any unnecessary exterior space, but aren’t super invasive inside the case either. They are also treadless to allow for a smooth ride.
Latches and Locks
I’ve noticed that the latches on the Pelican 1535 case are much easier to latch and lock than cases I have used in the past. With one smooth motion and barely even a click, it locks into place in less than a second. If you get the TRVL version of this case, it actually comes with TSA-approved latches that can be locked with a key.
Interior Options
The TrekPak interior is a versatile and safe bet for organization. It is durable and maximizes the space you have in the case. It is easily changed in seconds. I didn’t choose it simply because I need the flexibility to fit different shape gear for different trips.
The traditional Pick N Pluck Foam is the simplest interior design you can get. It comes in one larger piece and you can cut into the foam to create whatever shape you need. While this is ultimately the safest bet for protection, I chose not to go with this design because it isn’t easily changed if I want to use a different piece of gear on a later date.
The Padded Dividers (which is what I chose) are still simple but as customizable as it gets. I chose this design because I often work straight out of my hard case. I feel that the padded dividers offer me the most diverse inserts along with the needed amount of protection.
You can also get the case without any inserts at all and use it for cargo, clothing, or anything else you need.
Final Thoughts
I use my case over a camera bag in most situations because I like to avoid putting too much weight on my back when in the field. Unless I plan on doing a longer hike, I work directly out of my case. I have used other cases from different companies before simply because they were more budget-friendly, but the Pelican 1535 Air case has been on my wishlist for quite some time.
First, I compared the weight of it (empty) to another case that I own, and the difference was significant. I also wanted to make sure that I wasn’t sacrificing the safety of my gear. While I am thrilled about the weight of this case, I need to make sure it can withstand the test of time and elements. So far, it seems to be just as durable as the Pelican 1510 hard case — which says a lot. To be 40 percent lighter but maintain that same amount of ruggedness is impressive.
Secondly, I wanted to make sure it can withstand the elements. I took it on its first trip to Tennessee this past weekend, where I knew I’d be working in stormy conditions. I purposefully left the case in my truck bed for an hour (with my gear inside) to fully put this case to the test. Through and through, this case held up and kept my gear dry. I know I will put this thing through much more over the next few years and I am confident it will hold the test of time.
Overall, I don’t have a single complaint about this case. Although it comes at a higher price point, in the end it is worth every penny. I plan on using this case for years — if not decades.
