Cases for carrying on your back

[Paahto]

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy some good quality cases for carrying my mandolin on my bike as I'll be cycling to gigs once I get my bike repaired soon. Something comfortable with pockets for leads etc is what I'm looking for.

I'm also wanting to buy cases for my tenor banjo (19-fret Vega Little Wonder) and guitar (Lowden) for the same purposes.

My only experience of banjo cases is the popular ones made by Tribal Planet but they are woeful quality.

Appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

[bigskygirl]

I got the Gator XL from Amazon a few years ago and it has backpack straps, nice padding and lightweight.

https://www.amazon.com/Gator-GL-MAND...or+xl+mandolin

[Kalasinar]

There are Fusion Bags in the U.K. Expensive for a gig bag but have heard very good things. Their cheaper 'Funksion' bags are great except they lack the extra storage and interior adjustable padding of the more expensive models. I got a Funksion concert ukulele bag for my pocket mandolin for when I'm on the motorbike. Great quality and I made my own removable padding for the inside.

Edit: They also make guitar bags, both Premium and Funksion models.

[MikeEdgerton]

Travelite makes a decent case with backpack straps.

[mandroid]

Eastman Fiberglass have 3 D rings for backpack straps .. liner stays dry in the rain, too. Gasket edges.

[Manfred Hacker]

I have the Bobelock Fiberglass Arrow. It comes with a cover that has D rings and a pocket for books/sheets. The case itself has 3 D rings too. I have used it to ride around to jams on festival grounds.
The case may be strong enough for the mandolin to survive a fall from the bike when one is pedalling home/back to the trailer under the influence of moonshine

[Dave Sheets]

I have the gator case, use if for a cheaper fender electric-acoustic mando. Works fine, light weight, seems pretty solid.

[Ivan Kelsall]

You mean like this ? - The Travelite cases have 3 'D' rings so that you can use either one or 2 straps. They also happen to be a very fine case for 99% of most purposes,
Ivan

[Ray(T)]

Cringe!! Some years ago, a friend of mine put his guitar in a gig bag and skied to the local session. On the way back, he fell backwards and shattered his 1962 (brazillian rosewood) Martin D28. It took weeks for his luthier to work out how to put the thing back together. Think hard!

[Mark Wilson]

The Gator looks great for backpacking an A style.

[EdHanrahan]

The Gator looks great for backpacking an A style.

And is probably strong/stiff enough to protect in case of a fall or other, uhm, bicycle happening. I've been using a Gator for an F-style (just car & walking, no bicycle) for several years. BUT... I must note that the similar-ish Travelite, for maybe a bit more money, is a somewhat classier case.

For a lot less $, Guitar Center sells the Roadrunner series of gig bags, that have been MOST impressive for my parlor-size guitar, but still w/out the bicycle risk. Here's the mandolin version (NFI): http://www.guitarcenter.com/Road-Run...lin-Gig-Bag.gc

[greg_tsam]

Does anyone have suggestions for travel cases or fiberglass (or better) cases for my two point?

[Ivan Kelsall]

A couple of years ago,a Cafe member reported on an accident that he'd had. His mandolin in a Travelite case came off the back of his motorcycle while he was riding it. Both the mandolin & case were perfectly ok apart from some dust on the case cover. I own a Gator ABS case which houses my Weber, & i would NOT like the same thing to happen to that case.

The outer covering on the Travelite cases is 'Ballistic grade' Nylon & it's as tough as h**l !. I wouldn't trust any moulded ABS case not to shatter, as in the case (no pun intended) of Cafe member Peter Jenner when his Hiscox case was dropped from an aircraft baggage hold. Used as ''carefully'' as we should use any case,the Travelite cases are excellent,
Ivan

[Beanzy]

In case it helps anyone here's what I did to put straps on my GoldenGate fibreglass & foam case that I keep my KM150 in.
They're made with small dimples molded in as feet. The foam insert is hardly glued in at all but does the job ok with a permanently tacky glue. If I get around to it I'll either fill in the cross-head screws or replace them with flat ones & rubber covers, as they can scratch a wood surface when the case is sitting on them.




It's really just for convenience when carrying other bags & instruments etc. I'd probably use it on a bike ok, but due to the hard case it wouldn't be ideal as that would tend to shift about & also because I hate carrying stuff on my back on a bike. I'd be more likely to put it in a pannier with a bit of foam inside between the rack & case.
Obviously there's not too much at stake with the KM150, which is why it's a life-time keeper for the 'uncertain' trips.
For the £4k mandolin that goes in the Hiscox & I reckon getting a bus, tube or a cab would be better value than trying to super-proof things.

[fidlplr1979]

Eastman Fiberglass have 3 D rings for backpack straps .. liner stays dry in the rain, too. Gasket edges.

Yeah I love mine and the tight gasket around the edges has saved my mandolin from more than one deluge.

[fidlplr1979]

Ive had it on my back for long periods and its quite comfortable as well. I use public transit in my city to get to gigs and jams and the backpack straps have come in handy leaving my hands free for my fiddle.

[Mark Wilson]

Does anyone have suggestions for travel cases or fiberglass (or better) cases for my two point?

If you want to carry it around a bit, the Travelite is good for anything that needs an F (or A) style footprint case. As protective as it is lite.

[gtani7]

are you carrying a mandolin, banjo and guitar on a bicycle? I'm pretty sure i don't want to carry my 12 pound resonator banjo on a bike, i can get a mando and a fiddle in a bass guitar gig bag.


They make slings or whatever that holds your regular case (hopefully securely) and comes with backpack straps: http://www.sharmusic.com/Accessories...Cello-Case.axd, probably a luggage repair guy or somebody that does backpack and tent repair could rig something up for you

Here's another style: http://www.sharmusic.com/Accessories...Viola-Case.axd

NFI except that i did buy a couple bows from Shar, good company.

[dschonbrun]

Mono makes a case for a pedal board, and it has great straps. If you cut foam to surround the mando, it works beautifully.

[varmonter]

Can you still buy travelite cases.i thought the
Factory shutdown and they were looking for
A place to relocate.i ordered one from mf and
It was backordered so long they refunded.

[jhowell]

My used KM-505 came in a Boulder Alpine gig bag that I'm really happy with. Fits well, shoulder straps are really comfy and it seems to be as strong as a gig bag is going to be.

[Ivan Kelsall]

No response from the OP in over 2 weeks !!,
Ivan

[Jim]

I often carry a mandolin in a gig bag on a bicycle or a motorcycle, no mishaps yet. I use a superior for a cheap Bestler I camp and travel with and a Gator for an RM75 when I need some volume. The Superior only protects from scatches and dirt,. The Gator might protect from a drop but not from the motorcycle. Travelite would be my choice unless you land on it too, then all bets are off, you'll prolly break it.