Case recommendations

[verbs4us]

Will be coming into a lovely two-point presently and would appreciate case recommendations that meet these criteria: light-weight (lousy back); has or can accommodate a back-pack style strap (lousy back, part deux); can put in airplane overhead and not worry about the guy who throws his shot-put on top. Prefer shaped to square. No need for doo-dads (blanket, hygrometer, altimeter, tachometer, etc). Any color fine, including paisley. Would be nice if it doesn't require a second mortgage but understand Bontrager's Law: "You can have light, cheap or durable--pick any two." Many thanks!

[Michael Neverisky]

May I be the first to recommend Travelite.

[dang]

I can’t seem to recall that many cases with the backpack strap option? I recently got a Northfield octave mandolin and I love the backpack straps that I purchased along with it. They are for the Northfield recurve case. I would take a good look at one of those Northfield recurve cases, they seem to have all the criteria you want. I checked them out and would have gotten one except I have way too many cases already. Been thinking about getting one anyway after getting used to the backpack straps on my OM, they really do make a difference.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide

[UsuallyPickin]

The Travelite is a good case here is another option. R/

https://www.ebay.com/p/Reunion-Blues...4563689&chn=ps

[Baron Collins-Hill]

I was a big fan of travelites, but the most recent one I got was a huge step down in quality. The interior material and padding were not as soft or protective, and the case stank so bad it was unusable. They used to be my favorite, but I just got a used Northfield Airloom Recurve off the classifieds and it's much higher quality (and quite a bit more expensive). I really like the Airloom and it checks all the boxes, but I do find the clasps a little fiddly and I do wonder how securely they stay shut when being bumped around. Coming from the zippered closure of the Travelite (which was also a common failure point) it feels less secure, but I'm not too worried about it.

Good luck!
Baron

[mandroid]

My Eastman fiberglass case, has 3 D rings, for back pack carry ,

they use maybe 1 layer of FG in them so not that heavy,

but as a result carry on is the way to go , and they would take up less space
in the overhead compartment, being slim outlines ,
which others remark about the lack of storage space, in the case ,
which I manage to cope with ..

(I have an A5 only case, the new ones take long & short neck so F5 & F4 + A5/4, etc.



Last time I flew was a short hop and in year 2000,
( I packed my Mandolin in its original 20's hard case surrounded by my clothing
in a big duffel bag, and checked it.)
I have a backpack frame, with all that in it.
that made ground connections easier to manage..



..

[colorado_al]

Crossrock fiberglass case . About $170-$190
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0759MTKNM

Strong, and fairly lightweight for a fiberglass case.
Comes with backpack straps.
Comes in a bunch of different colors.

[Roger Adams]

I just picked up this Crossrock case. It has the back pack straps and seems pretty solid. I like it!

https://www.amazon.com/Crossrock-CRF.../dp/B0759HPJX6

[tiltman]

You could just go with a TKL, or even whatever case it comes with, and add a Small Dog Case Cover.

http://www.coloradocase.com/mandolin-3.html

That would give you a little more protection/padding, straps, and even a little more storage.

Kirk

[MMorgan9812]

Crossrock vote here!

[Ivan Kelsall]

For me,a Travelite every time. I've had mine for over 8 years & had no problems with it at all. It's the lightest 'proper' case on the market & it can be used with one or 2 straps.Used with 2 straps,the weight almost vanishes !.

I'm pretty sure that the case is constructed by fitting a heavy (comparatively speaking), foam core inside a lightweight wooden former. This is then covered with a very tough 'Ballistic Nylon' outer cover. The inner compartment is deceptively large. I have 2 sets of strings / tuner / set of snipe nosed pliers & wire snips / a string winder & a tin of spare picks in mine & it's not over full. For everyday use,i can't think of a better case,
Ivan

[Michael Neverisky]

Huh. The only issue I have with Travelite is my inability to durably adhere a MandolinCafe sticker ( or any sticker, presumably) to the nylon shell. What's your fashion secret, Ivan?

[Tom Sanderson]

I was a big fan of travelites, but the most recent one I got was a huge step down in quality. The interior material and padding were not as soft or protective, and the case stank so bad it was unusable. They used to be my favorite, but I just got a used Northfield Airloom Recurve off the classifieds and it's much higher quality (and quite a bit more expensive). I really like the Airloom and it checks all the boxes, but I do find the clasps a little fiddly and I do wonder how securely they stay shut when being bumped around. Coming from the zippered closure of the Travelite (which was also a common failure point) it feels less secure, but I'm not too worried about it.

Good luck!
Baron

I have a Jakob Winter violin case with the same latches. Here’s how I fixed the latch issue:

[Baron Collins-Hill]

For me,a Travelite every time.

Careful, they aren't built like that anymore!

[Baron Collins-Hill]

I have a Jakob Winter violin case with the same latches. Here’s how I fixed the latch issue

Nice! Seems like such a nice case shouldn't require such a DIY solution to such a major design decision though.

Thanks,
Baron

[Tom Sanderson]

Nice! Seems like such a nice case shouldn't require such a DIY solution to such a major design decision though.

Thanks,
Baron

I agree.

[verbs4us]

Thanks guys. Not sure Travelite would pass the shot put test, as noted in the OP. I suspect hardshell is a requirement.

[Gelsenbury]

Gator deserves a recommendation too.

[George R. Lane]

Since I don't travel by air anymore, hate TSA and the crowded planes, I find my old Travelite suits my needs quite well. I will be getting another mandolin soon and will be looking at the Gator case similar to the Travelite.

[Ivan Kelsall]

From Michael Neverisky - " What's your fashion secret, Ivan ? ".

Hi Michael - No great secret,as with bonding anything to anything - ensure that the surface(s) that you're bonding to is grease free. I use an Isopropyl Alcohol spray to de-grease anything that i'm going to stick something to. A quick spray,let the residue evaporate & the surface should be ready to go.

Gelsenbury above mentions the Gator cases. I have one of those & it's fine,although compared to the Travelite,it's a tad cramped. It houses my Weber "Fern",but if i take it out to play,i put it in my Travelite,which i use to take any of my 3 out of the house. My TKL ''American Vintage'' case is as good as any,but,it's a bit bulky.

From Baron Collins-Hill - " Careful, they aren't built like that anymore !" What's different about them ?. The pics of them i see on sales websites seem the same.
Here's Elderly Instruments' recent photos,
Ivan

[Baron Collins-Hill]

The material on the inside (now a darker blue color rather than the older lighter gray) is not as padded. My Ellis fit like a glove in the old one, and not as tightly (but still ok) in the new one. The new one has the hygrometer on the inside of the lid near the headstock (my friend's hygrometer fell out after a day or two with the new one), and the storage compartment is slightly differently designed. The hygrometer in the picture you posted gives it a way as the new design.

My biggest complaint with the new design (both my case and my friend's) is an extremely unpleasant smell of glue that not only fills thew case, but seeps into whatever you put into the case. Totally unusable. I have some odor-diffuser bags in there now, but after a couple days it was only marginally better. Seriously, the stench is so bad that neither I or my friend have any interest in putting or instruments in these cases.

Thanks, I hope this helps.
Baron

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi Baron - Many thanks for that info. I just did a re-take on the pics i posted above,& yep ! - there's the Hygrometer on the lid !!. I didn't notice it before.
As for the smell - i'm amazed the the retailers haven't mentioned that to SAGA to get something done about it. As Travelite cases aren't available in the UK,i haven't had the chance to see (smell ?) one of the new ones,
Ivan

[AlanN]

That odor would seal the deal for me. And I never have understood the whole hygrometer thing. My Mark Leafs have them, as does the Travelite and a no-longer-have Ameritage square case. A useless piece of kit that I never 'read'. If ambient humidity is high or low, that obviously applies to instruments, in or out of cases. If I feel it as humid, and I'm concerned about the instrument, I'll place a silica pack in the case (never, ever have done so). If the air feels dry, I'll place a moisture thing in the case. I maybe have done that twice in my lifetime. I simply don't subject the instrument to extremes.

[Louise NM]

The odor goes away. The Travelite I got at the end of April is fine now, and has been for at least a couple of months. It was powerful at first, though.

Mine did not come with a hygrometer. Fine, as my experience with the built-in ones is that they are useless. I have two in cases that always read 60%. I live in New Mexico, where the humidity isn't that high outdoors during a rainstorm.

[Ivan Kelsall]

From Louise - " I have two in cases that always read 60%." I've never even glanced at the reading on the hygrometer in my own Travelite. However - i've often wondered that if we removed them,they'd be any use & serve us better outside the case ?. Maybe - maybe not !,
Ivan