ThinkTank Photo Airport International vs Pelican 1510 / Photo StudioCruzer

I was looking into getting a case for travel and am looking at either the ThinkTank Photo Airport International or the Pelican 1510 (or the Photo StudioCruzer).

Both appear to fit within the specifications for carry-on dimensions.

But I think the key issue is that many US domestic airlines have 40 pound weight limit for all carry-on items.

According to the TTP website, the Airport International weights 11.5 lbs while the Pelican 1510 in the Photo StudioCruzer variation weighs 15lbs. 3.5lbs isn't much, but can be the difference between carry-on and check-in.

That said, lots of people cite that the nicety of the Pelican is that in the event you have to check-in the case, you can. But using the dividers instead of foam, is check-in even an option for a 1510 owner?

Also, the price favors the Pelican 1510 if you go with the basic case and dividers option (under $200). But the Photo StudioCruzer is just under $300, while the TTP Airport International is $329.

The Airport International does have the advantage of being less conspicuous.

While the Pelican can protect the gear from more damage (i.e. liquid, stacking items on it, etc).

Anyone with insight regarding either or both?

If anything, I don't really fly much and when I do lug a lot of photo gear on the road, I currently throw it all in a Lowepro Vertex 300 AW and stick in the bed of my truck.

Airlines seem to be getting much more critical on what they allow to be carried onto the plane, requiring items which "appear" to be troublesome to be gate-checked at the plane door (not all that bad, certainly better than full-check through the luggage system from the counter). Sometimes the crew simply makes an arbitrary decision that all "wheeled" carry-ons be gate-checked, which has occurred to me with my Airport International.

My opinion (never tried it myself) is that they would be especially critical of a Pelican style carry-on and would probably ask you to gate check it if the flight is full. I would not be worried, however, if I had to gate-check a pelican, but I would lock it! The TT Airport International simply looks like everyone else's carry-on and probably wouldn't be flagged for special handling as you board unless everyone was also being flagged.

-howard

I have only once had the airline ask to weigh my carry-on, and that was in Italy. Of course, it was overweight for their extreme low standards! Fortunately, my camera gear was in a walk-around shoulder bag stored inside the roller bag as was my laptop computer. I opened the bag, removed those two sub-bags and slung them over my shoulder, and handed the roller bag back for it to be re-weighed. Of course, it now (being almost empty) easily passed inspection and the counter clerk probably glared at me as I disappeared around the corner, replaced the shoulder bags in the roller bag, and proceeded to go to my gate and board without further issues.

I think one big issue with carry-on weight is the concern that the passenger be capable of safely lifting it into the overhead bin without dropping it on someone else's head in the process! Obviously, the total weight is the same, whether packed into a single item, or in several.

-howard

+1 what Hfgarris said. A friend of mine did get stop during boarding because his TT International was a little overweight. so he took his laptop, one body and one heavy lense out. and all good. once he got inside the plane.. he put his camera and lense back inside the bag.

i havent got stop yet.. and helps when the bag doesnt look like a camera bag.....

I have the Storm Case iM2500 and just got the Thinktank Airport Ultralight just for this scenario. Take out the backpack, or in my case, swap my lighter backpack with the heavier one, walk through past the weight watchers, and you're in. I've never seen a backpack be weight checked.

I've had my Streetwalker HD weighed once, too.. (In a regional airport in Peru no less!) She looked at me funny, said something about my shoulders being strong and waved me through... (She was right - that was a heavy bag that day!)

I've not had any issues with my Airport Takeoff being weighed / looked at sideways etc - But when I travel with crew that have rolling Peli' they always get stopped / weighed - I think maybe just out of sheer "whoa, that looks different" -- Who can tell.

There's a stack of info on flying on the TTP website here (I posted some on the tTP Twitter account yesterday) -- I hope it helps someone.