While we were viisting Tobago, there was a bomb scare in the U.K. that led to new regulations on carry on bags, including not allowing any carry on baggage from U.K. airports for several weeks. This led us to look into the possiblities of being able to check our laptops and cameras without fearing for their safety. This search eventually led us to the Pelican 1510.

If you have never seen Pelican cases before, they are used extensively in the military and civil agencies, such as fire and police. They are very durable, chemical resistant and watertight cases that can be used to protect equipment and supplies for transport. The Pelican 1510 is designed to meet the carry on luggage size constraints of most major airlines and has wheels and an extendable handle so it is easy to use.

There are several options available for the interior, we chose the foam blocks that are designed to allow the user to remove individual cells and form shapes to snugly hold equipment. In our case, we carry an entire professional photography setup, including multiple lenses and spare parts as well as a Sony Vaio laptop. On a recent trip to Africa, we found that this bag was perfect for use in the game viewing camps, as we could just hand it off to the porters to deliver to our rooms and trust that our equipment was safe.

Pelican also markets TSA approved locks that will secure this case if we ever have to check it. We hope it never comes to this, but if the worst happens while we are out there traveling, we at least have the option to keep our equipment safe and sound if it has to go into the belly of the plane.

You can order this case from