If you have expensive equipment, such as musical instruments, audio systems, DJ gear, or electronics that may be a bit delicate and get transported often, you may have heard of road cases. But what are road cases, and why would you want one?
In this blog, we will cover everything you need to know about road cases, what types there are, how to use them, what they are good for, and the benefits of having road cases. Understanding custom road cases could save you from damage, save you stress and repair costs, and let you spend more time doing the things you love, whether you are a professional, a hobbyist, or a business owner.
What Is a Road Case?
A road case or flight case is a rugged protective box designed to safely transport fragile and/or expensive equipment. Road boxes are made from materials like plywood, aluminum, or plastic. Most road cases have foam padding also to reduce shock and vibration during transport.
Originally, road cases were largely used by touring musicians and performers to keep their instruments and equipment safe. Now, we see them used across many industries, including event management, broadcasting, photography, film production, medical transport, IT hardware, and even in aerospace and defence.
Why Do You Need a Road Case?
Here are some practical points of reference that show investing in a road case is the more wise and longer-term option:
Protect your gear
No matter what you are transporting, audio gear, instruments, electronics, or tools, a road case will keep them protected from shocks, drops, dust, and moisture. This protects you from the costs of repairs or replacements.
Easy to transport
Most road cases come with wheels and handles. Even in cases where the road case is heavy or large, you can easily manipulate/transport it at events, loading docks, or airports.
Durable construction
Road cases are made to endure heavy handling and to make it through more than one use. Some road cases are ATA cases that can stand up to any amount of airline travel, as they meet the standards of the Air Transport Association.
Organized transport
With custom compartments, you can put cables, accessories, and fragile components somewhere safe without the worry of mixing them up or damaging them.
Totally customizable
You can invest in custom flight cases/custom road cases that fit your exact gear, layout, and needs. This can also save you time in packing and better protect your equipment!
Types of Road Cases
The world of road cases offers many options to carry whatever you need. Here are the common and useful types:
1. Audio Road Cases
Audio road cases are meant to carry audio equipment, i.e, microphones, mixers, amplifiers, and loudspeakers. Most commonly, the audio road case will have a thick foam interior and a structure that absorbs shock to minimize damage. All of the DJs, sound engineers, and event crew members you see with tons of gear to carry to and from an event many times use an audio case.
2. Rack Mount Cases
The rack mount case is meant for gear that is rack mountable. Rack mountable musical instruments can be found on mixing consoles, small format mixers, sound processors, wireless transmitters and receivers, among others. The rack-mounted cases are sturdy, usually take up less space, and are used in IT installations, broadcasting, and stage productions.
3. Equipment Transport Cases
Equipment transport cases are generic equipment cases. They are made for gear like cameras, lighting systems, monitors, or testing equipment. In many instances, these cases can be built to your specs. Equipment transport cases maintain versatility, durability, and safety for all sorts of industries, including industrial work, event production, professional events, etc.
4. Road Cases for Musical Instruments
These cases are designed to protect instruments such as guitars, keyboards, drums, violins, and more. The inside is generally soft foam or padded. While items may be subject to vibration, shock, or jarring at some point during travel, an instrument case is designed to protect the instrument from most damage.
5. DJ Cases
DJ cases are designed for items like DJ controllers, mixers, turntables, laptops, headphones, and cables. Some cases are designed with trays or stands so DJs can set up their gear quickly and comfortably at live shows or clubs.
6. Waterproof Road Cases
If you are a professional who works in outdoor environments or travels through unpredictable weather, waterproof road cases are for you. They are sealed to prevent water or dust from getting in and ruining your equipment.
Custom Road Cases: Built for Your Needs
Customization is one of the most exciting features of road cases. A custom road case created for you will hold your exact gear, in your exact configuration, your exact way of working.
For example:
- A flight case designed for a video production team might have foam-cut sections for a camera, several lenses, monitors, memory cards, and cables.
- A DJ case could have a configuration with exact spaces cut out for turntables, soundboards, controllers, and other accessories.
- A carrying case for medical equipment could even have cut-out sections for sensitive diagnostic instruments and devices as well.
When you use custom road cases, you are getting the best internal support for your equipment, saving space, organizing gear, and limiting the chances of your gear flying around in the case.
Features to Consider for a Quality Road Case
When selecting a road case, please keep the following features in mind to get the best quality and performance:
1. Quality Construction
A road case should be made with good material like ABS plastic, plywood with a laminated coating, or reinforced with aluminum on the edges are all good options. This will help keep the case intact during transportation, when it will likely suffer more abuse.
2. Secure Locks and Handles
Your case should have strong locking mechanisms to prevent accidental opening. Comfortable, padded handles make lifting and carrying easier, especially for heavier cases.
3. Wheels for Mobility
If you have a heavier, larger case, you will want to invest in wheels. Road cases with wheels allow you to move your gear around easily without the need for extra help or physical strain.
4. Interior Padding
Soft foam or rubberized interiors provide the cushioning necessary to help protect your fixed gear from shocks, vibrations, bumps, etc. Foam interiors can be custom-cut to fit your gear and offer customized protection and fit for your equipment.
5. Water and Dust Resistance
Depending on the profession, a waterproof road case can be useful for individuals who perform or work outdoors. Waterproof cases would have gaskets and sealed corners to protect equipment from rain, humidity, or dust.
Who Will Use Road Cases?
Road cases are useful across a wide range of professions and industries. Here are some common users:
- Event management companies that transport lighting, speakers, control panels, and at times, LED screens
- Filmmakers and photographers needing secure transport for cameras, drones, lenses, and batteries
- Broadcasting teams are moving video switchers, audio systems, and recording equipment
- IT professionals are moving networking tools, routers, and servers
- Medical technicians with diagnostic and/or testing equipment
- Defense and aerospace teams are moving sensitive instruments and electronics
In all cases, having a conventionally strong and proper equipment transport case formatted and designed as such makes logistics faster, safer, and more reliable.
Why Choose a Road Case Manufacturer?
Working with a professional road case manufacturer gives you several advantages:
- Access to high-quality materials and the latest design techniques
- Custom sizing and interiors based on your exact needs
- On-time delivery for bulk or urgent orders
- Better price when buying directly from the source
- Technical advice on improving safety and organization in transport
Choosing a reliable road case manufacturer ensures you get the durability and customization that a standard box cannot provide.
Benefits of Using Road Cases
To summarize, road cases are an essential investment if you want to:
- Protect your valuable equipment from accidents or bad weather
- Make transportation easy with wheels and well-balanced handles
- Stay organized with sections for each tool or part
- Appear professional in front of clients, customers, or stage audiences
- Prevent last-minute problems by safely packing and carrying your gear
- Save money by avoiding costly repairs or replacements
Whether you’re performing, presenting, recording, or servicing clients, a high-quality road case is your best line of defense.
Final Thoughts
No matter if you are a musician, DJ, tech, videographer, or tech specialist. You have one thing in common. You have valuable equipment. Insurance should not be an option, but a requirement, protecting your investment and equipment is necessary. That is where a road case and custom road case can come into play as a safe, long-term solution to help keep your gear safe, organized, and ready to work.
Determine what case will work for your needs. Whether it is a DJ case, audio road case, rack mount case, or a waterproof road case, shop around to talk with a reputable road case manufacturer to get the quality services and customizations you want and need.