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Looper's Delight
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Hey Rainer, As a great alternative to the SKB cases, there is a fantastic case made in the US by the company called GATOR CASES. Their ROLLER RACK CASES (http://www.gatorcases.com/productsdetail.aspx?LID=1&PID=20) are light weight, durable and have a telescoping handle and recessed wheels as well (like the kind found on most good travelling suitcases). They are like SKB's (pretty light and not as sturdy as ATA cases) but I have to agree to disagree with Travis' assessment that you shouldn't fly with them (all due respect, Travis, because I know you have a lot of experience with touring) I have toured in 12 countries in 3 years now and flown a lot with my GATOR CASES; abused the hell out of them (try hoisting 2 6 space rack cases and two huge suitcases up and down the subways in London and Paris as my wife and I did). and I love them. I've had to occasionally replace latches and even wheels on my Gator 6 space cases which is pretty typical if you do a lot of touring anyway (I was forced to roll them over really rough cobblestones in both Paris and Stockholm which will wear out any wheels on any luggage pretty quickly) and I have found that the people at GATOR have been incredibly helpful in replacing parts that wear out, including sending me a new set of wheels to Europe in the middle of my tour. I just can't say enough good things about this company. I only wish I had an endorsement with them....................<smile> They are so convenient that I will never dream of going back to SKB cases again. Also, for added stability and protection I always use wide dayglo green nylon suitcase straps (two to each case and available at any discerning travel store) so that if a latch ever bursts that the case will not fly open. The bright straps help you spot your gear at the baggage pickup belts, too. Additionally, the fact that they are light means that you can make it onto a lot of flights that have weight restrictions. American International flights have a limit of 70 lbs (32 some odd kilos, pardon my bad metric conversion) per bag and many are reducing that to 50 lbs (22 kilos?). Many internal European flights have far, far smaller weight limitations before they start adding price to your plane ticket. I was assesed $600 extra for excess baggage for one 45 minute flight from Stockholm to Glascow!!!!!! I never took another plane in Europe for the next two months after that sobering experience. Also, remember that 8 space racks and greater are no longer allowed on most airlines. This means that the very heavy duty ATA cases just reduce the amount of gear you can bring with you despite the fact that they are heavier duty than the GATOR or SKB models. gratuitously and tangiential to this thread: SOME STRATEGIES I'VE USED FOR GETTING MAXIMUM GEAR SAFELY ONTO AIRPLANES 1) Put your sensitive electronics inside of your normal suitcase surrounded by soft clothing, filling your Flight cases with other less vulnerable things for flying................. then just reassembling your rack case when you get to your destination. I did this flying to Japan and to Switzerland this summer. 2) Alternatively, you'd have to measure but I imagine that you could get a 4 space rack into the overhead containers so that means you can take your sensitive stuff onboard with you and eschew the ragged handlers. 3) I also sometimes put FRAGILE, GLASS stickers on my bags..................that tends to make even the most rugger baggage handlers sit up and take notice. 4) I try to chat up the people at the ticket booth and ask them if I can hand deliver my equipment to the plane. Since 911 they never let you do this anymore, but frequently, they will have a word with the baggage people. It's not foolproof but anything to get your gear their safely.