My obsession for organization reached it's rapturous peak while in the Army, where everything had its place, and there was a place for everything. Example: our trucks were really just gigantic boxes that held ever smaller boxes. They were like giant OD green Russian matryoshka nesting dolls. Once we put everything into their appropriate boxes, we'd draw pictures of what was in the box, so we knew precisely where everything needed to go (we called them 'load plans'), then taped the pictures inside the box lids for as yet unborn archaeologists to find and decipher. It was glorious.
It was also in the Army that I was introduced to specialized cases designed to transport sensitive computer and communications gear. Unlike our regular equipment containers, which were just unpadded wooden or metal boxes (how much protection does a hammer need, right?), these transit cases were purpose-built padded cases designed to provide safe, weatherproof carry for whatever fit inside. At the time the Army was buying a lot of off-the-shelf computer hardware for field use. This was well before things like Panasonic Toughbooks appeared on the market, so this very expensive and fragile gear needed to be protected. Think loading a Sun SPARC workstation and CRT monitor into the back of an open deuce-and-a-half truck with no suspension, and taking it to the woods for a few weeks.
Come forward 20+ years, and I've adopted the same approach for much of the Amateur radio gear in my inventory. As rugged as we may think our radios are, it's an unfounded perception. Even the highly touted 'weatherproof' Lab599 TX-500 fails to meet any industry standard for moisture intrusion, and several are reported to have failed after being used in damp conditions.
The good news is that there are lots of great rugged and waterproof options for safely transporting your gear. I'm thinking about what are typically referred to as 'pelican cases', the suitcase-like hard shell cases manufactured by Pelican, Nanuk, Apache (Harbor Freight), and others. Basically, a foam filled case with a water-tight lid that you can customize to hold your gear. I've exclusively adopted the Pelican and Nanuk brands. These cases are extremely well made and offer a variety of interior configuration options - either 'pick 'n pluck' foam, or easily re-configurable padded dividers. Pelican and Nanuk cases are not inexpensive, but they are almost infinitely reconfigurable and re-buildable. You can purchase replacement foam inserts, new case seals and other parts to keep them going far into the future. Cases, particularly Pelican cases, are widely available on the used market, and they can be re-built to almost new condition. You can't do that with the cheaper brands like Apache. I have a few Pelican and Nanuk cases that I've re-purposed several times over to hold different radio gear. In the beginning I would buy new foam insert sets and configure those to hold the new gear. However, I now buy the padded inserts. Since they are easily reconfigurable, these inserts are a one-time purchase for each case.
Pelican is a US-based company that has been around forever. My brother-in-law is a professional photographer and has Pelican equipment cases that are 30+ years old. Nanuk is a Canadian company that sells directly in the US. Of the two, I have to say that the Nanuk cases are slightly better - better hinges and latches and an overall better design. I didn't know much about Nanuk until I had a conversation a few years back with Jim at HamRadio.world. Jim and his family build a variety of go-boxes and battery power stations using Nanuk cases. He showed me the Nanuk's features, and I was impressed. Pelican's products are great (particularly the Pelican Storm line), but Nanuk's products are just a bit better. Either will serve you well.
One of the features I like about the Nanuk line is the availability of case lid organizers. The small space in the case lid is normally filled with foam padding, but Nanuk makes organizer inserts that are a combination of a sleeve (think of a space to store documentation, notebooks, a small tablet, etc.) and pouches that can hold a variety of items like a microphone, cables, connectors, etc. These lid organizers add a whole lot of capacity and functionality. While lid organizers are available for some Pelican cases, Nanuk designs all of their cases with the appropriate screw holes to accept a lid organizer. It's a pretty slick setup.
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| Nanuk case lid organizer |
When I see portable operators carrying around an expensive radio in the back seat of their car, with no protection, I cringe. I once saw a guy show up to a field operating event carrying a Kenwood HF rig in one of those big blue Ikea shopping bags. Ouch. A $1,500 radio is worth at least some protection, if for no other reason than you are safeguarding your investment. Also, a well though-out case becomes your 'grab 'n go' kit. It's possible, even easy, to build out a kit that holds everything you need - radio, tuner, battery, coax, antenna, notebook, user guide, etc. all in a compact and waterproof case. For example, the Nanuk 918 case I carry my Icom IC-705 in can hold:
- Radio
- AH-705 tuner
- Microphone
- Set of small Heil headphones
- 4 Ah LiFePo battery
- power & tuner control cables
- 25' of coax
- Small end-fed HF antenna
- Roll-up UHF/VHF j-pole antenna
- Connectors & adapters
- Notebook & pen
- User guide
- Leatherman multi-tool
If I shuffled things around there's even be space in there for a small tablet like an iPad Mini or a Surface Go. All in a case that is 17" x 12" x 9.3".
So show your expensive radios some love, and get some decent protective cases to schlepp them around in. The cases I discuss are long-term investments, so they are 'buy once, cry once' purchases. Don't be that Ikea bag guy - get your rigs some protection.
W8BYH out
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