SKB H4816W Reviews
The best hardware case for gigging drummer
By James
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-02-13
I purchased one of these cases USED in 1999 (it was pretty beat up at the time)- I used it to hold drum hardware and mic stands and it survived hundreds of gigs over the years - About a week ago one of the wheels broke off after getting wedged in a concrete gap (it was repairable)- I was not the original owner, so I could not take advantage of the lifetime warranty. After nearly 25 years of heavy use I decided it was time for a new one. The improvements to the latches and the handle are welcome - much beefier than my old one. Highly recommended.
The only caveat is that this is VERY heavy when fully loaded - The wheels make it easy to move around, but forget about dead lifting this case.
A year later, another story
By Nemo
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2018-04-09
After a year of heavy use, my review is not quite as glowing. My original assessment, that the case holds a lot, still stands. And it is still a versatile case. However, if you plan on shipping this case FedEx (as I do on virtually every job), think twice. It's rather flimsy and has multiple dents along the metal strips that seal the case. One was so bad that I had to get pliers and a hammer to get the case to close again. Also, almost every rubber foot on the case has now been busted off, courtesy of FedEx. This case will serve you well if you are personally transporting to shoots, but doesn't work well to ship stands etc. via a carrier such as FedEx or UPS. Fully loaded, as I have it, the case weights a hefty 90+ lbs. the downside is that the case only has one end handle at the top, so the person at the other end must lift without that benefit. The roller wheels work well, but you still much do a certain amount of lifting to get it into vehicles, etc. Also, the fact that my umbrella scrim does not fit linearly, but must fit diagonally, means it is a pain to pack and you have to make sure you layer stands etc. in such a way as to fit it diagonally.�
I pack a ton of grip in this sucker, but it is disappointing that it isn't a little longer. It's a pity that the SKB i4213 isn't longer or that the i5616 isn't a little deeper. Those are better cases if you plan to ship equipment on a regular basis.
Solid Product
By Robert
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2017-05-26
This is a solid case with good hardware. I've packed it full of stands & tripods for lighting and cameras. The interior straps keep all my gear stable for transport.
Holy Cow! This holds a lot!
By Nemo
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2017-05-15
I dithered for weeks looking for a new grip/stand bag. I used the Tenba Transport CCT51 for a number of years, but it was showing wear from the beating FedEx had given it: broken zipper tags, seamless starting to split. I seriously considered the Think Tank Production Manager 50, but it's another cloth case and technically speaking, not designed to ship. Also, it's twice the cost of the SKB ATA case. In overall volume, the SKB is enormous: 5.86 cu ft versus 4.72 cu ft for Think Tank and 3.57cu ft for the old Tenba. Of course, all that volume means one VERY heavy case when packed full. As I packed it today to ship out for my first shoot since buying it, I discovered one weak point. The couple of inches shorter length means my Photek Sunbuster umbrella scrim must fit diagonally. That said, my assistant and I figured out a good packing scheme and managed to fit an extra 100cm Rotalux Octobox into the case while keeping the case easy to close. Fully packed, it tips the scales at 92 lbs. Luckily, my FedEx guy like me because I help him load and unload case from a shoot. In the case I have packed: 2 13' light stands 210' lightstands 1 Sunbuster umbrella scrim 6x6 Scrim Jim frames and assorted silks 2 36 Flexifill reflectors 3 30' heavy duty extension cords Monopod MeFoto Traveler tripod 10 Assorted size A clamps 2 super clamps Handheld light boom 3 rolls gaffers tape 2 rolls packing tape PBC 84 umbrella 30x40 chimera softbox 70cm Rotalux Octobox 100cm Rotalux Octobox And probably a few other things I can't remember!
Amazing huge box.
By Sudesh
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2016-04-03
I love the size of this thing. I was able to fit four large light stands several small ones and the backdrop. You can weigh this down quickly so I am glad it doesn't weigh like a typical Pelican this size would. Most certainly needs another handle. I will have to DYI one myself.
Great but I wish there were more straps
By Little Fish
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2016-03-31
This case is pretty much as advertised. Really well built and sturdy, with good wheels, which is important because the case is heavy and once you get a couple stands in there it gets back-breaking. I do wish there were more straps or even potential ways to install dividers. I'm using this to carry my boom pole and a few other odds and ends and I find myself leaving those things in their cases inside this case to prevent them banging around and getting damaged, which is just silly. If you're looking to carry exclusively stands in this case, I would recommend it, otherwise I would look into some other options.
Best Travel Cases
By Aidan
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-01-04
I travel a lot for photo/video work and only use SKB and Pelican for my cases. They're the only ones that hold up even from being thrown around at airports. I have a Large ATA and a XL ATA and both have stood the test of time. They hold a lot of gear and the tie downs inside are super helpful to keep things in place. TSA locks attached to the cases are also a great feature. Can't recommend these cases enough!
Starting to show bends after only a few flights
By Shawn
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2019-10-03
Was hoping this would be a great, lightweight solution to hauling misc gear & tripods on flights but after only a few months it is showing bends in the aluminum at one end. To its credit, it still works and is still holding but I was using an ABS hard golf case for years that never buckled in the various scenarios I used it for.
The plastic and aluminum on this are both slightly less substantial than the golf case it replaced which makes this certainly lighter but I'd rather it have had a bit more strength for those flights...
