Norman NL3419W Soft Case

Great fit & finish for a budget case

Note - There is an identical photogenic branded case that is interchangeable with this Norman branded case. Both have the same dimensions and features. I use this case to transport all of my lighting gear for location work. When it comes to equipment I have a less is more attitude. Currently I pack: 2x heads 2x 10' Smith-Victor light stands (medium duty) 1x 8' reflector stand 1x reflector disc 2x cone reflectors 2 power cords, extension cord, radio trigger, sync cords, speed ring, spare bulb, gaff tape & misc adapters The case features decent foam & hard plastic padding on all sides. Padding is accessible via zippered compartments, so you can add or remove extra protection as necessary. A hollow bottom compartment (made of a removable divider) separates the light stands from the rest of your gear. On the outside of the bag a zippered flap gives access to the stands while the bag is laying down or standing up, so you can pull stands out of the bag without rifling through all your gear. The main compartment is organized via removable inserts lined with velcro. As shipped it accommodates 3 strobe heads in separate cubbies. I use White Lightning and Alien Bee heads, which fit well with extra space. One elastic velcro strap in each cubby prevents contents from shifting in transit. A large zippered mesh pocket covers the entire inside of the bag's top flap. Some way to divide the mesh pocket would be nice, but as is it can fit a whole lot of cables, tape, etc. The mesh does appear somewhat thin. I wouldn't trust it to withstand sharp plastic packaging or pointy metal pieces for very long. A long and slightly narrow external zippered pocket can also fit cables or an umbrella/smaller softboxes. This case doesn't accommodate my large softbox (it's taller than a collapsed light stand) so I bring a separate lightweight nylon bag for SB & umbrella. So far the four wheels and main pull handle seem reasonably rugged. The main handle is a hard plastic. It slides out on on metal rails, which feel solid. As with all such cases, taking a corner too fast might cause it to roll. My only complaint is that stitching for the fabric handles is not as durable as I'd like. The other day I pulled the fully packed case at an odd angle across a carpet using only one of the fabric handles. Some of the stitching ripped. Not a big deal as the metal pull handle gets more action, but in the future I'll have to be more careful. Overall I'd say this is an excellent case. Construction is decent and the design is well thought out. If you really pound on your equipment or need a bag that will last 10-15 years, this probably is not for you. For everyone else, you won't find a more useful case within $100.