Hard case or camera bag: which one to choose?
A camera bag goes on your back and opens in seconds; a hard case keeps each device in a fixed pocket, inside a shell that takes knocks and weight placed on top. The right choice depends less on the gear than on the way it travels.
In short
- You walk, hike or shoot on the move: the bag, carried close to the body, remains the most practical.
- Your gear travels by car, in the hold, in a van or with shoot crates: the hard case protects it better against crushing and knocks.
- Many filmmakers own both: the case to transport and store, a light bag for the shooting day.
The camera bag
A backpack or shoulder bag, with padded dividers held by hook-and-loop strips that you move to suit your kit.
- it can be carried for a long time and leaves your hands free;
- access is quick, often through the back or the side;
- the dividers can be rearranged when the kit changes;
- soft fabric offers little protection against weight placed on top or a fall onto an edge; devices can move if the dividers are not well adjusted.
The hard case with foam
A rigid shell with latches, and a foam in which each device has its own pocket. At Foamd, the EVA foam is cut from a plan calculated to the dimensions of your gear.
- the rigid shell resists crushing: it can travel stacked, in the hold or in the back of a van;
- each device stays in its place: at a glance, you see whether something is missing before you leave;
- it is heavier than a bag and is carried by hand or on wheels (L and XL sizes);
- a custom-cut foam matches one kit: if your gear changes a lot, you will need a new foam.
On a plane
Cabin baggage limits vary between airlines (often around 55 × 40 × 20 to 23 cm, handles and wheels included). Our cases measure 34 × 29.5 × 15 cm (S) and 46.2 × 35.5 × 19.2 cm (M) overall: always check your airline’s rules before you leave. Spare lithium batteries travel in the cabin, contacts protected, within capacity limits.
For which use
For a shoot where you move on foot with one body and two lenses, a bag is often enough. For a heavier or more fragile kit (cinema camera, gimbal, monitor, drone, live switcher), carried by vehicle or in the hold, a hard case keeps the gear from touching or moving during the journey. These guidelines do not replace a protection test: check how well your gear is held on delivery.
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