Got no money left for a Pelican 1650 or $300 camera bag bc you spent it all on your camera setup? Step right in fam, we’re talking my favorite way to transport my gear on the cheap!
Enter the Thermos 24 can soft-side collapsible cooler!
Mine cost about $45, has a rigid bottom with plenty of space for a mirrorless or DSLR camera housing, 2x YS-D3 strobes and lighting rig. The rigid bottom holds its shape, and the soft sides provide padding during a car or boat ride.
Front pocket also is big enough to store Ziplock-ed cloth, strobe and camera batteries, memory cards and spare parts.
The lining is designed to hold ice as well, so it is more or less waterproof, meaning you can soak your camera in the cooler (I don’t recommend doing this if you’re going to move it around much, but it’ll work in a pinch).
The whole cooler also fits EXACTLY into a 28L Iris RV 400 Box, which costs about $15-20 in Japan. They’re quite strong and rigid, and are great for additional protection if you’re transporting your camera on a crowded boat or in a truck/can. They can be tough to find in America though. The cooler however will also fit into similarly dimensioned hard cases you can buy in the storage section of Target or Walmart if you are looking for a travel solution. If you’re stressing about not being to lock it, I recommend just sealing it with tape. “TSA Approved” certification means the lock was designed to be popped open using shims, and doesn’t actually provide any security short of ensuring an overstuffed bag doesn’t burst open. Unless you’re using actual non-TSA Approved locks on a Pelican case, taping a box shut provides more security since it’s generally tamper evident.
Enter the Thermos 24 can soft-side collapsible cooler!
Mine cost about $45, has a rigid bottom with plenty of space for a mirrorless or DSLR camera housing, 2x YS-D3 strobes and lighting rig. The rigid bottom holds its shape, and the soft sides provide padding during a car or boat ride.
Front pocket also is big enough to store Ziplock-ed cloth, strobe and camera batteries, memory cards and spare parts.
The lining is designed to hold ice as well, so it is more or less waterproof, meaning you can soak your camera in the cooler (I don’t recommend doing this if you’re going to move it around much, but it’ll work in a pinch).
The whole cooler also fits EXACTLY into a 28L Iris RV 400 Box, which costs about $15-20 in Japan. They’re quite strong and rigid, and are great for additional protection if you’re transporting your camera on a crowded boat or in a truck/can. They can be tough to find in America though. The cooler however will also fit into similarly dimensioned hard cases you can buy in the storage section of Target or Walmart if you are looking for a travel solution. If you’re stressing about not being to lock it, I recommend just sealing it with tape. “TSA Approved” certification means the lock was designed to be popped open using shims, and doesn’t actually provide any security short of ensuring an overstuffed bag doesn’t burst open. Unless you’re using actual non-TSA Approved locks on a Pelican case, taping a box shut provides more security since it’s generally tamper evident.
