The Pelican wouldn't have leaked, but the seal is dented from the caliper drop. It has a warp in it if you look. I have 5 Pelicans and they don't leak, Ii tested all but one. The last one I couldn't test because it's too big and buoyant.
The underwater test was flawed. You forced the seal to lift at the hinge by putting oversized calipers (you even said it in your video), so you had to force the lid closed (causing negative pressure against the hinge when you force the latches to close). Re-do that test if you could (with lower profile weights, or just empty with the weights on top).
Thank you for these tests. You've done a great job showing the limitations of the Chinese Apache case. For what it's worth, Apache, Eylar, and Meijia all seem to rebrands of the same cases.
I noticed the brake caliper fit more snug inside the Apache during the drop test, perhaps pushing out from the inside causing it to break when it hit the floor while the calipers had more room inside the Pelican. With the Apache, you have an overstuffed compartment with the sides being pushed out, it's bound to burst under pressure during impact.
I have both. The construction of the pelican feels and looks better in every way. That being said, the Harbor freight Apache cases work great and they are cheap enough that I can have multiple
Pelican storm and protector cases are made of two different materials. I just ordered three 1630 cases that Amazon had at 1/3 the price each in their warehouse deals.
I feel like the water test and drop test sequence should have been flipped. Seems like the Pelican case edge was damaged from the drop test to really give the o-ring a proper seal.
Thanks for sacrificing these cases. I'll be buying the peli 1200 for my watch collection , the apache's are way more expensive here in Europe than the pelicases..
Pelican Cases are made in the U.S. Other's may be cheaper, but I'll go with Pelican to protect my gear. Never ever had a problem and still have a few that are now 25 years old and still do the job.
The drop test is the thing that is likely to happen. I don't imagine I will be running over my boxes, but dropping them... all the time. Still, at a 10th the price, the Apache box was great.
Really entertaining and makes me feel good about the Pelicans I already have. Airline baggage handlers probably treat them about like that! Let's see any of them withstand a rollover from a 747.
Not giving your tests a good evaluation. But for being in the plastics industry for over 30 years. Depends on material and industry standards. I will on critic age of the production date of products. If the ages of the products are within 30-90 days of production dates it would be legit. As all plastics age with climate changes. Obvious if the Pelican products already presented to climatic changes will make a big difference. In general you are showing that Harbor freight product is durable. But I recommend changing them after a couple years if there are harsh handling of the products.
I think the pelican is obviously higher quality and I would use it for your high dollar equipment like camera gear ect. However the value of the Harbor freight Apache case is not to be overlooked. I picked up two of them on sale for $10 each...so at the sale price I can get 6 of them for the MSRP of one similar sized Pelican. Under normal wear and tear circumstances the Apache is the best bang for the buck. If you have the money to buy super high dollar camera equipment you likely have the money for the Pelican case as well.
Yep. That Pelican 1200 is rated to retain buoyancy with a 12 pound payload. Which for its size, is pretty impressive. Some of their larger cases buoyancy ratings go into the hundreds of pounds! lol
Except in the real world, in a real drop, the case would have held 6-7lbs of camera equipment. Or a laptop. Or professional electronic equipment. Or a compound bow. Or all the gems and beads for the jewelry trade fair. Etc.
Pelican says right on there website NOT to put anything inside them that can contact the lid and cause the seal not to seal properly and both boxes the lid looked to be flexed when he forced them closed. So the leaking boxes were caused by the lid flex. I also did this exact same test on three of my pelican cases the 1200 V200 and the 1400 and not a single one leaked I even left the V200 in water over night a total of 11 hrs dry as a bone inside. Then he drives on the pelican on concrete and the harbor freight on sand come on dude
Here’s the thing. These are both Chinese products. Assembly line, out for flight back in the states and on store shelves. Harbor freight only gives the actual worth instead of gouging like a pelican would. Really their giving a much more fair price. Apache all the way. And let’s say worst case scenario your shit explodes. Well you can buy like two more and still be under in price for one pelican. Sounds like an easy choice to me
"OOOOOHHH.....it broke." Loved it. Great review. I was really disappointed in the water ingress on both. It's nice that the pelican floats though.
Thanks, it was a fun test.
The pelican seems to be a bit larger, the extra air inside the box probably makes it more boyant.
The Pelican wouldn't have leaked, but the seal is dented from the caliper drop. It has a warp in it if you look. I have 5 Pelicans and they don't leak, Ii tested all but one. The last one I couldn't test because it's too big and buoyant.
The underwater test was flawed. You forced the seal to lift at the hinge by putting oversized calipers (you even said it in your video), so you had to force the lid closed (causing negative pressure against the hinge when you force the latches to close). Re-do that test if you could (with lower profile weights, or just empty with the weights on top).
Thank you for these tests. You've done a great job showing the limitations of the Chinese Apache case. For what it's worth, Apache, Eylar, and Meijia all seem to rebrands of the same cases.
I noticed the brake caliper fit more snug inside the Apache during the drop test, perhaps pushing out from the inside causing it to break when it hit the floor while the calipers had more room inside the Pelican. With the Apache, you have an overstuffed compartment with the sides being pushed out, it's bound to burst under pressure during impact.
I have both. The construction of the pelican feels and looks better in every way. That being said, the Harbor freight Apache cases work great and they are cheap enough that I can have multiple
Pelican storm and protector cases are made of two different materials. I just ordered three 1630 cases that Amazon had at 1/3 the price each in their warehouse deals.
I feel like the water test and drop test sequence should have been flipped. Seems like the Pelican case edge was damaged from the drop test to really give the o-ring a proper seal.
This is amazing thanks for making this! really helpful man!
Glad it helped!
Thanks for sacrificing these cases. I'll be buying the peli 1200 for my watch collection , the apache's are way more expensive here in Europe than the pelicases..
Pelican Cases are made in the U.S. Other's may be cheaper, but I'll go with Pelican to protect my gear. Never ever had a problem and still have a few that are now 25 years old and still do the job.
The drop test is the thing that is likely to happen. I don't imagine I will be running over my boxes, but dropping them... all the time. Still, at a 10th the price, the Apache box was great.
Yeah, the Apache is a pretty good value, but that is going to happen. Buy two.
Pelican has been around for years and a huge reason why the military uses them! Also weird I did a water test with mine and held its own
Really entertaining and makes me feel good about the Pelicans I already have. Airline baggage handlers probably treat them about like that! Let's see any of them withstand a rollover from a 747.
I have a bunch of pelicans. I have a big one I use when I travel. Its nice to know, it can't be broken very easily.
BEAUTIFUL country! is that Canada?
Not giving your tests a good evaluation. But for being in the plastics industry for over 30 years. Depends on material and industry standards. I will on critic age of the production date of products. If the ages of the products are within 30-90 days of production dates it would be legit. As all plastics age with climate changes. Obvious if the Pelican products already presented to climatic changes will make a big difference. In general you are showing that Harbor freight product is durable. But I recommend changing them after a couple years if there are harsh handling of the products.
I think the pelican is obviously higher quality and I would use it for your high dollar equipment like camera gear ect. However the value of the Harbor freight Apache case is not to be overlooked. I picked up two of them on sale for $10 each...so at the sale price I can get 6 of them for the MSRP of one similar sized Pelican. Under normal wear and tear circumstances the Apache is the best bang for the buck. If you have the money to buy super high dollar camera equipment you likely have the money for the Pelican case as well.
The pelican floating is another positive
Yep. That Pelican 1200 is rated to retain buoyancy with a 12 pound payload. Which for its size, is pretty impressive. Some of their larger cases buoyancy ratings go into the hundreds of pounds! lol
What state is this in? it's beautiful!
Northern Utah. Stay away though. Really weird people here. LOL
Yes. Very weird people. California is soooo much better.
Love the hat.
Go Tribe!
Except in the real world, in a real drop, the case would have held 6-7lbs of camera equipment. Or a laptop. Or professional electronic equipment. Or a compound bow. Or all the gems and beads for the jewelry trade fair. Etc.
Yeah, but I don't want to break my expensive cameras. An old heavy brake caliper worked pretty good. LOL
Do seahorse
Ah, Um, So. toastmasters may be a great help for you, friend.
Pelican says right on there website NOT to put anything inside them that can contact the lid and cause the seal not to seal properly and both boxes the lid looked to be flexed when he forced them closed. So the leaking boxes were caused by the lid flex. I also did this exact same test on three of my pelican cases the 1200 V200 and the 1400 and not a single one leaked I even left the V200 in water over night a total of 11 hrs dry as a bone inside. Then he drives on the pelican on concrete and the harbor freight on sand come on dude
Here’s the thing. These are both Chinese products. Assembly line, out for flight back in the states and on store shelves. Harbor freight only gives the actual worth instead of gouging like a pelican would. Really their giving a much more fair price. Apache all the way. And let’s say worst case scenario your shit explodes. Well you can buy like two more and still be under in price for one pelican. Sounds like an easy choice to me
Except Pelican is made in America.
Typical harbor freight product. Thanks for the video.
Thank you! For watching
For the price, it held its own and then some.
I don't know, but this these tests are bad.
Possibly the worst comparison and review video I've ever seen.
Would love to see you make a comparison video and post it up. Shoot me a link when you do. Cheers
@thedirtlifesupreame you got your click, move along.