We were generously given a Pelican ProGear 1095CC Laptop Case for review. Pelican prides themselves on a line of cases that are:
- crushproof
- impact protected
- watertight
- pressure controlled
- easy to use
This model is designed to protect 15″ laptops, and while the price tag ($128.95 direclty from Pelican – though you can find them for around $75 on sale at Amazon) may seem hefty to some, for others, it’s a reasonable investment to protect a much more pricy piece of technology.
Testing this case was a blast. Not gonna lie, when a company sends us something that’s ‘crushproof’ with a tagline like “Bring It”… well, it shall be brought.
How do you test “crush-proof” anyway? You run it over with a car. Twice.
We put a lightbulb in the ProGear 1095CC and ran over it with a full size Jeep; the first time, the lightbulb was totally unscathed.
I’m really glad we went right over with a Jeep because the results were impressive. Yes, the case was useless afterwards, but it took two goes to break the lightbulb within. That’s right: we put a lightbulb in the ProGear 1095CC and ran over it with a full size Jeep, and the first time, the lightbulb was totally unscathed.
Even in the state it’s in now, with one busted hinge, it’s still quite protective. I’d bet the watertight seal is broken, but I’d still put my laptop inside and chuck a brick at it.
(If 20 people ask in the comments, we’ll actually do that. And take a video of it. Try us!)
Short of leaving your laptop in the driveway in front of your car, driving over it, then coming back because you forgot your laptop and driving over it again, this thing is going to keep your technical goods in great shape.
Short of leaving your laptop in the driveway in front of your car, driving over it, then coming back because you forgot your laptop and driving over it again, this thing is going to keep your technical goods in great shape. Plus, even if you did manage to encounter a scenario that bizarre, their warranty would still cover the case:
“Pelican Products, Inc. (“Pelican”) guarantees its injection molded products for a lifetime against breakage or defects in workmanship…”
Regular wear and tear is nothing to this beast.
You could absolutely accidentally drop it a small distance and it would be fine. Step on it? A-OK. Close the car door on it? Fine. Drop it into the bathtub while you’re… I don’t know why you’d have your packed laptop near a full bathtub, but if you did, this would be the case to have.
Careful with the Pressurized feature, it can be tricky.
We tested by closing the case, then removing some air, and opening got challenging. Doable, but certainly harder than your average case. That said, the airlock on this thing is impressive.
Definitely a sound investment if you have an active lifestyle and an expensive laptop.
Other than the hinge cracking after the second drive over, Pelican does exactly what it says.
Water-proof? Check.
Dust-proof? Check.
Easy mobility? Check.
It’s absolutely everything you expect from a laptop case meant to protect the expensive laptop within.
Rating: 8/10
One of the most impressive laptop cases we’ve ever laid eyes on. And certainly the only one we’ve ever driven over.
The Pelican ProGear 1095CC holds up to some impressive standards, but fell a bit short of the company’s ‘crushproof’ claim. In the event your case is damaged, the warranty is for the case, not the contents–a drawback for anyone with a super-expensive computer, likely the very people who will consider purchasing a case like this one.
While these factors keep the Pelican 1095cc from achieving a perfect score, it’s still one of the most impressive laptop cases we’ve ever laid eyes on. Certainly the only one we’ve ever driven over.
