Buy Pelican Products 1095 HardBack Case with Foam (1090-020-110)

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List Price: $114.95
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I purchased the Pelican 1095 HardBack Case with (Pick-and Pluck) Foam to hold a 15-inch retina MacBook Pro.

The laptop fits snugly in the 1095 case when allowing a single row of pick-and-pluck foam inside the non-removable foam border, leaving a total foam padding layer of 2-3cm around the edges of the laptop.

The 1095-CC's liner seems to snugly fit a 17-inch laptop, so purchase the 1095 with pick and pluck foam if you have a smaller laptop.

Pros:

+ quality plastic, less of a military design than previous iteration.

+ discrete.

+ snug fit.

+ easily customizable foam.

+ more waterproof and dust-proof than aluminum briefcases.

+ small form factor.

Cons:

slippery plastic.

no handle, only cheap shoulder pad.

padlock holes are small. It would be nice to have an alternate way to secure the latch for transport without resorting to a padlock.

latch looks like it makes 8 inches of contact but really there are only two 2-inch plastic tabs at either end of the latch plate holding the case shut-the purge valve is in the middle.

no room for charger with 15-inch laptop.

(SPECULATIVE) I worry that over time the plastic latch will wear, but Pelican offers a lifetime warranty.

Bottom Line:

The 1095 is a great solution for protecting your laptop chassis, but you will need additional gear to carry the power adapter and other accessories. The sacrifice of an all-in-one briefcase to hold accessories and laptop is recovered in the 1095's small form factor and better foam cushioning.

3-MONTH UPDATE:

:::More Pros:

+ The shoulder strap has held up and the nylon strap has not slipped through the plastic ladder buckle as I feared. I may upgrade to a ladder lock style of strap buckle.

+ I use a mini carabiner rather than the "Pelilock 1506" or padlock because the mini carabiner provides a tighter fit, although the case could still potentially crack open if it fell. A mini padlock may be ideal in fit but unlocking with a key would consume too much time/effort.

+ I can literally toss the 1095 in the car without worrying about crushing my laptop's screen against its keyboard, knowing that the case will not deform. In the past without the Pelican case, just packing too many things into my briefcase could cause keyboard marks on the screen.

:::More Cons:

The plastic lid will scratch easily, to the point where I feel that the old design with two ribs running down the front would better serve scratch protection.

The 1095 may be too big to fit into a carry-on backpack for airline usage, so the 1085's tighter fit might be better for flying.

:::More Bottom Line:

I still feel that this case is better than purchasing a metal briefcase, because the Pelican is slick and covert.

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It fits my Macbook pro 15.4 early 2011 very well. I highly recommend the "1095 pick-and-pluck foam" model over the "1095CC(Computer Case)". I feel that a custom cut case for your laptop

offers more protection than a universal laptop case, also with the ("1095 Pick and pluck" Model you can store a 13" laptop in it safely, by utilizing the leftover foam). I believe this case would

also fit some 17" laptops. There are some draw backs to this case though. First, it is heavy, though it is worth the extra weight. Second, It scratches easily. Third, This WILL NOT fit in a

messenger bag or backpack, I read some reviews online that said otherwise, but it would have to be a very large backpack. Lastly, there is no room for a wall charger.

I still firmly believe these minor drawbacks are worth the inconvenience for this level of protection though.

Best Deals for Pelican Products 1095 HardBack Case with Foam (1090-020-110)

The Pelican 1095 case is made to fit 15" laptops, such as the MacBook Pro 15 (there are other models available for 13" and 17" laptops). It comes in two configurations: the 1095CC, which has a pre-molded foam interior, and the "standard" 1095, which comes filled with "pick and pluck" foam. I am told that the molded foam interior leaves slightly too large a space for a MacBook Pro 15, so that it rattles around a bit inside the case. I got the pick-and-pluck foam, which is basically a slab of foam precut into half-inch squares; you can then measure how big and what shape a hole you want for your item, and then cut or pull out squares to create exactly the space you need. As it happens, with this foam you can get an almost perfect fit for a MacBook Pro 15.

The case is sturdy, has a gasket and closes securely, you could likely throw it into the open ocean for hours without water leaking in and damaging your computer (although this is not a test I am willing to do myself!). This is not a true briefcase though, there is no handle, just a web shoulder strap. Still, the case is sleek and elegant and would not be out of place in a boardroom.

The case is by necessity larger than the computer adds about two inches to each dimension so it will not be as easy to stow in a knapsack or shoulder bag. But if you absolutely, positively need a 100% jump-in-the-water-proof case, this is the one you want.

Honest reviews on Pelican Products 1095 HardBack Case with Foam (1090-020-110)

The case is well made, with good, heavy duty plastic parts and foam. The pick and pluck foam insert is very good closed cell foam (pretty firm) that doesn't come apart when the desired geometry is picked (and plucked). The lid on this model uses an egg-crate style open-cell foam and the bottom uses a closed cell foam like the pick/pluck layer. The dimensions noted as maximum dimensions are not correct. I have a Lenovo W530 that is within the noted dimensions, but the laptop would not fit. The case would not close without excessive force, causing the lid to base seal to remain open about 2-3mm on the sides. I emailed Pelican regarding this and received the following reply:

Dennis,

I show the internal dimensions of the Pelican 1095 case as 15.78" x 11.16" x 2.06" and the published dimensions of your Lenovo W530 as 14.68" x 9.65" x 1.25 1.40". I do not understand why your computer will not fit into the 1095 case.

Anthony Silva

That was pretty much the extent of the customer service. I also sent them a bunch of pictures showing the fit. I replied that perhaps the non pick/pluck version, which advertises a molded foam liner, was used for the maximum dimensions and that the egg-crate version was not the same. I asked if this was a possibility and, if so, that I could get the molded liner. I never received a reply or any further communications.

I cut down the egg-create foam layer (which is adhered to the lid). This took some time to get correct. I used an x-acto and sharp scissors (the scissors where easier to manage... and safer....)

With the foam thickness reduced (considerably), the laptop now fits and the case closes and seals.

I like the case and I would recommend the case, but keep in mind that the dimensions listed by Pelican are not correct (at least for the pick/pluck version).

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Pelican Products 1095 HardBack Case with Foam (1090-020-110)

I had it on the back of the motorcycle with my 15" mac in it. I took a pretty hard spill on an uphill road. The side of the case got hit pretty hard and it actually fell twice off the bike. Not only did it have no scratches or bumps on it, my computer is intact! Amazing product!