It took awhile to find the right case for some gear that I usually carry on work assignments. But for several years now, I’ve been depending on SKB cases when on the road, especially when traveling by air.

I use SKB’s ATA Trap Case, which is primarily designed for music accessories. But it’s also just the right size for carrying video gear such as lights, stands and a tripod. And SKB makes a variety of cases for just about anything you need to carry on the road, from musical instruments to industrial gear to golf clubs and camping equipment. SKB will even custom make cases.

The ATA Trap Case has survived airline baggage crews and miles of rolling through airports. It’s a hard-shell case with latches which can be unlocked by the TSA for inspection.

The Category 1 Air Transport Association certification is the highest standard for a case built for airline travel. The certification means it should hold up to at least 100 common-carrier trips. And mine has certainly been tested.

One time, just a few days after I bought a new case, it was banged up by an airline on its first trip. When I say banged up, I mean the frame was bent and it looked like the case had been dropped about 15 feet. The contents were not damaged, though, and the airline sent me a check for a new case.

Another time, I sent one of the cases back for repairs under SKB’s lifetime warranty and received a new one, hassle-free. I was impressed with their prompt service.

For simpler repairs, replacement parts can be ordered online, with free shipping. The ATA Trap Case is approximately 37″ tall, 12″ wide and 8″ deep.

SKB’s cases are reasonably priced. The ATA Trap Case retails for $339.99, with street prices running around $200. It’s available from a variety of retailers, including Amazon.

Over thousands of miles, SKB cases have done their job of protecting my gear, even when severely abused. That’s what they’re designed to do. And in my experience, they do it well.