EX1 hard case, HPRC 2700wic review at DVinfo.net

Juan McFarland · April 10th, 2009, 03:56 AM

In 17 years of mostly broadcast and some corporate work I've used cases from Anvil, Pelican, and SKB among others. I thought I'd try the 2700wic from HPRC. The hard case is made by HPRC, the interior rigid/soft bag is made my Portabrace.

The Portabrace interior bag is GREAT! It swallows my EX1, Sachtler FSB6 head, spreader/mini tripod legs (Sachtler SOOM), wide angle adaptor, a can of air, batteries, a few filters, a small slate, lens cleaning kit and a few other small items. Hats off to Portabrace! I love this bag! Plus unlike pick and pluck foam, it has movable divider walls that you can custom cut and fit for you gear, and easily move and repostion if you change your mind.

I wish I could be as enthusiastic about the hard case. HPRC did almost everything right with the 2700 hard case except for one critical flaw, the metal pins that hold together the latches and handles work themselves free in short order. They back out of the holes they are inserted into. Every 2 days of use requires me to tap the pins back into place. The 2700 has only been used lightly (less than six months), but it's already falling apart! It amazes me that they just shoved the pins into the plastic holes without any retention system at all!

Sad thing is I know better than to trust Italian engineering.

I ordered my case early on, maybe they have since rectified the problem. I sent them an email today. I'll be interested to hear their reply since this case has a lifetime warranty.

Bob Grant · April 10th, 2009, 04:09 AM

Thanks for the heads up.
I was looking to buy one of the smaller HPRC cases but now I think I'll go with a Storm.

Juan McFarland · October 4th, 2010, 11:40 AM

Just a follow up.

I wrote to HPRC about the pin falling out problem about a year ago. They didn't write back. Makes it hard to use their "lifetime warranty" if they don't bother to communicate.

The Portabrace bag is holding up great. The HPRC pins continue to slip out of their holes, other than that no other problems. The HPRC is a little lighter than a comparable Pelican, so that's great for air travel when you are trying to get as much stuff in your case as possible and stay under 50 lbs.

April 10th, 2009, 03:56 AM	#1
Juan McFarland Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Honolulu HI Posts: 50	EX1 hard case, HPRC 2700wic review In 17 years of mostly broadcast and some corporate work I've used cases from Anvil, Pelican, and SKB among others. I thought I'd try the 2700wic from HPRC. The hard case is made by HPRC, the interior rigid/soft bag is made my Portabrace. The Portabrace interior bag is GREAT! It swallows my EX1, Sachtler FSB6 head, spreader/mini tripod legs (Sachtler SOOM), wide angle adaptor, a can of air, batteries, a few filters, a small slate, lens cleaning kit and a few other small items. Hats off to Portabrace! I love this bag! Plus unlike pick and pluck foam, it has movable divider walls that you can custom cut and fit for you gear, and easily move and repostion if you change your mind. I wish I could be as enthusiastic about the hard case. HPRC did almost everything right with the 2700 hard case except for one critical flaw, the metal pins that hold together the latches and handles work themselves free in short order. They back out of the holes they are inserted into. Every 2 days of use requires me to tap the pins back into place. The 2700 has only been used lightly (less than six months), but it's already falling apart! It amazes me that they just shoved the pins into the plastic holes without any retention system at all! Sad thing is I know better than to trust Italian engineering. I ordered my case early on, maybe they have since rectified the problem. I sent them an email today. I'll be interested to hear their reply since this case has a lifetime warranty.

April 10th, 2009, 04:09 AM	#2
Bob Grant Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,570	Thanks for the heads up. I was looking to buy one of the smaller HPRC cases but now I think I'll go with a Storm.

October 4th, 2010, 11:40 AM	#3
Juan McFarland Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Honolulu HI Posts: 50	Just a follow up. I wrote to HPRC about the pin falling out problem about a year ago. They didn't write back. Makes it hard to use their "lifetime warranty" if they don't bother to communicate. The Portabrace bag is holding up great. The HPRC pins continue to slip out of their holes, other than that no other problems. The HPRC is a little lighter than a comparable Pelican, so that's great for air travel when you are trying to get as much stuff in your case as possible and stay under 50 lbs.