The Bottom Line
Pros
- Very tough, and simply designed.
- Guaranteed for life.
- Doesn't look like a gun case.
- Lockable and airline-approved.
- Built-in wheels and handles make it easy to move.
Cons
- Bulky; octagonal tube rather than flat and rectangular.
- When new, mine had a strong plastic smell inside.
Description
- Tough plastic tubular (octagonal, not round) case with slip-on end cap.
- End cap secures with polypropylene strap and buckle, and includes a lock.
- For use with soft gun cases - case your guns and slide them in. Pad with clothing or whatever.
- Original Tuffpak holds up to three scoped rifles or five shotguns, or many different combinations.
- Five sizes available at press time, including two for bows and one for takedown guns.
- All models have protected wheels and integral handles.
- Weighs less than other airline-approved gun cases, holds as much as you can cram into it.
- Originally designed for movie camera tripods, the Tuffpak doesn't look like a gun case.
- Tuffpak duffels are available as saddlebags, liners, or carry-on baggage.
- Guaranteed for life.
Guide Review - Tuffpak Gun Case - Practical and Tough
The Tuffpak is one tough case. While I haven't used it to transport my guns on an airline, I don't doubt that it will work fine. I do wonder about the polypropylene strap that secures it, but it is in a recessed portion of the case and shouldn't be exposed to too much wear. The key lock seems adequate, and breaking into a Tuffpak seems like it would be at least as hard as getting into any other standard airline-approved gun case, and maybe harder.Made by Nalpak of El Cajon, CA, this is basically a motion-picture tripod case. For that reason, it is often recognized as such by baggage handlers, some of whom might be inclined to "lose" a gun case, for whatever reason. And it gives the added benefit of being able to move easily through an airport, wheeling along a case that many will assume holds nothing more dangerous than golf clubs.
It works with soft cases very well, and when you get to where you're going your guns are already in soft-side cases for bouncing in a jeep through the bush, staying protected while in base camp, or whatever. Space between guns and gear can be filled with whatever's handy, and many folks use items of clothing - padding their guns while saving space in other luggage.
The Tuffpak is not cheap, but neither are your guns. If you want a simple, flexible case tough enough to protect your shootin' irons while not attracting unwanted attention - and one that allows you to easily wheel your guns around - then Tuffpak makes an excellent choice.
- Russ Chastain
