Bow Cases: Soft vs Hard

Bow Cases: Soft vs Hard

A soft case is enough for a truck bed and a treestand walk-in. A hard case is what airlines and drop-testers require. Between them the choice is weight, price, and how far you carry your bow between the truck and the stand.

The main options

Hard: SKB iSeries 4217 Double Bow

MSRP USD 300 to 400. TSA-approved locking, watertight, foam-lined. Fits two compounds or one compound and one crossbow. The reference airline case. Complaint: 22 lb empty.

Hard: Pelican Vault V730

MSRP USD 250 to 320. Not TSA-approved, but drop-tested and watertight. Foam pluck. Lighter than the SKB. Common truck and camp case.

Soft: Legend Alpha 45 in Bow Case

MSRP USD 90 to 130. Padded, six-arrow holder, sight box, water-resistant zips. The walk-in-to-treestand standard. Not for flights.

Soft: Plano Bowmax Crossover

MSRP USD 40 to 70. Basic padded soft case. Fine for a truck and a garage. Do not fly it, do not drop it, do not leave it in the rain.

What bowhunters say

Forum sentiment

Archery Talk airline thread: SKB iSeries or Pelican Vault, no exceptions. Anything softer gets a broken cam handle when a baggage cart lands on it.

Related