The Ultimate Guide to Musician’s Cases and Gig Bags with Wheels: Protecting Your Gear while Rolling in Style
Introduction
Easymusicgig.com is a blog specializing in reviews, tips, and how-tos for musicians seeking to gig easily with smaller and lightweight gear. Some musicians have to use bigger and heavier equipment. This post is intended to help them.
Whether you’re a guitarist, keyboardist, or drummer, you should always protect your gear in the best way. This is a top priority for traveling musicians that are always on the go. With the convenience of having wheels on your cases and bags, you can easily travel through city streets, airports, and roads to venues, while protecting your instruments at the same time.
As a gigging musician, you know that transporting your gear all around can be a struggle. While many musicians are using smaller, lightweight gear, some need to use large and heavy equipment. That’s where wheeled cases come into play.
Heavy and big gear isn’t typically mentioned on easymusicgig.com, but we’re here to help musicians gig more easily. Wheels for everyone!…
The importance of protecting your musical gear
As a musician, your instruments and all the supporting gear are the most important things that you have to protect. It doesn’t matter if you’re an everyday performer or a weekend warrior, your musical gear makes you what you are: a musician.
Investing in a high-quality case with wheels can make all the difference in protecting your gear from potential damage while traveling to gigs. These cases with wheels are specially designed to withstand most types of damage that can happen while you’re on the road like drops, moisture, and dust.
Using a well-made case with wheels designed for musical instruments will give you a piece of mind while gigging. Imagine arriving at a gig and realizing that a crucial piece of your musical equipment has been damaged. This can be a very frustrating and expensive experience no musician needs in their field of work.
Types of musician’s cases and gig bags with wheels
1. Guitar cases with wheels
A good-quality guitar case with wheels is an essential piece of equipment for every guitarist who needs to transport their guitar for longer distances by foot. This type of guitar case usually comes with more compartments than a standard guitar case due to the fact that it has wheels.
2. Drum cases with wheels
Drummers are used to hauling their heavy equipment and it’s not always that easy. Musician’s carts are extremely useful, but sometimes having wheels on your instrument cases is better. A cart-less solution is ideal for those looking for minimal band gear.
3. Keyboard cases with wheels
Keyboard players often have the heaviest piece of musical gear in the band. Having wheels on their cases is a must, especially if you are touring with a full-sized keyboard.
4. Audio equipment cases with wheels
When mentioning audio equipment the first thing that most musicians think of is “the rack” with all kinds of devices in it. And these racks can easily become heavy. Having wheels on your rack with all your favorite audio devices is essential for every musician looking for an easier way to transport them through pedestrian areas to the venue you are playing.
5. Multi-purpose cases for musicians with wheels
This type of case with wheels is for storing and transporting all of your band’s gear that usually doesn’t fit into any of the above-mentioned types. All types of cables, smaller stands, lighting equipment, folding stools, guitar pedals, or small monitors are some pieces of equipment that can be easily fitted into this type of case or bag with wheels.
6. Specialized cases for musical equipment with wheels
This category may include cases or bags with wheels for transporting equipment such as:
- Pedalboards
- DJ desktop devices
- Guitar and bass amps
- Brass instruments
- Double basses
Features to look for
Here are several key features you should consider before buying a music gear case or bag with wheels.
Construction quality
The case or bag should be made of materials that are of high quality and made to withstand frequent transportation. Heavy-duty zippers and reinforced corners are a plus.
Smooth-rolling wheels
How many times have you used a supermarket cart that had wheels that were hard to navigate? Imagine rolling your heavy gig bag with small bad wheels that always make your gig bag wobble while navigating through crowded streets.
Look for products with large and sturdy wheels that can be used on non-smooth surfaces.
Storage
Nowadays most manufacturers of musical instrument cases or bags with wheels are built with many additional storage pockets and compartments for holding all your accessories that go with your
Comfortable handles and straps
There are many scenarios where you have to give your wheels some rest. Taking your gear out of a van or climbing up stairs are times when you really need those comfortable padded straps and handles to help you out.
Weather resistant features
If you gig frequently, you know that rain or snow, combined with high wind can make things difficult while transporting your musical gear. Waterproof materials and watertight seals are essential for these tasks
Padded interior
A padded interior is especially important for cases and bags with wheels since they are in contact with the surface you pull them over. Look for interiors with shock-absorbing features and high-density foam that will protect your instruments and band’s gear for many years.
Musician’s cases and bags with wheels
88 Key Keyboard Case with Wheels
Main Features:
BOSS BCB-1000 Heavy Duty Suitcase-Style Guitar Effects Maximum Protection with Retractable Handle, Wheels and Removable Aluminium Pedal Board
Main Features:
Fender CEO Guitar Flight Case With Wheels Aluminum Gray
Main Features:
Flight Case for Rane One with Laptop Platform and Wheels,Black,HL10005
Main Features:
Gator Cargo Case with wheels (GX-20)
Main Features:
Gator Cases Large Electric Drum Kit Bag with Adjustable Velcro Divider System and Wheels
Main Features:
Gator Cases Lightweight Rolling Backpack Case with Pull Handle
Main Features:
Gator Cases Molded Plastic Guitar Amp Transporter, and Stand, with Caster Wheels; Fits 1×12 Combo Amps
Main Features:
Gator Cases Pro Series 19 inch Depth 8U Rolling Rack Case with Recessed Wheels
Main Features:
Gator Cases Protechtor Series Classic Compact Drum Hardware Accessory Case Upright with (4) Wheels
Main Features:
Gator Cases Rolling Speaker Bag for Large Format 12 inch Loudspeakers with Retractable Pull Handle
Main Features:
On-Stage GR9000 Gig Rider (Live-Sound Equipment Transporter on Wheels for Mic and Speaker Stands)
Main Features:
Protec PB304SOPWL Combination PRO PAC Case with Wheels for Alto-Soprano Saxophones
Main Features:
Protec Trumpet-Auxiliary Combo PRO PAC Case with Wheels
Main Features:
SKB ATA Roto Molded Electric Bass Case with TSA Lock and Wheels
Main Features:
SKB Compact Stand Case with Wheels & Straps, TSA Latches, Over molded Handle
Main Features:
Trunab Rolling DJ Cable File Bag with Hard Padded Bottom,Detachable Dividers and Dolly
Main Features:
3/4 Upright Double Bass Bag Oxford Cloth String Bass Bag with wheels Thick Padding Gig Bag
Main Features:
How to pack musician’s cases and bags with wheels
Here are some tips for packing that are specific to cases and bags with wheels.
When packing your gear case with wheels you will have to take into account that while rolling down the street, your case is going to bounce and do some jumping. So, when packing stuff into your case, make sure there are no loose spaces.
Since most of the time you will be rolling your case instead of carrying it, you can take advantage of the wheels and pack a heavier load than normally.
Distributing weight evenly is one more important aspect of packing your case with wheels. If the weight isn’t evenly distributed, you may have trouble while rolling your bag with wheels.
conclusion
Good-quality cases and bags can be a significant investment for a musician. Cases and bags with wheels are usually pricier than their wheel-less siblings. But like all things, in the long run, it will make your life as a musician much easier.
Nothing is more important than protecting your valuable music gear during transport. A damaged instrument can potentially mean no gig-no money, so think twice: “Should I buy that gigbag with wheels?”
Knowing that your gear is highly protected during transport and the ease of maneuvering it is crucial for any musician that gigs frequently or simply wants to gig as easily as possible.
Playing your music to other people is the part that matters most for a musician. It’s better to distribute your energy so that the biggest portion of it gets used for your shows.
