PELI Cases

If you’ve been around firearms and serious outdoor gear for any length of time, you know the name. PELI cases are the hard cases that military units, police firearms teams, photographers, and hunters have trusted for decades.

The European market gets these products under the PELI name. Same manufacturer, same specifications, same standards as the Pelican brand you’ll see referenced in American gear reviews.

Brand Story

The company was founded in 1976 by Dave and Arline Parker in a California garage. Dave was an avid scuba diver who was disappointed in the dive equipment available on the market. That frustration pushed him toward designing something better. The cases were rugged, durable, and built to keep contents safely protected from water and dust. The product was a hit with divers and others who discarded the original contents and used the case to protect other valuables. That secondary use told them everything they needed to know about the real market.

In Europe, Pelican cases are sold as PELI cases, due to the fact another company had previously trademarked the ‘Pelican’ name. The products are identical. The company has grown into a global enterprise with 11 manufacturing facilities, 23 international sales offices, and multiple advanced case centers, network stations, and service centers around the world. Cases are manufactured across multiple locations, including North America, Europe, and Australasia, with facilities in South Deerfield, Massachusetts; Crottendorf, Germany; Leighton Buzzard, UK; Melbourne, Australia; and Plymouth, Minnesota.

PELI Cases Product Lineup

Protector Cases

The original series. The Protector case is made with copolymer polypropylene, which is a very strong plastic. Their proprietary polypropylene formula provides the maximum possible strength due to a special foaming process during production. These cases come with a robust O-ring seal, easy-open double-throw latches, stainless steel padlock protectors, and a pressure relief valve. All Protector cases are IP67 certified, meaning they are dustproof and waterproof in depths of up to one metre for longer than 30 minutes. The range covers everything from compact pistol-sized options up to large transport cases with wheels and handles.

Air Cases

Introduced in 2016, the Air series utilises a proprietary lightweight resin formulation intended to reduce overall case weight compared to earlier hard case models, while maintaining environmental sealing features consistent with other PELI hard cases. The Air was designed to be up to 40% lighter than comparable Protector models. The lighter-weight design does not compromise durability. For shooters flying to competitions or hunters travelling internationally, the weight saving matters.

Storm Cases

Originally developed by Hardigg Industries before its acquisition by PELI, Storm cases are polymer hard cases featuring press-and-pull latches, intended for frequent access while maintaining environmental protection. The Press and Pull latches lock automatically upon closing, yet easily open by pressing the button on the latch. Storm cases are also outfitted with a Vortex Valve to balance air pressure inside the case and prevent vacuum lock.

Vault Cases

The Vault line is primarily focused on firearms and firearms accessories. The series is crushproof, dustproof, and weather resistant, made from high-impact polymer. Vault cases are equipped with a push-button latch system that makes them convenient to operate. They sit at a lower price point than the Protector series, making them a solid choice for range transport when you need reliable protection without the premium cost.

Ruck Cases and Micro Cases

Ruck cases are compact personal utility formats designed for everyday carry of small kit – documents, tools, accessories, and field equipment. Micro cases are a compact hard case series designed for small devices, tools, and accessories, featuring gasket sealing and impact-resistant construction. Both formats suit shooters who want case-level protection for smaller items that don’t justify a full hard case.

Travel Cases and RF Field Wallets

PELI produces dedicated airline travel cases built to TSA and IATA firearm transport regulations, so you’re not trying to adapt a general case to meet airline requirements. The G5 RF Field Wallet is a different animal entirely. It’s a slim, sealed carry format designed to block RF signals, protecting RFID-enabled items such as credit cards, key fobs, and identification documents from skimming and electronic interception. Compact enough for a jacket pocket, it’s become popular with security professionals and travellers.

Gun Cases

Dedicated PELI gun cases are available in both pistol and long-gun configurations. They ship with foam interiors that can be cut to fit specific firearms, and most include lockable hasps suitable for approved TSA locks when flying. The construction meets airline checked baggage requirements for firearm transport.

Why We Stock PELI Cases

At No Boring Guns, we stock PELI products because our customers ask for them by name and because the range is genuinely broad enough to cover nearly every protection need in one catalogue. Hunters travelling to driven shoots or stalking trips need hard cases that airlines accept without argument. Competitive shooters need cases that hold up to repeated transport. Both groups come to us looking for PELI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Pelican and PELI?

Pelican and PELI are the same products from the same manufacturer, sold under different brand names in different regions. In Europe, Pelican cases are sold as PELI cases because another company had previously trademarked the ‘Pelican’ name in this market. Despite the different names, the two products are virtually identical in construction and specification. The only difference you’re likely to notice is the logo. So if you’re reading a US review referencing a Pelican Protector or Pelican Air case, the PELI equivalent is the same product in every practical sense.

Are PELI cases worth it?

For serious firearm transport, the honest answer is yes. A PELI case is a brand of plastic injection-moulded case that provides an extremely high level of protection. The qualities that define them are strength, high-impact resistance, dust protection, chemical resistance, and IP67 water resistance. The cases carry a lifetime warranty and the build quality holds up to years of hard use. If you’re transporting firearms by air, checking in expensive optics, or moving kit through genuinely rough conditions, the protection they offer justifies the cost over cheaper alternatives that need replacing after a season.

Where are PELI products manufactured?

PELI cases are manufactured across multiple locations worldwide, including North America, Europe, and Australasia, with specific facilities in South Deerfield, Massachusetts; Crottendorf, Germany; Leighton Buzzard, UK; Melbourne, Australia; and Plymouth, Minnesota. The European manufacturing presence means products sold in the EU are produced within the region at established facilities.