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Reviews > Water Craft > Equipment > Pelican 1010 Micro Case > Owner Review by Gail Staisil

Owner Review:
Pelican 1010
Micro Case
September 6, 2008
 
 
Reviewer Information
Name: Gail Staisil
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight: 140 lb (64 kg)
Email: woodswoman2001 AT yahoo DOT com

Location: Marquette, Michigan USA
 

For the last 18 years, backpacking has become a passion. I am a four-season backpacker and an off-trail navigator. Although I normally take yearly trips to the American West or Southwest, the majority of my trips are in Michigan and Canada. My pack weight varies considerably, but my base weight is under 18 lb (8 kg). I am primarily a tarp camper who averages over 50 nights a year backpacking in a huge variety of weather conditions including relentless rain, wet snow and sub-zero temps.

Manufacturer
Pelican
Year of Manufacture
2006
URL http://www.pelican.com
Model
1010 Micro Case Series
Color
Yellow
Gear storage (interior dimensions of case)
 4.37 in X2.87 in X 1.68 in
(11.1 cm X 7.3 cm X 4.3 cm)
Actual Weight
 6.9 oz (196 g)
MSRP
NA


Product Description and Pelican 1010 Micro Case in closed positionField Information
The Pelican 1010 Micro Case is one of hundreds of types of protective cases made by the manufacturer. It is one of the smallest units that they produce. Such cases are water-resistant, crushproof, dustproof and feature an automatic purge valve. The target buyer is most likely one that participates in rugged sports and needs protection for their gear. This particular model measures 4.37 in X 2.87 in X 1.68 in ( 11.1 cm X 7.3 cm X 4.3 cm).

I have owned the Pelican 1010 Micro Case for the last couple of years. I bought it to protect my camera during extended multi-day wilderness canoe trips. It has been used during 16 days of paddling. I chose a small-sized case so that I could protect my camera but also have it readily available to take quick pictures of scenery especially wildlife. This particular size fits my Olympus Stylus 1000 camera almost perfectly.

The Pelican 1010 Micro Case is a very simple unit. The bottom of the case is bright yellow in color due to its lining and the top lid is clear. Both the lid and the bottom have four raised ridges each to presumably make the case easy to grasp especially with wet hands. The depth of the bottom half of the case is 0.94 in (2.4 cm) and the depth of the lid is 0.69 in (1.8 cm) for a total of 1.63 in (4.1 cm). The bottom of the case including the sides is completely lined with a rubber liner. It not only provides extra protection for the stored item(s) but it also acts as the o-ring seal.
Case open showing rubber lining
The hinge holding the lid and bottom sections together features a stainless steel pin. The latch on the front of the lid also features a small diameter stainless pin. When the 3 in (7.6 cm) long latch is depressed firmly, the case will snap shut securely. To open it again, I press my thumb underneath the latch to open it. An automatic purge valve is located beneath the latch.

The sides of the lid feature extended handles. Cordage may be looped through them or a carabiner so that
it can be tied or clipped to something. I have cordage attached to one of the handles when I am using it in the field.

I have used the Micro Case for 16 days during wilderness paddling over approximately 150 mi (242 km) of river. During that time my camera was the only item stored in the unit. I mostly kept the Pelican 1010 Micro Case inside of a pocket on the front of my life vest that I was wearing.

Other times I stored it in a waterproof bag clipped to the front bow of the canoe for extra insurance. It was easy to access whenever I wanted. It was a great way to keep my camera from getting wet from the spray from whitewater sections and also from the weather (there were quite a few days with much rain).

The manufacturer does not recommend the case for swim
Reviewer holding open Pelican caseming or submerging but the case does float if dropped accidentally. I have experimented with it and have found it to stay afloat. The case is rated or certified at IP67 (1 meter submersion for 30 minutes). The certification (Ingress Protection Rating) is a widely acknowledged classification system for sealing from water. Although the manufacturer suggests the submersion would only be effective for 30 minutes, the industry standard suggests that it would be 1 hour instead.

According to the manufacturer, the 1010 Micro Case can be safely used in temperatures from -10 F to 199.4 F (
-23 C to 93 C). Although my Micro Case has not seen such extremes during canoe trips (temps ranged from 34 F to 82 F (1 C to 28 C) according to my records), it's nice to know that excessive heat or cold won't damage the unit itself.


Conclusion
 
In conclusion, the Pelican 1010 Micro Case is a handy protective case for water sports and more. It provides an inexpensive way to protect anything that shouldn't get wet or crushed.
 
Pros:
 
 
  • Small size ideal for compact camera
  • Lightweight
  • Water-resistant
  • Easy to open
  • Can be hooked onto something with a carbiner or there are loops for cordage
  • See-thru case
  • Rubber liner protects contents
  • Inexpensive
  • Can be used for water sports, backpacking, snow sports and more

Cons:
 
  • A bit heavy for backpacking but not a concern when canoeing
 

Read more reviews of Pelican gear
Read more gear reviews by Gail Staisil

Reviews > Water Craft > Equipment > Pelican 1010 Micro Case > Owner Review by Gail Staisil



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