If there is one thing that all musical instruments universally have in common, it’s probably the need for some kind of protective case. Even the smallest of instruments, things like harmonicas or recorders, often come with some kind of case to protect them from bumps, knocks, drops, and the elements. The musical instrument industry is a massive one, with countless companies offering a huge variety of cases in different styles, shapes, and prices. But with so much to choose from, how do you know which is the best option to help protect your instrument while traveling? Well, you’re in luck! This week we’ll be exploring the different kinds of instrument cases, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Soft Cases

While the overall quality and design of instrument cases can vary wildly between brands and manufacturers, soft cases, sometimes called “gig bags” for guitars and other instruments, take this to an extreme. You can find stripped down bags with poor stitching, questionable handles, and next to no internal padding for your instrument, all the way through to “bags” with so much padding and reinforcement they are “soft cases” in name only. If you are considering a soft case, take the time to do your research to find one of an appropriate quality for your needs.

While the straps and padding can differ greatly, all soft cases have a few things in common, most notably, the exterior. Soft cases are usually made with a tough fabric exterior, often nylon and sometimes leather. These kinds of cases don’t usually provide a lot of protection against drops, bumps, or being crushed. However, they can safeguard against scratches, small dings, dust, and damaging sunlight.

Soft cases do offer some other advantages. They are usually significantly lighter than their hard shelled counterparts, making them easier to carry. As a matter of fact, many soft cases (usually for guitars or other similarly sized instruments) have built in straps to carry the case and your instrument like a backpack, freeing up your hands. Most also include added built in storage pockets for accessories that most hard cases don’t have the space for. Lastly, thanks to their fabric design, soft cases are usually much less expensive than hard cases. This isn’t, of course, a hard and fast rule; there are “soft” cases that will rival hard cases in cost, but the huge variety in styles and costs means that you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding one that fits your needs and budget.

Potentially, the greatest consideration you will have to make when considering a soft bag is the amount of time you spend traveling with your instrument. The soft case is light, makes your instrument easier to carry if you can put it on your back, and can be folded and put away when not in use. However, the fabric outer shell offers next to no protection from any conceivable carelessness on the part of baggage handlers.

Hard Cases

Like the soft cases, rigid cases can come in a lot of different qualities and designs. In this case however, the variation tends to come from the materials used on the outside, and the amount of padding on the inside. Some can be made from plywood with a nice covering, others are designed with fiberglass or polypropylene plastic. This means more protection for your instrument from the outside world, with the best and hardest materials providing the best security. This, of course, means that any hard case will mostly likely be quite a bit heavier than a soft one. How much heavier will depend a lot on the materials used in construction, and how large your instrument is; hard guitar cases will obviously be much heavier than soft guitar cases, while cases for significantly small instruments, like the violin, may not weigh all that different.

Probably the most important difference between hard and soft cases in the interior. The average soft case offers very little protection on the inside, however, almost all hard cases feature fabric or felt covered EPS foam, with form fitting molded shapes specifically for each piece of the instrument to fit into. Not only does this hold each part in place, preventing movement inside the case, it also provides vital shock absorption from drops and bangs, and provides a lot more protection against being crushed.

The final thing to consider is your instrument’s susceptibility to changes in temperature and humidity. Nearly all musical instruments are effected by environmental conditions, and soft bags offer next to no protection from the elements. Hard cases are a much more helpful tool for combating low humidity and extreme temperatures. However, when looking at hard cases, keep in mind that with wooden cases, trying to humidify your instrument may prove a little more difficult because your humidifier will also be struggling to moisten the wood of the case.

As you can probably guess, hard cases, with their heft, and increased protection, are not only heavier than soft cases, but usually cost quite a bit more. That being said, they are the very best option (short of a case designed for air travel) if you are concerned with keeping your instrument safe.

Which to Choose

Deciding on a soft or hard instrument case can be a very personal choice. There are a number of factors to consider. HarmonyCentral.com recommends you ask yourself a short series of questions first:

• Do you travel with the instrument a lot, or do you usually stay home and rarely ever travel with it?
• Do you need to travel light, or keep your hands free for other things? (Subway users, motorcycle riders, carrying other gear, etc.)

• Are you purchasing a case for an electric, or a more fragile acoustic instrument?
• Do you live in an area with freezing-cold winters or blazing hot summers, or other weather extremes?
• How clumsy or careful are you in general?
• Is the weight of the case a concern?
• How expensive is the instrument you want to protect?
• Are you on a tight budget?

How you answer each of these questions will give you a better idea what your specific needs are, and help you choose the best case for your instrument.