Manfrotto Camera Case Review: Pro Light Reloader Tough-55
- Basic Details About This Manfrotto Case
- Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough-55 - This Thing is Loaded With Extras
- Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough-55 Pros
- Manfrotto Case Cons
- Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough-55 Review: The Verdict
- Other Gear I Have in My Kit
- Peak Design Travel Tripod
- Canon EOS R5
- Canon EOS R6
- Acratech GP-SS Ball Head
- Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
- Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L USM
- Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM
- Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM
- Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM
- Canon RF70-200mm F4 L is USM
About two months ago, I got a Manfrotto case in the mail - the Pro Light Reloader Tough-55, to be exact...
Manfrotto sent the case to me to review, and normally in these situations, I go out with the gear, put it through its paces immediately, and offer my real-world thoughts on whatever the item is.
But as I discuss in my video review above, in this case, I kind of slow-rolled it...
I took some extra time with this Manfrotto case because it's a hard case, and historically, I have not been a fan of hard cases. I figured that a few extra weeks of testing it out would help me determine if I still hate hard cases or if this one would change my mind.
Table of Contents
Basic Details About this Manfrotto Case
The Pro Light Reloader Tough-55 is designed for transporting a ton of gear in a case that will stand up to the rigors of travel.
It's a 30-liter case, so it's got all the room you need for your gear. In fact, you can carry multiple cameras and lenses and their accessories. Depending on the situation, there might also be room for a small tripod or light stand inside the case as well.
And while that's a lot of gear, the case's dimensions are just 21.65” x 9.05” x 13.77”, which makes it small enough to use as a carry-on bag.
If you're like me and you spend a fair amount of time traveling through airports, you'll love the fact that this is a wheeled Manfrotto case. The wheels are robust and operate silently, so you won't be "that guy" that squeaks his way through the terminal.
Pulling the bag behind you is also made easy by the telescoping handle that has a nice, beefy grip for a comfortable pulling experience. The handle requires that you pull the lock behind it to pull the handle out, which prevents it from accidentally being deployed when it isn't needed.
Inside the Manfrotto case is an interior compartment that has CPS dividers with shock-absorbing gel - just what you want to protect your gear even further from the rigors of travel.
Additionally, there is foam on the inside of the lid and four layers of pre-cubed foam that can be moved around the interior compartment to tailor the storage space to your specific needs.
Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough-55 - This Thing is Loaded With Extras
Aside from the general basics I outlined above, I've found over the last two months that this Manfrotto case is loaded up with extras that make it a fantastic bag.
For example, the pull-release latches on this case are nice and big, which makes them easy to grip to open or latch them.
But, beyond that, the latches have an integrated lever that you have to engage in order to open the case, which means the case won't accidentally open. That's a great feature that shows that Manfrotto really thought out the design of the bag to make it as functional as possible while offering your gear the protection it needs.
Speaking of protection, the Manfrotto case has multiple padlock points so you can lock your gear down while you're traveling. Also on the protection front is the fact that the case is impact-resistant on the outside and dust-resistant and moisture-resistant on the inside (thanks to the fact that this case is air-tight).
Manfrotto integrated several other attachment points on the case for adding optional accessories. For example, you can add a laptop bag, a tripod bag, or a harness system from Manfrotto to extend the case's functionality even further. Again, that's a nice detail that shows the design team was really trying to design a bag that has as much utility as possible.
Another feature that I'll add as a nice extra is that this Manfrotto case weighs just 10 pounds.
Now, I know that is still a good deal of weight, especially considering that's its dry weight without any of your gear in it. However, one of the reasons why I've never been much of a hard case fan is that they are so bulky and heavy.
But this case changes all that...
As I mentioned earlier, the Pro Light Reloader Tough-55 is small enough to be a carry-on. Add in that it weighs so much less than a typical hard case, and you have a recipe for a hard case that even haters like me will like!
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Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough-55 Pros
Hands-down, one of the best features of this Manfrotto case is its size. It's easy to carry yet offers loads of storage space. You can also pull it with ease with the combination of the silent wheels and telescoping handle.
Another one of my favorite features of this bag is the adjustability it offers. On the inside, you can move the foam padding around to fit whatever gear you need to bring, and on the outside, you have the aforementioned attachment points to add additional accessories for carrying even more gear.
The protection the bag offers is a definite bonus as well. Having a case that's dust and water-resistant is ultimately important for me because I do a lot of overlanding and off-roading, so there's usually a ton of dust (and often rain or snow, too.).
Manfrotto Case Cons
There are a few things that I'm not quite as impressed with...
First, while I appreciate that the purpose of the dual-stage handle is to prevent it from being engaged on accident, there have been many times when I don't quite disengage the lock enough to release the handle.
Now, this is probably more of a problem with me just not following the correct procedure as opposed to a flaw with the bag, but I wanted to mention it just the same.
Another nitpicky thing I'd like to mention is that while I love the idea of being able to add accessories like a laptop bag or tripod sleeve, you can only use one accessory at a time. I don't know about you, but when I'm traveling, I usually have my laptop and my tripod, so if I can't fit my tripod inside the Manfrotto case, I'm left having to put it or my laptop in a second bag. Traveling is hard enough without extra bags!
Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough-55 Review: The Verdict
After a month and a half of using this Manfrotto case, I can safely say that it has changed my opinion about hard cases.
This case is easy to use, is loaded up with features, and offers all the protection I need to keep my gear in tip-top shape.
And while the case isn't perfect, its design, lightweight build, and functionality make it one of the best hard cases I've tested in a long time.
If you aren't a fan of hard cases, but you really need a tough case to protect your gear, I can't recommend the Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough-55 enough!
