The First Responder Case

The Hard-Sided iM2950 Pelican Storm Case Offers Protection for Valuable Search & Rescue Gear

- Joey Nickischer

My introduction to Pelican cases came decades ago when I first started doing rescue work. I was arriving to a training class and spotted a pile of black, hard-sided boxes sitting outside, but there was a problem — it was starting to rain. Thinking that whatever was inside the cases must be valuable and could possibly be damaged by the rain, I quickly found one of the instructors and proclaimed that we needed to get the boxes moved to a dry location.

The instructor came outside and chuckled a little, realizing the equipment I was concerned about was already stored inside Pelican cases. He calmly explained that they were waterproof. When I asked if he was sure the contents would be OK, the instructor said that everything would be fine. He proceeded to grab one of the cases, and deliberately threw it on the ground from chest height, very roughly. It thudded against the asphalt as it bounced and tumbled. He said that nothing short of a tank was going to hurt the contents of those cases. That was quite the eye-opener for me and set the bar for all my future equipment that needed a high level of protection.

Today, I’m talking about the iM2950 Pelican Storm Case. Measuring in at 31.3 by 20.4 by 12.2 inches on the outside, with the inside dimensions about 2 inches smaller, this 3.17-cubic-foot medium-sized case is ruggedly built to take the abuse and protect the contents. It’ll keep water out, with its included EPDM O-ring seal, and offers a buoyancy of more than 200 pounds. This is enough to keep most things afloat, should the case end up in the drink. Heck, with that much flotation, you could probably use it as an improvised life raft.