Traveling with my camera kit can be a cause for concern as well as, let’s face it, a bit of a faff. Do I pack the camera body and lens between layers of clothes in a standard suitcase and risk checking it in… or squeeze it in a backpack as part of my hand luggage, which can provide peace of mind yet prove heavy, awkward, and possibly backbreaking?
The best idea, of course, is to invest in a dedicated airline carry-on compliant roller bag or hard case. Happily, there are a multitude of options here, but not all are made equally.
Enter the Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55 which attempts to do everything its long name suggests. It has the design flourishes we’d expect of its Italian manufacturer, while still looking like it could almost withstand a war zone. Indeed, its manufacturer boasts of the materials used here being of ‘military standard’.
Other than that, its features are pretty much as I’d expected: it’s a hard-bodied case with the usual trolley-style extendable handle at one end and a solid-looking pair of wheels at the other. There’s a carry handle in the middle, for anyone who’d rather heft it like a suitcase, plus its tight, snap-lock mechanism ensures prying fingers won’t be able to gain access, unless those fingers are yours.
So, Manfrotto’s contender looks the part and initially feels the part. But how does this one shape up in terms of storage, value for money and overall usability compared with rivals?
Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55: Specifications
Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55: Price
Currently available having originally appeared back in 2018, the Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55 is priced at something of a premium for its Italian design at $399.99 / £249.99. Yes, for looks alone this case is hard to beat, and, if the cost of this example with interior dividers seems too much, then take a look at the cheaper version that comes with a foam insert. That said, we do have reservations about exterior strength and robustness of build when compared to rivals at this price point, or even budget hard case contenders from the likes of Vanguard at half this Manfrotto’s cost.
Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55: Design & Handling
Ironically the construction of this ‘Pro Light’ rolling hard case is expectedly heavy duty – and weighty with it – with the ‘H’ in the product name indicating a high lid, hence theoretically more room in which to stash more gear. The hard case is not unusual; it already weighs and feels like a tank before inserting any camera body or photo accessory. Officially it’s already a sizeable 4.6Kg when empty of everything except its removable camera compartment. This features the regular Velcro attached/detached felt dividers to hold gear firmly in place and stop it from moving about in transit. Slightly deeper in internal depth than some rivals, there is room here to bed-in a couple of pro-sized camera bodies such as the Sony A1 II, plus around four lenses including an attached 400mm f/2.8 and sundry accessories.
A degree of weatherproofed resistance is offered by the Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55’s IP67 standard specification, which theoretically means it can withstand being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes but more practically means the gear inside stays safe if we’re wheeling it about in the rain or plonking it down on wet ground. Additional security is offered via the inclusion of metal reinforced rings through which users could loop a padlock or two, as desired. Optional extras for attaching to Manfrotto hard cases cleverly include an external backpack-like harness plus an external laptop sleeve. Provided with this particular example however is a harness that threads around the front and allows for a tripod to be transported on the outside, while our more expensive camera gear gets maximum protection via the padded interior.
Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55: Performance
Obviously, the first priority of a product like this is to offer a high degree of protection for anything stored inside. The Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55 does feel reassuringly substantial, from the minute you heft it out of its box to when you’re wheeling it along the road in use.
However, performance-wise, having handled four or five rival camera cases before I got to this one, I had a couple of minor issues with the overall build and implementation.
First off, on the inside of the case, the narrow rubber strip that plugs the gap between the plastic lid and the foam padding was sticky/tacky to the touch on our sample, to the extent that it was stuck to the plastic wrapping of the removable interior divider compartment when I received it. No big deal; I could gingerly prize the two apart and press the loose rubber seal back into place, but it wasn’t a great first impression. The lid itself also has a little more bend and flex to it than I’d ideally like, leading me to wonder if there could potentially be a weakening with repeated use of the plastic lugs that attach lid to body.
While overall the build feels like it would commendably withstand accidental knocks and blows in the course of everyday use and occasional travel, I would not attempt the ‘standing on toughened case’ test and look to other rivals if I wanted something reassuringly crushproof. It doesn’t feel quite as heavy duty as competitors in the Vanguard Supreme 40F or Tenba Roadie Air Case roller, to choose two alternatives.
In fairness there is always a trade-off between ruggedness and how heavy reinforced plastic and padding actually makes the case, and compromises to be made when making a purchase decision.
Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55: Verdict
The Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55 is one of the best-looking hard cases for photographers/videographers I’ve had to test. Its size makes it ideal for airline-compatible carry-on luggage, the wheeled base makes it comfortable to use, the removable compartment with adjustable dividers is handy and its hard plastic outer shell reassures, up to a point. I would ideally look elsewhere if I wanted a bag I could feel secure about checking into an aircraft’s hold. Or using in more extreme environments. Hand on heart, it does feel like we are paying a premium here for the brand and Italian heritage over chunkier more robust rivals that can be had for half the price in some cases, no pun intended.
Alternatives
In terms of rivals to seriously consider, a comparably robust alternative is the Peli Pelican Air Case 1535, which is robust enough to be checked in. Chunkier than both this Manfrotto and that Peli example at 6.3kg in weight is the Peli Pelican Protector 1510, which like the Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Tough H-55 can be squeezed within most carry-on baggage restrictions. However, it does have a foam interior, which would not be my personal preference.
While Peli is the industry exemplar when it comes to portable if not affordable, hard cases for photographers, a close competitor for Manfrotto’s example here in terms of size and storage comes via the previously reviewed Vanguard Supreme 40F hard case. This alternative doesn’t have the advantage of wheels, but can currently be found for around half the price of Manfrotto. Vanguard’s bag/hard case lineup also happens to have more budget-friendly examples, while, if it’s something that looks more like a conventional roller bag than hard case per se you’re after then the Vanguard VEO Select 55BT is again comparable in weight and size to both this and the Supreme 40F. Bigger and more sturdy cases still come in the shape of the same manufacturer’s 53F if you really are a pro photographer with a mini van’s worth of kit.
The caveat is always the chunkier and more rock-solid the camera case or the more robust the roller bag, the greater the weight that comes with it, even before we’ve loaded any kit. My advice is that it’s always worth considering, comparing and contrasting the price and storage capacity of rivals, as it all, literally, adds up when making a purchase.
