When you are ferrying your drums from gig to gig, you probably want to ensure that they have the best protection possible for them. This means investing in a good set of drum cases.
With so many drum cases on the market, how do you find the right one for you? Well, luckily, we are going to introduce you to the best drum cases on the market.
OUR TOP PICK
These durable nylon cases are perfect for the drummer that is looking for something sleek, stylish, affordable, and yet still provides the highest level of protection for their drum kit.
There are various drum set sizes available. With these you get five different cases, as follows:
- Standard (Fits Shell Sizes: Kick Drum - 22” X 18”, Tom - 12” X 10”, Tom - 13” X 11”, Floor Tom - 16” X 16”, Snare Drum - 14” X 5.5”)
- Fusion (Fits Shell Sizes: Kick Drum - 22” X 18”, Tom - 10” X 9”, Tom - 12” X 10”, Floor Tom - 14” X 12”, Snare Drum - 14” X 5.5”)
- Fusion - 16in floor tom (22"x18", 10"x9", 12"x10", 16"x16", 14"X5.5")
Individual drum cases are also available if you have custom sized drums or a 4-piece / 6-piece kit.
The nylon exterior is nigh-on indestructible, which is great if the case gets a few bumps and scrapes. The cases will fold down flat when you put them into storage.
Inside of the Gator Cases, you have a thick protective lining that should protect the drums inside. It may not be enough to protect them from the biggest bumps, but no soft case will ever do that. It is going to be fine for life on the road, though.
In-built carrying straps will allow you to easily carry your drums from point A to point B. Durable zippers ensure that you do not have to worry about the drums just falling out of the bag and will last for years to come.
Pros:
- Good selection of bags
- Comfortable carrying straps
- Thick lining provides the best protection from a soft case
- Sturdy zippers ensure that these cases will last years
Cons:
- Soft cases don't provide the highest level of impact resistance.
BEST VALUE
Protection Racket are a well-respected manufacturer of drum cases from the UK. They have a very impressive roster of professional musicians that use their products including Clem Burke (Blondie) and Steve White (Paul Weller).
They have a range of different sets for drum kits including this set for a standard 5-piece drum set.
The cases will fit the following shell sizes:
- 12" x 10" Tom
- 13" x 11" Tom
- 16" x 16" Floor Tom
- 22" X 18" Bass Drum
- 14" x 6.5" Snare Drum
Individual drum cases are also available.
One thing that we love about Protection Racket is just how high-quality the material they have chosen is. The outside of the drum set is made from polyester. This is not only unbreakable, but it is going to be waterproof. Perfect if you are transporting your drums around in the rain.
The inside of these soft cases will provide superior protection. This is because there are three linings. You have a foam core. The outside of this has been slightly hardened to provide knock protection for your cases. The inside is slightly softened to help absorb some of those shocks.
On the inside is synthetic fleece. Not only will this help to protect the drums, but it will also polish them slightly while the drums are being transported.
Pros:
- The best protection in a soft case
- Tough carrying handle
- Waterproof
- Suitable for the most popular sizes of drum
Cons:
- Not the most stylish
GOOD CHOICE
Sometimes, a soft case isn't going to give drummers the protection that they really need for their drums. This means that the best drum cases for them will be hard cases. This marketing leading company are specialists in one thing, and their company name ‘Hardcase’ says everything that you need to know about what they manufacture. This is one of the best options on the market.
They have sets of cases for full drum set ups including:
- Rock (Includes 14" snare, 12" tom, 16", 18" floor toms and 24" bass)
- Fusion (Includes 14" snare, 10", 12" 14" toms and 20" bass)
- Jazz (Includes 14" snare, 10", 12" toms, 14" floor tom and 18" bass)
- Rock/Fusion (Includes 14" snare, 10", 12" toms, 16" floor tom and 22" bass)
- Standard (Includes 14" snare, 12" and 13" toms, 16" floor tom and 22" bass drum cases)
Individual drum cases are also available.
However, these are very much guideline figures. There is a small amount of adjustment in each of the cases. This will allow you to put in a smaller drum if you really want. For example, you can easily get a 22" bass into the 24" case without any issues.
There is no plush fully-lined interior on these drum cases. However, there is foam at either end (where the drumheads are positioned).
This could cause a problem for some people. However, in our experience, as long as you pull the straps on the outside nice and tight, that drum inside isn't going to be moving about. This means that you shouldn’t need that padding for protection. The drums really aren't going to get damaged,
Moving these about is simple enough. The handles are reinforced, so you don't have to worry about them breaking. The bass drum case is on wheels too, which makes it easy to move about.
These are fantastic hard cases for storage. They will all stack neatly on top of one another. The base of each of the drum cases is curved. This will allow them to stand upright too. Again, offering better protection for your drums. They can also be nested when not in use to save a bit of space.
Pros:
- Durable cases
- Adjustment allows you to easily store smaller drums
- Easy to put into storage
- Wheels on the larger cases allow for easy transportation
Cons:
- No plush interior
RUNNER UP
Next up we have something pretty special. This is the ChromaCast Pro Series. This set of drum cases has been designed by Vinny Appice, a drummer that has worked closely with both Dio and Black Sabbath. This means the features have been carefully selected by a pro drummer, making this one of the best drum cases to take on the road, even if you’re on a budget.
Inside of this set, you get five pieces:
- 22" bass drum bag
- 14" snare bag
- 12" tom bag
- 13" tom bag
- 16" floor tom bag
4-piece kit sets and individual covers are also available.
Right off the bat, you are going to be stunned by the stunning faux leather look. If you want your drums to look good while in storage or being transported, these are the ones that you want.
The outside of the bag is particularly good. This is because the ChromaCast Pro Series is one of just a few soft cases for drums on the market that is completely weatherproof. So, if you are running from your gear van to the gig location in rainy weather, you can feel confident knowing that your drums are fully protected.
The heavy-duty straps ensure that you don't have to worry about dropping your drums, no matter how much you are moving them about.
The inside of these cases is a plush material. Again, the style is great here. However, the thick plush material will ensure a huge amount of protection for the drums inside.
There is also an extra zipped compartment in these cases where you can store a spare drumhead. Especially useful when you are going on the road and essential for your snare drum.
Pros:
- Fantastic look
- Weatherproof
- Spare drumhead storage
- Some of the best straps on the market
- A soft plush interior provides superior protection.
Cons:
- More expensive than other soft cases
RUNNER UP
We have some more hard cases for you. SKB are a US-based business that grew up specializing in musical instrument protection. They now also provide transport protection for industry and the military.
They have various sets available, as well as individual cases. In this set, you get 3 cases:
- 22" bass drum case
- 12" tom case
- 14" tom case
If you are looking for the absolute best hard case protection that you can get for your drums, then look no further than roto-molded. They are certainly not the cheapest drum cases on the market, neither are they the lightest, but they will ensure that your drums get to wherever they need to be, safe and sound.
The highlight of these cases is just how tough they are. You are not going to be breaking that plastic. In fact, SKB is so confident in the fact that their cases are unbreakable, you have a lifetime warranty against breakages.
These cases stack easily together. The base of the case has been perfectly shaped to ensure that the cases remaining standing upright, even on the bumpiest of road trips.
Pros:
- The toughest hard cases you can buy
- Easily stacks
- Nigh on impossible to knock over
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Very heavy
Buying Guide for Best Drum Cases
Choosing the right drum cases is an important decision. Being a drummer, you want to protect your precious kit against scratches and damage so that it always looks its best… especially when you are on stage. However, the right set of covers is going to depend on how you transport your drums, the level of protection needed and how often you need to move your drum kit.
We have put together a buying guide to help you decide what are the most important criteria to consider. A good set of drum cases will last you many years and for some drummers, a lifetime. Let’s get it right.
Hard or soft cases
One of the first decisions to make is whether you are going to opt for a rigid hardcase or soft case (sometimes called a gig bag). Hard cases have the advantage of being more resistant to impact. If you were to drop it while going up a flight of stairs, your drum is less likely to suffer any damage.
Being the strongest protection, you may think that hard cases are always the best choice. But that is not necessarily the, ahem, case.
Hard cases are heavier and more awkward to carry than a soft case. Just think when you’re dismantling your gear at 1am in the morning after a gig, you just want to get it loaded up in your vehicle as quickly and easily as possible.
Soft cases also have another benefit that few people consider. They are much easier to store away when not needed than rigid cases. I place all my tom covers inside the bass drum cover and this can then be collapsed down.
How are you moving your drums?
If you are transporting your drum set on the backseat of a car, you may be thinking of protecting your beloved vehicle as much as your drums. After all, a drum lug or kick drum spur could easily damage your car seats. A soft cover in this instance would work well to protect both your instrument and vehicle interior.
But what if your drums are being chucked in the back of a pickup or van, along with a lot of other equipment? In this case, you may want to invest in more sturdy drum covers that will stand up to impact.
Should I use road cases?
Also called flight cases or ATA cases, these are heavy duty wheeled cases that provide the ultimate protection for musical instruments. They are ideally suited if you have a crew of beefy roadies moving equipment into large venues.
Made from strong laminate panels and reinforced with metal corners, these cases will stand up to any beating. And while being strong on the outside, they have custom molded foam inserts that gently cradle the drums on the inside.
However, they are extremely expensive for protecting a whole drum kit, together with the required hardware. They also take up a large amount room when not in use. For these reasons, flight cases really are the preserve of professional gigging musicians that are playing at the largest venues.
Final Thoughts on Drum Cases
As soon as you need to transport your drums for the first time, you are going to need some drum cases. This may be your first band practice outside of your home, or it might be your first gig. As well as protecting against scratches and damage, these cases also provide some resistance to inclement weather.
There are now lots of different options available which means you do not have to spend a fortune on buying a good set of drum cases. Once you have them, you will be pleased you made the choice.